José Ramírez "Estudio" — 1973 Classical Guitar · Cedar/Indian Rosewood · Pre-Owned · with Case

Overview

An authentic José Ramírez from the famed Madrid workshop, built in 1973 in the respected "Estudio" line — the range that brought genuine Ramírez construction and the celebrated Madrid-school voice within reach of dedicated players. It pairs a cedar soundboard with Indian rosewood back and sides for a warm, woody, well-balanced tone that has matured handsomely over fifty years. Independently inspected by Hans van den Berg, a respected South African classical guitar builder, who grades it in very good condition and recommends it warmly — and it plays beautifully: low action, spot-on intonation, ready to perform. Supplied with its original hard case.

Specifications

• Maker: José Ramírez (Madrid, Spain)
• Range: Estudio
• Year: 1973 (interior label: Guitarras de Estudio, Concepción Jerónima nº 2, Madrid)
• Top: Solid cedar soundboard
• Back & sides: Solid Indian rosewood
• Neck: Spanish cedar
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Bridge: Indian rosewood, bone saddle
• Nut: Bone (53.3 mm width)
• Headstock: Slotted, rosewood-faced
• Tuners: Original, functioning well
• Rosette: Traditional mosaic
• Scale length: 650 mm
• String spread: 43.5 mm at nut, 57 mm at bridge
• Finish: Gloss lacquer
• Country of origin: Spain
• Case: Original hard case included

Condition — very good, independently inspected

Well cared for and in very good vintage condition, inspected and recommended by luthier Hans van den Berg (Berg Guitars). Key findings:

• No cracks to the top, back or sides
• Sides, back and headstock face flawless; soundboard near-flawless with one small ding and two minor marks where strings had slipped
• Fingerboard and frets show no playing wear
• Bone nut and saddle sound; bridge, tie-block and glue joints perfect
• All structural elements (fan bracing, harmonic bars, back braces, neck and scarf joints) sound
• Original tuning machines in good working order
• Lacquer good, with some of the light grain-shrinkage common to vintage rosewood

Setup, playability & sound

Set up with a low, comfortable action and easy to play, with intonation the inspector rates as spot-on. Open strings ring clear, no buzzes, no wolf tones, all notes speaking freely. As is typical of a vintage cedar-topped Spanish guitar, it would benefit from being kept humidified, and a minor fret-end dress is recommended to finish it off — both routine.

Ideal for

The player who wants an authentic vintage Ramírez and the Madrid-school sound without the concert-model price — a warm, easy-playing instrument for study, recital and home playing, and an accessible way into Ramírez ownership.