Craftsmanship is experiencing a renaissance. This is demonstrated by the recent episode of RTVE’s Comando Actualidad entitled ‘Manos que crean’ (Hands that create), which explored how traditional crafts are making a strong comeback in contemporary Spain. Among the protagonists of this episode, broadcast during prime time, was our workshop: Ramírez Guitars.
A craft with soul
Since 1882, five generations of the Ramírez family have devoted their lives to building guitars. In this special programme, Cristina, Amalia and Enrique Ramírez opened the doors of the workshop to show how each instrument is the result of a legacy passed down with love and precision.
As Cristina explained, the secret of Ramírez’s success lies in ‘love, dedication and the desire to constantly improve’. Beyond the product, the programme showed the process: selected woods, expert hands and an atmosphere of respect for the craft that permeates every corner of the workshop.
The guild structure: learning as in the past
One of the aspects that most caught the attention of the programme was the validity of the traditional guild system still practised at Ramírez Guitars. Apprentices, second and first officers, and master guitar makers coexist in the same space, sharing knowledge, mistakes and discoveries. This hierarchy, far from being obsolete, is what guarantees that excellence is maintained from generation to generation.
For Amalia Ramírez, master guitar maker and one of the most respected figures in the sector, the true value of the workshop lies in ‘passing on the craft and knowledge to others’. Her steady, serene gaze embodies the essence of an art that cannot be learned from manuals, but only by working side by side with those who have dedicated their lives to it.
A guitar with history… and personality
The report also focused on a truth that many musicians know, but which is sometimes difficult to explain: a handmade guitar sounds different. And not just different, but better. Because every Ramírez guitar has a soul. It is the result of hundreds of hours, of conscious decisions, of mistakes carefully corrected. Compared to a machine-produced guitar, the difference is as noticeable as listening to a recorded voice compared to a live voice.
That is why so many renowned artists have chosen a Ramírez throughout history. Because they seek not only quality, but authenticity.
Watch the full programme
For those who were unable to watch the broadcast or would like to know more about this episode dedicated to Spain’s new artisans, here is the direct link to the full programme on RTVE Play:
🎬 Watch ‘Manos que crean’ on RTVE Play
An opportunity to rediscover the value of handmade items. To learn about other voices and hands that, like ours, create with purpose.
