1962 Daniel Friederich "Flamenco Blanca" SP/CY

This 1962 Daniel Friederich is a spruce and cypress flamenco blanca built in Paris – one of only eight flamenco blancas he built, with tuning machines he made himself, and as fine a classical guitar as it is a flamenco.

In the videos above, Robert Wang plays the Allemande from Handel's Keyboard Suite in D minor, and Miguel Ángel Carrillo plays Güicho Cisneros' "Gema" on this guitar – the same instrument in both worlds.

One of Eight Friederich Flamenco Guitars

This is a very rare example of a flamenco blanca from this maker. We first "met" this guitar about 20 years ago and contacted Friederich for details. He confirmed that he had only built 8 of these, and even made the tuning machines himself! Its early label, printed "Daniel Friederich, à Paris, 21 rue Ramponneau", dates from his first workshop address.

Antonio Rey's Choice

It is an absolutely stunning guitar for sound, and only a day before listing this instrument, flamenco master Antonio Rey was visiting our showroom and after playing dozens of guitars, felt this was the best in his hands! What is incredible is that it sounds equally majestic as a classical, but also has a stunning flamenco sound – a very versatile instrument depending on how it's played. It's very colorful, with a big bottom-end and a warm, earthy, old-world sound. It's feather-light, and has fantastic (to quote Antonio Rey) "pulsation" – a sensational "feel" against the player's body that really connects the player to the instrument.

Playability and Condition

It is a concert player's workhorse and is incredibly playable – featuring a comfortable, sleek and easy neck (by comparison with instruments built in later periods with bulkier necks) and incredible responsiveness for the right hand, with enough volume to fill any sized hall. Condition is excellent with 3 well-repaired and very stable cracks in the top, as well as two other (invisible) cracks on either side of the fingerboard. Not only a player's dream, but also very rare and collectible.

Daniel Friederich: Paris Master of the French School

Daniel Friederich (1932–2020) was one of the most respected and influential classical guitar makers of the twentieth century. Born in Paris, he built his first guitar in 1955 – a simple copy of a Francisco Simplicio – became a full-time maker in his Paris workshop in 1960 after showing his work to Robert Bouchet, and in 1967 won top prizes at the legendary Liège competition: a gold medal for craftsmanship and a silver for sound, awarded anonymously by a jury that included Bouchet and Ignacio Fleta.

The elegant body shape and the distinctive headstock with its raised central design make his guitars easy to recognize, and they are known for their unsurpassed aesthetic as well as their beautiful and magisterial quality of tone. Many of the best players in the world have played them, including the Romeros, Manuel Barrueco, Julian Bream, Scott Tennant, Roberto Aussel, Eduardo Fernández, Álvaro Pierri and David Tanenbaum.

Concert, Recital and Arpège Models

In the 1960s Friederich built two main lines: the "Concert" model – his most advanced guitar, with a carved head, specially designed machine heads, the finest woods and a serial number on the label – and the less expensive "Recital" and "Arpège" models, which carried no serial number. From 1970 on he made only "Concert" guitars, each label giving the number and year. In his own words, his earlier guitars were "relatively simple, pleasant to play" with a "quite explosive" sound; from about 1973 he increased their weight, for more sustain and a richer, sweeter voice.

Daniel Friederich and GSI

GSI was proud to be Friederich's exclusive worldwide dealer for his new guitars until he retired in 2014, and for over 20 years we received one guitar a year from him. He passed away in Paris on November 4, 2020, at the age of 88 – read our tribute. You can also read Andrea Tacchi's interview with Daniel Friederich.

Books on Daniel Friederich

The bilingual book "Luthier d'Art" is the most complete record of his life and work; Orfeo Magazine No. 2 is devoted to him (see our post or read the issue online), and a 2008 Friederich is among the guitars shown in Orfeo's "34 Classical Guitars in Life Size":

Daniel Friederich 1932-2020: Luthier d'Art

Orfeo Magazine 1-5

Orfeo – 34 Classical Guitars in Life Size