Introduced in 1960 by José Ramírez III in collaboration with Andrés Segovia, the 1a Tradicional became an influential instrument for Segovia during the later years of his career. The Tradicional's design helped establish a larger, more powerful approach to the concert classical guitar. The 1a Tradicional has remained the cornerstone of the Ramírez workshop ever since, and subsequent generations have refined the construction and introduced modern-day precision and playability, while retaining the unmistakable Spanish guitar character.
This 1a C650 Tradicional was built in 2007 at the Ramírez workshop in Madrid, and it represents the upper level of the company's traditional handmade production. From the exterior, its construction is straightforward: a solid Cedar top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. But a look inside shows careful voicing to the top bracing and Ramírez's distinctive cypress double side that encourages the most volume and power. The cedar top brings warmth, immediacy, and a broad harmonic response, and the rosewood body retains clarity while allowing for depth and projection. The "C650" model denotes a 650mm scale, which offers a little more accessibility than the longer 664mm scale.
This Ramírez features the careful ornamental work you expect from a top-tier Spanish classical guitar, including a traditional mosaic rosette, rosewood binding, Ebony fingerboard, rosewood bridge, and gold Ramírez tuners. In hand, the 52mm-classical nut width and 650mm scale provide plenty of room for traditional classical technique, but this guitar will be equally suited for Flamenco, Bossa Nova, or any style calling for a nylon-string guitar. The response is immediate and expressive with headroom that rewards a strong right hand, but it still has plenty of sensitivity for quieter, more finessed playing. The Tradicional's larger voice and complex internal construction lend considerable presence to individual notes, and the separate voices and harmonic detail remain clear as the music develops.
This 2007 1A C650 Tradicional has been played and enjoyed, and it shows some minor wear and tear. The worst is a top ding on the treble edge of the lower bout, and there are various marks around the back edge of the body, especially concentrated along the lower bout. There are also some dings and marks around the peghead edge. We've done our best to capture this all in the photos. Relative to a steel-string guitar, the action is pretty high, but it is set at the preferred height for classical players. There is some room to adjust at the addle if desired.
This Ramírez is a superlative Spanish guitar: powerful without being blunt, warm without losing definition, and responsive enough to show every nuance in touch and technique. It includes a high-quality carbon fiber case and a case cover from Colorado Case Company.