1980 Daniel Friederich No. 506 CD/IN

This 1980 Daniel Friederich No. 506 is a cedar and Indian rosewood classical guitar from Paris, with the fullness, robustness and depth of sound of his best cedar instruments.

In the video above, Nemanja Bogunovic plays his own piece "Encounter" on this guitar.

No. 506: the Depth of His Best Cedar Guitars

Daniel Friederich's guitars are known for their unsurpassed aesthetic as well as for their beautiful and magisterial quality of tone, and have been played by Angel Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Julian Bream, Scott Tennant and many others. This guitar from 1980 – "No. 506" on its label – has the fullness, robustness and depth of sound that Friederich is known for in his best cedar instruments.

A Thundering Concert Grand

Soft as fine silk, the tone builds controlled, balanced layers of overtones on a crystal-clear fundamental. Its almost cathedral-like presence gives it plenty of power for any concert hall – it has a thundering presence, and is a true "concert grand" of a guitar. These instruments are among the most prized among collectors, and they have been and continue to be played by top concert artists worldwide. An extremely desirable Friederich for both sound and collectability.

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