Jose Ramirez 1a - Jacaranda - 1983 - Excellent

José Ramírez 1ª (First Class) – 1983, Madrid, Spain

The label identifies this guitar as a José Ramírez 1ª (Primera Clase) built in 1983 at the historic Ramírez workshop in Madrid, Spain. The serial number is 17446, and the label bears the traditional Ramírez signature. During the early 1980s, the Ramírez 1ª represented the workshop's flagship concert model and was among the most respected classical guitars in the world.

The back and sides shown are made from Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), a highly prized tonewood that was becoming increasingly scarce by the early 1980s. The dramatic black spider-web grain and deep reddish-brown coloration visible on the back are characteristic of high-grade Brazilian Rosewood used by elite Spanish makers of that period.

Specifications

Model: José Ramírez 1ª

Year: 1983

Serial Number: 17446

Maker: José Ramírez Workshop

Country of Origin: Spain

City: Madrid

Grade: First Class Concert Guitar (1ª)

Scale Length: 664 mm

Nut Width: Approximately 52 mm

Top: Solid Western Red Cedar

Back and Sides: Solid Brazilian Rosewood

Neck: Spanish Cedar

Fingerboard: Ebony

Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood

Headstock Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood

Construction: Traditional Spanish Heel

Bracing: Ramírez Seven-Fan Concert Bracing

Finish: Thin Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Rosette: Handcrafted Ramírez Mosaic

Tuners: Premium engraved gold-plated tuners

Case: Original hard case (if retained)

The 664 mm scale length was a hallmark of many Ramírez concert guitars from this period and contributed significantly to their projection and power.

Assessment of the Brazilian Rosewood

The Brazilian Rosewood used on this instrument appears exceptionally attractive.

The back displays dramatic dark veining, excellent symmetry, and strong visual contrast. This is the type of Brazilian Rosewood that collectors actively seek because it combines beauty with outstanding acoustic properties.

Brazilian Rosewood is prized for:

Exceptional overtone complexity

Deep and powerful bass response

Long sustain

Rich harmonic content

Excellent projection

Instruments built with old-growth Brazilian Rosewood are no longer easily reproduced today because the wood has been protected under international regulations for decades.

Sound Evaluation

The 1983 Ramírez 1ª is known for a distinctive sound that differs from many modern classical guitars.

The bass response is exceptionally powerful and deep. Notes possess tremendous authority while remaining focused and articulate. Even low-register passages maintain clarity and projection.

The midrange is rich, dense, and colorful. This gives Spanish repertoire a vocal quality that has become synonymous with vintage Ramírez guitars.

The trebles are thick, warm, and singing rather than bright and sharp. They possess a lyrical quality that many concert artists find particularly attractive.

The Brazilian Rosewood body contributes a vast harmonic spectrum. Chords bloom with layers of overtones and continue developing after the initial attack. The sustain is remarkably long, creating a sense of depth and grandeur.

One of the most remarkable qualities of this model is its ability to fill a concert hall. The combination of the long scale, cedar top, and Brazilian Rosewood body creates a large, orchestral voice capable of substantial dynamic range.

Compared with many contemporary concert guitars, the sound is often described as:

More powerful

Darker

Richer in overtones

More orchestral

More traditionally Spanish

Many professional players regard 1980s Ramírez 1ª guitars as among the finest examples of the classic Madrid sound.

Tonal Characteristics

Bass: Extremely deep, powerful, and resonant

Midrange: Rich, complex, and vocal

Treble: Warm, singing, and lyrical

Projection: Exceptional concert-hall projection

Sustain: Very long

Overtones: Abundant and sophisticated

Balance: Excellent across the entire fingerboard

Dynamic Range: Outstanding

Concert Performance: World-class professional level

About José Ramírez

The Ramírez family is one of the most important names in the history of classical guitar making.

The workshop was founded in Madrid in 1882 by José Ramírez I. Over successive generations, the Ramírez family became one of the most influential forces in guitar design and construction.

The most famous figure was José Ramírez III (1922–1995), who transformed the company into one of the world's leading builders of concert guitars. He developed innovative construction methods and collaborated with legendary artists such as Andrés Segovia.

Many of the greatest classical guitarists of the twentieth century performed on Ramírez instruments, helping establish the modern concert guitar sound.

By 1983, the Ramírez workshop had reached a highly refined stage of development. Guitars from this period are particularly respected because they combine traditional craftsmanship with decades of accumulated experience.

Current Market Value in the United States (2025–2026)

The presence of Brazilian Rosewood significantly increases the value of this instrument.

Current market estimates for a 1983 José Ramírez 1ª Brazilian Rosewood model are approximately:

Good condition: $6,500–8,500 USD

Very good condition: $8,500–11,000 USD

Excellent original condition: $11,000–14,000 USD

Collector-grade example with original documentation and case: $14,000–18,000 USD

Exceptional example with outstanding Brazilian Rosewood, strong provenance, and concert-quality sound: $18,000–22,000+ USD

Overall Assessment

The 1983 José Ramírez 1ª Brazilian Rosewood is a genuine professional concert instrument from one of the most important guitar-making workshops in history. The combination of a mature cedar top, highly figured Brazilian Rosewood body, traditional Madrid construction, and the prestige of the Ramírez name places this guitar among the most desirable vintage Spanish classical guitars available today.

In terms of historical significance, craftsmanship, tonal richness, and collector demand, this instrument belongs to a category well above most production concert guitars and remains highly sought after by performers, collectors, and investors throughout the United States and Europe.

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Note: his guitar is in exceptionally beautiful, near-mint condition. Naturally, it still shows a few minor signs of age, as can be expected from a vintage instrument. The legendary reputation of the José Ramírez 1a is truly well deserved. Its sound quality surpasses that of most guitars in my collection. The tone is remarkably rich, powerful, and refined, with the characteristic depth and complexity that have made the José Ramírez 1a famous among concert guitarists worldwide. Among all the guitars I own, only the Yamaha GGC-61 possesses a tonal character and overall quality that can truly stand alongside it. The rest of my guitars simply cannot match its level of projection, richness, balance, and musical expression.

*This guitar is offered for sale exactly as described and pictured above. All photographs are of the actual instrument being sold and should be considered part of the description. The guitar remains in excellent condition for its age, displaying only minor signs of normal use and the passage of time. It is being sold as represented in the written description and photographs.