Leamy guitars
• Intro
• Home
• RM model
• EC model
• ES 7 string model
• Gallery
• Biography
• Repairs
• Ordering
• Contacts
Classical guitar blog
• Leamy blog
• Questions & comments
Resources
• Manuel Ramirez
• French polishing
• Books
• Quotes
• Links
 Italiano
|
|
 |
Manuel Ramirez, luthier
Manuel Ramirez (1864-1916) apprenticed under his brother, José Ramirez I (1858-1923), founder of the Ramirez guitar dynasty. After a thorough training in guitar construction in his brother's workshop, Manuel made preparations in 1891 to establish his own workshop in Paris. Inexplicably, he then abandoned the idea, and opened up his own workshop in Madrid in direct competition with José. The rift caused by this sequence of events resulted in them having no further dealings or contact with each other for the rest of their lives.
The Segovia guitar of 1912
According to José Ramirez III, in 1912 the young Andres Segovia presented himself at Manuel's workshop requesting to ask 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.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 for over 25 years during his globe-trotting tours around the world. This instrument now rests in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York together with his beloved 1937 Hauser guitar.
Manuel Ramirez's pupils
As well as achieving greater fame and recognition than José I during his lifetime, Manuel can also be credited for having trained in his Madrid workshop the guitar makers 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.
|
|
