My standard steel string models are based on body shapes with 14th fret body joints. If you draw an imaginary line from the upper cutaway to the neck, it will meet at the 14th fret, so I call this a "Virtual 14 Fret" design, or "V14" for short. These guitars have 22 frets, a 19th fret body joint and bridge placement similar to most modern steel string acoustic guitars.

I also offer a "Virtual 12 Fret" option for any of my steel string guitars. Early steel string guitars had 12th fret body joints, like classical guitars still do. On my "Virtual 12 Fret" or "V12" guitars, the imaginary line from the upper cutaway meets the neck at the 12th fret. These guitars have 19 frets, a 17th fret body joint, and bridge placement more in the center of the body.

The scale length is the same. Only the bridge position and number of frets on the neck differ. Which is better? Both are good, but for different things. The V14 design gives a tight and focused sound, well suited to agressive rhythm and lead pick playing. The V12 design gives a more open and full sound, best suited to fingerstyle playing or soft strumming.

I offer any of my body shapes with either the V14 or V12 option for the same price. Here are side-by-side images of my Jumbo and OM models, in both V14 and V12 configurations: