1961 Jose Ramirez Classical

by John
(Maynooth, Canada)

This guitar is in very good condition and has the tuning pegs that are wooden and come straight through from the back of the head. The label has the year 1961 with the 61 being written after the 19. The label has a light blue border around it which makes it their No. 9 label from my research. Inside the sound hole there is a stamp that is M.T. which I am assuming means it was crafted by Mariano Tezanos Martin also from my research.Any help in evaluating this guitar would be greatly appreciated. I could send pictures of it but I haven't taken any yet. This guitar is part of a collection that was just inherited by my wife.

thank you,
John


ANSWER

Hi, John--

Seems that you have already done a good bit of research on this guitar.

You are right about the M.T. stamp.It is less well know is that it was Mariano Jr. who stamped his initials (M.T) in the foot of many Ramirez guitars from this period. Mariano grew up across the street from the great luthier Marcelo barbero who apparently taught his father guitar building.

An interesting peice of information:
"A $150 guitar in 1961 would cost, using the consumer price index, $913 in 2003 (the online c.p.i. was through 2003). if we adjust for the euro to $ rate using a multiplier of 1.25 (the approx. rate in 2003), a guitar with the label "Ramirez" built and sold in 1961 would cost in 2003: $1141 (about 8 times the original cost).

What is interesting is that many of these older guitars now cost somewhere between 33 and 100 (if not more) TIMES the original." (Donn Pohren)

These guitars are EXTREMELY difficult to evaluate, especially with no model number.

I found one from 1960 with the same (as nearly as I can tell) label which had sold for $3500. You can see it at:

http://www.estateauctionservice.com/consign.htm

I would like to suggest that you contact:

http://www.zavaletas-guitarras.com/

They may be able to provide you with more information about this specific guitar.

Lynne

Save Up to 95% in the Price Cuts Section of the MusiciansFriend.com Outlet Store