Acoustic Guitar: Ramirez S1 Classical

All Articles
Guitar Lessons
Guitars and Gear
Player Profiles
CD, DVD, Book Reviews
Summer Workshops

RESOURCES

Join Our Community
Guitar Maker Directory
Video and Audio Downloads
Players' Choice Awards
Attend Our Guitar School
For Beginners
For Professionals
For Teachers
Guitar Talk Discussion
Forums
Video Gallery
Custom Guitars
Nylon-String Guitar
20 Years of Essential CDs
Essential Gear Online
NEW! Gear Showcase
NEW! Summer Gear Guide

ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE

Current Issue
Back Issues
Subscribe
Renew
Subscriber Services

SHOP

The Store
Acoustic Guitar Guides
Acoustic Guitar Method
Acoustic Guitar Books
Downloads and Albums
Great Offers from
Our Partners

WIN

Printable Version E-mail this story Share

Ramirez S1 Classical
The celebrated Spanish masters' newest model boasts superior clarity, lightning-fast response, and robust volume.

By Patrick Francis

IN THIS STORY

Audio Examples
Ex. 2: "La Grima" played on the Ramirez S1

More resources
More ClassicalGear Articles

AUDIO: Introduction

AUDIO: "La Grima" played on the Ramirez S1

When José Ramírez opened his guitar shop in Madrid, Spain, in 1882, it’s unlikely he imagined that, a century later, the Ramírez family name would connote, for many, the highest of quality in handcrafted classical guitars. Since then, the reins of the Ramírez company have been passed down through the collective hands of José’s sons and grandchildren. Classical guitar luminaries such as Andrés Segovia and Christopher Parkening have done much to boost the reputation of Ramírez concert guitars, but the company has been selling a line of student models for decades, as well. We had a chance to check out the latest introduction to the Ramírez student series—its least expensive student model and, notably, a guitar designed specifically for the US guitar market—the S1.

Flawless Joinery, Superb Finish

The S1 comes with a solid European spruce top and back and sides of laminated mongoy which is similar to rosewood though it is generally brighter sounding. The S1 also has a Honduran cedar neck, an ebony fretboard, and Van Gent gold-plated tuners. As for fit and finish, the S1 we reviewed was clean as a whistle. It had flawless joinery, Spanish-heel construction, a superbly applied lacquer finish, and a first-rate fret job and setup that made the guitar ready to play right out of the case. While the S1’s appearance is conservative, the highly figured back and sides are eye catching, and its yellow spruce top is complemented nicely by a traditional-style rosette in forest green, crimson, and black.

Quick Response, Comfortable Neck

Simply put, the S1 has a speedy response and is a pleasure to play. While some spruce-top guitars have a stiff right-hand feel, the S1 definitely did not. Rather, it offered a supple and lightning-fast response that was immensely satisfying—my right hand didn’t have to work hard at all to get the strings to speak on this guitar. The neck felt comfortable and the excellent factory setup made things easy; barring chords wasn’t a chore, and the comfortable action made single-note melody playing a breeze. The 650 mm string length, pretty much standard issue these days, should certainly keep the guitar in most players’ comfort zones.

Brilliant Trebles and Robust Volume

The S1’s most striking quality is its clarity. It has a three-dimensional quality and pronounced midrange emphasis reminiscent of what I’ve heard from good Ramírez concert models. Moving from string to string, from low to high registers, the sound remained clear and even, with ample sustain. Strummed or plucked, the S1’s voice was quite focused and on the bright side, and it projected well. Played with delicacy or pushed hard, sound quality was consistent. The basses were clear, focused, and supported the higher registers without overwhelming them, though at times I wished there were more depth and low-end muscle. The S1’s treble strings have plenty of cutting power and an immediately gratifying “pop,” especially when digging in. In all, the guitar boasts robust volume that should be adequate for most players.

The Wrap

All told, the Ramírez S1 has a lot to offer, including a brighter response than most cedar-top guitars. With a distinctive sound, a combination of focused and brilliant tone, excellent craftsmanship, and great playability, this guitar will appeal to many players. With a suggested retail price of $1,649 (sans case), the S1doesn’t exactly qualify for the “budget guitar” category, and it’s certain to face stiff competition. However, it is the latest in Ramírez’s century-long guitar-building tradition, and it sounds good, too. That alone merits a look.

PAGE:
1 2

This article also appears in Acoustic Guitar, February 2006

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Give a Gift
Manage Your Account
See Table of Contents

SUBSCRIBE TO ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR ONLY $19.95 TODAY!

Yes! Please reserve my subscription to Acoustic Guitar. I'll pay just $19.95 (76% off the retail price), and receive 12 issues of the magazine for every player in any style. Every month I'll receive the songs I want to play, with expert advice on how to play them, plus reviews of the best guitars and gear, and profiles and interviews with my favorite artists.

We are so sure you will be satisfied with your subscription, we are willing to offer a 100% money back guarantee! Respond now and get huge savings off the cover price.

Subscribe to the Club for unlimited access to AcousticGuitar.com in addition to your print magazine. Only $10 more when you order today!

First Name		Last Name

Address		Address 2

City

State or Province

Zip		Country

E-mail

Home Subscribe My Account Advertise Job Opportunities Help About Us Site Map Privacy Policy Contact Us
© 2012 String Letter Publishing, Inc., David A. Lusterman, Publisher.