José Ramirez Clase 1A guitar (1981)

The José Ramirez Clase 1A guitar with one crack in it.

(below the bridge on the right) Though most restorers

are aware of how the wood works and therefore it

is common to make an insert for a crack that is open,

this crack had it's sides bent up a little. I made a device

to bent it back to its' former position and at that time

no extra wood was required to close the seam.

As both sides of the soundboard react on each other

the sound was better still after the operation.

Back at the end of the seventies it was prime time

for José Ramirez so between 1974 and 1981 they

built about 7000 concert guitars which means a 1000

each year! To my believe José Ramirez III brought the

standard for the concert instruments up to its' highest

level in the history of the company.