1972 DANIEL FRIEDERICH

Daniel Friederich Concert guitar No. 332, made in 1972, in excellent original, preserved and playable condition.

This magnificent instrument by the legendary French luthier possesses all the characteristics that make his guitars among the most sought-after today: a spruce top, an Indian rosewood back, laminated sides of Indian rosewood and mahogany, and a French polish finish. The instrument’s bracing consists of seven strands arranged in a fan shape, with the two outer strands extending to the soundhole and the five central strands topped by a barre d’âme (this element is inspired by the work of Robert Bouchet, who was in many ways a mentor to Friederich). The bracing is closed at its lower end by two diagonal braces, and the upper end consists of a bar positioned perpendicular to the grain of the soundboard. The striking feature, as always with Friederich guitars, is the absolute finesse of the bracing and the meticulous, precious way in which it is adjusted and assembled—especially surprising with regard to the phenomenal power the guitar delivers! It has a 650 mm scale length and a 53 mm nut width.

By the time this guitar was created, Friederich was building only his most advanced model, the one previously designated Concert (until the early 1970s, he also produced simpler Arpeggio and Recital models, as well as a Flamenco model), and had pushed many of the components of his guitars to their limits. He tirelessly pursued his research into the acoustic qualities of his instruments and how to translate these into his lutherie work, notably through his membership in the Groupe d’Acoustique Musicale (GAM) and his friendship with Professor Émile Leipp, head of the Laboratoire d’Acoustique Musicale in Paris. This is evidenced by the double-layered ribs, a characteristic Friederich employed from the early 1970s: the inner surface of the rosewood ribs is lined with a mahogany veneer – the aim of this construction is to produce a clearer and more powerful sound. The guitar also features the typical arrow carved into the headstock veneer, and an ornate micro-marquetry rosette composed of a central motif of light rings on a black and brown background, flanked on either side by chevron patterns. The guitar is equipped with its original tuning machines, specially created for Friederich in the Fustero workshops in Spain. Daniel Friederich’s label reads “N° 332 – Année 1972 – DANIEL FRIEDERICH – 33 rue du Sergent Bauchat – Paris 12”. The guitar is branded “D. Friederich” on the neck block inside the body.

A rather rare occurrence, this guitar comes directly from its first and only owner, who acquired it in 1972 directly from Daniel Friederich. It is therefore accompanied by a copy of the original certificate issued by the luthier, attesting to its provenance. The instrument has been superbly maintained over the past fifty years, exhibiting a slight patina from use and otherwise being virtually flawless. We noted slight lifting on the central portion of the soundboard due to wood shrinkage near the central strand of the bracing. This is more a testament to the guitar’s fine construction than anything else. The area has been stabilized and remains solid and discreet, without affecting the finish. The guitar was recently restored for playing in our workshop with a complete refret, the crafting of a bone nut and saddle replicating the originals, and a complete adjustment of the action and intonation—the necessary work to achieve a perfectly balanced playing experience.

Sold in its original case, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Jérôme Casanova.