Up for sale, a 1983 José Ramirez 1a C530 Alto alto guitar in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Considered the oldest running direct lineage of Spanish luthiers, seamlessly passing on the tradition since the late 1800s, Jose Ramirez guitars are a cornerstone of the Madrid school of guitar makers and are world renowned for good reason. Famously designated "1a" (which stands for "primera" in Spanish, and means "1st" or "highest" quality), the 1a represents Ramirez's top quality workmanship, with exquisite detail and wood choice. This particular 1a is an extremely rare alto iteration with a short 530mm scale length, a slightly scaled-down body (335mm across at the lower bout) with an asymmetrical design for access to the upper registers, including the fretboard extension (up to 21 frets) beneath the high E string. Six-string alto guitars are relatively rare, with the name typically used to describe an 11-string instrument.

This meticulously crafted guitar comes from the era of José Ramirez III and features a Ramirez-braced (a technique developed by JR III utilizing spruce bracing and combining ladder and fan bracing styles) solid cedar top, solid rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck capped with an ebony fingerboard. Despite its smaller stature, this Ramirez has a high volume ceiling, with a remarkably musical vitality and immediacy. The shorter scale length ensures a certain treble sweetness, and there’s a harmonic richness to the midrange that presents as a natural, airy reverb when notes ring out. This Ramirez 1a C530 Alto has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with normal tension strings and ideal action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany (two-piece)
-Shape: Medium D, measuring .850” 1st fret, .960” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 530mm (20.87”)
-Nut: 52mm (2.05”), bone, 44mm string spacing
-Tuners: Open-gear strip, pearloid buttons

Body Specs:

-Wood: Cedar (top), East Indian rosewood
-Bracing: Ramirez proprietary hybrid design, spruce
-Bridge: Rosewood, bone saddle, 55mm string spacing
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling
-Label: Dated 1983, signed by JR III

This is a crack-free instrument, with cosmetic wear limited to a few light finish scratches on the back and a couple superficial dings on the lower bout on top. The gloss on the neck profile is flawless.

The original hardshell case is included.