1976 Daniel Friederich No. 431 CD/CSAR

This 1976 Daniel Friederich No. 431 is a cedar and CSA rosewood classical guitar from Paris – a mid-1970s Friederich with the rare combination of a cedar top and CSA rosewood back and sides.

No. 431: Cedar and CSA Rosewood

By the mid-1970s Friederich had moved to the heavier construction he began around 1973, for more sustain and a richer, sweeter voice, and cedar had become the top of choice for most of his guitars. Here it is paired with CSA rosewood for the back and sides – something we see only occasionally from this maker, as the great majority of his cedar guitars are in Indian rosewood. The label reads "Année 1976, No. 431", rue Sergent Bauchat, Paris 12e.

The Sound of a 1970s Friederich

These are the guitars that made his name with concert players around the world: a tone like soft, fine silk, warm and round, with balanced layers of overtones over a clear fundamental, and the power and presence of a true "concert grand" of a guitar – all with the elegant plantilla, carved head and refined detailing that make a Friederich so easy to recognize. Like all his guitars from this period, it is a very desirable instrument for player and collector alike.

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