Daniel Friederich - 1974 No. 394
Daniel Friederich - 1974 No. 394
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
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Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
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More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Daniel Friederich was born on January 16, 1932, and passed away in 2020. Although he initially aspired to become a guitarist, financial limitations led him to approach the instrument through craftsmanship. At the age of twenty-three, inspired by a Simplicio model, he built his first guitar. His early progress was closely supported by his teacher Christian Aubin, who was himself an experienced luthier. After gaining practical experience and crafting his own tools, Friederich presented his fifteenth guitar to Robert Bouchet, whose influence would remain foundational throughout his career. Over time, Friederich refined and expanded on many of Bouchet’s ideas, developing a distinctive and highly personal style.
For decades, Daniel Friederich was regarded as one of the most influential and respected luthiers in the world. His instruments set new standards for clarity, balance, and responsiveness in the classical guitar. Even after he ceased building guitars in 2015 and sold his tools, his reputation only deepened. Today, Friederich guitars are considered milestones of twentieth-century luthiery, prized for their reliability, musical authority, and unique voice.
About the guitar
Built in 1974, this instrument bears the number 394 and represents Daniel Friederich's traditional concert model. It features a finely crafted cedar soundboard with notably tight grain, paired with Indian rosewood back and sides. The aesthetic quality of the woods is striking, and the craftsmanship is consistent with Friederich’s renowned precision. Tonally, the guitar exemplifies the qualities for which his work is celebrated: seamless balance across all registers, a robust and singing sustain, and effortless clarity. The response remains even along the entire fingerboard, allowing each note to emerge with equal intensity. This is a guitar that offers both control and depth, ideal for refined concert performance.
Condition
The guitar is in very good condition. One crack on the soundboard has been expertly repaired with cleats and is barely visible to the naked eye. The French polish has been refreshed at some point.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.