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

By Patrick Francis

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.

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.