Charles & Patrick - 2025 No. 508 Friederich ON HOLD

Charles & Patrick - 2025 No. 508 Friederich ON HOLD

Overview

About the luthiers

The Charles & Patrick workshop was founded in 2008 by the Cao brothers, Hongzhang Cao and Yupeng Cao. Their instruments are shaped by a deep appreciation for the German school of guitar making, particularly the work of Gerhard Oldiges, Antonius Müller, and Michel Brück, whose refined approaches to tone and construction continue to inspire their pursuit of precision and musicality within the European classical tradition.

Charles Cao, in particular, brings a unique perspective as a classical guitar performer and collector. His systematic study of playing technique informs the design of each instrument, resulting in guitars that not only exhibit excellent tonal balance but are also highly responsive to a performer’s expressive intentions. The brothers’ collaborative approach bridges tradition and innovation, with a focus on clarity, musicality, and consistency.

About the guitar

This 2025 instrument, No. 508, is a tribute to the legacy of Daniel Friederich. It features a spruce soundboard, reminiscent of the tonewood choices Friederich favored in his early concert models of the 1960s. The construction follows a traditional fan-bracing layout with seven symmetrically arranged struts, a thin reinforcement plate beneath the bridge, and a harmonic bar running across the lower bout.

The guitar is finished entirely in French polish and made with Indian rosewood back and sides. The choice of tonewoods and structural design pays homage to the sound aesthetic of the late master, with particular attention to warmth, sustain, and balance across the fretboard. The result is a guitar that combines heritage with the precision of modern craftsmanship.

This Friederich model delivers a beautifully centered tone with remarkable clarity and evenness across all strings. Sustain is long yet naturally controlled, and the decay is gradual and musical, allowing overtones to develop without overwhelming the core voice. The balance between registers is finely tuned, making the guitar ideal for expressive solo repertoire. With its relatively light build and intuitive response, this instrument invites a refined touch and rewards nuanced phrasing, making it well-suited for performers seeking both projection and tonal subtlety.

Luthier: Charles & Patrick
Construction year: 2025
Construction type: Traditional
Top: Spruce
Back and sides: Indian rosewood
Finish: French polish
Air body frequency: G #
Scale: 650 mm
Nut: 51.5 mm
Weight: 1730 grams
Tuners: Perona
Strings: Knobloch - EDC 34.0
Condition: New
Case: Hardshell

Details about GPSR:

Classical Guitar

Manufacturer Information:

Charles & Patrick

Responsible Person:

Siccas Guitars GmbH, Roonstr. 31, 76137 Karlsruhe, Germany, www.siccasguitars.com, info@siccasguitars.com

Note: For antique guitars, the GPSR does not apply.

View full details

Video overview

Charles & Patrick 2025 No. 508 Friederich Classical Guitar Review
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  • Classical Guitar

    The classical guitar, with its soft nylon strings and characteristic timbre, has become a symbol of chamber music, Spanish tradition, and concert repertoire. Its modern form was shaped by Antonio de Torres in the 19th century, setting the standard for the body, fan bracing, and the 65-centimeter scale length that are still used today. Instruments in this category open up a rich palette from the refined Romantic miniatures of Tárrega to the majestic concertos of Rodrigo. Here you will find guitars that preserve historical continuity and at the same time inspire new interpretations.
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