Biography
Born in Madrid, Amalia Ramírez began her apprenticeship in the workshop in 1976 under the guidance of her father. Her training paused while he dedicated time to other disciplines that later supported his work within the company. She returned in 1988 to assist her brother José Enrique Ramírez with the restructuring and management of the business. The siblings divided responsibilities: José Enrique focused primarily on construction in the workshop, while Amalia assumed the commercial role, returning to guitar making after the establishment of the premises in General Margallo Street number 10.
This change, introduced in early 1993, restored the original concept of a reduced workshop and limited production. Today, all handcrafted guitars are made exclusively on request to meet the individual needs of each guitarist. At the same time, the shop operates as an internal customer, giving players the opportunity to try various models.
In the summer of 1995, the shop moved from Calle Concepción Jerónima 2 to the new location at Calle de la Paz 8. Following the death of her brother José Enrique in June 2000, Amalia assumed full responsibility for the business, dividing her work between the workshop and the shop. She oversees the inspection of guitars built in the workshop both during and after the construction process and is also responsible for designing new Studio and Professional models.
Among her experiments are developments using new materials to increase projection, volume and openness of sound, resulting in the line known as the “Auditorium Model”. She has also explored the use of golden proportions, following the path of her father, as documented by one of the guitars preserved in the company’s collection.
During her tenure, some of the brand’s most distinctive and original designs have been created, further strengthening the presence of the Ramírez name. Notable examples include the handmade “Aniversario” guitar and the commemorative study models “125 años”, “130 años” and “Guitarra del Tiempo”.
She also created the SP guitar, now the SPR, serving as an intermediate model between the studio guitars and the handcrafted instruments. Half of the construction is carried out in Spanish factories, while the remaining work is completed in the workshop, including adjustments and final supervision. This final step is essential, as Guitarras Ramírez does not simply receive the instruments from the factory; each guitar undergoes approximately half an hour of inspection and adjustment to meet the brand’s quality standards.
The “Guitarra Conservatorio” is another of Amalia’s contributions, offering an accessible introduction to high-level professional models. This design of simpler construction has since been replaced by the “Simple Concert Model”, which incorporates further structural improvements.
Amalia has also trained her nephew and niece, Cristina and José Enrique Ramírez, both children of José IV, who now proudly continue the family tradition. They run the company today as the fifth generation of the Ramírez dynasty, guided and supervised by Amalia, who continues to design each model with the support of the new generation.
Amalia Ramírez was one of the first women to enter the field of guitar making, transforming the perception of the craft and paving the way for her niece Cristina and other women in a profession that remains challenging for them. Her work was made possible by the support of the men in the family, who consistently valued her initiative, creativity and dedication.
