HD-180 12FJ CUSTOM #003172

This is a custom model that sticks pretty close to Momose’s traditional models. A mahogany Dreadnought body, just like in the old 30’s models, the joint on this model is on the 12th fret.

Nowadays a 14th fret joint is the standard, but the Dreadnought design originally had a 12th fret joint.  If you lower the joint by 2 frets, you also have to lower the bridge an equivalent amount in order to maintain an optimal sound, and as a bonus, you get an improved bass tone thanks to the shift of the shift on the epicenter of the vibrations.

It is easier to understand if you picture the difference in the sound when you hit the center of the drum and when you hit the part near the edge.

Since the neck is shortened by 2F, the composition is higher, but the resonance frequency of the neck and the overall sound quality will shift to the mid-range, making it a sound unique to the 12th fret joint.