The Froggy Bottom F12 Model – a full-sized 16” guitar with 4.125” depth (significantly shallower than dreadnoughts) – was inspired by the instrument resulting from the chance conversion of a broken Martin F-7 arch top back in Greenwich Village of the 1960s.
In 1965, someone brought a old Martin F-7 with a trashed top into Marc Silber’s shop in the Village, wondering if it could be salvaged. Marc replaced the original arch top with a flat top and what had been a rather pedestrian guitar got a lot more interesting. As the guitar made the rounds in the Village scene, it caught the attention of players and builders alike. People started bringing the old F-7s into Matt Umanov’s shop for conversion. Word got around.
These early conversions demonstrated the sonic virtues of reducing the volume of air in the bodies of larger instruments and altered the course of contemporary flat top guitar design.
The shallower depth of the Froggy Bottom F makes the instrument comfortable to play and contributes to the guitar’s exceptional string-to-string balance, clarity, and projection.
It really shines as a lead instrument
I play in many different styles and my Froggy F does lead and rhythm, jazz, country, rock, folk, flat-picked and finger-style all exceptionally well, but it really shines as a lead instrument. I remember being surprised at the amount of “headroom” it has, how wide its dynamic range and tonal palette is, and at how it manages to never feel boomy.
F12 Model Specs
- Body Width:
- 16″
- Body Length:
- 21″
- Body Depth:
- 4 1/8“
- Scale Length:
- 25 1/4“
- Nut Width:
- 1 3/4” (variable at no charge)
Model F12 Prices
These prices reflect only the basic grade and wood choices for this model. Our price list has prices for specific custom options. Our current prices, effective March 1, 2023, are subject to change without notice.
| F12 | standard / deluxe / limited |
|---|---|
| mahogany | 8355 / 9510 / 10,885 |
| rosewood | 8355 / 9510 / 10,885 |
| maple | N/A / 11,335 / 11,710 |
| walnut | N/A /11,270 / 12,645 |
| koa | N/A / 12,480 / 13,855 |