NGD: Custom FROGGY BOTTOM Model K [German Spruce | Koa]

[iim7V7IM7]

I commissioned a custom Froggy Bottom Model K last year and to make a long story short, despite Michael Millard’s retirement last year; he took interest in my project and I was fortunate enough to have him directly involved in the guitar’s conception, voicing and construction with the FB team performing all the other aspects of construction, finishing and set-yup.

Michael Millard was able to get me to articulate my playing/sonic goals for the instrument in a manner could translate those into a model, materials, and features that he felt would meet them. When discussing what I asked for a guitar with:

• Fat, round trebles to carry the melody, string-to-string clarity and articulate round bass.
• Strong fundamentals surrounded by warm euphonic complexity.
• Notes that develop quickly to right hand attack and have moderate amounts of sustain.
• An “open” sound, “airy” feel that feels “alive” when you play it.
• Wide dynamic range that responds slowly to increasing right hand attack.

After hearing my goals, Michael recommended:

• That they build me a Model K
• Reducing the body depth by about a 1/4” from their standard depth of 4-1/4’.
• Using one of his few remaining old 1876 German Spruce tops (he explained that he purchased 300 sets of this wood at a German estate auction in 1968 and has used them sparingly across the last 50+ years!).
• For the back and sides, he suggested that Koa given how I had described my playing style/goals. We selected a nice 5A quality set.

Froggy Bottom has three grades of aesthetic decoration: “Standard”, “Deluxe” and “Limited” and my preference was for the “Deluxe” decoration package with simple Paua Abalone rosette, Green Abalone diamond and squares position markers and flamed maple binding and end grafts.

I asked for the following custom ergonomic and aesthetic features:

• Venetian Cutaway for upper fretboard access
• Scale Length: 25-1/4”
• Nut Width: 1-3/4”
• Bridge Pin Spacing: 2-5/16”
• Fret Wire: Jescar EVO 0.043” x 0.080”
• Tuners: Waverly Gold, Butterbean Buttons

The guitar to no surprise came out beautifully (and ahead of the discussed schedule). The 145-year old German Spruce top is aesthetically technically an AA grade sound board, with fairly even grain count, and some medullary. More importantly where does one find a 145-year old top these days ()? The Koa back and side set is quartered with gold, reddish brown and purple ribbon-like growth rings with some distinct flamed figure as well.





Despite the Model K being a full sized 16” guitar, it sits quite comfortably when playing it seated due to its modest body depth and narrow waist. My initial playing impressions after playing it now over three 30-minute playing sessions it is a profoundly great guitar. It came with John Pearse 80/20 lights which I do not normally play on it. They sound great, but I need to try some phosphor bronze strings and see what changing out the B and E strings with 0.017” and 0.013” gage strings as well.

Describing sound is always an impossible challenge, but I would say given my goals, I think they did an outstanding within the context of their inherent timbre Michael’s voicing.

• The guitar is dynamic, responsive to a light touch and giving more and more with increasing attack with plenty of headroom.
• The string volume is balanced across the strings and in the length of how they individually sustain.
• The top and back interact (it feels “alive” when you play) to create a euphonic complexity but still retaining string-to-string clarity.
• The bass is articulate with clear mids and trebles, even when played in the upper registers of the fretboard

I will likely chime in again after I get to know it a bit more .

[BrunoBlack]

Looks great and being another Froggy K owner, I find your review rings familiar. I’m glad it arrived safe and sound. Enjoy.

[Scallywag]

Fabulous guitar, many congrats!

[doodahdoug]

Stunning build by a great builder...enjoy it in good health!

[SJ VanSandt]

Congratulations! I passed on a Froggy Bottom K once, despite it being the best sounding guitar in the shop, precisely because it had koa back and sides. I was upgrading a koa Taylor, and wanted something entirely different. Dumb! I hope yours is as good or better than that one was, and you enjoy it for many years.

[Rwpierce]

Congratulations Robert, another great one for an all world type collection.

[Guitars44me]

What a KILLER

Have fun

Salud

Paul

[Diamondave]

AWESOME KOA....!!!!

[justonwo]

That looks stellar! Enjoy it.

[Quake17]

Beautiful FB, congrats!

[iim7V7IM7]

Thank you...

Originally Posted by Rwpierce

Congratulations Robert, another great one for an all world type collection.

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

What a KILLER

Have fun

Salud

Paul

Originally Posted by Diamondave

AWESOME KOA....!!!!

Originally Posted by justonwo

That looks stellar! Enjoy it.

Originally Posted by Quake17

Beautiful FB, congrats!

[cigarfan]

Congrats Bob. I absolutely love my Froggy F12. Goes everywhere with me.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Congrats Bob. I absolutely love my Froggy F12. Goes everywhere with me.

Thanks Dennis...

[dcn]

Beautiful, love the pickguard shape, too.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by dcn

Beautiful, love the pickguard shape, too.

Thanks.... It is part of the FB signature aesthetic. Some folks like it, some don’t.