Description
1972 José Ramírez 1a Blue Label — Cedar Top, Brazilian Rosewood Back and Sides
This is a pre-owned 1972 José Ramírez 1a classical guitar with a cedar top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The guitar carries the original blue Ramírez label identifying it as a 1a — the "first class" designation that Ramírez used for their top-tier production instruments. It also carries Sherry-Brener dealer stickers, indicating that it was originally imported and sold through the Sherry-Brener shop in Chicago, which served as the exclusive US distributor for José Ramírez during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Built by Arturo Sanzano in the Ramírez Workshop
The interior heel stamp identifies this guitar as the work of Arturo Sanzano, one of the master builders in the José Ramírez III workshop. Sanzano began his apprenticeship under Ramírez in 1963 and worked as a master guitar builder in the shop until 1984 — a 21-year tenure that spanned the most celebrated era of Ramírez production. After leaving the Ramírez workshop, Sanzano partnered with fellow Ramírez luthier Mariano Tezanos before opening his own independent workshop in Madrid in 1989. A Sanzano-built 1a from 1972 places this guitar squarely in his prime years within the Ramírez shop.
Condition — Sold As-Is
This guitar is being sold as a player-grade instrument at a price that reflects its condition. There is a crack on the side and visible wear on the top. This is not a collector-grade example — it is a working musician's guitar priced for someone who wants the Ramírez 1a sound and playing experience at a fraction of what a clean example would cost. Please contact us for detailed photos and a full condition report before purchasing.
About the Ramírez 1a Blue Label
During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, José Ramírez III exported two principal models: the 1a (first class) with a blue label, and the 2a (second class) with a red label. The 1a guitars received the highest-grade tonewoods and the most attention from the workshop's senior luthiers. Ramírez switched to cedar tops exclusively for 1a models around 1965–66, and the combination of a cedar soundboard with Brazilian rosewood back and sides became the signature voice of this era — warm, dark, powerful, and immediately recognizable. This is the sound heard on landmark recordings by Andrés Segovia, Christopher Parkening, and many other concert artists of the period.
The Ramírez 1a from this period typically features a 664mm scale length — slightly longer than the standard 650mm — which contributes to the guitar's signature bass depth and string tension. The instruments were built with laminated (doubled) sides for added structural reinforcement, and finished in a thick lacquer that was part of the guitar's overall tonal design.
Sherry-Brener Provenance
Sherry-Brener of Chicago held the exclusive US distribution for José Ramírez from approximately 1967 to 1977. Guitars sold through Sherry-Brener during this period often carry dealer stickers in addition to the original Ramírez label. While Sherry-Brener is also associated with the unauthorized "Segovia Model" gold label — which was applied to both 1a and 2a guitars without Ramírez's consent — the blue label on this guitar confirms it as a genuine 1a instrument.
CITES and Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is listed under CITES Appendix I, which restricts international trade. Domestic sale within the United States is permitted for pre-Convention instruments. Please contact us for details on the documentation accompanying this guitar.
Professional Setup and Inspection by XGuitars
Every guitar sold through XGuitars — new or pre-owned — receives a hands-on professional setup and thorough inspection. Owner Geoff Ferdón personally inspects and sets up each instrument, checking action height, intonation, neck relief, fret condition, tuning machines, and overall structural integrity. All instruments are stored in a climate-controlled environment at proper humidity and temperature.
If you have questions about this 1972 Ramírez 1a or would like additional photos and a detailed condition report, call us at 828-417-9515 or email sales@xguitars.com.
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