With a straight-grained, figured and all solid rosewood back and sides and a warm, melodious solid cedar face, this is another fine classical example from the House of Ramirez. The mahogany neck, which has an ebony stripe down the center, also has four sections that make up the scarfed heel. These have slight color variations, lighter and darker, which give it slightly luminescent quality, although you can see from the wood grain they were composed from the same piece. The back of the headstock also has the same sort of scarfing, and this slot head is faced in rosewood (as is the heelcap) and features gold-toned tuners with pearloid buttons. The ebony fretboard has no inlay, and the body is bound by colored wood– red and natural, as is the soundhole outermost and innermost rings, while the center ring looks like it is filled with a series of counted cross-stitch shamrocks.
The elongated bridge has a saddle-block tie, and the block itself is ivoroid bound with natural wood center square. There are tiny indications of playing time including maybe a dozen infinitely small fingernail marks on the top above the bridge on the treble side, from someone playing flamenco style on a table top with, (unbeknownst to them), their shoelaces tied together. (This person apparently didn’t take his or her Zoloft that day.) The hard shell case is missing one latch U-shaped closure and in the interests of full disclosure, the inside plush lining in a small section at the bottom side is somewhat loose (you could glue and clamp it, Jed). The tone is soulful and warm, while the well-voiced projection is round and clear. This is a guitar that’s nothing but fun to play and it sounds beyond mahvelous. Just so you know, on their 2010 price this Ramirez lists for (gulp) $3,749. This extremely fine example that sounds superlative and radiant is worth every penny of its modest price. NOW ON SALE. WAS $2469. NOW . . .