2001 Froggy Bottom Model M Flattop Guitar

Update 2021: this guitar was originally here in 2019 but since then the owner's decided to sell and I've done a little more work on it so I've updated this post with fresh photos, a new video, and a fresh description...

So, a Froggy, huh? Every time one of these is in the shop, local guitar-savvy Vermonters get those "popped ears" like cats. Froggies are synonymous with "boutique acoustic guitar" in this region (and, well, out-of-region) and for good reason -- they've got tone to match their pricing.

Like sportscars, though, you have to take care of them (not letting them get too dry and not dragging them out to outdoor events in heavy sun or rain) to get the most out of them. They're very lightly-built along the lines of late '20s or early '30s Martins and that's why they sound so good, too. This guitar has only a single tonebar aside from the main x-braces and the top is thin.

I've strung it with 11s, basically, but with the top strings switched out for 16/12 from a light set. I wouldn't go any heavier in standard tuning on this -- the top will rebel. If you downtune to D or Eb, then 54w-12 might be fine, but I still wouldn't suggest it as the temptation to tune back up to pitch is too great, heh heh. Trust me -- I've seen what happens to other Froggies (and Martins, for that matter) of this nature that have lived with 12s all of their lives and one where a yahoo strung his guitar with 13s. Oof...

The last time I saw this (back in 2019), all I had to do was give it a glorified setup and a fresh set of tuners (Grover 18:1 Waverly-style units) as the originals had been damaged. This time around I also had to reglue the bridge as a previous reglue job (by someone else) had come undone -- along with some fretwork. Now that it's in good order, it plays beautifully and is ready to go.

Froggy necks are fast and easy to play and remarkably stable -- I haven't had to touch the truss on it in the last couple years that I've known it off and on. Fans of modern Taylors can really get into necks like these as they have a similar feel -- wider nut but shallow front-to-back profile that allows for a good mix both of flatpicking and fingerpicking.

This box is solid spruce over solid rosewood and it has flamed maple binding and some really pretty blue, herringbone-like rosette and backstrip details. As you'd expect, the fit, finish, and craftsmanship is top notch. Notes have ringing, lingering sustain and despite being a pinched-waist 000-size instrument, it has excellent bass and fullness to each note with that velvety middle like you'd get from a Martin. Yeah -- it's good!

Repairs included: fret level/dress, bridge reglue, setup.

Top wood: solid spruce

Back & sides wood: solid rosewood

Bracing type: x, single tonebar

Bridge: ebony

Fretboard: ebony

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 52w, 38w, 28w, 22w, 16, 12 (like 11s with 12/16 on top)

Neck shape: slim C

Board radius: ~14"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25 1/8"

Nut width: 1 3/4"

Body width: 15"

Body depth: 4 1/8"

Condition notes: overall it's pretty clean but does show some minor light scratching and playwear here and there. There's a small black streak on the side of the headstock (pictured) that looks like either a strap's finish or a wall-hanger's finish adhered to the guitar's finish a little. A previous bridge reglue left a little strip of unfinished wood in front of the bridge's foot. Someone with more finishing skill could touch that up just fine. There's also a mark parallel to the front of the bridge in the finish as well -- but both of these items aren't obvious unless you're looking for them.

Also... due to the lightness in the build, the top has a bit of distortion as you'd expect to see on a '20s or '30s Martin with similarly-light bracing. There's a little depression in front of the x-pattern on the top below the soundhole that highlights the shape of the x-bracing there and the lower bout has some doming/belly overall (pictured) that's not heavy but it's there. You can also trace the outline of the lower-bout x-bracing when light glares off it as well. I'm being picky, here, but I just want to say that this is the same kind of stuff that I see with every lightly-braced guitar in the shop. A recently-serviced '27 Martin 00-18 looked the same. A recently-serviced '27 Martin 2-17 looked the same. A recently-serviced '30 Martin 0-18 looked the same. It's just normal for the bracing style.

Also... on the treble-side of the lower bout there are a few small white scuffs (pictured).

Also... the tuners are replaced, but the guitar is otherwise all-original. It's crack-free, too.

It comes with: an older TKL hard case.