C-644, Michel Belair (Canada)

Description

Concert classical guitar by

Michel Belair

” Hommage a Daniel Friederich “

Made in 2019

Guitar N-137

650mm scale with 52mm nut width

Canadian red cedar top

Indian rosewood back & sides

Honduran mahogany neck

Ebony fingerboard

Madagascar rosewood bridge

Indian rosewood headstock veneer

Rodgers hand made tuning machines

French polish finishing

Hard shell case included

Guitars weight is 1.678 kg / 3.7 lbs

Body length is 48.577  cm / 19.125 inches

Upper bout is 27.94 cm  / 11 inches

Body dept is 10.16 cm / 4 inches

Lower bout is 36.83 cm / 14.5 inches

Neck depth 1st fret 2.3241 cm / 0.915 inches

Neck depth 7th fret 2.3622 cm / 0.93 inches

*** Daniel Friederich was a true master who forever transformed the modern classical guitar. Over the course of six decades, the development of his craft set new standards for the traditional concert guitar and his status as a guitar builder has reached legendary proportions. ***

Michel Belair has rendered a faithful homage to one of Classical Lutherie’s late masters, Daniel Friederich. With this model from 2019. Belair, a professional musician in addition to being a builder, has owned two Friederichs, #557 and #763, the latter of which was used as the basis for this Hommage model.

Belair was able to use Friederich’s personal notes from that build in order to dial in every aspect of the build, from the density and deflection of the Cedar top (with matching grain and coloration to the original) to the interior side laminations of Mahogany (Rosewood outside) and Rodgers tuners.

In addition to lutherie, Michel’s background is as a player and he owns and has played two original Friederich guitars for many years. Both of his primary teachers (Alvaro Pierri and Roberto Aussel) have also played Friederich guitars for the majority of their careers. So it is with this long-term appreciation and understanding of these instruments that Michel Belair has set out to recreate the style and sound of this great builder.

The result is phenomenal. The instrument sings, clarity across all the registers, with a powerful and balanced bass response that pairs well with sweet, articulate trebles.