Jose Ramirez lll　[ホセ・ラミレス 3世] 1a　No.13209

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Polyurethan
Finish(Back & Sides):Polyurethan
Tuning Machines:Fustero
String Height(1st):3.0mm
String Height(6th):5.2mm

Maker

Jose Ramirez is one of the most prestigious names in classical guitar making. Founded in Madrid, Spain, by Jose Ramirez I (1858–1923), the workshop has remained under family ownership for more than a century and is now led by the fifth generation of the Ramirez family. Throughout its history, Ramirez has played a central role in the development of the modern Spanish classical guitar.

The workshop reached its golden age under Jose Ramirez III (1922–1995), often referred to as the "Ramirez Dynasty." During the late 1950s and 1960s, master craftsmen including Paulino Bernabe and Mariano Tezanos worked under Ramirez III, establishing an innovative workshop system capable of producing concert-quality instruments on a larger scale while maintaining exceptional standards of craftsmanship.

Introduced in 1964, the flagship Model 1A became one of the most influential classical guitars ever built. It featured a cedar soundboard instead of the traditional spruce, a deeper body, double sides reinforced with cypress, a 664 mm scale length, and a durable synthetic finish. These innovations created the rich, warm, and powerful sound that became known worldwide as the "Ramirez Tone." Together with its distinctive red-tinted finish, the 1A established itself as an icon of classical guitar history and influenced countless makers in the decades that followed.

Jose Ramirez IV continued his father's philosophy while adapting the brand to modern demands through models with a standard 650 mm scale and an expanded student line. Today the workshop is managed by the fifth generation, Cristina Ramirez and Jose Enrique Ramirez, who continue the family's tradition while guiding the company into a new era.

Instruments built during the Ramirez III and IV periods remain especially desirable among players and collectors, with many examples from the 1960s and 1970s regarded as benchmarks of the workshop's finest production.

Instrument

This is a 1979 Jose Ramirez III Model 1A, serial number 13209. The internal neck block bears the workshop stamp "18," identifying the builder as Manuel Alonso Gimenez (MAG) according to the official Ramirez workshop records.

Built during the mature period of the original 664 mm-scale 1A, this guitar represents the refined design developed before the model transitioned to the 650 mm scale in the mid-1980s. Like other Ramirez instruments of the 1970s, it features the workshop's characteristic neck geometry and fingerboard angle, providing excellent projection, impressive dynamic range, and comfortable playability despite its visually dramatic neck set.

Tonally, this guitar differs somewhat from the exceptionally dense and heavy "Ramirez Tone" associated with instruments of the early 1970s. Instead, it offers a quicker response, greater clarity, and a more elastic character while preserving the deep resonance, warmth, and richness that define the Ramirez sound. The basses possess satisfying weight and depth, blending naturally into singing trebles to create an exceptionally balanced tonal spectrum. The instrument also responds immediately to the player's touch, combining generous sustain with remarkable speed and articulation.

Internally, the guitar follows the traditional 1A bracing design, including harmonic bars above and below the soundhole, a diagonal reinforcing brace beneath the lower harmonic bar, six fan braces, and inverted V-shaped closing bars. The main body resonance is tuned to G#.

The guitar has a professionally repaired crack approximately 10 cm long on the lower bass side of the back, which is structurally stable and presents no concern for continued use. Aside from this repair, the instrument retains its original finish with no evidence of refinishing or major alterations. Considering its age, it remains in excellent overall condition. The soundboard shows only minor playing marks around the fingerboard extension and soundhole, while the back and sides exhibit only light surface wear.

The neck has a very slight amount of forward relief, well within normal setup specifications, and the frets show only minimal wear. The neck has a slim D-shaped profile with a subtly radiused fingerboard. Nut width is 53 mm, string spacing at the nut is 45.5 mm, and saddle spacing is 55.5 mm. Action at the 12th fret measures 3.0 mm (1st string) and 5.2 mm (6th string). There is no remaining saddle height for adjustment. Overall weight is 1.64 kg.