From the fine folks at Froggy Bottom, we have a 2018 H12 Limited All Koa. Dressed to the nines and equipped with a Fishman Rare Earth Soundhole/Microphone Dual Source pickup, it’s ready for the stage or studio. The H12 is a comfortable, medium-sized, full-bodied guitar with wide spacing perfect for fingerstyle playing. It combines classic vibes and aesthetics with modern attention to detail. This 12 fret guitar covers a lot of ground and is ready for almost any application.

Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, bespoke, handmade, slothead, hawaii, vermont

From 2019, this very custom Froggy Bottom H-12 Limited, decked out in some incredible Koa, is guaranteed to provide a good time. It’s sonorous, complex, and harmonically full, not to mention very comfortable. It is well-suited for fingerpicking and flatpicking. For an all-hardwood guitar, it has loads of headroom. With abalone appointments throughout, it’s beautiful both in sight and sound.

Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, bespoke, h2140, tkl

Sometimes like begets like. Here, the Froggy Bottom team decided to take Mahogany and pair it with yet more Mahogany, and the result is a unique mixture of woody warmth and precise note definition. String energy is quick and lively, extra impressive given the short scale setup at 24 3/4 inches. This beauty comes to us from 2021, is nearly new, but already quite wide awake. The C-12 body is the Froggy Bottom concert model, slender and easy in hand, and this one is dressed up with their Deluxe appointment package for added flair. Abalone fleur-de-lis position markers, plus Abalone at the rosette and backstrip; slotted headstock with nickel Waverly tuners; Curly Maple bindings throughout.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, michael millard, fingerstyle, tkl, c2269

This one’s wide awake and ready for more: our 2008 Froggy Bottom H12 Deluxe. Gorgeous Madagascar Rosewood body with dramatic ink lines and grain, an Adirondack Spruce top that’s opened up handsomely since ’08, and a 12-fret, 25” scale setup that mixes up great across the registers for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. One of those Froggy Bottoms that does it all, and does it all exceedingly well!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, michael millard, fingerpicking, guitar, adriondack, waverly, tkl avs, h1249

Michael Millard outdoes himself yet again: this 1995 B12 is a cannon with strings. The classic combination of Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce works its usual magic here, giving the voice expansive depth and a fiery projection–but with a 12-fret neck, this B12 has a sweet little warm patch in the mids that balance out the tone. If you’re looking for a Froggy Bottom that is quick and responsive like a teenager on their third cup of coffee in the morning, this Froggy is practically calling your name.

Fingertips or flatpicks, the projection remains impressive, the voice vigorous and expressive. We put this Froggy through the ringer of altered tunings, and it handled each like the champion that it is. Decked out with some gorgeous Abalone across the fretboard, rosette, and back strip, this B12 also has a Mammoth Ivory heelcap scrimshawed with an owl in flight; when you add that to the Flamed Maple bindings, you’re looking at a tall glass of water on a hot summer’s day, if the glass was Adirondack and the water was Brazilian.

A Parlor done right: our 2014 Froggy Bottom P12. We can describe the voice in three words: smooth, velvety, and clear. In spite of its slender dimensions, this P12 has a lot of volume packed away, and it takes minimal effort to access that projection. An easy player for sure. Bastogne Walnut back and sides with some figure, Adirondack Spruce on top (a Froggy Bottom staple), bound in Curly Maple and adorned with an Abalone frog at the slotted headstock.

The overtone levels are just perfect to give extra lushness to feather the trebles without overpowering the voice. This Froggy is four years old, but looks practically brand new; it’s like getting a new Froggy without the new Froggy price tag—a smart choice for a sharp Parlor package.

Other keywords: froggybottom, michael milard, p-12, bastonge walnut

The H-12 is one of our favorite designs from Froggy Bottom Guitars and this is a rare Limited version with stunning appointments and a Bobcat Scrimshaw. Every one we’ve seen has been wonderful, but this is a great one. This Brazilian/Adirondack sweetheart has just the right mix of rich, warm tone, clarity and small body power. The cutaway 12 fret design offers the best of both worlds, the ultimate 12 fret/Short Scale tone and cutaway access to the upper frets. Players seeking a guitar with superb tone and small body power and charm will love this one. It’s no wonder a variety of guitar greats play Froggy Bottom Guitars. From Scott Ainslie to Paul Asbell to Will Ackerman, they know that Froggy Bottom guitars can be relied upon for tone and playability. Just listen to the audio clips.

We’re exceedingly fortunate to be able to work with some of the greatest luthiers alive today, among them Bryan Galloup. We just took in this brand new G.4 from Bryan after the 2019 Swannanoa Gathering Guitar Week, and frankly we feel hard pressed to let this one go. Brick-red Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are paired with a German Spruce top and 12-fret neck in a smaller package that lends extra sweetness to the trebles. This Galloup is an excellent fingestyle instrument, and plays as easily as breathing. The bass register is equal parts warmth and definition, which really rounds out the overall voice. Bryan stepped up his game by stepping the wings of the bridge (see photos for a closeup!) and inlaying the back with long geometric patterns, as well as around the soundhole. This work of functional art comes wrapped up in a custom Hoffee flight case.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, guitar science, dream team, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, contemporary guitar, resonant