Back in 2004 My wife and I stopped at Maple Leaf Music to look at some guitars. One of the reasons was to try a froggy.
Kate was there and let me try a number of guitars some that I have already owned and some I never tried. After trying a used (believe it or not) Froggy which the person that ordered it did not want it and returned it.
I told my wife here goes the next 10 years of Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversary's and what ever.
We bought it. One of the smartest things I've done since marrying my wife (of 44 years) and buying my 1966 Allis Chalmers tractor.
R. Patrick Campbell
I contacted you a year ago after returning from the Spartanburg guitar show with your Sept 2001 built H12 Std, SN H694 that I bought from Tommy Allen. You were very quick and kind to respond to my request for some additional specs to help me understand what I really had. You also suggested I send a pic for the gallery. Well, I'm sending a pic of my Christmas present from my girlfriend which is a beautiful stained glass rendition of the Froggy playing out our song, "Over the Rainbow". Now I have two master pieces.
Here’s our friend, mandolinist and guitarist Rick Skeens serenading his grandson in a tender moment. A native Virginian living in Florida, Rick was an avid hunter and musician. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
You might be interested in this photo of my wife and I taken 5 minutes after the unwrapping of the guitar. The caption to go with the photo is "Polygamy".
Here's a photo of me playing my Froggy C, which I adore. There are so many men in the gallery that I decided to send this on, even though I'm completely camera-shy. Thanks for building such a gorgeous instrument--best I've ever played!
Leda Schubert
We were at Madison Music, in Madison Wi, one Saturday afternoon in 2008. Our friend Mike Turk, said, "I have a guitar that I REALLY think you should try. Every time I look at it, I think of you". So, I tried it... It's an M Standard cutaway... I came home and sold a Martin that I owned for 31 years, to get my Froggy. It sounds THAT GOOD. Friends go on and on about 'the Frog'. I stop sometimes, when we are with playing, and think, "Darn, I sound good!". it's not me, it's..... the 'frog'.
I absolutely love this guitar. Thank you for making it, and I shall always cherish it...
Tim Magnuson
Illinois
This new and unique feeling of intimacy with the Froggy is seductively whole. It's like a well fitted handle on making my music. The feeling in both hands while playing is easier than any other guitar I've ever experienced. The mid-range blast was initially surprising for this moderate sized guitar. In the end analyses, it's the Froggy sound. It resounds off my stomach and bounces off the walls of the large room where I commune with music. It's just plain enthusiasm of acoustic emotion.
David Motley
Virginia
This is me with that GREAT axe you built for me back in 1993.
Bruce Paterson
This is my 1997 D Deluxe. This guitar was built as a display model for the NAMM show in California. Michael drop shipped the guitar to me from the show. From 97 until 2007, this was my only guitar. It has thousands of miles and hours on it. I played it at countless bluegrass festivals all over the southeast. In '07 I made the mistake of selling it to a relative.
I managed to get it back last month. I can't wait to get this cannon back on stage.
Jeff Alldredge
I live in Tokyo, and a few years ago I took a chance and ordered a guitar, sight unseen, by a famous maker. When I got it, I just couldn't get on with it. I came to the conclusion I'd bought someone else's dream guitar by mistake, because it certainly wasn't mine. I took it to a store to sell it, and vowed I wouldn't be tempted by anything I saw there that day. I'd bide my time and not make any more rash decisions.
However, sitting in the middle of the store was a used F model Froggy Bottom, the first time I'd ever seen one. I knew I wasn't going to buy it, so I picked it up and played it.
After about 5 minutes, I realized that my dream guitar was right there in my hands.
Bill Benfield
Tokyo, Japan
I just received my Koa model M, and here it is. I've been playing 46 years, and have been dreaming of my ultimate guitar for a good while. This promises to be the one. Thanks to everyone who built it.
Tom Martin, Texas
Yes, I'm on here twice...but I'm not playing favorites. One Froggy Bottom is simply not enough. I've always been crazy about little guitars, albeit there was a trade off in sound quality. Wrong. I took a leap of faith and purchased an L Deluxe model with my favorite wood combination of adirondack / mahogany.
Robert said it all in his blurb about the prototype Model L. I simply cannot put into words how floored I am with this guitar. In my world, Froggy Bottoms are the best guitars on the planet.
Bat McGrath
I recently had some photos taken and thought I'd send one of me with my wonderful Froggy Bottom guitar. Thanks for a great sounding instrument.
Best wishes,
Tim Pacheco
I have had my froggy for over 5 years
and I'm still loving it.
Salvatore
I have played songs for my daughter Penny since day one. She loves music. I am in the process of buying an SJ Deluxe with her birth month and year on the label. I think I will name the new guitar after her. Thanks for making the best acoustic guitars on the planet. They provide me with countless hours of joy and inspiration.
Matthew
H-12 deluxe
Model D -- in this case, D is for Daughter!
Froggy Bottom custom K: Brazilian, Ad., koa binding, slothhead No. K-1176, iris on heelcap
Froggy Bottom A-12: walnut, Ad., with Sloan 3-on-plate tuners, thistle on heelcap
Surprising thing is, as different as these instruments are in shape and materials, they booth cary the same sonic pedigree: clean, woody, extremely rich and resonant.
Charles
In 2007, I went to NYC to pick up a guitar, which was already paid. It was waiting for me in my hotel room. I was disappointed and returned the guitar. The problem was that I had only 4 days to find a suitable instrument. I stormed through all the music shops I could find in NY and tried literally hundreds of guitars. The short list was a Martin 12 frets koa at Mandolin Brothers and a Froggy H12 Koa at Rudy's. I picked the Froggy eventually after a few trips between Manhattan and Staten Island: I knew that i would never be able to sleep again if i didn't get the froggy.
A year later I bought another Froggy m brazilian cutaway directly from the Froggybottom guitars workshop. I never played the guitar and relied fully on my phone conversations with Michael, Andy and Eric to make up my mind....bit difficult to play a guitar when you are 16,000 km away.
I got the new baby in the mail in November 08, some 16 months ago. I must say that I was not disappointed.
The froggy came with me in Europe around Christmas 08, in New Zealand in August 09, and in many places around Australia. She is a good baby developing very nicely. I have played it everyday since I got it.
My wife took this photo while we were camping last week at South West Rocks on the NSW coast and of course the froggy came camping with us. It was so hot that it was nice to be around the ocean. I was lamenting about the temperature, playing some bossas, and thinking of you lucky sods who don't have any problem with the hot weather.
Don't kid yourself, I am a troubled man: I never know which one to pick: the H12 koa or the M cutaway brazilian...
yours froggily,
Bobby
This is the guitar that was the prototype for the Froggy Bottom Model L. (You can read the story on the Model L page.)
"Quite honestly, I’ve never owned a guitar that sounds as good and as balanced as this one. It is my absolute love. I use it for everything. And everytime I show it to somebody and they start to shake, and tremble, and sweat, I say, 'Well, they are available commercially now…'"
- Robert, Burlington, VT
This is the only Froggy Bottom I have ever owned and the only guitar I own, as opposed to my company which has lots of "tools" for R&D, demos etc.
The "Beast" came to me from an incredibly generous Michael Millard, with contributions including Andrew Mueller, in a gesture I will take to the grave with me along with that amazing instrument, although hopefully not that soon.
Michael had offered me a space on his Froggy Bottom Booth at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, CA, a decade ago, for two years running, again out of sheer generocity of spirit, which gave me a first leg up in North America and one that gave us the confidence to return and build on. I only wish I could reciprocate appropriately someday. The Guitar amazingly, followed a year afterward.
The band was the Rogues, a loud, British electric Folk band, who broke up a couple of years ago, based around North Oxfordshire. We were playing the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury there, by the Oxford Union canal. You are welcome to use that, although it's not closely featured or typical of Froggy player useage.
The Beast's main useage has been with Ceilidh & Barn Dance bands, for which it is perfect, some Irish pub music and lots of informal pub folk sessions and parties. I have always offered it around to be played (and so I can hear it better), but with no cotton wool, it carries it's battlescars. It has a huge, vast but sweet honey'ed and detailed tone, unlike anything else I have every heard. It eats Taylors for breakfast and records beautifully.
John Littler,
Headway Music Audio Ltd.
The Fro-hogany Brothers
The most amazing trio of guitars there ever was, shown here. I figure that Sapele is close enough to Mahogany to warrant my Fro-hogany caption! I feel very fortunate to have two Froggys made from the Tree. They are truly magnificent.
Tony
2002 Froggy M Standard
Hard to believe it has been 8 years but how times flies when you're in love!
The Froggy M Standard that I purchased back in 2002 was the first of 3 Froggies I purchased. (later came a H12 and F) I have to say this M has rarely left my hands and it remains the instrument of my dreams.
Back in 2002 I was blown away by it's warmth, clarity, balance and responsiveness. Flash forward to 2010 and I all I can say is, your creation has turned out to be a true masterpiece. The M has blossomed into THE most tremendously satisfying guitar I've EVER had the pleasure of playing.
It leaves me wishing there were more hours in my day so that I can play and record it.
Vince
This is my 1975 Jumbo: a Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, 100 year old Sitka Spruce top, Herringbone purfling on sides and around sound hole, a lilypad abalone inlay on fingerboard and Maple Heel Graft. The Jumbo is extremely balanced and responsive. It has a clear true tone and is great for most any of the playing I do.
Karen
I guess you can tell I'm hanging on to this one! It's a Mahogany/Adirondack H-12. After 40 plus years of playing/writing I have found the perfect guitar for me. Rather than string adjectives to describe the sound I'll just call it honest. It's clear and balanced and plays like a dream. The guitar is so responsive I can feel it in my chest when I play and the songs seem to pour out of it.
Thank you Michael Millard & team!
Bat McGrath
Guitar playing has always been a hobby that has brought my father and I closer together.
In college, we both grew up on a Martin, but now we play together with our pair of Froggy Bottom rosewood M-bodies. This photo was taken at the family cabin on the Rock River in Wisconsin--a favorite place to sit by the fire and strum...
Alex & Dennis
Players' Gallery
