Seagull S6 Original Review
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
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Happy new year! Here's a review of an affordable acoustic guitar that I got a great deal on way back in the Before times (late 2019). I really really like it, with a couple minor caveats. Watch and learn!
EQUIPMENT USED:
Seagull S6 Original
Audio Technica At2020
Shure Sm57
*This s is a reupload to fix a minor editing mistake.
*The sound in this video is a little tinny - not sure what the deal with that is. I didn't notice it when I was editing it. I probably effed it up in the mixing process due to weird room acoustics (lots of random large objects in the studio room at the moment). If it bugs you, I apologize. If it doesn't...forget I said anything!
If Godin would start to sell these guitars $2000.00 a piece, people would praise them like Martins, this goes to show how people are mislead by fame and commerciabilty exposure, People should start to trust their Ears. Ears won,t lie to you.
Godins super comfy to play
I was just saying yesterday that people buy the name and not the quality, but that’s for just about everything.
No way. I have a Seagull S6 and a Martin 000-18 and there is no comparison. The Martin is head and shoulders above the Seagull. Great guitar for the money, but it does not hold a candle to a Martin standard series.
I purchased one today at guitar center. It was brand new in the box never opened and when I got home I was shocked. The back and sides were like Indian rosewood with all the nice pattern. The top of the guitar is like a processed warm color, one with a beautiful pattern. Seagal guitars, knocked it out of the park with this one. I paid 500 and some change. Update. My guitar is solid wood. You can see the green pattern from the sound hole to the back and then match.
Been looking for awhile now on marketplace for another acoustic. I've been playing on a cheap $80 guitar for years now. That being said yesterday I ran across a old Seagull S6 in a hard case for $250 obo. The man said he has had it for probably 20 years and it's the only one he has ever giged with (he is a bluegrass player) so I went to watching reviews as soon as I seen it for sale. I'm sure with his being old and wood has aged I bet it sounds amazing. Thanks for the review. I'm going to pick the S6 up tomorrow 👍🏻
Edit! I got him down to $200 even. When I got it home and started looking through the case I found old set list papers from bluegrass festivals he played at, 4 very nice capos, 3 new sets of strings and over 20 fender tortas shell pics!
Dude that’s awesome!! I’m jealous!
Still playing my 1991 Seagull S6. It has held up great for over thirty years!
just picked up a used one at Guitar Center today...with the slim neck. Such a nice guitar
I have an S6, sounds great, incredible value. I bought it new in 2019 and it did have 2 strap buttons (although if you have to install one, putting it in the heel is simple and safe). It's unbelievable how well it stays in tune. The 1.8" nut width is great for people with large fingers. The cedar top does look rather plain. Not glossy at all, almost matte. On the other hand, the cherry back and sides look awesome.
I bought mine in 2008. The headstock is the original style. It's absolutely gorgeous. The sound of the guitar blew me away when I strummed it in the music store. The S6 chose me.
Good review but here's a couple of points.
1. headstock shape is functional. The position of the tuners means each string goes straight to the post without bending at the nut
2. All acoustic guitars taper in the body.
3. S6 guitar back and sides are a 3 layer laminate of wild cherry. Veneers are much thinner.
4. You can easily add a strap button. Much better idea than the lasso at the headstock.
I have a Godin Art and Lutherie cedar top with a 165 mm nut. The cedar is soft. Mine has several marks. Good guitar though.
There is a recent review by an Australian luthier concerning the high end Seagull called the Artist Mosaic. Apparently the neck is glued on with epoxy. This is not recommended by luthiers. It probably doesn't impact the sound but makes it unsuitable for any repair work that might be needed in that area.
Really the best and honest review. I have mine for about 10 years I think. Great guitar :)
“The feel is bananas” … great quote!
Awesome job! Strummed one just last week for the first time at ‘Guitar Center! and I also was impressed with feel and sound. After seeing your video I think I’ll go back for another test drive! 😂...Thanks Bud!👍🎸🎶🎶
I LOVE my seagull, same model as yours here... had it about 6 years... it plays so well, I actually love the way it feels in my hands and under my fingers and such a low action and I love the way it sounds... a very warm, defined tone...it sounds great recorded with an sm57.... I dread the day those frets need to be redone or the bridge replaced....
When I pick this guitar to try in the music store, it was louder than any guitar available in guitar center.! More you trying to protect it by layering clear , more it becomes dimmer! So I prefer to use it gently and enjoy the quality of the sounds of this guitar. Great review! 😉
Once you play a seagull your hooked you'll compare every other guitar to it after playing my S6 for the last 10 years I still think it rocks
I have an S6 Original CH CW. Love it. Older one, with lighter back and sides.
When I was in high school (~2000) all the budget acoustics sounded like garbage because they all had laminate tops. The seagull, was the first solid top guitar that I could afford. And They were the only ones I knew of making a ceder top; those cedar tops are warm and full. I ended up buying one at a pawn shop for $200. It’s still a great guitar by any standard, but I feel there are now more options for budget guitar players. First, monoprice now sells a guitar with a solid spruce top for ~$150. It is an amazing guitar for the price. Next, for ~$500, eastman’s ed1 (spruce) and ed2 (cedar top) are top notch. These have solid tops, backs, and sides and are therefor much more resonant putting them up there with guitars many times their price.
Outstanding review, Ben! Thank you. Love my S6, and looking forward to learning on it.
Gordon make good guitars. Was looking for something to play a couple of years ago and found a Simon&Patrick in the back of a repair guy/ teacher's little shop. He did mainly electrics, but kept 2 or 3 acoustics about, just in case. So gave it a little play, and bought it. 20 years old. Exactly like your S6, tho' normal headstock shape. Neck varnish worn away, and lots of little pick dinks in the Cedar top. Lovely full sound.
So had to have. Took it home and cleaned it up, and slightly lowered the action. Eventually put a Fishman pre amp in it. As good as the top end Takamine that I'd had and let go.
Have a good time with it.
Godin ( pronounced Go-dan )
😁😁
I have an S6 Original with Concert Hall body.
What does she SOUND like?
Rings like a bell. Even if I hit all six strings at once, I hear each one very distinctly. Each string is ringing like a bell, and then the top of the guitar is, too.
Sustain? It rings forever. And I mean forever. I could not love this guitar more, except for the fact that she is, yes, very plain-looking. HEARTBREAK: I dropped her. Or rather, she fell off a hook on the wall. Fell about seven feet, fell face down on the hardwood floor.
Cedar is soft. She has a couple of minor marks -- but these are solid as a rock. I was shocked as the lack of damage after that fall.
I now have, as well, a Seagull Performer, which is spruce. Love them both.
When I was in the market for a acoustic, I stumbled across a special sale with a seagul dreadnought s6 solid spruce electric acoustic in trans blue, and I find besides the expensive gems of the Gibson Hummingbird's, and Dove's and Martin D-40's or Taylors, the Seagul is the best budget brand for a clean solid and bright resonate tone acoustic, it's like my other intermediate priced guitars, I will be keeping them for life. I own a epiphone classic les paul and it's $850 with 85% or more of the Gibson offerings for $3,750 so I know that a intermediate priced guitar and a solid professional player, is plenty, you don't need to splurge for the elite brands to have a play and quality
Enjoyed your review. The nut width comparison was helpful, and made me feel comfortable with purchasing (esp guy). Looks like I will be picking up an s6 tomorrow
Amped..tonewood with the Fishman. Mine is great. And the dings are prevalent but I don't mind too much. Just means it's well loved.
I bought a S6 slim model a couple years ago brand new for $350. I still have the guitar but now also own a Gibson J45 studio and I did own a Road series Martin the D10 sapele. I have since sold the D10. I like the Gibson but I find I enjoy playing the Seagull maybe a bit more. The seagull sounded more like a Martin although not totally but definitely more boomy then the J45 studio. The seagull is an amazing guitar for the price I’m thinking of trying one of the solid wood series from them next.
Quick edit poor choice of words when I said boomy some people might get the wrong Idea I don’t mean boomy as in bass but just a lot louder overall.
I have a 2000 S6 and love it, unbeatable in it's price point. I do make use of the D'addario Humidipak, and after several inactive months in came out the case IN TUNE!
My wife is from Erie, PA (Harborcreek). We met in Erie. She notice you said "Super Duper" in the video and she said that used to be an Erie grocery store. Enjoyed your video. We bought our daugther her first guitar for her graduation in 2018 and it was a 2007 Seagull Entourage Mini-Jumbo Rustic. We just purchased her a 1990 Seagull S6 CW acoustic electric.
I got a Seagull Maritime Single/Solid Wood Series HG. It was a little beat up. with rusty strings. I talked the kid down to $200. With some setup and polish and new strings, I had a beautiful, all Mahogany, in all its dark wood glory guitar. Been playing for 5 years and like it loads better than low end Taylor 110 or something like that. The Maritime SWS Mahogany lists for closer to $800. It's a little more finished than the S6. But ever since discovering this guitar, I always play the S6 and Maritimes I can find in stores. I'm seriously considering adding a Epiphone Inspired by Gibsn Hummingbird (also Mahogany back and sides and solid top). The Seagull needs to go to the shop and have the neck adjusted. My Maritime has no pickguard. Just lovely mahogany. No strap button on mine SWS either. Absolutely great values in North American, responsibly sourced guitars.
Oh yeah, I've grown to love the headstock because it reminds me of the unique instrument I bought for $200.
I had one 10 years ago and sold it, but decided to get another one last week. They are listed at $780 new at Guitar Center. I found one for $499 new at Reverb 3 days ago. I re-checked the price today and now Reverb has them listed for $579.
Action out of the box on these is great. I own one and I’ve played a fair few more, each one was good. Better than my Mexican Taylor out of the box from an action point of view. S6’s are great value for money. They sound great (and not just for the money). Maybe a bit plain? But my 30 year old one is still lovely…
I just bought a used S6 cedar from 1999 in mint condition. It sounds gorgeous with the aged wood. The PO had the action set up perfectly and lowered it a bit. He also had the Baggs pickup added. I am loving it. I broke my wrist playing hockey (at 59 y.o.) so i have to stare at it lovingly for a month or soo😢
Great review! Thanks for all the info. I'm trying to negotiate for one right now (with electrification).
Thanks for the review Ben. Very enjoyable to watch.
A very comprehensive and informative review. Thanks.
Nice review and some very nice guitar music 👍👍
Dudeee this guitar is so good I hope I can find this guitar in my country. ( Left handed version ) Also If you dont use on this concert I believe you dont need electro accoustic normal one is more better.
You are right that the quality of the guitar -- in comparison to anything else, but especially in its own price range -- is obvious to you the moment that you pick up the guitar.
To me, it's comparable to trying out a few different "good" used cars...and then trying a turbo-powered Subaru.
You turn the key and immediately, you're like "This is a COMPLETELY different machine than the others."
And you don't know what it is. But you do know that it is about the fundamental quality of the build, and you can feel that it is solid as a rock, tight as a drum.
Watch videos of Robert Godin himself explaining his design decisions. Very interesting.
A useful review. Thanks Ben.
As a classical guitar player, I’m very tempted to give this one a try. I appreciate the wider nut and string spacing. I imagine it’ll feel more familiar in my hands than my daughter’s epiphone. That thing is claustrophobic as hell.
Yeah the wide spacing is really noticeable on this. It seems like not everyone loves it but I think it's a pretty neat and unique feature.
I have the S6 Original with the electric pick up, and the tone, projection and playability blow away Taylors and Martins 3x the price. Recently I have tried out the solid wood Gibson G45, at over double the price and the Gibson J15 and J45 that are over 5 times the price, and the Seagull S6 is as good as the J15 and J45, and blows away the G45. Holds tune amazingly well.
Agree with all your comments as well.
I've had Seagulls for a few years. I agree with every word of your review. I stumbled upon Seagull (actually, a La Patrie Motif) in a used shop, picked it up, and had the same experience as you.
And I was like "WHY in hell is this guitar so PLAYABLE?"
So I went about researching the elements that make it so playable. And you've identified the most important ones here. The width of the nut, the smoothness of the neck, the shape of the neck, the relative shallowness of the body compared to a dreadnought, the body getting shallower toward the neck...
And the "weak points," again, I agree with every word.
“It felt like a gym floor.” Lol
Glad to see other people converting to Seagulls. Owned the S6 for 14 years now. An incredible guitar.
Greetings from Russia. As a guitar owner, you can talk about the pros and cons. What happened to the guitar during this time?
@@zloyzlovred3019 It still holds tune perfectly. I make sure to clean the fretboard. Action is slightly high perhaps but the bridge can be sanded down if you're handy. I would in retrospect get one with a cutout. It's the best 500 dolllar acoustic guitar I can think of.
@@kvltizt tnx a lot)
@@zloyzlovred3019 I should add that the video is correct about dings. I have dented mine a few times. It just adds soul!
So I just had the bridge on my 2010 S6 Original break where the saddle sits in it. *Totally my fault*, it happened when I was moving cross country. Originally paid $550 for it in 2010. I brought it in for repairs today and they told me getting an original bridge to replace would be hard and expensive.
ANYWAY - then the salesman spent 15 minutes explaining to me why Eastman has made Seagull obsolete. The Eastman with the same features and a bone nut and saddle. They had it listed for $350 today. I played it and it didn’t have the full, bright tones I loved from my Seagull. The Eastman was a darker/deeper tone. Not sure if anyone has any experience with them?
My Seagull means the world to me so I’m getting the repair done no matter what it costs. And that’s what it’s all about! You get attuned to a guitar and you develop some love for it. Although while I was there I also played a PRS SE A40 that I fell in love with - of course 😂
I'm a 72 year old vet guitar player. Also play Blue Grass and belong to a local BG Club. What drew me to buy a Seagull S6 was another club
member allowed me to play his S6. In the F W Tex area Seagull guitars are few and far between. The first mint condition S6 I met was at my
local Guitar Center. For sale for cheep (IMO) Bought it and its my 3rd guitar.The Godin CS is top notch. Send a query and its answered prompt-
ly. I prefer inch & 3/4 necks but the S6's 1.72 " neck works great tho.
The slim is that size. As well as the s6 classic a/e. Standard s6 is 1.8
I bought a lefty S6, love the guitar but my left arm is injured and I can't strum with it.
So, like a determined moron I ordered a right-handed S6. It might go against my natural tendency and I might not be able to do the fret work... but I'm gonna give it a go.
I enjoyed your video while I'm waiting for FedEx to deliver my guitar today.
Godin owns the forests themselves. The cedar, the cherry.
S6 Original has a nut width of 1.8". (This is the biggest reason why I play it.)
I find it funny I paid about $300 for my S6 original left handed it was a floor model and I found a few years later they are priced at $899 new so price went up from the $500 new. At $899 I still think it'd worth it.
Also you can buy the S6 with built-in preamp with tuner.
I personally think it looks to nice to have a big bulky preamp on the side of it
The thin finish on a guitar is a double-edged sword.. I personally find it's better, because it doesn't muffle the resonance like a thicker poly finish would do..
dings are the spirit of guitar
Nothing to do with the finish; cedar is a very soft wood; that's why it sounds good.
Beautiful sound,they're just quite expensive here in Nz..
my cedar top cracked 😞 humidity in florida is brutal...
I owned one. I wanted to like it. I was completely uninspired by the sound. It probably sounds okay in standard tuning, I give it 5.5/10. I can't believe even the Taylor GS mini sound better
thanks for the review...I way prefer the pickguard on yours to that of the newer models.
I don't know why the hell anyone would put only one strap button on a guitar.
Anyone have any thoughts on a 1997 S6 being sold for $250 (pending in person confirmation of condition of course)?
Great review kind sir. Would you recommend this Seagull S6 or a Martin DX2E? I currently have a Cordoba Fusion Maple 🍁 Series and want to add a second guitar 🎸
Loved my Seagull. Didn't play it for a couple years, and I must've banged the case around - despite being careful not to do something like that. But the tuning is unstable and changes dramatically up and down the neck. Bummer.
I just watched a CZcams video on this by a Luthier who said they aren't worth buying
Hello ... great review ... how would you compare S6 to lower end Martin acoustics? I am 9 months in learning guitar and originally considered Seagull but went with Martin X series 000 body ... both are great guitars though
I wish I could tell you, but I haven't played too many of the lower end Martins, so I don't really know how they compare.
Get the Seagull... I own some pretty high end Yamaha, Álvarez, and Gibson acoustics... The S6 standard holds up close with them in my opinion especially if you get a good one. Cedar doesn't take too long to break in like Spruce either... It's good for strumming and finger picking.
so I am not the only one that feels this way about this guitar... lol
I just bought a vintage Martin O-16NY. I love it! The neck is 1.8" and it has low action. I'm looking for a dreadnaught that has the same feel. I suspect this is the one. What's the action height like out of the box?
I love mine, but coming from an Ovation, the width of the neck is still a bit annoying. Hopefully time will heal things.
I just picked up a new one with gig bag for $599 online 04/24
Something like 20 years ago I chose this guitar among others of similar price, for a friend who wanted to learn to play .. and he never did btw. I liked it a lot then. I played it every time i visited him and I wanted to buy one myself, as a reliable second guitar i could carry with me anywhere, without risking my expensive Guild JF55. So about 10 years ago i bought a Seagull, same wild cherry laminate back and sides and solid cedar** top, except that the top has a gloss antique burst finish and a piezo also. I liked it for quite a while, the piezo sounded good through a P.A. too, but it's been sometime since i hardly ever play it. It's sound has not improved with age, the strings go out of tune rather easily and genarally doesn't do the trick for me anymore. If i were to buy a cheaper but decent sounding guitar now, i think I 'd choose one of those made in China Guilds instead. They sound good as far as i can tell from the youtube videos and they look great too.
** oh that cedar top ! soft as butter, so easy to fill with scraches and dings all over. My "frustrated guitarist" friend, has made his Seagull unrecognizable !
ty for the review. Where I live takamine gn20-ns is half price of Seagull S6 original, so which one do u suggest to go for ? Do u think Seagull worth the double price ?
I agree totally with your review. I picked mine up on Craigslist last Dec. (present to myself) It's ability to stay tuned and simply put just the playability of it makes it a joy. Love the resonance of it and the rich lows.
hi, just wanna ask which one is better this seagull S6 or the yamaha fg830? thaks
It's tough to say. I'm not sure I've played that specific Yamaha model, but I prefer the Seagull to most Yamahas I've played. The semi-gloss finish on the Seagull feels nicer to me than the high gloss finish Yamaha uses, and the nice Tusq nut on the Seagull is probably more trustworthy than the plastic nut on the Yamaha for tuning stability, but the Yamaha's retail price is quite a bit cheaper if that's a concern. Ultimately these comparisons are mostly about personal preference. Try both and see what you prefer!
To my ears this is a very trebly sounding guitar like the Washburn D10s. I miss more bottom/bass...but for the price it is ok
My mic placement was pretty bad when recording the playing clips for this video; in person, this guitar sounds much less thin and trebly than these clips make it seem.
@@BenRobsonMusic Ok, but I am a Martin man, no acoustic guitar beats Martin
Why said Original? Is there fake?
it has solid neck?
I have one and I love it. Unfortunately the way I play has caused a lot of scratches above the strings as I come down. Is there anything that can/should be done about that? It's definitely a natural finish with no gloss whatsoever.
I think that's just going to happen no matter what with this kind of finish. I put new dings on mine all the time. Ultimately, a guitar with a lot of scratches is just a guitar that's been loved!
I got my Seagull S6 with electronics for $375. I won’t lie, I miss my Taylor 414, but it’s still a no-brainier for the price. I’ll probably upgrade at some point and give it to a relative or one of my kids as a gift. Just need to find a woman and start making babies!
Why do people talk more and play less in guitar reviews? I don't care about the wood if it sounds good. Whatever you said was informative but just play something good to show how the guitar resonates. Please.
If you are looking for Guitar Playing, go for a demo or something. Reviews are their opinions and standings. So maybe go elsewhere if you're just set on the sounds/audio Godin has a good sound test for these.
it has solid neck?
The neck and headstock are one solid piece of wood, but there's a small extra piece glued on at the heel for support.
@@BenRobsonMusic Is not a cheap guitar it is.. a pro guitar with amazing price.