❌SOLD❌ Ramirez 1a Long Scale Classical Guitar Cedar Top Brazilian, 1967

Here we have a Ramirez 1a Long Scale classical guitar built during 1967, during the ‘golden era’ of Jose Ramirez III’s leadership of the Ramirez workshop at Concepcion Jeronima No. 2 in Madrid, Spain. This well-used instrument features a long scale of 664mm or 26.14 inches, intended to provide increased volume and projection for the professional concert performer.  

With Jose Ramirez III leading the workshop, this Ramirez 1a Long Scale has the initials CLL on the slipper foot. Its construction defines the tradition that countless other builders follow, with the slipper foot join integrating the sides and neck for maximum resonance and response.

In terms of materials used in construction, this Ramirez 1a Long Scale uses the Red Cedar top pioneered by Jose Ramirez III, paired with a lovely set of Brazilian Rosewood for the sides, back, head plate and bridge. The sides include another Ramirez innovation, having an interior lining of Cypress. This decreases the production of ‘wolf tones’. While this is in the strictest sense a lamination, it is not the same as the ‘laminated woods’ found in many electric arch-top or lower end acoustic instruments.

The neck is Cedro or Spanish Cedar, Cedrela Odorata, which despite the name is neither Spanish or a true cedar, being from Central and South America and more closely related to Mahogany, with Ebony for the fingerboard. The back of the neck displays a black stripe, which is an Ebony stiffener. This type of instrument would not have an adjustable metal truss rod.

The tuners are the original gold plated, hand engraved Fustero models. The Fustero workshop closed in July 2010 with the retirement of the Fustero brothers. New originals are no longer available though some makers such as Gotoh now offer reproduction Fustero-style models.

This guitar has been heavily played over the years, and has had a number of top and back crack repairs. One of the back repairs included the addition of a Brazilian Rosewood splint. The top has a fair amount of markings caused by honest play wear.

The original Ramirez hard shell case is included, with all hinges and clasps working.

Here’s Twelfth Fret President Grant MacNeill’s comments on this Ramirez 1a Long Scale classical guitar:

“This lovely Ramirez 1a long scale guitar is stamped CLL on the slipper-foot indicating built by Carmelo Llerena Martinez; one of the Master Luthiers in the 60 & 70s Ramirez workshop.

I converted the bridge’s tie-block to a 12- hole tie-block format for lower “modern” action, performed crack repairs to the top & back, dressed and polished the frets and set up the guitar.

This guitar has the huge bass typical of any 60s/70s era 1a with cypress-lined sides.

It came from the home of the late Eli Kassner, and was no doubt played by the late Maestro Andres Segovia himself as well as by countless other classical performers who were guests in that magical house. It has been heavily played and shows extensive but honest wear.

Grant MacNeill, Classical Guitar Specialist“

You can read more about the late Eli Kassner here. He was a prominent classical guitar teacher, and many now prominent players studied with him, including Norbert Kraft, Paul Pigat and Gordon O’Brien , who is featured in our reviews of Ramirez and Alhambra classical guitars.