Seagull Duet II Custom Shop Rosewood Cutaway

I believe this guitar was made in 1998 in La Patrie Canada, site of the Godin/Seagull city of guitar luthiers. Seagull Rosewood Cutaway Duet II 'Custom Shop' Specifications: Solid Spruce Top,Semi-Gloss Lacquer Finish, Solid Rosewood Back and Sides. Honduras Mahogany Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard,Rosewood Bridge, Micarta Nut & Saddle, Hand Finished Abalone Decoration. There are 22 frets. It features a L.R. Baggs duet series pickup which consists of a ribbon transducer and a dynamic mike inside along with 3 band EQ, mix for the mikes, phase shift, volume. Grover mother of pearl tuners. The neck has a matte finish. I bought this without a case and then bought an SKB case to go along with it. Being able to dial in the exact sound with the EQ and miking options really sets this apart.

I play jazz and blues and pop. I use this guitar for any very pretty songs where the musical expression from this instrument simply glows and reaches out into another place in consciousness. I've been playing it through a Hot Rod DeVille which is not normally the best amp for acoustic instruments but still I can get a clear good, non feedback type of sound. It takes some adjustment to filter out the lows but a flat eq here coupled with lowering the bass on the Hot Rod makes it happen. I've also played it through a Fender Acoustisonic amp and that will definitely be my next amp. It gave me an exquisite concert hall sound. Also I've played it through a Marshall Acoustic amp and it also displayed very rich tonal qualities. This guitar played by itself acoustically is warm, clear, and crisp, a hard match to come up with but it is simply elegant. A bonus sound here is the direct recording effect. I can run stereo from this guitar into my VS880 digital recorder and achieve pristine acoustic sounds that are only possible with expensive miking solutions. The output jack on this guitar can use either a 1/4" or TRS stereo jack. The results are incredible with sound printed to tracks clear, hot, and vibrant. There is nothing about the sound that I don't like. It is why I chose it in the first place. It balances full bodied distinct lows with crisps mids and clear highs.

I have never seen a guitar so well made. From top to bottom it is a work of art. The neck and body fit perfectly. Everything is tight. The finish seems to resist sweat, dirt, and the matte finish on the neck is easy to navigate the fingerboard. The action is superb for an acoustic electric. Don't get me wrong. You are still playing an acoustic electric here and it is harder to play then my Les Paul, or Howard Roberts Archtop but it still plays smoothly, more so the more I have been playing it. The abalone inlay is on both sides of the fingerboard, something I've never seen before. Seagull is inlaid on the 12th fret and there is a graphic inlay of a seagull on the top piece. Around the soundhole and around the outside top edge is all inlay. I paid $1500 for this guitar and know that I got a bargain.

I trust the workmanship on this guitar and have already used it twice and will continue to gig with it. I've checked it from top to bottom and am amazed at the quality that went into this guitar

I've only had this for a few weeks now but one story I heard was that a customer of the store where I bought it brought in a Seagull guitar which he had bought elsewhere, and there was a crack in the top and the music store called Seagull, got an RMA number, sent back the guitar and they sent back a brand new guitar.

I've been playing for close to 38 years. This is the cream de la cream for this type of guitar. I tried 20 others and not even close.