Daniel Friederich, 1974

This 1974 Daniel Friederich No. 387 is an extraordinarily rare example from one of the most revered makers in classical guitar history. While Friederich almost exclusively used Indian rosewood for his back and sides, this guitar was built with Brazilian rosewood, a wood he used only on a very small number of instruments. Only a handful of Friederich guitars are known to exist with Brazilian rosewood, making this a remarkable outlier within his body of work.

The Brazilian rosewood set itself is exceptional. Rather than the dramatic figure often associated with the species, this guitar features beautifully straight-grained Brazilian rosewood, with subtle spidering that reveals its identity upon closer inspection. This type of material is both visually elegant and extraordinarily rare.

Paired with a mature cedar top, the result is a guitar that stands comfortably among the finest Friederich instruments I have encountered. Having this instrument in the shop truly feels like a genuine “pinch me” moment.

Specs

Year: 1974
Serial Number: 387
Top: Cedar
Back & Sides: Brazilian rosewood
Scale Length: 650mm
Nut Width: 54mm
String Spacing at Saddle: 43.5mm
Tuners: Original Fustero
Condition: Excellent for its age, no cracks

The guitar is currently strung with D’Addario XTC45FF, featuring carbon G and B strings paired with a nylon high-tension first string.

Sound & Playability

The voice of this guitar is everything one hopes to find in a great Daniel Friederich. The sound is deep, balanced, and regal, with remarkable evenness across the entire fingerboard.

One of the defining qualities is how uniform the response is from note to note. Playing chromatic passages reveals a perfectly consistent sustain and volume across the strings, giving the player tremendous confidence and control. Every pitch blooms naturally without any note jumping out or disappearing in the texture.

The tonal character is warm and powerful, with a sweetness that remains present whether played in the lower positions or higher up the neck. Each string retains its own clear identity while remaining beautifully integrated into the overall voice of the instrument.

The neck profile is typical of Friederich’s work from this era: comfortable and balanced, neither overly thick nor overly slim. The guitar currently plays with a low, comfortable action, allowing expressive playing without buzz.

Construction & Details

The craftsmanship throughout is classic Friederich, from the instantly recognizable rosette design to the decorative tie-block motif and elegant purfling around the body.

The headstock features Friederich’s beautiful engraved central motif, polished to a higher degree than the surrounding surface so that it catches the light. The guitar retains its original Fustero tuning machines, which function smoothly and complement the instrument perfectly.

Final Thoughts

Daniel Friederich guitars are among the most celebrated instruments in the classical guitar world, played and recorded by generations of great artists. Within that already distinguished lineage, examples built with Brazilian rosewood are extraordinarily uncommon.

This 1974 No. 387 stands as a rare and compelling instrument that combines Friederich’s unmistakable voice with one of the most coveted tonewoods ever used in guitar making.

The guitar presents very well for its age, with typical cosmetic wear consistent with a well-played instrument now more than fifty years old, including light arm wear and small marks in the top.

The polish has been professionally touched up by a world-class specialist, and the guitar remains crack free, an impressive attribute for a Friederich of this vintage.