#1
|
||||
|
||||
Post-Build Thread: Froggy Bottom M - 1876 German / Figured Mahogany
This is a build thread for those of us with a generous bit of ADHD. You see, this guitar has been in the works for a loooong time (3-4 years) and now, the box is sitting in the living room! I haven't opened it. I have no idea what this guitar sounds like, though I have some vague idea of the appearance! Here are a few photos from along the way. . .
This guitar is an M Deluxe with Mahogany back and sides and a German spruce top. The top was actually logged in 1876. I don’t know the entire story, but I believe Michael purchased these tops many years ago from the legendary classical builder, Thomas Humphrey. I’ve had this top set aside for about 3 years. I asked for “just mahogany” and got an email back from Michael with the headline “This good enough. . .?”* Yes, Michael . . . I suspect this may be “good enough” So why haven’t I un-boxed it?! Well, because I want you guys to come along for the ride. A friend will record this and I’ll post it here (late, late tonight or early tomorrow) for your amusement! See ya'll in a bit . . . UPDATE: Last edited by usb_chord; 02-13-2020 at 09:21 AM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Brian, congratulations... I hope that it is everything you hoped for and then some.
Your story about the top coming to Michael from Thomas Humphrey reminds we of the story behind the German Spruce top that Nick Kukich used in my guitar. He bought the German Spruce tops in the 1980s from his friend classical guitar luthier Jeffrey Elliott. My top had a re-saw stamp dated “January 1968”. Old, but young compared to 1876...
__________________
A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Yaaaaasssss! Bring it...
__________________
Brett McLaughlin CF MARTIN 1930 OM-18 - Mahogany/Adirondack GIBSON 2018 Memphis Limited 1963 ES-335 - Maple/Maple MCCONNELL 2021 Electric Semi-Hollow - Wenge/Sitka [SoundCloud | YouTube] |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
NICE!!!!
I have a P12 and an H12... I'd love an M to round out the collection. I love how you are squeezing this build in before Michael rides off into the sunset. I've never played a German topped Frog, but can only imagine how special yours will be. Hopefully you can record with it and post a YouTube clip of it when you get it. I really dig some of your other clips on YT!!!! Looking forward to the rest of the build!!! |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Like a kid a Christmas!
__________________
Bill Guitars: 1910's Larson/Stetson 1 size guitar 1920 Martin 1-28 1987 Martin Schoenberg Soloist 2006 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2016 Froggy Bottom L Deluxe 2021 Blazer and Henkes 000-18 H 2015 Rainsong P12 2017 Probett Rocket III 2006 Sadowsky Semi Hollow 1993 Fender Stratocaster Bass: 1993 Sadowsky NYC 5 String Mandolin: Weber Bitterroot |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Big grins! I am so happy for you my friend, the box should be openable by now right? We need look!
__________________
www.michaelwattsguitar.com Album Recording Diary Skype Lessons Luthier Stories YouTube iTunes Guitars by Jason Kostal, Strings by Elixir, Gefell Mics and a nail buffer. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
A fun way to introduce this beauty! I'll stay tuned and look for more today/tomorrow. Thanks for posting!!
__________________
1993 Bourgeois JOM 1967 Martin D12-20 2007 Vines Artisan 2014 Doerr Legacy 2013 Bamburg FSC- 2002 Flammang 000 12 fret 2000 McCollum Grand Auditorium ______________________________ Soundcloud Spotify |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
What a stunning set of mahogany ... looking forward to the photos!
__________________
David Wren |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Very nice. I’ll enjoy seeing and hearing... My M is being built, it will ready in June.
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Good enough"--yeah, WOW!
But now you're just teasing us--last night and early this morning have come and gone...
__________________
2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
|
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for that. Nice, nice guitar. Hope we get to hear it soon!
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Nice guitar. Congrats!
I’m not a big fan of the 80/20s either. I use either Pearse phosphor bronze, or DR Sunbeams when I want to crank up the richness and overtones. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
So, lovely. I have alway loved the M shape. I can't wait to hear your video of it. Thanks for sharing!
hans
__________________
1971 Papazian (swiss spruce/braz RW) 1987 Lowden L32p (sitka/ind RW) 1992 Froggy Bottom F (19th cent. german spruce/koa) 2000 Froggy Bottom H12c (adir/ind RW) 2016 Froggy Bottom K mod (adir/madrose; my son's) 2010 Voyage-Air VAOM-2C http://www.soundclick.com/hanstunes (recorded on Froggy H12c) |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
That’s lovely.
I’ve been running John Pearse Nuages on most of my guitars. My Froggy L sounds particularly good with them. FWIW, I do videos for some school bands with my Nikon D750 and the files are enormous. I have to run them through a video conversion program and create a somewhat lower definition version to get them small enough to send electronically or save on many posting sites.
__________________
Bill Guitars: 1910's Larson/Stetson 1 size guitar 1920 Martin 1-28 1987 Martin Schoenberg Soloist 2006 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2016 Froggy Bottom L Deluxe 2021 Blazer and Henkes 000-18 H 2015 Rainsong P12 2017 Probett Rocket III 2006 Sadowsky Semi Hollow 1993 Fender Stratocaster Bass: 1993 Sadowsky NYC 5 String Mandolin: Weber Bitterroot |