Vintage 1997 P12

Sonic Evaluation

I've never had the opportunity to play a nineties Froggy Bottom before picking up this lovely P12, and it was a mind-blowing experience to say the least! It has opened up beautifully after years and years of play, and it sounds utterly magnificent. I am gobsmacked by how big this tiny little guy sounds! While no one will mistake this parlor's low E for that of a dreadnought, it would put fear in the hearts of some concert-bodied guitars. I could write a novella about the depth and complexity of the overtone profile but won't for the sake of time. It's an unbelievably rich-sounding guitar, but it stays remarkably articulate and has great string separation, too. 

However, the most impressive thing about it is how alive it feels when you play it. If you hit a chord, you can feel the top moving. This creates a strong tactile connection to the guitar, making it feel like an extension of your body, which makes playing it an incredibly expressive experience. It rewards a light touch, and it of course is a mangificent fingerstyle guitar, but it's also awfully fun to strum (I could see myself using it for rhythm chording the studio, actually). 

If you're seeking a world-beating parlor guitar, this '97 P12 will leave a smoldering crater in the middle of your mind just like it did for me! 

Condition Report

This Froggy Bottom is in fantastic condition! It has broken in beautifully with years of play, and its voice is perfectly seasoned. It shows light fretwear and light signs of normal use. The only real cosmetic imperfections to report are some light scratches, dings, and chips along with a little hardware tarnishing. A previous owner installed an aftermarket strap button to the neck heel as well as a Highland IP-2 pickup system (the paperwork for the pickup is in the case). The pickup has a compromised braid, and as a result the high E and B strings have very low output. It comes with its original hardshell case, and the soundhole label is signed by Michael Millard and Andy Mueller. 

• Serial Number

  P381

• Brand Name

  Froggy Bottom

• Model

  Vintage 1997 P12

• Finish Color

  Natural

• Finish Type

  Gloss

• Top Wood

  Solid Adirondack Red Spruce

• Binding

  Curly Maple

• Back & Sides Wood

  Solid East Indian Rosewood

• Neck Dimensions

  .800 1st - .800 9th

• Neck Wood

  Mahogany

• Fingerboard Wood

  Ebony

• Fingerboard Radius

  Flat

• Fingerboard Inlays

  Paua Abalone Dots

• Frets

  20

• Scale Length

  24.75"

• Headstock

  Slotted, East Indian Rosewood Veneer with Frog Logo Inlay

• Nut Material

  Bone

• Width at Nut

  1.750”

• Purfling

  Herringbone

• Electronics

  Undersaddle Pickup

• Controls

  None

• Saddle

  Bone

• Hardware

  Nickel, Black

• Tuners

  Nickel Waverly

• bridge

  Ebony

• Pickguard

  Clear

• Unique Features

  Soundhole label signed by Michael Millard and Andy Mueller

• Case

  Vintage Original TKL Black Hardshell