Who was Manuel Ramirez?
Manuel Ramirez (1864-1916) apprenticed under his brother, José Ramirez I (1858-1923), the founder of the Ramirez guitar dynasty. After a thorough training in guitar construction in his brother's workshop, in around 1891, Manuel, with the help of José made preparations to establish his own workshop in Paris, just as his future apprentice Gomez Ramirez would. Inexplicably, Manuel abandoned the idea, and opened up his own workshop in Madrid in direct competition with his brother, thus causing such a rift between brothers that they refused to have further dealings or contact with each other for the rest of their lives. Image of Manuel Ramirez and workers
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The Segovia guitar of 1912
In 1912 the young Andres Segovia presented himself at Manuel's workshop to hire an instrument for a concert in Madrid, an idea unheard of at the time. Amused at first by the young man's unusual request and his outlandish appearance, Manuel decided to go along with him and gave him a standard guitar, perhaps the nearest on hand, to try out. Upon hearing him play, however, Manuel soon realized that the young, as yet unknown, guitarist had extraordinary talent. As a result, Ramirez presented Segovia with the finest guitar in his workshop as a gift.

See Segovia's guitar - Metropolitan Museum of Art link
This was Segovia's first concert quality guitar, the one with which he was to build his legendary fame and which would represent the sound of the Spanish guitar during 25 years of trusty service on his tours around the world. This instrument now rests in the Metropolitan Museum of art in New York together with his beloved 1937 Hauser both of which were donated by Segovia to the museum.

Manuel Ramirez's pupils
Manuel, who achieved greater fame and recognition than José I during his lifetime can also be credited for having trained in his Madrid workshop the following luthiers: S. Hernandez, D. Esteso, M. Borreguero and J. Gomez Ramirez (of no relation to the family). See also "Things About The Guitar." by José Ramirez III