Manuel Ramírez (guitar maker) facts for kids
Manuel Ramírez (born 1864, died 1916) was a famous Spanish luthier. A luthier is someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments like guitars. He was known for making beautiful guitars.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Manuel Ramírez was born in 1864 in a town called Alhama in Spain. His full name was Manuel Ramírez de Galarreta y Planet. His father, José Ramírez de Galarreta, was a wealthy landowner. Manuel's older brother, José Ramírez, was also a luthier. In 1882, José opened his own guitar-making workshop in Madrid. Manuel joined his brother there to learn the craft.
Starting His Own Business
In 1891, Manuel Ramírez planned to move to Paris to start his own workshop. His brother José even offered to help him. However, Manuel changed his mind. He decided to open his workshop in Madrid instead. This new workshop was in direct competition with his brother's business. Because of this, the brothers became enemies and never spoke to each other again. Manuel first opened his shop at Cava Baja nº 24. He later moved to Plaza de Santa Ana nº 5, and then to Calle Arlabán nº 10 in 1897. He stayed there until 1912, when he moved next door to nº 11.
Growing the Workshop
A luthier named Enrique Garcia (1868-1922) had started learning with José Ramírez in 1883. He later joined Manuel Ramírez's new workshop. It took some time for Manuel's business to get many customers. To earn money, Manuel worked as an electrician for a while. During this time, Enrique Garcia managed the guitar workshop. The workshop also made violins. In 1893, Manuel won a medal at the Chicago Fair for his work.
Manuel's Guitar Style
Manuel Ramírez's guitars followed the ideas of a famous guitar maker named Antonio Torres. Many people saw Manuel as Torres's successor. However, Manuel also liked to experiment and improve Torres's ideas. He started making guitars that had a lighter, more delicate sound. These guitars became very popular with flamenco musicians. Manuel trained several other luthiers. These included Antonio Emilio Pascual Viudes, Domingo Esteso (1882–1937), and Modesto Borreguero (1893-1969). Modesto became his apprentice when he was just 12 years old. Manuel Ramírez was also known for making excellent violins.
New Foremen
In 1895, Enrique Garcia left Manuel's workshop to start his own business in Barcelona. Around 1905, Manuel hired Santos Hernandez (1873 - 1943) as his new foreman. By 1912, Manuel Ramírez was named the official luthier for the National Conservatoire in Madrid.
Andrés Segovia and a Special Guitar
In 1912, a young guitar player named Andrés Segovia visited Manuel Ramírez. Segovia needed to rent a guitar for a concert. The guitar he was using was not good enough. After hearing Segovia play, Manuel Ramírez gave him a guitar. This guitar had been mostly made by Santos Hernandez. Segovia used this special guitar in concerts and recordings from 1912 to 1937. He even played it at his first concert in the United States in 1929.
Later, the guitar developed a crack. Segovia then started using a guitar made by Hermann Hauser. Segovia's performances with Manuel's guitar helped other musicians notice Manuel Ramírez's style and Santos Hernandez's skill. Segovia's wife, Emilita, later gave the guitar to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. You can see it there today.
Death and Legacy
Manuel Ramírez died on February 25, 1916. He did not have any children. After his death, Modesto Borreguero, who had been his apprentice, planned to open his own workshop. However, Manuel's widow asked Borreguero, Esteso, and Hernandez to stay and continue the business. Guitars made during this time have a label that says Vuida de Manuel Ramírez, which means "Widow of Manuel Ramírez." Domingo Esteso left in 1917 to start his own workshop. Santos Hernandez followed in 1920. Hernandez became one of the greatest guitar makers of the early 20th century. Modesto Borreguero continued working for the workshop even after Manuel's widow died in 1921. The business finally closed around 1923.
Lasting Impact
In the early 1990s, Amalia and Jose IV Ramírez, who were great-grandchildren of Manuel's brother José, visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They carefully studied and measured the 1912 guitar that Manuel had given to Segovia. Based on what they learned, their company, Ramírez Guitars, created a special limited edition copy of the guitar. The first of these new guitars was released in 2003.
Notable Users of Ramírez Guitars
Some artists who have used Manuel Ramírez's guitars include:
- Francisco Calleja
- González Campos
- Andrés Segovia
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Ramírez de Galarreta y Planell para niños
- Classical guitar making
