Guitar
Maker
José Ramirez II
Date1955
Place MadeMadrid, Spain
ModelGuitarra blanca
SignedPrinted in blue ink on decoratively engraved paper label on the inside of the back, the last two digits of year written in black ink: [image of two guitars and bandurria with ribbon on upper left side, two medals on lower right side]CONSTRUCCIÓN / DE / GUITARRAS Y BANDURRIAS / José Ramirez / CONCEPCIÓN / JERMÓMIA No. 2 MADRID / Año 1955 DescriptionClassical guitar made in the Jose Ramirez II and III Workshop, Madrid, in 1955.
A " guitarra blanca", is a classical guitar made with cypress and not rosewood. Often confused with flamenco instruments, cypress guitars were less expensive than rosewood ones.
The instrument has been extensively played, fingernail marks are visible on the soundboard as well as a consistent lack of varnish on the lower bout, bass side. The instrument was repaired twice in the Ramirez workshop, as stated in the donor's letter, repairs are visible on the inside of the instruments: cleats of different size and shape to consolidate the fracture at the center of the soundboard and the one running through the entire length of the back. A rib was also repaired, lower bout, treble side.
The instrument has extensive damage to soundboard, ribs and back, and portions of the ribs are missing.
The guitar is still shaped on the traditional model developed by Torres, and used by Manuel, Jose I and Jose II Ramirez. The introduction of red cedar for the soundboard will begin at the end of the 1950's.
Stringing: six strings
Soundboard: two-piece spruce, fine grain broadening toward edges
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut cypress divided by rosewood back stripe
Sides: two-piece, quarter-cut cypress divided by rosewood end graft strip, painted with grain lines, surrounded by narrow light and dark hardwood purfling strips
Head: Spanish cedar (cedrela odorata) veneered with rosewood on front face; two tuner roller slots
Neck: Spanish cedar (cedrela odorata)
Heel cap: cypress
Binding: rosewood surrounded with light and dark hardwood strips on top and sides, no trim on back
Fingerboard: rosewood; 19 nickel-silver T-frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: dark hardwood tie bridge with striated coloration and no open pores with chamfered ends; bone saddle; bone edging around entire tie block with light and dark hardwood trim
Tuners: two sets of nickel-silver and steel worm-gear machine heads with white plastic rollers, white plastic heads, the plates decorative upper and lower edges and rolled decoration; later; one original tuner in case with nickel-silver plate, steel worm gear, ivory plastic roller and head; the plate with lyre on one end and rolled decoration
Endpin: none
Rosette: natural and dark hardwood mosaic surrounded on each side with strips of light, red, brown, and dark green hardwood
Finish: clear
Linings: small individual Spanish cedar (cedrela odorata) triangular blocks ('peones') blocks between top and sides; Spanish cedar (cedrela odorata) kerfed lining between back and sides
Headblock: integral with neck; Spanish cedar; long heel on side toward back
Tailblock: Spanish cedar
Top braces: bracing consists of seven fan-shaped spruce bars, with two oblique bottom ones, two horizontal bars above and below the rose, two reinforcements on each side of the rose (but no small diagonal bars). The seven spruce bars have a triangular shape and vertical grain, touch the brace below the rose, and are tapered at the bottom, for about one inch.
Back braces: cypress back graft; three spruce back braces with tapered ends set into liningDimensionsTotal guitar length: 975 mm
Back length: 481 mm
Upper bout width: 277 mm
Waist width: 244 mm
Lower bout width: 368 mm
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 94 mm
Rib height, at waist: 95 mm
Rib height, at tailblock: 100 mm
Head length: 172 mm
Head width, top: 65 mm
Head width, bottom: 66 mm
Neck length (nut to ribs): 325 mm
Neck width, nut: 50 mm
Neck width, heel: 59 mm
Soundhole diameter: 820 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 654 mm
Scale length: 652 mmProvenanceAccording to the letter sent with the guitar, the donor notes, "I studied this instrument in Spain and knew Mr. Ramirez and his wife [illegible]. Mr. Ramirez repaired this guitar twice for me. (It does not withstand changes of temperature or humidity.")
Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Wilcox, 1991
Object number15063
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