Jose Ramirez guitar choice
Fisherman
So, I'm considering having someone pick up a Ramirez guitar for me in
Madrid. I don't know too much about their selection though: how do their
electro-acoustics sound versus their normal acoustics? Why would I choose
an 8 or 10 string over a 6 string? What are the pitches for those
strings?
If someone could enlighten me a bit, I'd appreciate it. Danke. Please
reply here and via email, if possible.
Brian -
--
----
------- how dull it is to pause, to make an end,
to rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
as though to breathe were life... -- tennyson
Kevin Hall
to be entrusted to anyone other than the end-user. Take the time and
effort to make the trip yourself, play a number of samples and make a
choice which will make you happy. If that is impossible, there are a
number of Ramirez dealers around the globe who would be very happy to see
you coming, not to mention many many very talented independent classical
guitar builders.
If you don't have a specific need for an 8 or 10 string, I'd advise that
you stay away from them. The Ramirez 10 String, a la Yepes, has a
fingerboard on it like the deck of an aircraft carrier. It is a specific
tool for a specific job, and not 'just another rubber-string guitar'. They
can also be very tough to get rid of when you get sick of 'em.
All the best,
KH
Timberline Guitars,
Canada.
Fisherman <mag...@umich.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.33.02040...@mynah.eecs.umich.edu...
Robert
The only electroacoustic is the "Marcel Dadi--a R-2 model with a
fishman pickup.
It has plywood back and sides. Avoid.
The best Ramirez is the Ia tradicional, rtails for $8,000. The next
lower in line, which I have and which I recommend, is the 4E. It is
hand made from master grade woods. You might be able to get it at the
shop for in the high $2000s. Forget the non-6 strings (didn't know
Ramirez made 8 strings) These are specialized instruments for
extremely advanced (and quirky) players. Avoid the "R" series. They
are actually made at a competitors factory with the Ramirez label in
them.
Robert
Jeff Carter
>are actually made at a competitors factory with the Ramirez label in
>them.
It is my understanding that both student lines, "R" and "E", are outsourced and
built to Ramirez specs. Alhambra is said to build the E series, and Raimundo
the R. You can verify this with their US distributor, GSI, who will confirm
that both lines are built elsewhere, but will not divulge the maker(s).
Robert
> tool for a specific job, and not 'just another rubber-string guitar'.
HMMMMMM........
Calling a nylon string guitar a rubber string guitar sets up an
interesting analogy problem:
nylon : rubber:: wire : ________.
If I wanted to use a similarly pejoritive term for steel strings
guitars, what would it be? Fill in the analogy blank above to
complete this disdainful comment:
"It's just another of those _____string guitars."
Hmmm,
my guess would be something like...
STONE!
"It's just another of those stone sting guitars!" Logic: Nylon is a
manufactured replacement for rubber. Metal replaced stone (stone age
to bronze age). Hence "stone sting" guitars. (Not stoned
guitarists!)
Robert
Robert
> tool for a specific job, and not 'just another rubber-string guitar'. They
> can also be very tough to get rid of when you get sick of 'em.
>
> All the best,
> KH
> Timberline Guitars,
> Canada.
A rubber string guitar!!!
Nylon:rubber :: ______: steel
I think to equally spread the disdain for all guitars, not just nylon
strings, try refering to steel string guitars as "stone string"
guitars.
(Logic: Nylon replaced rubber; metal replaced stone (stone age to
bronze age etc)
Robert
Lumpy
> A rubber string guitar!!!
> Nylon:rubber :: ______: steel
> ...............[stone]
We have carbon fiber strings.
That's pretty close to stone. No?
Fred the rock doc?
lumpy
Clint Johnson
their own right (and generally about half the price), though not up to
snuff with the "E" series and up. Something you should know: The first
guitar in the Ramirez line that is all solid (no laminate top) is the
3E. I picked up one from Maple Street guitars in Atlanta a few years
ago for around 1800. In general, the solid-body guitars are warmer and
all-around better in the long run. The 4E that Robert mentioned is
almost the same guitar as the 3E and runs a few hundred dollars more,
I believe.
If you want an electric-classical, then Ramirez may not be the way to
go. But, I've never regretted buying mine.. it's still the best
sounding classical that I've ever played.
Hope that helps..
Clint
Robert
> that both lines are built elsewhere, but will not divulge the maker(s).
I talked with GSI prior to buying my Ramirez 4E. What they told me
was that the Ramirez shop only made 1As in the shop and that the R
series was made in a factory of another maker and the E series of
still a different maker, though within those other makers shops there
was an exclusively Ramirez division. However, the 4 E was handmade by
one luthier who was ready to step up to the 1 A's. In the case of the
E series, they use better woods and get more detailing than the R
series. Also, since Jose Ramirez IV oversees it and since his name
goes on it and since these guitars are in every way in terms of sound
and construction Ramirezes and since those who work on the Ramireses
work exclusively on Ramirezes, it is really a formality to say they
are made by someone else. They are as much Ramirezes as if they were
all made at one location. Thus whilke it is technically true they are
made elsewhere, the net effect if they were made at the same location
as the 1As there would be no diffenece.
Robert McArthur
Jeff Carter
After expounding on the virtues of the 4E, you warned the original
poster to "Avoid the "R" series. They are actually made at a
competitors factory with the Ramirez label in them."
The inference, intended or not, was that the E series was built
in-house and NOT at an outside factory, which is clearly not the case.
Robert McArthur
> almost the same guitar as the 3E and runs a few hundred dollars more,
> I believe.
> Hope that helps..
> Clint
2 distinct differences I turned up when researching before a purchase.
I fell in love with the 3E at a local shop and was told the 3E and 4E
were similar. They wanted $2600 for the 3E and $3500 to order me a
4E. I suspected at the time that there must be some difference
between the guitars and so I contacted GSI and also a Canadian dealer
and both told me the same story--the 3E is made
assembly line style, the $E is made by one luthier --this peson is
considered ready to step up to the 1A shop--Secondly, the 4E uses the
best master grade woods they can find, extremely tight grained
Canadian red Cedar and exquisite roswewood. GSI described it as very
close to a 1A. The maker hand tunes the top to which I can attest
becasue it is very resonant and sweet exactly a E A G and D.
Robert
misifus
>
>
> A rubber string guitar!!!
> Nylon:rubber :: ______: steel
>
> I think to equally spread the disdain for all guitars, not just nylon
> strings, try refering to steel string guitars as "stone string"
> guitars.
> (Logic: Nylon replaced rubber; metal replaced stone (stone age to
> bronze age etc)
>
> Robert
Bobwire?
Baling wire?
-Ralph
--
Misifus
Ralph Seibert
mailto:rsei...@cox-internet.com
http://www.oakcottage-TX.com
Hans Andersson
Having som eone "pick up" a classical guitar for you that you haven't
played is fraught with complications. Does this save you money? There
is an excellent selection of handmade clasiicals in the country (are
you in US?).
Not sure why you are doing this?
hans
Chris Callahan
This was the rage back in the early seventies. I bought a Ramirez R-4 in
1971 for $175 US, including case, and a Ramirez R-1 for $75, which also
included a case.
Of course the exchange ratio was incredible back then. You could buy a
custom hand made Cardinale full leather coat for $199, a steak dinner and
carafe of wine at the Casa Paca for less than a dollar. A stay at the Hotel
Eurobuilding was about $16.
As a result anytime we had some friend going to Madrid, we'd try to get them
to bring us back an Ramirez R-4 for somebody. The shop in Madrid would not
sell the 1A model to amateur walk in customers back then.
But we quit doing this when the exchange rates all changed. Now that same
dinner at the Casa Paca is over $30 last time I inquired. Anybody know what
the R-4 even sells for in US dollars direct from the Ramirez shop?
Chris
"Hans Andersson" <han...@TULANE.EDU> wrote in message
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