Jose Ramirez – 1976 – 1a No.10098 8-strings

About the luthier

The Ramrez family has been building high-quality guitars since 1882. Their instruments have been played by some of the greatest guitarists in history, including Andrs Segovia, Julian Bream, Laurindo Almeida, Oscar Ghiglia, and Jos Luis Gonzlez. The Ramrez name is deeply woven into the history of classical guitar making. Jos Ramrez I (18581923) trained many prominent builders in his Madrid workshop. His grandson, Jos Ramrez III (19221995), revolutionized guitar construction by pioneering the use of Western Red Cedar for tops and introducing innovations such as double sidescombining rosewood and cypressfor enhanced tonal performance. Segovia himself played multiple guitars by Ramrez III, including four cedar-top models built between 1965 and 1969.

About the guitar

This Jos Ramrez 8-string guitar, built in 1976 and numbered 10098, is a remarkable instrument from the golden period of the Ramrez workshop under the direction of Jos Ramrez III. Inside the guitar, under the soundboard, the number 9 appears, identifying Ramn Pealver Soler as the builder, one of the highly skilled luthiers in the Ramrez III workshop.The instrument is notable for its excellent playability, despite the extended 8-string setup. The response is immediate, and the guitar remains well-balanced and articulate across all registers. Tonally, it delivers the powerful voice and warm character that have become synonymous with Ramrez guitars of this era.

Condition

This guitar is in excellent structural and playing condition. It shows normal signs of playing wear, including a few nail marks and a professionally stabilized 20 cm crack on the upper left bout of the soundboard. The crack is purely cosmetic and does not affect the integrity or sound of the instrument. It is a rare and beautifully preserved 8-string concert guitar with historical significance and collector value.