Charango by Ramirez

This Charango by Ramirez was made in charango capital Cochabamba, Bolivia. Charango is often acknowledged as being their national instrument and Ramirez is recognised as one of Cochabambas top charango luthiers.

The one piece body has been carved from one large lump of dark Jacaranda, one of the preferred timbers for a really good tone. The charango “blank” is then seasoned naturally in the dry high altitudes for many months, then the fine work begins.

The higher quality instruments are carefully finish by hand and the fingerboard is left natural, which is a good sign. The lower quality charangos often have fancy designs on the back in order to attract the customers eye and are laquered all over (fingerboard too). Which is not a good sign and we do not stock these instruments.

Charangos come in quite a variety body designs and this Ramirez is quite striking and possibly a little modern.

The front has a  forward section made from ebony, a notoriously challenging and expensive timber to work with. The body of this Ramirez charango is made from a dark Jacaranda that has a deep lustre and swirling figuring in it’s grain. Needless to say, this is a cut above a regular instrument.