Sign in
José Ramírez
Photo: Chincharabiña, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons8

José Ramírez

Spanish luthier (1858–1923)

José Ramírez (1858–1923) was a Spanish luthier, the founder of Ramírez Guitars and of the Spanish luthier dynasty who continue to run it. His grandson José Ramírez III was in turn head of the company, and a noted innovator who made significant changes to the classical guitar.2

From Wikipedia’s article on José Ramírez (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born 1858, died 1923.1

Companies

Early life and education

Ramírez was the first child of José Ramírez de Galarreta, a very well-off land owner. In 1870, he became apprenticed to Francisco Gonzalez (1830–1880). In 1890, he opened his shop in Madrid; Ramírez Guitars would continue to operate from these premises until 1995.

Ramírez' work generally followed the designs of Antonio Torres (1817–1892) in all respects except one: He produced a larger flamenco guitar known as the tablao guitar. Both this innovation and the quality of his guitars generally were favourably received, but he is chiefly remembered as the founder of the dynasty of luthiers and the guitar manufacturing company that still bears his name.

Several other luthiers learned the art of making classical guitars from José Ramírez, inter alia Paulino Bernabe Senior.

From Wikipedia’s article on José Ramírez (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: musical instrument maker, luthier.4

Personal life

  • Born1858, Madrid5
  • CitizenshipSpain6

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8