❌SOLD❌ Ramirez Model 1a Classical Guitar Cedar Top Brazilian Rosewood, 1971

The Ramirez Model 1a is the benchmark for professional grade concert classical guitars. Available in full 650 and longer scale lengths, this is one the instruments that brought the style to prominence in the 1960s.

Here we’re looking at a long scale – 664mm – Ramirez Model 1a built during 1971 at Concepcion Jeronima No. 2, the shop Ramirez occupied from 1882 to 1971. In the early 1960s, growing demand required that the real production move to a new location, on Calle del Gral. Margallo, and in 1971, the storefront was moved across the street to Concepcion Jeronima No. 2.

Typical of high end classical guitar construction of the time, this instrument pairs a Red Cedar top with Brazilian Rosewood for the back, sides headplate and bridge. The sides are a hand built laminate, with a Cypress layer on the inside. This construction is the result of acoustic experiments by Jose Ramirez III towards reducing ‘wolf tones’, and due to its success is still in use.

The neck is Spanish Cedar, with traditional Spanish ‘Slipper Heel’ construction tying the top, sides and back to the neck. The fingerboard is jet black Ebony.  Tuners are original Fustaro models with gold plating.  The bridge has been converted from its original six-hole to twelve-hole, improving downbearing at the saddle.  

This guitar has been used as intended, and has a fully developed voice. Frets show little wear, but the finish has an amount of honest play wear and tear.    The action is currently at the low end of its range, at 7.5/64ths inch treble and 8/64ths inch on the bass side.   

The case included is in fair condition, with lots of wear and tear though all clasps and hinges work as they should.

Here’s Grant MacNeill on this Ramirez Model 1a:

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

This guitar has the huge bass typical of any 60s/70s era 1a with cypress-lined sides; typical of the guitar that the Maestro Andres Segovia played.

I converted the tie-block to 12 hole allowing for much lower ‘modern’ action, polished the frets and performed a setup.

This guitar has been well cared for and shows no signs of any previous repairs or cracks.

Grant MacNeill, Classical Guitar Specialist”