2022 Michel Bélair "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" CD/IN

This 2022 Michel Bélair "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" is a classical guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Montreal, Canada, after Daniel Friederich's 1999 guitar No. 763.

An Homage to Daniel Friederich

Daniel Friederich's six decades of work set new standards for the concert classical guitar and made him a legend among guitar makers. Michel's "Hommage" model is his tribute to that achievement.

Built After Friederich No. 763

The model follows Friederich No. 763, a 1999 guitar in his late style that Michel owns – together with a copy of Friederich's own building notes for it, which record details such as wood densities that no measurement of the finished guitar could reveal.

For the top Michel found 15-year-old master-grade Western red cedar matching the original's density and grain spacing – even its color – so that its stiffness and frequency come as close as possible to No. 763. The Indian rosewood sides are laminated inside with mahogany, and the neck is Honduran mahogany, just as Friederich did it. Every detail – carved headstock, purflings, rosette and inlays – reproduces Friederich's classic look, and the guitar has the same Rodgers tuners Friederich used.

Sound

Powerful and responsive, it has rich basses, thick trebles and a velvety, silky tone. Sustain is impressive and the decay remarkably even and predictable – something Michel works hard on – so the guitar stays consistent and balanced whether played softly or hard.

For Friederich Fans

Fans of Friederich will love this instrument – one of Friederich's great champions, Scott Tennant, has also played a Bélair guitar.

Michel Bélair: A Concert Guitarist Turned Luthier

Michel Bélair is a Canadian luthier based in Montreal. He developed his passion for the guitar in his early teens, which eventually led him to study guitar at McGill University, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in guitar performance under the tutelage of Alvaro Pierri. He then studied with Roberto Aussel in Paris. Michel has excellent skills as a player – his playing has been recognized with prizes and awards at various international classical guitar competitions – and he fully understands the perspective of the instrumentalist, which has had a big influence on his work as a guitar maker.

Two Original Friederich Guitars

As a performer, Michel played two original guitars by Daniel Friederich (no. 557 and no. 763), and both of his teachers, Alvaro Pierri and Roberto Aussel, also played Friederich guitars for most of their careers. This long-term exposure to – and appreciation of – Friederich's instruments inspired Michel to develop his "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" model. He also builds his own traditional and double-top models.

GSI and the "Hommage" Model

Michel pays particular attention to the decay and overall sustain of the sound. GSI is proud to be the exclusive dealer in the USA for Michel's "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" model.