Froggy Bottom Guitars P-12 Deluxe Koa - 12-Fret

Sonic Evaluation

At first blush, it seems odd to describe a guitar as comforting, but the minute I sat down with this beautiful P-12 Deluxe Koa 12-fret, it was like all my troubles melted away and everything seemed right with the world. For some reason--perhaps it's the sweet sound of koa, perhaps it's the way the guitar's voice is both welcoming and complex, or perhaps it's just the magic of Froggy Bottom--it instantly made me feel at ease. I've always said that playing a Froggy Bottom is a transportive experience, and this serial really takes you places!

Even though this serial is one of the more beautiful guitars we've had (that exhibition-grade koa is RIDICULOUS), it's even more captivating to the ear than the eye. Just as the gloss top highlights koa's breathtaking visual qualities, this serial highlights koa's sonic prowess front and center. Guitar Scribes have pondered the question of whether or not koa sounds bright or warm for centuries (centuries), but for this serial, I believe the answer is neither and both.

Simply put, it sounds sunny! The sun is bright, but it also warms you up. This guitar has enough light (so to speak) to illuminate even the most complex of chords, yet it always stays at 72 degrees Fahrenheit with clear skies. It's like basking in the glow of a purple sunset, and it makes me feel like the protagonist of a Jimmy Buffet song: just a wayward soul without a care in the world for anything but Hawaiian shirts and this guitar.

What does that mean in practical terms? Well, the attack is snappy and springy, and it responds to your touch nearly instantaneously like a great parlor guitar should. It seems impossible to fit this much low-end into a small body, but the bass notes have exceptional presence and power, never muddying things up because of their dry, woody character. The midrange is sweet and vocal, but it can also punch you in the mouth if you dig in. The highs are sweet as spun sugar, and they sparkle with crystalline overtones.

The crazy thing is, koa is famously known to sound better and better with time. It opens up and develops a richer voice as it's played more and more, growing with the player as the player invests more time in it. Since this guitar is STARTING in rarefied air, one can't help but wonder where it will stand in the pantheon of greats in a few years. One thing's for sure, we can't wait to hear about the adventures this guitar takes some lucky acoustic traveler on!