Hello Everybody,

Below is letter from R.E. Brune about Ramirez guitars. Some of you are going to find the letter very interesting and, perhaps, some of you have guitars that are more valuable than originally thought.






Daniel,

Thanks for your letter. I know the Ramirez shop itself makes that claim, but the evidence I have is contradictory. As you mention it is a 2a, I assume you are saying this because it has the gold bordered label rather than the light blue bordered label? They did not begin actually listing the classification until 1967, when the labels were extended to include a serial number, classification and Ramirez III's signature. The gold bordere label was an earlier version, which was also printed using some red and blue colors, an expensive process to print a label. The shop redesigned the label to use only the blue border and black printing, a less costly process, and during the early 60's both labels were used indiscriminately, as supplies lasted of the earlier version, there being no significance to either.

Regardng apprentices, the instruments were made by a variety of hands in the shop, and usually (but not always), the assembler would stamp their initials inside the guitar on the foot. Any work done by apprentices would have been limited to more menial tasks such as bending sides, preparing rosette materials and purflings, fitting up nuts and saddles, etc. Apprentices would never have been allowed to make a guitar from start to finish, the shop has never operated in that manner. I have a letter from Jose Ramirez himself written to me in 1967 stating he only makes one model, the finest (the 1a), so the factors that later caused Ramirez to offer guitars officially designated as 2a's beginning in 1973, were not being considered in 1963. It is true that once the second extension of the label was added in 1967, an occasional instrument would get the classification of "2a" due to some defect, such as a repaired crack under the finish.

Bottom line, you can assume any Ramirez made IN THEIR SHOP (which excludes all subcontract and student models) prior to 1967 is a 1a despite the information circulating on the internet and even on the Ramirez website. I believe Amalia relied on outside incorrect information in posting this to their web site. At any rate, there is no one left at the Ramirez shop who was actively working there and knows about the situation in 1963, and Amalia herself threw away enormous amounts of valuable old records when they moved the shop to Calle de la Paz from the old Concepcion Jeronima address. I know because I had to make copies of the old Manuel and Jose I catalogs for her when she wanted to have a book about the Ramirez collection in their museum which is being written in England right now. I had the only remaining copies of these catalogs in existence.

As for who actually made your guitar, I suggest you take it to any of the dealers who tout the values of certain initials as being of greater value than others. If what they say is true, they should have no problem to identify the actual maker despite the absence of the initials, as it should be self evident by the work itself. Otherwise, why tout initials if you can't identify them blindfolded, so to speak?...

Best wishes, richard

P.S. This letter was a response to a question I had about my 1963 Ramirez Flamenco Guitar.

Thank you for this interesting information.
I will tell a student of mine who has an old and fabulous José Ramirez.
Saludos
Tomás