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 RAMIREZ, JOSÉ | | Instruments currently built in Madrid, Spain. Distributed by Tornavoz Music in Santa Monica, CA. | José Ramirez (1858-1923), originally apprenticed with luthier Francisco Gonzalez, began the family business in 1882. Many well known players, such as Segovia, Tarrega, Sabicas, Llobet, Yepes, and others had used Ramirez guitars during the course of their careers. The Madrid-based family business then passed to José II (1885-1957), and then to José III (born 1922-1994).
The acoustic guitars today are built in the workshop that is supervised by José Ramirez IV. Ramirez IV, born in 1953, apprenticed in the family workshop when he was eighteen years old. By 1976, he had approached journeyman status, and within three years was working in maestro status. His sister, Amalia Ramirez (1955-), oversaw the business side of the company for a few years.
In the early 1980s, the family workshop employed seventeen workers and was producing 1,000 guitars a year. In the mid-1990s, the Ramirez workshop cut back production numbers to the amount the workshop could build without sub-contracting to outside builders. This level of supervision aids in maintaining the high quality of the guitars that carry the Ramirez name. José IV, passed away in 2000, and his sister Amalia took over the workshop after a short time away from the company. For more information contact Tornavoz Music directly (see Trademark Index). | | | ACOUSTIC |
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