1969 Jose Ramirez 1aF "I.M." CD/CY

This guitar was built in the famous Jose Ramirez III workshop, which for over half a century has produced instruments performed on by countless professionals from Sting to Segovia, Chet Atkins to Sabicas and Lee Ritenour to Christopher Parkening. This is a fun example of an older Ramirez concert flamenco built by Ignacio Manzano Rozas (as indicated by the internal stamp "IM" - For a complete list of Ramirez luthiers from this era, click here). This guitar has been played considerably - as attested by the wear and dings on the surface of the body. There are two repaired cracks on the soundboard – one on the treble-side near the edge of the tap plate (repaired internally with 3 small square spruce cleats) and the second is on the bass side edge of the tap plate (reinforced with 1 spruce cleat), which has been taken into consideration when determining pricing. It has an endpin for a strap making this a great gigging guitar for the musician needing the versatility of being in a variety of different performing situations. It is lightweight and comfortable, with a dry and aggressive old-world flamenco sound and is also fitted with old-school wooden pegheads for the traditionalist who likes the lighter feel of the older, mid-century style. An excellent players guitar for the performer looking for a great workhorse that has the classic 1960's Ramirez sound.

For more information on Ramirez, be sure to read The Ramirez Family: Masters of the Guitar, or for information on the Ramirez family members, from Amalia Ramirez back to Jose I and for some interesting fact-checking on myths and facts about this legendary workshop.