I'm trying to love Seagull Guitars...this one is hopeless though
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- #acoustic #guitar #setup
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The Seagull S6 Original blows me away. This guitar is setup perfectly at the factory. The sound is angelic. No other guitar I've purchased in the last 30 years has impressed me as much. Why pay a fortune when you can buy a Seagull S6 and get awesome sound , an uber-wide 1.8" nut, and perfect action? Literally did nothing besides tune mine after removing from factory packaging. Playing it back to back with my Takamine just reminds me of how great it sounds and plays. Wish someone had told me to buy one 30 years ago.
My very first guitar was a Seagull S6 I got for my 13th birthday in 1993. Everybody always says that it smells how a guitar should smell, which makes me laugh. I still have that bugger and now 68 other guitars. This is the guitar that started it all for me. I will never part with mine. Thanks for this video, my friend.
I scored an S6 at a pawn shop a few years ago for 100 bucks and it rules. It sounds great and the thing is indestructible. The only complaint is the action is too high so after upgrading my bridge and nut to bone and set it up properly it plays so easy and sounds much brighter. The Seagull S6 is a hidden gem
I got my first S6 in 93 when I was 29. Still have it.
I had it on layaway at a music shop and my fiance at the time offered to get it out of layaway for me. I will never part with this gorgeous sounding guitar
Well.. that pickguard isn't helping. It's huge.. probably muffling a lot of sound.
I've never seen any Seagull with such a pickguard. I think it must be an after-market addition.
@@dividedwords I'd hate to think a pick guard would ever keep me from buying a guitar, but that thing is hideous.
@@joshsimpson79 It is. And it would, me.
Sad thing is is there's almost no taking that thing off with that mate finish without peeling off chunks of that top
@@chasterling237 it's a good thing that Jeremy said he likes an oversized pick guard. I agree with you.
I used to have a Seagull S6. I loved it. It sounds pretty good for the money. Not sure how I feel about that giant pickgaurd on it, but to each their own.
I bought an S6 cutaway from a guy on eBay small ads. When I saw the guitar it was wrecked, huge action, and filthy with ancient strings. I played one chord on it and said to the guy, " I'll take it"! After working on it for about 5-6 hours, it was a different guitar entirely. I have used it live on several gigs - replacing my Godin Multiac SA - and on a few YT vids. The neck is a dream for me, it now has super low rattle and buzz free action and plays silky smooth. It has become my go-to guitar, and I don't mind if it takes a knock or gets bashed up a wee bit. It definitely spares my more expensive instruments for the rigours of the road. It also sounds great over a pa or amp (it has the mic and piezo pick up built in) So kudos to you for sticking with this guitar and helping bring it to life.
Sooooo you cleaned it and put on fresh strings. Well done. Wow.
I was so excited to see a video on the S6 but he really dropped the ball. I just watched a video of a guy restring an old guitar and complain the neck is too wide (mind you the wider neck is to facilitate easier finger picking because it is ultimately a folk guitar meant more for finger picking and not the use of a pick smh) . No action adjustment, no bridge or nut tuning what so ever and the nut wasn't even glued down. No wonder the guitar is leaving him a little to be desired. He should drop it off at a luthier and see how it plays after that...guarantee it will be a world apart.
Jeremy,
I bought a seagull S6 cutaway new in 2001. Played it at a few gigs. And used it in my home studio until 2017. I then gifted it to my niece and she loves it. I paid 350.00 for it new and was above its price point in quality for sure. I had a good one and I really can’t say anything bad about it. It did what I needed from it at the time. The parent company Godin makes some nice guitars acoustic and electric. Thanks for this video.
I have an Entourage CW QIT with Spruce top and Wild Cherry laminate back and sides. It is one that I play often. Great playing and great sounding guitar. People knock the unique headstock but I love it. It’s different. I like different. Great video Jeremy!
S6 cutaway was my upgrade guitar, bought new on a payment plan from Hanover Strings in 1991. Played it almost every day since. Still loving it.
I've had my Seagull S6 for 6 years. Over the years my left fingers have become stronger from practicing and it's become easy to play and a fave. It's a loud guitar. I don't have the same crowding problem as you because I am small of stature. Thank you.
I'm Asian with smaller hand. The neck width is wide, make it harder to play. The sound it produces is the best i've heard. The projection is super making it a very dynamic guitar which enables you to play really soft to really loud.
Jeremy, it looks like your Nut is not glued onto the Seagull. You could recut and respace the strings with a new Bone Nut, to put the strings exactly where you'd like them for easier fingering. It could make all of the difference on this guitar. I loved that before putting on new strings, you cleaned the frets and the fretboard and re-oiled it. Thanks for taking the time to make this nice video!
a bone nut, bridge and pins makes the guitar come alive. Coupled with bringing down the action and he guitar really comes alive
The Godin family has an interesting variety of necks on different models but when you find one you like it’s great,I have a Norman B20 I love
I have a B30 and an S12. Great guitars
I never see Norman guitars for sale. Used to see them at Manny's Music, off of Times Square, 20 years ago. Cool-looking, all-blonde guitars.
@@the_hippykiller22 I want an S12. I have several Seagulls. Cedar, spruce... I want an S12.
The necks on these are superb.
The reason the neck is so chunky is b/c it utilizes an early 2-way truss rod which was bulky and consisted of 2 rods. Choosing the 2-way over a slimmer neck with a 1-way rod was a trade-off, and I feel it was the right choice. It was cutting edge tech back then as 99.9% of the guitars on the market had single-action compression rods that almost sorta kinda work if the wind is blowing in the right direction. Godin was brilliant back then. I have 2 Seagull Parlors from 98 and 00. Both are great lil players.
I had a Seagull Mini Jumbo Rustic and I had to sell it to help with Open Heart Surgery bills. I wish I had it back. I loved it.
I have a Seagull artist that sounds great! Nut width is 1.8 so yes the neck is wider. It feels way better than 1and 11/16 like my Taylor 210e.
I've got a seagull artist and I love it !! Best sounding I've ever had . I also have a Yamaha I got at goodwill for 50 bucks and it's not bad.looks like new
I had a Seagul S6 Original, maybe from 2001? My father snagged it for me used for $99 off the 'Bay as a new-unsold guitar with shipping damage. There was a nasty ding in the headstock edge and two cracks in the soundboard that were easily repaired. Once I got the neck relief and the nut slots sorted out (too much bow and nut slots were more indicated than cut to proper depth), it turned out to be an excellent guitar. It improved dramatically when I switched to Pearse pure nickel acoustic strings. Nice sound that fit into a Venn diagram of a J-45, an LG-2 and a vintage Harmony Sovereign. It was my guitar for family trips and for playing in the backyard while watching over the kids. The last two years it sat barely played. I lent it to a kid at church who wanted to learn, who then took it to a church retreat, where apparently the guitar instructors LOVED it - in the end I sold it to him for a lot less than I could have gotten for it, but he's happy and it's being played.
Sounds amazing considering the huge pickguard! ;) Kudos for the If We Were Vampires intro! ;)
I like how this video has brought out all of the people who have and have had Seagulls and like/liked them. I too have a "flock of Seagulls", and although they are not perfect for everything, they are great for some things, and punch way above their price (especially when buying used). So far my favorites have been the oldest ones in my collection (both in sound quality and neck feel/playability etc). P.S. - nothing wrong with the sound of the seagull in this video after strings. It has a sound that will fit perfectly in some mix of music somewhere. To me, most of my seagull cedar tops have a warm midrange and are pleasing to listen to. I wouldn't say this one is much different (from the audio on my end anyway). Nice video. Good to see some love for seagull in the comment section.
the older seagulls are the ones you really want IMO, my 93 honeyburst s6 gets about as much playtime as my banner j45 reissue at the moment and I'm sure my 82 seagull (serial number 362) will be in the rotation a lot when finally get around to regluing the bridge and fixing the intonation
About 6 years ago I bought a guitar off marketplace. I met the lady in a parking lot and she showed me this acoustic guitar that her late father owned. I immediately noticed the Seagull emblem on it but the headstock was a traditional square one, not the pointed one I was used to seeing. The label in the body said Minstrel. Puzzled and curious I paid $50 and took it home. Turns out, through research, particularly a letter from Michel at Godin, and the fact that my serial number was close to the one of the person the letter was made out to, that it's an 87 with a wild cherry laminate top, sides and back, maple neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. They described it as basically an S6 with a laminate top instead of a solid cedar top. An entry level Seagull. I still play it every day.
Love the sound of it. I went to Sam Ashe and played a bunch of dreadnaughts, one used Seagull S6 was the best. I normally play classical plastic strings, but that is my two cents on dreadnaught, S6 stands out for fingerpicking.
Ive played numerous seagulls over the years and own a SWS maritime all solid sitka+mahogany dreadnought bought in 2014. it always sounded subdued and unresponsive, along with the colossal weight of 2200g, compared to my d18 weighing 1900g, both with pickups and no batteries, and the d18 had way thicker finish that probably weighed at least 100g more than the seagull finish.
Virtually no boomy bass, no dry and dark midrange one expects from a hog dread and I just used it as a throw-in-the-car no-fcks-given guitar. The top cracked from low humidity (fixed), neck needing a reset at just 8 years old with light gauge strings tuned down half a step most of the time, and I recently stuck a pocket knife in the sound hole and shaved lots of bracing off, its braced ridiculously heavy, released the bass a bit. Honestly not the best guitar, but after playing with lots of amazing hog guitars including Kenji, Martin sinker hog d18, vintage 0018 etc. Ive come to appreciate the subdued but sweet tight sound from the seagull, it works well as a vocal accompaniment guitar, not as a bluegrass flatpicker, not as a fingerstyle solo instrument, but has an almost small body guitar sound to it, it sounds way better now than it was brand new. All seagulls I played are insanely overbuilt, all came with weak bass and volume.
Do seagulls punch above its weight? Nope. A Yamaha or Eastman in this price range would be better, but it does sound special.
I have the same Seagull and I put Brass Pins and Alice Nickle plated Pho Bronze on and it helped me enjoy it so much more
I recently replaced mine with bone...and yes it is a huge difference. So much more resonate now. This guitar really comes unleashed if you actually do a proper set up and some minor upgrades. Taking down the action is the biggest impact.
Love my s6. Made me fall in love with playing
My dad always had seagulls, some s6's, one s12 and one artist studio. He one day bought a taylor 814 which he disliked, sold and bought 2 more seagull artist series from. When I got into guitar, I replaced my LAG with a seagull performer mini jumbo. The flamed maple was nice, but I never liked playing that guitar. I never liked the sound. I never liked any seagull, really. But they're regarded as good for the money, so it must be me! I can't like the headstock tho, and I must agree with you on the neck
The Seagull S6 is a fine guitar. Not fancy. But it sounds and plays above it's price.
The cherry/cedar version is the more mellow version. The cherry /spruce is the brighter version.
I bought a cherry/spruce version (sunburst, gloss top) for $250.00. Some kids were fooling around with it and caused a small crack in the top. The store owner fixed it and then marked it as a used guitar. The repair was well done, not greatly noticeable. Sold as new, the price would have been about $525.00.
It didn't bother me that it was repaired as the price was fair. It was brighter than I liked but it mellowed as it played in and I use Retros. I like the the guitar a lot. I don't think of it as a lesser guitar- just one of the different flavors I am fortunate enough to have.
I would recommend a Seagull S6 to anybody.
I had 3 "free-loaders" and no guitars that I really liked to play - so I gave one to a kid who didn't have his own guitar yet, and a music teacher I know got the other two. And then I spent every discretionary dollar I had on a walnut Gibson L-00 that inspires me every time I pick it up. Also I am a JMU alum who met my wife in Harrisonburg forty years ago. Love the town, love your channel.
I have S6 and it’s not like yours. It had a small pick guard. The nut is 1.8”.
I live the wide neck. I have big hands glove size 8.5. The neck is thin enough. Not like a tailor but good enough. I live the string spacing because 99% of guitars have necks that are too small for my big hands. I look at women playing guitars, up close, and am amazed how much space they have around each string. They have to stretch to play by they can play an A cord easily using three fingers. When I play an A I can only use two fingers and I’m still at risk for muting the E and A string. I get great joy playing my S6 because the neck and action are perfect for my hands. The tone is a bit unforgiving if you hear or play a quality solid wood wood guitar next to it. My 1980’s Yamaha L-6 has tone and sustain that puts the Seagul to shame but the S6 is the easiest ti play without frustration. I recently bought an Ibanez Artwood AW417CE because of the neck despite making a personal promise I would not buy anymore low end guitars. Despite having a very wide 48mm nut the neck is not as comfortable as the S6. The tone on the AW417CE is also pretty bad. Even when I practice scales.
My best guitars in a Martin copy I built at at the Anderson Luthier Guitar School. It’s basically a Martin OM-28 but I put a 1 7/8” neck on it. Looking back I should have reduced the neck profile substantially. I wish Taylor and Martin made stock guitars using nuts larger than 1.75”. Just like flying on airplanes the world does not cater to large people in sone areas.
I think you should go play a new S6 in your local store. I think you may change your tune on how nice they are to play as long as you don’t compare the tone to a quality guitar which tends to take the fun out of playing the S6. The Seagul S6 is one of the only guitars that come ready to go from the factory with correct action needing basically no set up unless you want something specific. In my opinion the S6 is the greatest guitar value available. The price for what you get is beyond fair esp if you have big hands.
MH
I have an s6 original bought new in 2017 in Australia. I have since acquired a Cole ClarkeFL2 and a Taylor K24CE Builders Edition + some more. The Seagull shits all over the others acousically.
My dad gifted me a used ‘03 cherry/cedar Seagull S6 in 2014. Smelled a bit like cigarette smoke but that thankfully dissipated (the old chipboard case aided it which got pitched). 1.8” wide nut model (their “slim” model is 1.72”). I finally had it with the stock high saddle and sanded it down, maybe a hair too much on the treble side, played with the truss rod, and worked frets 7-14 down some to help with a bit of a “ski jump” that it has. Also glued the nut in place. But, it plays a lot nicer than it did, especially when playing barre chords up the neck. I’ve always ran lights on it, which seem to work ok for fingerstyle and strumming given the 25 1/2” scale length.
I used to like the shallow D-shape/wide neck profile that it has, but anymore I think that wider isn’t better, unless you have large hands/fingers and need the additional room. I guess mine are pretty average. And at times playing it for long periods, I’ve found my left hand to tire out. Playing some other guitars, I think I’d like a more rounded neck and a smaller standard nut width.
Coming from the banjo world, I’ve built and played wide nut necks (1 3/8”) and, to be honest, prefer the “standard” 1 3/16”-1 1/4” width, at least with steel string setups.
I have 2000 S6 Folk. I gave up on it as just doesn't ring and the neck profile is beefier than I like. So, after a bridge re-glue I now use it in Nashville tuning and with those super light guage strings it is much more enjoyable even though it has limited use.
I remember those, they were very popular in the 90’s. I only have a Guild M-20 and a blue Fender American Performer Mustang USA. I need to get a dread with a 25.5 neck in the future. I like Martin 28 or 35, but man, so expensive now.
Great presentation man!!!
Never seen a pickguard like that on a Seagull
I own s6 original and a performer cedar cw basically one is cutaway with electronics s6 full dread no electronics both are cedar tops cherry back n sides with maple neck my s 6 sounds and plays very differently had to sift through a few to find the neck I loved. Someone at godin carves em just right for me. bought my s6 sight unseen and was extremely lucky to have bought an exceptional instrument even when compared to 10 12 20 other s6's, martins gibsons and taylors and the neck is perfect for my hands you cant judge em all by one example there is always one that outshines others this is why you have to try alot of them out and that is for all instruments
I have martins, taylors and gibsons. I always seem to grab my s6. Love the sound and the wider neck. I have never seen a pickguard on an s6 that big though.
I have a Martin D28 1971, a Martin 00015M and other 12 strings, like 1980’s Lawsuit Era Takamine. I also have a Seagull Entourage Rustic that I got for less than $300 and I play it a lot live, either solo gigs or praise and worship. I love the color of that guitar, that sunburst…but I have to say, some times I love it and some times I don’t know. I don’t hate it, I guess it’s my go-to guitar (don’t want to take my Martins), but I wish that it was more…balanced??? I guess that’s it, more balanced. It feels that’s way too high pitchy for me, at times…and that’s the problem. Can’t make up my mind but I do play it.
What I do with my lesser guitars is trying to make 'em work in a different way that inspires me. On one of those guitars I downtuned all the strings a major third. And I use another guitar for a Nashville tuning. That Nashville thing is an extremely cheap parlor sized guitar, but it works so well on recordings. And it's fun to play as well.
Good idea. My idea: putting different strings on the different guitars. Phosphor bronze custom lights on one, Bronze 80/20 Light on the other. I've never "collected" anything before, but I now have a collection of guitars -- all in the Godin family. I love having the variety.
I hesitated buying a seagull for years and finally bought an s6 sunburst and have never looked back. One of the best sounding guitars I've ever owned,...........the headstock though, ehh
I have an S6 slim, What made a WORLD of difference was: Bone bridge, bone Nut, bone pins, and light strings…. Sounds amazing now
Brings back memories of my Seagal from 20 years ago. It's the one guitar I was more than glad to get rid of, the neck was just too wide and the sound wasn't there. I got a nice Guild which is still with me to this day. If I see a Seagal anywhere I won't touch it.
Thank you for being honest. I think the owner (Rober Godin or whatever his name is) must have done a lot of favors and gave away many free gifts or something , because you literally have to search to see any semblance of a negative or even slightly condescending review / opinion of a Godin guitar ....
I'd rather pay a few bucks to "have no doubt", honestly , after much consideration and research, I think I'll go with Taylor or Martin, (never had a Martin)
That way, it's guaranteed to outlive me and live up to all expectations .
( I had a Guild electric, an x-79, my first good guitar ever, and a Guild acoustic/electric, loved the x-79 after I learned to actually play better, but the acoustic/electric was honestly kinda thin and tinny sounding. IDK what they're like nowadays)
Granted, I'm kind of a noob but had a few guitars prior then bought a Seagull because I wanted a wider neck which the S6 has. I bought a used 1985 S6 Original cedar/cherry one for under $300 and LOVE IT. Yeah there may be better guitars but for a used solid top made in North America commonly found about $350 I don't think you can do much better.
I have the Norman version of that guitar, I think the difference is mine has laminate back and sides, and it has been my friend for a long time. I recently had a full setup for the first time ever, at least in the 20 yrs I have owned it and suddenly it was a fun guitar again.
his has laminate back and sides too
Jeremy, I have a Seagull Maritime Concert. Not best sounding, a little harpy. I love the neck and size. Just love the feel of it. Thought about selling it but could never do it. Finally came to realize I actually like it. Never had that happen before. I play and own a number of Martins. And a Seagull???? Yep, just feels good and fun to play.
Mikael Akerfeldt used an S6 on Opeth's Blackwater Park.
I've had my S6 for about 6 years, action was good when I got it. It had a problem where the High E would not be as loud as the other strings when it was plugged in. I took it to a tech & he said there was a bit of wood missing from under the saddle, which was stopping the electronics picking up that string properly. I wonder how many S6 guitars have this fault? How many owners who just play acoustically aren't aware of this.
Part of the problem is the pickguard is way too large and is damping the top.
You're 100% right about the neck/strings being too crowded. I just bought the SeaGull Coastline Slim CW spruce QIT and my fretting hand fingers can't seem to find the strings. I really like the sound of it...WHEN my fingers can find the strings. Also, palm muting seems different. I'm sure I could adjust to it, if that was the only acoustic I played, but like you, I also have other guitars I really like to play (Martins, Gibsons, Guilds) so not sure if I will be keeping this one. I wonder if any time I spend playing it will just throw me off my game when I go back to playing my other guitars.
I have a seagull walnut that I bought for 350 with a solid spruce top. Very resonant low notes with a bright mid range
The nut width on the Seagull S6 is not 1.75", rather a wider 1.8". I find it provides lots of space for my fretting fingers.
I had a Seagull SWS Maritime SG Rosewood, I have a review on my channel.
Its wood was beautiful, it had immaculate fretwork, fretboard was gorgeous, it sounded rich.
But it wasn't sensitive to the touch (built like a tank), it was heavy, and neck was EXTREMELY thick.
Seagull is for Ginger Pick et because the neck is like a classical guitare but now i have a Norman b20 which is smaller to Play chord i have small hand i live in Canada seagull and Norman are made here! And the are dort cheap un USA on the used market
I remember when I first started really getting into playing and getting a hold of some Seagulls, I wanted to like them as the price was good but the neck never felt right and the headstock was small however for just a guitar to bang around on it seems like they would fit the bill fine.
I do have a great Seagull but it's an Artist Mosaic and they are so much better than the S6. Mine is from 2019 so it still has the wonderful solid cedar and solid mahogany combo. So warm but powerful. I have mine set up nicely but it does have that big neck profile which takes some getting used to. The newer ones are slimmer. I am somewhere between a beginner and intermediate player so I'm not playing complicated stuff....mostly strumming and my Seagull is great for that.
Original S6 guitars had that 24.84" scale length. That will get cramped if you're used to 25.5" I believe they've mostly changed to the 25.5" now.
I agree with this. The extra string tension of the 25.5" scale length helps the sound too. I've owned both.
Jeremy, these are Canadian guitars. Aren't you supposed to play them wearing fur gloves or mittens? Isn't that why the neck is that size? But really, I don't like how the neck head stock is of a 2 piece nature. I was asked to fix a seagull whose head stock broke off and it looked as though I would have to drill it and install wood dowels. I turned the job down. Thanks for your video.
I had two guitars that were sold to my wife for Christmas presents by my "former" guitar teacher that should not have been suggested to her.....I donated them to "guitars for Veterans" and they were happy to get them. I also have a Fairlane Blue Gretch that I should sell just so I can forget about my old teacher and his store....(wow, maybe I need therapy!!!) 😵💫😵💫
Screw the old teacher, and his store.
Acceptance means abandoning all hope of a better past.
In my experience, the S6 is rather inconsistent. I’ve played monsters and plain Janes. But they’re always worth PLAYING and considering. Seagull necks are kinda like Guild necks. Flat Cs
As a Canadian, i have to say, ive yet played a Seagul that i like.
As an American, I concur. 😉
This guitar has a 1.72-inch neck. Most have the same neck width. The Maritime SWS and a few other Seagull have a 1.77-inch neck. The 1.72 is a flaw which keep lots of people away from Seagull. Another negative is the way they have raised prices recently.
The Seagull Entourage is almost the exact same guitar, except for the slightly narrower neck. I have one that's almost 10 years old and it sounds unreal. The narrower Maple neck actually makes a difference in sound and allows more of the warm Cedar tones to come through.
i have the 362nd seagull to come out of the factory in 82(first year of production) as well as a 93 s6
Well hello Jeremy. Great first name. I have a Simon & Patrick, which is of course a division of Godin. So the neck issue you mention (feeling clumsy) I find the same with my Simon & Patrick. Makes my hands tired, and the arching of my hand to get into chords and positions I would not normally fight with detracts from wanting to play it regularly. The sound though is incredible. Super nice bass end and the sustain is probably the best I have. Mine is a Songsmith Concert Hall. Got it so inexpensively also and was in excellent condition. So I kind of hate to sell it. I am also drawn to it because I was born in Montreal Quebec and love the fact the company is so close to my birthtown.
Always wanted to try a Seagull. Had a Martin recently & returned it. The high E string keep vibrating on the instead of my fret hand & fingeres. Replaced it with a ECO edition Breedlove....love it!
My tag a long was an old 60s nylon string. Nice guitar still dont know what to do with it I want to bass tone string it but I have to put new tuners on first.
That pickguard rocks!
I did a similar thing where I cleaned up a family members guitar, some hydration, new Xseries strings and the same thing, boom it was bassy as an old martin with some of the brightness of a taylor, it actually sounds great. I believe the S6 has a wide C shaped neck like a taylor but is actually a little shorter scale, similar to the 1960s slope J45s.
I have a love hate relationship with that scale length.
I have a Crafter D6 that was gifted by a player hoarder with too many in his closet. It was brutal/unplayable action. Been lugging it around for years since my daughter grew up moved out and left it. Well I just recently started getting in to learning set ups and the Crafter was my first victim. Happily it is a wonderfully playable guitar now and with laminate back and sides a great porch/garage picker. I also have a S6original I bought new in 2008 and I have got that playing slinky smooth right at the edge of buzz and I have grown to love the Louisville Slugger neck alot.
You seemed pretty sure when gripping the neck, that it was exactly an inch and three-quarter, sounds like you are very familiar with that size matey 🙂
Joking aside, it did sound a lot better after your work on it, but it didn't sound in any way 'special', and that would be a disappointment.
I have been looking for a cheaper guitar which still has some 'special' quality, so I don't have to take my Lowden around open mic nights, but I haven't found the 'one' yet.
I did have a Tanglewood super folk semi-acoustic which looked amazing, sounded really good for the price, but the slim/narrow neck just made me feel very cramped and I couldn't play most of the fingerstyle pieces I have learned on the Lowden.
I have the Seagull performer CW.. Flame maple back and sides with a Cedar top.. I love it. It has a nice natural reverberation with great resonance and power.. I don't understand your beef with the neck.. I t's actually a very comfortable and original looking neck.
Seems a pickguard that huge would dampen the top from vibrating correctly. Usually you only see guards that big on jumbos. I am not a pro though, so I don't really know what I'm talking about lol.
I have an S6 cedar as my beater guitar…. But I have to say, it’s the easiest playing guitar. Doesn’t sound nearly as good as my Taylor or Eastman, but the playability is unbelievable.
I’ve played two seagull guitars that I love all the other I’ve played were god awful. The other two, a coastline folk my buddy still has and a preforming series dread I had to sell to make rent in college; were awesome. Both guitars were early production though.
Yep, I have a “freeloader” S6 too. Can’t complain because I picked it up for $5 at junk store. It’s pretty beat up and It will probably always just be a beater, but thanks for motivating me to give it some TLC.
I had one that played the same
But after I changed out the nut, saddles, and tuner pegs and a good neck adjustment and it sounds as decent now... plus a took some sand paper too the inside too tune the wood and bracing
With a ridiculous pickguard like that it is not the guitars fault. The S6 is legendary. Not perfect but as close as will get on a 500 or less guitar. The cedar is extremely responsive but a little midrangy on this geometry when compared say to a solid spruce dread. Used is a bargain, but here in Canada they are common as dirt and for good reason. It is generally well constructed but the neck angles can be an be hit or miss on aged Seagulls more so than say a Yamaha in a similar price range in my experience. Apart from that, fantastic guitar.
It needs a bone nut & compensated saddle, ebony pins and medium strings. The nut is actually 1.8". Use the string space rule to get the outer strings about 2.5mm from the edge at the nut. That will wake her up and give you lots of real estate for fingerstyle. That pickguard is...meh - a tone sucker at best. They take a beating, are built to survive brutal Canadian seasons and rarely get top cracks. If you need another one they are always around.
I have 12 guitars, 7 acoustic , 5 electric And have only been playing for two years and started at age 68. I’ve heard nothing but good 6:12 things about Seagulls and the Godin company, at least until now, anyway. Because I respect Jeremy’s opinion so much I’m not so interested in buying one now, although I’ve been eyeing them since I Started playing. Because of my age and disabilities I will never be playing for anything but my own enjoyment, but now I am not that concerned about not owning one. My Martin 000X1 is similarly priced and is my favorite. It has solid spruce top with hpl back and sides. I am not so sure why he thinks his Seagull is not desirable although he likes it better now. But thanks for your opinion Jeremy, you have saved me a little over $500 dollars, at least until I change my mind again.
Buy a used Seagull. You will be glad you did.
Not all Seagulls are the same unfortunately. I've had 3, two were fantastic and one was still better than most $700 solid top acoustics. The problem I had was a very tall bridge on one. Sanded it down and it was much improved. The one in this video has, for whatever reason, an obnoxious pick guard. I would remove it immediately and not replace it.
Luv my Seagull Amber Trail (maple back sides & neck rosewood fretboard and bridge, solid Adirondack spruce top) folk guitar. I prefer D'Addario nickel bronze light strings. Even with light strings, it projects and sustains like crazy. Came from the factory with B-Band preamp/equalizer.
I wonder if the nut spacing is equal on center between the strings, making things feel clumsy. When done that way, the fatter strings have less space between them. The better way is to have equal space between the strings, string edge to edge. That can be done with a spacing gauge from StewMac, or with a caliper ala Bryan Kimsey.
I have the Simon & Patrick version of this guitar. Bought from a guy that gigged with it. Has an awesome setup. Very low action all the way down the neck. It's a great campfire guitar. I like the headstock design of the S&P better than the Seagull... more Martinesque.
Jeremy...you need to take a few guitars to RSW... Rosa's String Works in Missouri. He could make your guitars play and sound incredible. I've been watching Jerry's channel for years and he never fails to impress! He is truly a master luthier and an awesome story teller.
What Gordon seagull won’t tell you can’t do a next reset, the neck is epoxy to the body no one will touch it, plus the next pocket is poorly constructed causing cracks in the body top
I would have liked to see you compare it to something.....as Seagull has been highly recommended to me. thx
My experience with my S6 leads me to say it has a wide thin neck. I’ve had it for 20 years - have spent a lot on it to keep it going. Love it but it has its issues :) :)
I bought a a Seagull Cedar top..Not an S 6 though ..5 years ago and the sound is still the same.It never opened up.I am thinking of selling it.
I totally hate these guitars too. And I really tried hard to like it bc almost nobody ever says anything negative about them, but...I'm not a fan. I've played several and they don't feel good in my hands, they're kind of ugly, and (probably worst of all) they just sound dull and lifeless to me.
I love my S6 Original. I have rarely if ever found a guitar that I like as much -- even including much more expensive Seagulls.
I play an S6 Original BECAUSE the neck is wide: 1.8 inches.
The one in this video doesn't look like an S6 Original. It's too deep, front to back.
Nut width on S6 Original is 1.8 inches.
S6 Original Slim, nut is 1.75 or 1.72.
Never seen a pickguard like that.
Never seen anyone putting polish directly on the guitar (in dabs/spots) before. Same with the lemon oil. Never seen anyone squeeze it out directly onto the fretboard before.
Conventional wisdom says you should not do that. Put polish on the cloth, they say, not on the guitar.
The saddle and nut on Seagulls is made of Tusq.
Tusq is self-lubricating. You should not have to lubricate the nut.
Seagull s6 was the first real acoustic I owned and I loved it I regretted selling it so much that I went and bought another a few years back and I still play it and I now own lots of high end guitars one thing I will say you do have to set it up right
My seagull s6 is from 1993. I struggled through the years to find the right strings after the originals. Finally through much aggravation I realized it only sounds good with extra light or light 80/20 bronze strings. The brand doesn't matter as much. Martin's do sound great though. So do Ernie Balls Earth Wood.
Gotta shop around and play around. Mediums do not do this guitar any justice.. In fact to me they ruin it.
I believe the Seagull nut width is not quite 1.75 inches but is 1.72 inches.
I have clumsy chubby fingers, so I bought an S6 on purpose for the wide neck. It helps, and I like the sound and the looks. I use John Pearse phosphor bronze strings, and they sound stupidly good on it.
a crowded neck will improve your accuracy and intonation a lot
"That was messy"...Messi is also a fantastic "football" star in Argentina. It is great to see you expanding your comfort zone!
I have a couple of guitars that hang around past their prime that no one but I could appreciate. And I love an old Alvarez that people love to play, but I rarely pick up. My freeloader might be the new mahogany Alvarez I bought this year, just to leave handy. It works for that and I played it last night.
I’ve never played a Seagull 6 that I liked, I always thought the sound was flat with very little sustain!
It sounds beautiful now, great job.
I have an S6 and even though I've always considered the voicing to be magnificent, it can be rather hard to play compared to others. It actually never had a proper setup. The intonation seems fine but definitely gets much, much harder to properly hold down a full barre chord after about the 5th fret on root notes. So much so my hand will often go to sleep from the pressure required. I picked up a Taylor Mini GS at a Guitar Center once and was floored by how much easier it was to play cleanly and I just couldn't put it down. All the while resenting that I would just have to stick with the Seagull until I could ever afford one or it's like. The Seagull really does have a rich, warm and lovely sound to it though.
Its the daddario strings which are crucial. The old strings could be ones used in rondalla
Change the strings ! And get the artist model !
That is NOT a setup! All you did was change strings and polished the frets. Apparently that has not been done in the 10 years you have owned it. I do see that you have a wound 3rd string so you are using heavy strings on a guitar with a high action. Your saddle has twice as much height as mine above the bridge. That is why you have to "bare down" to hit your note.
Much much brighter after new strings.😊