Seagull Grand

Made by Seagull/Lasido in Quebec, in 2000 I think, bought in 2001. Small body parlor size acoustic with L. R. Baggs ribbon transducer pickup, 9V battery preamp, volume, bass, treble controls, and end pin jack. Solid cedar top, laminated cherry sides/back, maple reinforced mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, 20 frets, 14 clear, 24.8" scale. Has body binding but not fancy, satin lacquer finish, no pickguard on top, back and sides have a little reddish stain, top natural. Schaller or similar 15:1 tuners. A Lasido hard shell case was available at my dealer, isn't included in the price, but worth $90 extra. No frills but has what counts.

This is what it's all about, and this is where the makers put their efforts. For such a small body, it has an amazingly full tone, well balanced from low to high, with some nice harmonics. (I put a bone saddle in the bridge, not because it needs one, but it's a preference of mine, and it brightened a little and brought out the rest of the harmonics.) Acoustic or amplified, it is not quite as complex as a dreadnought or concert, but gives clear single notes and shooth chords. It plays in tune all the way up and down. I'm occasionally playing it through a Crate electric guitar amp, which really doesn't do an acoustic justice, but when I get an acoustic amp I expect it will be sweet. Playing a little blues, or folk songs, it has that sound you hear on some very old blues records.

The original setup was tweaked by my dealer (but he's good at it), who put a set of .010 strings on it for some reason. The action is quite low for an acoustic, only 5/64" at the 12th, bass side, and 4/64" on the high E string. I put a set of Martin SP .012's on it because I like 'em, and tightened the truss rod a bit because I'm picky about such things. .012 is Lasido's standard string gauge I think. I kept the original neck relief, about 0.005". The guitar plays fast and I can't find a buzz anywhere, even when I strum it pretty hard. (I'm not really a hard player.) This is the easiest playing acoustic I have, and none of mine are hard to play. The neck is a little wider than the typical, and that may be why - my fingers aren't what you would call dainty. The fretwork is very clean, the nut is cut perfectly - I won't have to have it lowered like on most mid-priced guitars I've seen. When I put in the bone saddle, I copied the original, no need to try any changes. The top wood is matched well, hard to find the joint unless you look close. The routing in the bridge is even, had no trouble fitting the saddle. The original saddle was a little "too" tight - and they can be too tight, have to be careful removing. One minor flaw - the bridge pins fit a little loose - they're secure once the strings are tight but I had to hold them in while starting to tighten. I put in another set of pins which are a little longer and they seem to fit better, but I could have lived with it had I not had them lying around.

I have another day job, and don't perform publicly, so I can't comment on gigging. The laquer finish won't hold up like polyester (but won't muffle the sound either), so you want to take care what you bump into it. Cedar is a soft wood which is likely to show dings if you knock it around. If you whack the top while strumming, a clear pickguard is probably a good idea. (I wouldn't worry about deadening the sound too much - my luthier friends tell me the upper bout vibrates little, most of it comes from the big end.) All that aside, the structural parts - the neck, back, bracing, etc., are very, very solid. The tuners are excellent - it stays in tune for weeks - and look like they'll last. The end pin cable jack can accomodate a strap, but there's no other strap button. I had one put on the heel cap because I like to use a strap most times. I expect we'll be together many years.

Have not had to call. They have a good website, lasido.com or seagull.com I think, and there is a FAQ section with tips on how to take care of their guitars. (The "8" is for the website.) I don't remember the length of the warranty, but so far, it doesn't look like I'll be needing it.

I've been playing off and on for 10+ years, have several acoustics, the best of which is a 20-year old Yairi DY-72. I wanted a smaller guitar and looked at all the parlor sized makes I could - Fender, Taylor, Ibanez, and while some of these have admirable qualities, none of them have this sound. The closest was the Taylor but the difference was not subtle. The Grand's playability is outstanding, which along with sound and quality construction is pretty much all I look for. There's nothing hateworthy. It's a very good value for the street price. I also like the full scale - no adjusting between playing it and my others. If someone steals it, I pity the fool when I find him. If I lose it, I'd look into another one.

2000 model-cedar top,wild cherry back and sides,rosewood fretboard,L.R. Baggs electronics.nice hardshell case included.
it has the best looking compensated saddle i've ever seen on a guitar.

I play acoustic blues and this guitar is made for just that. it sounds like a dream. every note is sweet. the LR Baggs electronics are the best i've ever heard.

set-up was perfect.easiest playing guitar i've ever seen,and i've seen plenty of guitars in my time.
NO flaws anywhere on the guitar. every note is perfect all the way up the fretboard,intonation is dead-on.

I baby all of my guitars,so it'll be just fine

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Been playing for 15 years and have never owned a guitar like this.
its a superb instrument. way better than the tacoma parlors i tried. if it were stolen i would kill the SOB then go buy another one. I love everything about this guitar. i cannot put it down.my wife is going to be a very lonely lady for a while. I'm so glad i didn't buy the tacoma PK30 before trying this one,i would've made a mistake.

"S" series, solid cedar top, laminated cherry sides and back, big leaf maple neck w/Indian rosewood board and bridge, 1.7" nut, 14 frets clear of the body. Parlor size, 13" lower bout. Thin satin finish. No electronics options added (yuk!). Sealed 1:16 tuners. 25" scale. With nice HSC included in price! I rate this a "10" because it has all the features I want and need.

A *perfect* fingerpicker's de-light, with a large and ringing sound that belies it's diminutive size. The bass is crisp and not overbearing, a very even volume across the strings. Everything to like, nothing to dislike.

The strings were 12's and the action was higher than I prefer - so, a change over to Martin Marquis 10's, 1/16" removed from the saddle's base and a tweak of the truss rod to reset the neck relief and she's right back to *perfect*. Fit and finish are spot, as expected from a Seagull. I rate this "9" only because it was not setup for MY playability tastes.

As with most acoustics, you don't treat 'em as you might a Strat or LP solid body. There are trade-offs for going light: better tone but not as durable. This git is a good compromise of both. The finish appears thin and that suits me fine. I'm not a pick whacker so I'm glad there's no pickguard to encumber the tone. I'd gig/record with this and not want or need a backup. Considering it's NOT built like a tank, I still rate this a "10" none the less.

Never had a problem with any of the Seagulls I've owned so never a reason to contact them.

Playing for over 40 years, have had *many* acoustics over the decades. This guitar is simply fabulous for fingerpicking, with a nicely balanced tone and a crisp, but not overpowering bass. I'd buy another in a minute - in fact, I just might get a second. Not a thing to dislike about the Grand. Did my shopping around, looking at Taylor, Martin and Larrivee - the Seagull "S" Grand beats them all, hands down. This git is a bonafide "10".

Solid cedar top, Laminated Cherry back and sides, 3 piece Mahogany neck, Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Came with hardshell case. Paid $250. Was a display model in a previous life. Vert nice adaptation/use of cedar for the top. This replaced a Baby Taylor as my travel guitar due to it's full scale neck.

Amazing sound for such a small guitar. Doesn't sound like any dreadnought, jumbo or even an OM but can't beat it for the price as a TV noodler, travel or first instrument for a child.

Fit and finish are good in this price range. One gripe is that htey should put a clear pickguard on this to protect the satin finish that will definitely rub off with much use.

So far this guitar has held up well. I hate the Seagull headstock design. I like clipping a capo on the headstock so it's close by but this is difficult with their design. I also think the headstock are ugly but they're definitely distinctive. The finish is also thin compared to other guitars but since it sounds so good I can't complain too much.

Haven't needed any to date.

Been playing off and on for 42 years, own 8 acoustics and I play this one everyday so that says alot about this little guitar. I would buy another one if this one was lost, damaged or stolen.

It was made in Quebec in 1999. I bought it fresh out of the box. It has a solid cedar top. A small "parlour" guitar. The fretboard is rosewood probably. The keys are encased and really good quality. (Noitce the ;less expensive Ami also made in La Patrie Quebec has pooere quality keys. This and the solid top was why I went and paid the extra hundred dollars.) I went and put a pikc guard on mine. This guitar is not too too expensive so I don't mind making a couple of modifications to it. I even put a pin in the end so I could attach a strap. I like to walk around the house and play, not just sit on a chair, so it is good to have a strap.

This is a small guitar but it sounds great. I use very light strings. I also keep it beside my bed so the first thing I do in the morning is play my GRAND because it is such a nice sound to wake up to. The action is perfect. It is rich and full sounding for a small guitar (of course the base will not be as deep as a large guitar.) There is really nothing to dislike about this guitar.

The guitar was set up pretty good at the factory, however I did make a small adjustment to the neck tension rod when I got home. A very slight adjustment. There was a very minor flaw on the neck of this guitar when i bought it. There was just a very minor sharp edge on it, which was very quickly and easily repaired with a few rubs of fine sandpaper. I guess because these guitars are not all that expensive and they probably make a lot of them, this minor imperfection got by the inspectors. But for myself, thsi minor little repair made it more of a personal guitar for me.

Althgough I have had a guitar around in my life for about 30 years, it has only been in the past year that I have decided to get into learning it more. This is as a passtime for me. In fact, I was getting a kind of "burn out" from work and the guitar has become a kind of relaxing method I use to get myself centered, and thus happy. All of this is to say I am not into playing harsh music. I use a thin or medium pick as well as finger picking. The finish of this guitar is excellent, as I said, I put a pick guard on it, but it probably would have been fine without one. It is most dependable. Stays in tune well. I don't let the strings get too dead before I replace them. I also have a Taylor guitar, but I use my GRAND mostly because it is so convenient because of the size. I play along with the radio or CDs, or learning songs on. I don't expect to be doing any "gigs" but you never know. One day I might back up a group of kids in a school concert or a campfire.

Customer support is good. I live in the province of Quebec, I bought the guitar in the province of Quebec. And service is not a big problem. (Quebec is a fantastic place to live, even for Canadians such as myself who do not speak French.) They kind of recognize me at the music store where I got this guitar, and It is where I have also bought other equipment including my Taylor (which is also a fantastic guitar, by the way). When I mentioned I wanted to put a pick guard on my guitar, he gave me one for free (would have probably cost about $10.00 Canadian), I had to trim it smaller to fit the guitar.

Been playing about 30 years (sort of), I own a Taylor Concert size as well as a Lonestar mandolin. If this guitar was stolen I would eventually get another one the same model. I just love everything about this guitar.(Oh yes, I also bough a hard shell case for it which is a good idea. They are rare because of the size, so I had to order it special.) For what I need, for what it is, and for the price, I am very pleased with this guitar.

I recently reviewed the Seagull Grand's most basic laminated top version, which is sold as the Art & Lutherie Ami Parlor acoustic guitar. I had no direct experience with Customer Support at that time. I recently needed a new saddle so that I can have a lower saddle for humid weather, and e-mailed "sales@lasido.com" for the price. Mario, at Lasido, responded the next day, and said he would send me a new, fully compensated saddle at no charge. This is great customer support, expecially on an entry level guitar.

When I add great customer support to fine sound, comfort and ease of play, the Ami version of the Seagull Grand may be the best buy in the entry level class of North American made acoustic guitars. If you are visiting Toronto or Montreal, you may be able to buy the Ami for as little as $125 or $150 in U.S. dollars, yet it has 80% or 90% of the sound of a Martin 00-15 which sells for around $600. Then, the bargain price may lure you to the nylon string version, or the Ami with built-in saddle pickup and EQ, and then there is a choice of colors - oops, where did my savings go?

This is the economy version of the Seagull Grand Parlor acoustic, marketed as the Art & Lutherie Ami. Our Canadian neighbors made it in 1997 with 19 frets, and 12 frets at the body joint, the body and top are laminated wild cherry, the neck is maple with a walnut fingerboard and walnut bridge, and a black satin lacquer finish. The tuners are a vintage-looking open style with three per mount, and the neck has a depth and feel similar to current Martins. The scale is 24 3/4 inch, the same as many Gibsons, but slightly shorter than most Martins. I got the custom fitted Seagull soft padded gigbag with backpacker style straps.

I am a very basic guitar player, and enjoy playing with my fingers more that a pick. I am impressed with the balanced sound, with the lowest notes being about the same volume as notes on the high E string. Because the bass output has been greatly reduced to create the balance with the midrange and treble, chords on the bass strings, such as an E chord, seem much brighter and thinner than on a full-size guitar. This brightness is not a flaw, it is the accurate reproduction of each note in the chord. In contrast, a Martin D-28 creates its big, booming chords by greatly boosting the bass notes. The sound is sweet and mellow when played softly and is very nice played loud. I was surprised to hear how loudly the tiny Parlor body can play, putting out about 80% of the volume of a full-size guitar. It has less sustain and harmonics than a large guitar, giving each note a more defined, precise character. It sounds like Bach, whereas full-sized Martins sound like Beethoven. It is a bigger, warmer sound than the more expensive Baby Taylor, and sounds surprisingly similar to the ultra expensive Gibson Nick Lucas replica, that is: loud, crisp, and well balanced.

The Canadian craftspeople of Lasido put this bargain price guitar together with great care. It is made from 100% Canadian wood and laminated wood with a neatness and overall fit and finish similar to a more expensive guitar. An inner brace had a hairline split that seems cosmetic and not of any importance. The top is very thin and light, and the braces are big and beefy. This combination may account for the surprising loudness of this 3/4 size Parlor guitar. A very thin layer of flat black lacquer was neatly applied. The string clearance was set up about like a typical Martin, which means Martin players will think it is perfect, and people who play Taylors will think it is a bit high. I tried to "finetune" the neck relief using the adjustable truss rod, and found that with light stings the neck relief is very similar at any truss rod setting. You are allowed to "finetune" but not greatly alter the factory setup. Several frets (the 5th to 8th) sound dull on the G string. That may change with a different weight of strings, or as the guitar and neck get played in.

This is a very light weight acoustic Parlor guitar. It is designed for playing on your lap at home. It has no strap buttons. It will last for a lifetime if it is treated as a very fragile musical instrument. It will last a day if used as a baseball bat or golf club. It is so inexpensive ($200 to $250 average) that you can replace it after you break it.

The warranty card did not state a time limit. Lasido (Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Norman, Godin, etc.) has the reputation for always being happy to fix an actual factory defect. Most "support" issues arise after customer neglect, abuse, or stupidity, which are not warranty problems. My particular A & L Ami Parlor Acoustic is a display that is marked "FS" which may mean "Factory Second". My guitar plays and sounds great,so Lasido did their job well.

I also play a Martin Sigma which is a inexpensive copy of the D-28. I played the Grand, the Baby Taylor, and the Martin Backpacker before I bought the Seagull A & L Ami. The Ami has a warmer sound than the Baby Taylor. It is a Seagull Grand, except the neck joins at the 12th fret instead of the 14th fret & the Seagull Grand has a solid Cedar top, and the Ami has a wild cherry laminate top. The Cedar top version seemed to have a brighter treble, and a more complex sound with more personality. Lasido sells the Ami laminated top version of the Grand for $75 less. If something happened to my Ami, I would buy another or cough up the extra $75 for the cedar top version. If I win the lottery, I would consider the $400 Larrivee Parlor, which is all solid wood, with a spruce top. The Larrivee costs twice the price of the Ami, which is why the Ami is an outstanding bargain among Parlor sized acoustics.

This is a Parlor(3/4)size dreadnought. Cedar top,Cherrywood back and sides,mahogany(Honduran)neck,rosewood board(25" scale), Excellent tuners! Rating is based on the EXCELLENT QUALITY of tone woods here!

This little box SHINES! Great for blues! Warm rich tone! Louder than it looks!

GOOD ACTION! FUN TO PLAY! NO Polyurathane(spelling?)!!!! It's like playing a tree(natural!)

Must be carfull! No thick plastic coating here! Hard shell case only!

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I LOVE THIS GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!! It even smells good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Grand has a solid Cedar top with laminated Cherry sides and back. The parlor size body is comfortable to play while sitting in any chair in the house. The neck is full scale and I believe it is made of Mahogany. The neck has a very good feel to it. There is no pickgaurd, and combined with the soft cedar top, disaster is eminent if you play with a pick. I have resently added a clear Herco pickgaurd.

The tone and volume is incredible from this small guitar. It has a unique sound. My wife thinks it sounds a bit like a mandolin. I like the sound a lot! I am rating the sound high considering the $300 price and the small size.

The action was comfortable, and the satin finish looks great. I can smell finishing stain from the neck when I play the guitar.

I expect this guitar to last my lifetime. I'm 46. After that the family can fight over it.

I sent the waranty card to the company in LaPatri, Canada. I didn't get a reply stating that they got it. Since I was mailing out of the country, I emailed them a month later just to satisfy my curiosity. I received a prompt email back saying "If you mailed it, we got it." I didn't like that. I still don't know if they got my waranty card.

I think this is an excellent value for $300.