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MJ Franks Legacy Dreadnought Red Spruce/Cocobolo #15-192  From Franks

A powerful dread from MJ Franks appointed with Old Growth Cocobolo and Master Grade Red Spruce. A real flatpicker's dream!

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This specific item was photographed by us here in Durham, North Carolina. We are a very small team dedicated to providing you the most accurate photos possible, through our obsessive focus - individually photographing nearly everything that comes through the door. Questions about what you see? Want more information, photos, or just a friendly conversation with someone that cares and who has actually had their hands on this exact item? Contact us now!
M. J. Franks Guitars

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What We Think

A masterful instrument, from materials to construction to tonality!  The Master Grade Red Spruce and Old Growth Cocobolo create a towering mountain of sound--strike an open chord and it roars out of the soundhole filling small and large spaces alike.  But what good is projection without personality?  M.J. Franks' has that covered, too.  The treble range sparkles like running water under noonday sun, the midrange is articulate and balanced, the bass as sonorous and deep as old church bells.  Simple and honest playing is rewarded with a 3-Dimensional response, whether you be strumming your way through an old favorite or picking out a new melody in the moment.  Really, this level of quality should come as no surprise given the materials and craftsmanship--the price, however, is a jaw-dropper!  Call us up before someone snaps out of their stupor and into possession of this stunning Dreadnought!

MJ Franks Legacy Dreadnought (Red Spruce/Cocobolo) Quick n' Dirty

In this video, Sound Pure acoustic guitar expert Sean McNaught describes and demonstrates an MJ Franks Legacy Dreadnought.

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    • MJ Franks Legacy Dreadnought Red Spruce/Cocobolo #15-192

Manufacturer's Description from Franks

Traditional Dreadnought shape with forward-shifted, scalloped bracing offering a huge bottom end and room filling presence. Crystal clear trebles and open mid-range. The ideal instrument for flat picking and light to hard strumming, this guitar will please the bluegrass picker, worship leader and entertainer alike.

M. J. Franks Guitars

About Manufacturer

Mike Franks passion for building traditional style acoustic guitars is a natural progression of his life-long love of fine woodworking. He has spent most of his life relentlessly perfecting his skills as a craftsman. Past endeavors have included professional antiques restoration, woodcarving, furniture building and the restoration of classic cars and boats. An avid pilot, Mike constructed his first full-sized airplane almost entirely of wood.

Mike fell in love with Bluegrass Music at an early age and scoured flea markets and second hand stores in his native Ohio for repairable or restorable fiddles, guitars and mandolins. After repairing and refurbishing the instruments, Mike sold or gave them to his musician friends. In later years after building his first guitar, Mike spent time apprenticing with a Master Luthier and Inlay Artist and began building guitars professionally. Mike continues to consult and spend time with other accomplished Luthiers acquiring and perfecting his skills.

An engineer by trade, Mike constructs his instruments with the belief that fine, repeatable acoustics have everything to do with solid design, choice materials and exacting construction. That is not to say that appearances are not important. To say that Mike is anal regarding the fit and finish of his instruments is an understatement. His selection of materials is as painstaking as his building style. Old-Growth Brazilian Rosewood and Master Grade Adirondack Spruce are favorites as well as Mahogany, Spruce and Koa. Mike builds about 10 steel strings and an occasional Resonator guitar per year. A majority of his customers are professional musicians.

Mike lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan with his wife Debbie and 2 teenage children. He is an instrument rated pilot and enjoys flying, bluegrass music, the Michigan outdoors and time spent with his family.

Specifications

Body Style: Legacy D

Top: Master Grade Red Spruce

Back/Sides: Old Growth Cocobolo

Finish: Hand Polished Poly-Lacquer

Bracing: Scalloped / Forward-Shifted

Brace Material: Red Spruce

Neck: Mahogany

Neck Profile: Low Profile

Binding: Grained Ivoroid

Fingerboard: Ebony

Bridge: Ebony - Belly Style

Top Purfling: Vintage Herringbone

Heel Cap: Grained Ivoroid

End Graft: Grained Ivoroid

Rosette: Abalone

Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone Diamonds & Squares

Backstrip: Zig-Zag HD

Pickguard: Vintage Celluloid Tortoise

Nut: Bone

Saddle: Compensated Bone

Pins: Bone

Scale Length: 25.4"

Upper Bout Width: 11.5"

Lower Bout Width: 15.625"

Max Body Depth: 4.875"

Fingerboard Width @ Nut: 1.75"

Fingerboard Radius: 16"

Bridge Pin Spacing: 2.187"

Tuners: Waverly

Case: TKL “Gieb” Style