2019 Michel Bélair "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" SP/IN

This 2019 Michel Bélair "Hommage à Daniel Friederich" is a classical guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Montreal, Canada – our first spruce-top "Hommage", based on two late Friederich spruce guitars.

Our First Spruce-Top "Hommage"

Michel has built several cedar Friederich "Hommage" guitars, but this is our first spruce one from him. It is based on detailed measurements of two spruce Friederich guitars – a 2001, and Alvaro Pierri's 2006 – both strongly representative of Friederich's late style. As usual, Michel selected his materials to match the densities and grain spacing of the originals as closely as possible, to achieve the same deflection, stiffness and frequency as the original Friederich tops.

Construction

As on the originals, the Indian rosewood sides are laminated internally with mahogany, and the neck is Honduran mahogany. All the detailing is true to Friederich, including the carved headstock, purflings and rosette, and the guitar is fitted with the same model of Rodgers tuning machines as Friederich used.

Sound

The sound is powerful and responsive, with rich basses, thick trebles and a distinctive velvety, silky tone, plus impressive sustain and a very linear decay. Fans of Friederich will love this instrument – exceptionally well made and a true tribute to the legendary Daniel Friederich.

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.