1964 Daniel Friederich "Recital" SP/CSAR

This 1964 Daniel Friederich "Recital" is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar from his early Paris workshop on the rue Ramponneau – a rare Recital model whose label carries a handwritten dedication from Friederich himself.

In the videos above, Eric Henderson plays Sting's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", and eleven-year-old Justin Chen plays Villa-Lobos' Étude No. 11 on this guitar.

A Dedicated Recital Model from 1964

This is one of the rare "Recital" models, as indicated aesthetically by the flat relief on the head veneer and solid purfling in the rosette (as opposed to herringbone). The label, dated "1964" by hand, has a charming detail at its foot: Friederich dedicated this guitar to its first owner – "à Camille, bien amicalement, DF". It features the classic (and in our opinion, one of the most beautiful) plantillas ever designed.

Sound and Playability

This is an exquisite spruce Friederich. Tone is simply out of this world – rich and silky, smooth and full, marrying together the best qualities of the mid-century spruce guitar with Friederich's unique sound, with clear separation and balance across the entire range. This instrument is a concert player's workhorse: a comfortable, sleek and easy neck (by comparison with instruments built in later periods), great responsiveness for the right hand, and enough volume to fill any sized hall.

Condition

Condition is excellent for its age – there is one repaired crack in the back and one in the top, down nearly at the foot of the guitar, and otherwise some checking in the finish. 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