Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez

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hon

Posts: 20
Joined: Jan. 3 2011

Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez

I am looking at two Jose Ramirez blanca for sale at the moment. One is built by Antonio Martinez in early 60's and the other by MTC in early 70's. Both are in excellent condition and sound great. Which one would you go for? Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 9:47:57

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez (in reply to hon)

I wouldn't worry too much about the initials.

In the early 60's - up to 66 or 67 I think, JR had not started using cedar tops so the earlier guitar would be spruce top I guess. In the later 60s and through the 70s cedar tops were used on most guitars.

Most makers didn't make many cedar top flamencos. The notable exceptions were Ramirez and Gerundino Fernandez. Cedar is not used much for flamencos these days.

Cedar certainly gives a slightly different colour to the sound of the guitar. When comparing new guitars back in the 60s and 70s I found that a higher proportion of cedar flamencos had instant appeal. I was always told that I needed to wait for spruce tops to "open up" with time - but I suspected that some never would!

From this period (60s and 70s) I personally prefer the Ramirez cedar top flamencos to his spruce top guitars. I think his spruce guitars of this period lagged behind those of his rivals the Conde brothers. JR half admitted this once in an interview.

I played a 68 Ramirez cedar blanca for about 20 years.

Apart from all these considerations careful comparison by playing overrides everything. I don't know the level of your playing but if you are a beginner it would be good to get the opinion of an experienced player.

Rob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 10:34:53

hon

Posts: 20
Joined: Jan. 3 2011

RE: Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez (in reply to RobJe)

Thank you for your advice, Rob. Indeed, the AM is a spruce top and the MTC a cedar top.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 10:59:24

Cervantes

Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA

RE: Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez (in reply to hon)

It would be ideal if you can play them both.
I have a tough time deciding between cedar and spruce I think each has its good characteristics.
If you go to flamnecoguitarsforsale web site they have both 1980's cedar and spruce that you can listen to.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 17:08:26

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez (in reply to Cervantes)

Over many years I've played and repaired quite a few Ramirez spruce tops and generally found them inferior to the cedar tops although I heard Sabicas playing a spruce top in concert that sounded great (of course it was in the hands of Sabicas).

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John Shelton - www.sheltonfarrettaguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 17:30:59

Ricardo

Posts: 14823
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Jose Ramirez vs Jose Ramirez (in reply to hon)

Sight unseen, Cedar tops being his "thing" his pride and joy, I would go for the cedar top too. good luck!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2016 17:51:20