Art & Lutherie Standard Acoustic

I was given this free because the top was totally smashed in. I am a amature lutherie/guitar tinkerer, and I put on a new top (sitka spruce with Martin-like X-bracing), and added some of my own cosmetic touches. It turned out good. Good solid neck, decent tuners, back and sides are some non-descript plywood, but overall it's a basic solid drednaught-size guitar.

With the new top it has a big, full sound. Not quite as open and airy as some of my other acoustics, but very nice tone with good resonance. Very even response across the strings.

Well, the action, fit and finish was pretty horrible when I first got it, but it is one of my easiest playing acoustics now. The orignial fit/finish of the exterior appeared pretty good. When you get to the inside though you can see why these things are priced so low. The bracing was just slapped in there with jagged edges and not fitting too well. It looks like the inside of a Martin now after I got done with it.

The thing is rock solid. Holds it's tune. If I had to play in adverse weather conditions, this is the guitar I'd take.

I guess I'm my own customer support department on this one.

I understand that these are made in the same factory as Seagulls. I have a Seagull C-12, and it is an awsome guitar for the price. The A&Ls are similar I understand. Good solid guitars with great sound for the money.

Bought the Art & Lutherie as my third guitar. Solid cedar top made in Canada. I was prepared to pay much more for a guitar than I paide for this one. Great hardware, great finish, solid top, only thing it needs was a front strap hanger.

One of the best sounding guitars I have ever heard. I couldn't believe the difference in sound in this guitar versus the other guitars in the same price range. My musical style, acoustic rock and some country, sounds great on this guitar.

Action was set up just right for me. Much easier and more forgiving to play than others I tried, or had owned before. Finish and fit were good to go. High E string gets a bit twangy from time to time, until I change out strings.

I've only owned it a few months, but it sure feels like it will hold up well. A little TLC and maintenace from time to time and it should last well. I would not be afraid to show up with only this guitar in my bag. I do not play for pay. I just entertain myself and friends for several years now.

Local dealer is very helpful and willing to do whatever. I don't anticipate needing any though.

After looking around for a good medium priced guitar, I found this one to be better and less expensive. Love the sound and the forgiving playability. I can't imagine that there is a better buy out there for the money. I've played many friends Fenders, Martin's, Ibanez's, Takamine's, and have yet to play one I like better. Scary, huh?

Made in Canada in 2000. 20 fret acoustic solid top. Nice transparent red satin finish.Purchased with standard hard shell case Just a basic entry level guitar. I should mention mine was a second.

For my style , acoustic strumming. alt.country, it's great. A nice full LOUD guitar a great strummer. Unbeatable at the price.

The guitar was well set up from the factory, with a medium action setting. Top was nicely bookmatched. There was a barely noticeable flaw in the wood around the soundhole, right around where the pick would pass. As I said it's a second.

I can't believe it's been 5 years since I bought this guitar. It was my first and I learned to play on it, so it has some sentimental value for me. I have not played live aside from house parties, but I see no reason why this guitar couldn't. The hardware will last everything is in good shape and it's been played a lot. Many sets of string have been used on this guitar. The finish? The above mentioned flaw? The finish has worn through to bare wood there, but it's got along ways to go yet. The sound has noticeably improved over the years, I regularly get comments on it. I guess I've improved too. One thing: use a humidifier! Oner the past year the action has risen noticeably to a point I did not like. Turns out the neck required straightening and the top was sinking. I straightened the neck myself and now I always put it back in the case with the humidifier after playing. This statement should be qualified as well.
I am a sailor and since I have bought a more expensive guitar (Larrivee) I have started taking the A&L on the ship with me. Ironically the ship's relative humidity is painfully low. We're talking nosebleed level. Of course it's the heating and AC systems fault. My point is I think the guitar would have been fine at home.

The local dealer is always helpful and performed adjustments free of charge. They say the the company is very supportive of their guitars and I have no reason to doubt them

I''ve been playing for 5 years. This was my first guitar. I have since owned an A&L laminate top acoustic which I have sold since but should have kept for the ship. I have a Hohner HW90 12-string. I also bought a Yamaha Pacifica electric and Fender Frontman25 amp which I recently traded for my new baby, A Larrivee L-03 Acoustic. I've also got a Johnson mandolin to fool around with.
I wish I had known more about the importance of humidity.
I would happily buy another one of these as a second guitar for camping or whatever. Probably not a factory second though. I love the sound of this thing, It's not like the Larrive (a revelation) but for the price it can't be beat.

Simple but sound construction.Mine is black satin finish with cream body binding.I`ve had it for about four years.Highly playable.A good guitar for the price.Hand made in Canada about 1997/98 by the same people who make `seagull` guitars.

I play mainly folk/C&W and find the A&L suits this very well with a bright if slightly `trebly`sound.A friend who plays a lot of blues tried it but wasn`t too impressed.Never tried amping it but would think with the right pick-up and amp combo would hold it`s own against more expensive models.Sound appears to be improving with age(something to do with wood drying out perhaps?)Light guage strings give the best results.

Nice easy action although possibly a bit high compared to my other guitars.Simple stained finish without highly polished laquers on top suits the less flamboyant player.Tuning pegs are robust and hold tuning well.One of the bridge pegs on mine worked its way loose so I replaced the lot with a slightly thicker peg and have had no problem since.

I`ve knocked it about a bit over the last four years but it just keeps coming back for more and still manages to keep its looks.Very reliable and dependable - rapidly becoming an old friend.Only backup playing live is a twelve stringer but that`s only for the different sound.

Got a years warranty with it but never needed it.Most replaceable parts are readily available `off the shelf`

Been playing for 30 something years.I also have the six and twelve string Eko Rangers.When i went to buy trhe A&L I tried several others including the `seagull` but frankly preferred the sound of the A&L and as an added bonus it was considerably cheaper!All round good value for money.If someone stole it? - I would have to remove their sticky little fingers knuckle by knuckle!

Probably made between 96-98, Made in Quebec, Canada, Cherry body, maple neck, nice satin blue finish, dreadnought shape. no accessories included.

In that range of price, it blow everything else. Clear bright sound

nothing to say here...

The finish is ok, but the body is kinda weak. The bottom just starded to split, gonna have to check that...

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I've been playing on that guitare for 3 years now, Really reliable guitar for cheap, pretty much better that what else you can get for the same price.

This Canadian made Guitar has a cherry body with a two piece cherry top. I believe the neck is mahogany? It's a very basic acoustic guitar, but it's got great bang fot the buck. It's pretty cool that this guitar has a very nice cream body binding.

This guitar has a great sound compared to other better-known brand costing as much or up to twice as much. Sounds great miked if you can eliminate feedback.

Very well made, except my bridge has minor defects in it that are too deep to be sanded out. Looking inside it looks really clean.

I've had it for at least a couple of years. I've taken it to many places and it still is in good condition. I've performed with it live from a coffee shop to a football stadium (not as cool as it sounds - hardly any people were there). Just don't throw it in a fireplace or run it over with your car. It'll be fine for many years.

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I've been playing for about 6 years, and my real expertise is with electric guitars. I needed an acoustic for basic songwriting and taking it to the beach or picnics or whatever. I love the finish. It's stained a cherry red color, or you can get a natural finish.

It's a steel string acoustic, not much variety available. Just a standard Dreadnought body, 6 strings and a soundhole. Every part you could want (neck, body, strings, ect.) are all in their proper place. Not many people have heard of A & L, but they are infact Seagull's "budget" line. Similar to the way Fender uses Squire to release cheaper versions of their famous models. I had never heard of them, but when I went to buy a new acoustic the guy in the store turned me on to them. What a great value. They're all hand-made in the same Canadian town as the rest of the Seagull line, and don't have that odd headstock. They come in a bunch of great finishes, I got mine in a cherry top and bottom, it looks great.

Absolutely a 10 for the price they go for, but if your judging on the scale of a Martin or something similar, it's a 9, very close, but not a multi-thousand dollar instrument. But hey, for a third of the price of the cheapest Martin, it's pretty amazing. Well balanced, great for open chords. You pick this thing up and it just begs for you to start rocking. A little deep for James Taylor stuff, this baby is the perfect acoustic rock instrument. (Led-Zep)

For an acoustic the action on this thing is sooo fast. It's clean as can be, even with heavy gauge strings (.13's) barre chords come out clear all the way up the neck. What you think of the finish really depends on what your looking for; It's not a ornate sculpture, we're talking a functunal guitar here. So, if you the kind of person who likes gold and pearl and diamond flake chintz (like the high end Martins) this guitar might be a little plain for you. I personally love it. It's made of a beatiful cherry wood, everything is hand cut and finished, the next is cherry with a Rosewood fingerboard and reflective markers. It's a simple looking guitar, but a classic timeless one.

Hey it's an acoustic! Keep it away from open flames, axes and termites. It'll keep you happy for years. Stays in tune really well, even with open tunings that put a good amount of strain on the neck.

Well I haven't hade to deal with them, but hey that's a good sign right? Seagull's Web page doesn't acknowledge the things, and I've only seen them at the place I got them. What with them being hand-built in Canada, it would probably be cheaper to get a new one if anything went wrong then to try and get it fixed.

An absolute 10! For the price of a cheap acoustic, you get an instrument that could easily go head to head with the baseline Martins and Seagulls. This was one of the best purchases I've ever made, If it were lost or stolen, I probably wouldn't think twice about getting another one. Anyone looking for a new acoustic, check these babies out!