Daniel Friederich – 1963 No. 104
Daniel Friederich – 1963 No. 104
Overview
Overview
Daniel Friederich was born on the sixteenth of January 1932 and regrettably passed away in 2020. Although he had a strong desire to play the guitar, he lacked money. But at the age of 23, Friederich solved this dilemma by building his first guitar himself: a copy of a Simplicio guitar. Daniel’s guitar teacher and excellent guitar maker, Christian Aubin, was a great help to him. After building tools and gaining some experience in guitar making, Daniel Friederich showed his fifteenth guitar to Robert Bouchet. Since then, Robert Bouchet has inspired his work, and Daniel Friederich has personally developed some of R. Bouchet’s ideas throughout his career.
For decades, Daniel Friederich was one of the most important and respected active luthiers in the world. After a long and successful career, he stopped making guitars in 2015 and sold all his tools. Today, he is undoubtedly one of the most respected and admired guitar makers in history.
The “Concert Model” No. 104, crafted in 1963 by renowned luthier Daniel Friederich, is a seminal piece in the world of classical guitars, marking the beginning of his legendary career. This instrument showcases Friederich's initial style heavily influenced by Antonio de Torres, featuring a beautifully crafted spruce soundboard reinforced with seven fan bracings typical of the Torres design. The result is a guitar that delivers a sound as rich and deep as it is vibrant. Its trebles are particularly notable, offering pristine clarity and a richness in overtones reminiscent of a bell’s resonant chime, complemented by a sustain that enhances the guitar’s captivating sonic appeal. The basses are warm and robust, providing a perfect counterbalance and ensuring the sound profile remains harmoniously well-rounded.
This particular instrument has historical significance, being from the same year Friederich built an experimental guitar for Ida Presti under the guidance of Alexander Lagoya, and featuring the same 66 cm scale as this guitar No. 104. Notably, it also bears the first label in the style that Friederich designed in 1959, displaying the address 21 rue Ramponneau. The guitar remains in great condition, with two glued hairline cracks next to the fingerboard and one on the middle joint of the soundboard; all are stable and considered purely cosmetic. These minor imperfections do not detract from its status as a rare and valuable piece, capturing the essence of Friederich’s early contributions to classical guitar craftsmanship.
Luthier: | Daniel Friederich |
Construction year: | 1963 |
Top: | Spruce |
Back and sides: | Brazilian rosewood (CITES certified) |
Scale: | 660 mm |
Nut: | 51,5 mm |
Weight: | 1630 grams |
Air body frequency: | G# |
Tuners: | Fustero |
Strings: | Knobloch EDC 34.0 |
Case: | Hardshell |
Condition: | Very Good |






















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