NGD - Froggy Bottom Set - H12 & H14

[Wespj10]

The Music Emporium had two similar builds on order with Froggy Bottom. Both were German Spruce and 'The Tree' Mahogany. Knowing just how good The Tree could sound I jumped at reserving these two. The H12 just came in today and it feels like the set is now complete (the H14 arrived ~30 days ago).

While these sets of The Tree have a more rustic look than a lot of sets I've seen, it seems to fit well with the creamy white top and the maple binding. And the tone is incredible, very lush with an unbelievable amount of overtones.

[Condition1]

Outstanding

Congrats!!!

[Steadfastly]

Why anyone would want just one of those ugly guitars is beyond me, let alone two of them.

Now to be serious. They are quite stunning. Ever since I heard my first Froggy Bottom I am taken by them. If ever I ordered a guitar from a custom luthier, it would be a Froggy Bottom. IMHO, I think they make the best sounding guitars.

[BrunoBlack]

Gorgeous guitars. I own 3 of Michael’s guitars, but they didn’t come all at once like these. These are magnificent. You really have something special. I can imagine the warm thump of the H-12 and the beautiful harmonics that will only get better with time. Looking at your signature I see you have a great collection. Congratulations!

[brencat]

Wesley! Talk about hat tricks with that 1934 SCGC and now these two with The Tree. How do these Froggies compare with the SC Tree OM in terms of clarity, bass response, and playability/feel ?

Play them all in good health. Spectacular collection!!

[Quake17]

Wow! Congrats on the pair of Froggies! I'll be interested in reading how they compare. I have an H-12 and an SJ in the same wood combination but they are obviously different sizes and not "The Tree".

[Kh1967]

Congratulations to you - beautiful!

[fingerwalker]

Froggies are great guitars. The Tree frogs I’m sure are magnificent in looks and sound.
I see TME has a used Froggy parlor, addi over walnut. Not The Tree, but still lustful!

[Wespj10]

Thanks for all of the kind words and congrats. It’s still early going on the H12 so these comparisons may change.

The Froggies are more rich sounding than the 1934 OM. They have more sustain and greater overtones as well. I think the overtones are a combination of the German Spruce and the Froggy body depth, and Froggy sound generally. I am surprised by the sustain from both Froggies. It may not be much longer than the 1934, but the additional overtones create the sense of significantly more sustain. For certain, the Tree has far more volume out of the mids, whereas the Brazilian 1934 has more treble. As far as bass response goes, the H12 and the 1934 are quite similar. The H14 is a little more even across the strings. From a headroom standpoint, the 1934 has more, but not as much as when comparing it to my SCGC OM with The Tree. I think the Froggy body depth allows the German Spruce to have greater headroom than would be the case in a standard OM depth.

What’s really interesting here is I believe that all three of these guitars have very old tops. The Adi for the 1934 is old growth and I understand that to be the case with Michael Millard’s German Spruce. Each guitar sounds more broken in than you would expect for its age. Having once played an old Froggy, I can only imagine how good these will sound a few years from now. I’ll be doing my part to break them in one day at a time.

[zmf]

Probably too soon to tell, but which Froggy are you gravitating towards, the 12 or 14 fret? (I promise not to tell the guitars.)

[Glennwillow]

Very cool! What a special pair of guitars! Congratulations!

- Glenn

[Wespj10]

Originally Posted by zmf

Probably too soon to tell, but which Froggy are you gravitating towards, the 12 or 14 fret? (I promise not to tell the guitars.)

Right now I’m leaning towards the H12. That deeper tone and the Froggy shimmer are a magical pair.

[Dru Edwards]

Fantastic! Sounds like a wonderful pair. Enjoy!