| Once you get beyond the beginner stage in | | | | elaborate mosaic rosette, rosewood body binding |
| classical guitar, you are immediately looking at | | | | and headcap. The gold machine heads with |
| serious musical instrument quality. If you do not | | | | tortoise buttons make it a guitar you will be proud |
| have a huge guitar-buying budget, you will need to | | | | to play and be seen playing for many years to |
| be quite choosy and able to bear in mind the | | | | come. |
| qualities you feel that your present guitar lacks. | | | | And now for the Jose Ramirez 4E Classical Guitar. |
| Your next classical guitar is, to a large degree, | | | | The Ramirez name has been synonymous with |
| your musical voice, so do not let a tight budget | | | | fine guitars since 1882, and the 4E Classical Guitar |
| make you buy a second grade instrument. | | | | is the top of the line. It is all made completely by |
| Let us start with Alvarez guitars, makers of a | | | | hand and contains much of the look and feel of |
| wide range of guitars. Alvarez guitars have been | | | | more expensive instruments. With hand-inlaid |
| recognized as one of the leading acoustic guitar | | | | purfling, the marquetry and detailing are the most |
| brands in the world. Alvarez guitars have been | | | | refined of all the Ramirez student guitars. |
| made in America since 1965 and are handmade in | | | | Humidicase is included. The Jose Ramirez 4E |
| limited quantities making use of traditional | | | | Classical Guitar features a Cedar soundboard, solid |
| construction techniques and naturally seasoned | | | | rosewood back and sides, Spanish cedar neck |
| wood. Because the Alvarez craftsmen do not use | | | | strengthened by ebony topped off by an ebony |
| computers to build their guitars, each guitar has its | | | | fretboard and Fustero machine heads. |
| own unique feel and character. | | | | Finally, the Manuel Contreras II C-7 Classical Guitar. |
| Alvarez Regent Series RC10 Classical Guitar is | | | | Manuel Contreras was born in 1928 and died 1994. |
| towards the more affordable end of the Alvarez | | | | He started out as a cabinet maker moved onto |
| guitar range. but the Alvarez family craftsmanship | | | | making guitars in Jose Ramirez' guitar shop in |
| still makes itself felt. A hand picked spruce top | | | | Madrid in 1959. He started his own luthier business |
| projects a warm tone topped off by mahogany | | | | in 1962. Manuel's son Pablo was born in 1957 and |
| sides and back. Rosewood fretboard and bridge | | | | presently makes guitars himself aided by a |
| and a real mosaic rosette make for a sumptuous | | | | smallish staff. Although the Contreras II C-7 guitar |
| look set off by gold machine heads. The novice | | | | is at the low end of the Contreras line, you still |
| guitar player will be pleased with the low action | | | | get the benefits of the Contreras tradition of |
| and optimal string spacing. | | | | making top quality classical guitars. This guitar |
| Alvarez Masterworks Series MC90 Classical Guitar | | | | features a light, player-friendly action and a |
| is maybe the finest classical guitar in its price | | | | satisfying clarity and evenness of tone.The Manuel |
| range. Its Indian rosewood back and sides, plus | | | | Contreras II C-7 Classical Guitar features a Solid |
| Western cedar top with precision scalloped bracing | | | | cedar top with Indian rosewood back and sides |
| are features usually found only on much more | | | | plus Honduras cedar neck and ebony fingerboard. |
| pricey guitars. This instrument features a really | | | | |