2008 Thomas Fredholm CD/IN (ex John Dearman)

Swedish guitar maker Thomas Fredholm has been making instruments for several decades, all beginning with an infatuation over a Martin steel-string guitar. His classical guitars have been played on by several famous artists over the years, including David Russell, Mattias Jacobsson and even Andy Summers (of The Police). This example from 2008 has had only one owner to date - Grammy award-winner John Dearman of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. See below for his reflections on this instrument.

This guitar features a double top made of cedar - lightly braced internally with only 5 fans. Indian rosewood was used for the back, but curiously... CSA rosewood for the sides. We've only ever seen dual use of these woods once before, in a 1986 Miguel Rodriguez that had CSA rosewood for the back and Indian rosewood for the sides. It is trimmed out with snakewood inlays and Sloane tuning machines. The sound is typical of a modern instrument - powerful, responsive and deep with a quick, punchy responsiveness. Overall, a very well-made instrument, easily capable of concert use. There is a very thin, hairline crack on the outer soundboard that is stable due to the reinforcements of the double-top system below it, and apart from some wear from nearly 20 years of regular use, the guitar is in otherwise concert-ready condition with easy action and excellent playability.

I first met Thomas at the Iserlohn guitar festival in 2007. Often at Iserlohn there is a phenomenon where there will be a certain buzz amongst the attendees and performers and teachers. And in that year, the buzz was about Fredholm. Several players ordered guitars based on the guitar that he was showing at the festival, including David Russell, who I believe did some videos playing his Fredholm. I ordered a six string and a seven string and I played the seven string with the Quartet for about six or seven years, including a few recordings. Although I never performed on this six-string, I hung onto it because I always found it a very satisfying guitar to play. Great playability, and a warm and focused sound.

- John Dearman, November 2025