Seagull M6 Gloss - Mahogany & Spruce Acoustic

2005 model, made in Canada. Rosewood bridge and fingerboard. Hand-finished silver nickle frets. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany/wild cherry/mahogany back and sides. Solid mahogany neck. Sealed tuners. Gloss laquer finish, not a cheap plastic coating like some other brands use. Tusq nut and saddle. Came with a decent hard case. Superb craftsmanship. This guitar is not about whistles and bells, it's just about quality and tone. Simple but elegant. I gave it an 8 just because I had to pay extra for the case. Other than that it would've been a 10.

My main music focus right now is classic to modern rock, leaning towards the blues end. I'll tell everyone right now, not all Seagulls sound and play the same. These guitars are not production line junk rolling off the conveyor belt at 15 an hour. These guitars are handmade by craftsmen who know what a guitar should sound and feel like. These guitars have their own unique personality and soul. Go out and play a bunch of them yourself and then decide which one is yours. I bought a high end Garrison (G40) just before I bought this Seagull. The Garrison sounded like I had a rag stuffed into the sound hole. It played great, but the instrument was dead. Luckily for me, after 2 weeks with the Garrison the bridge piece started lifting up from the sound board and I returned it. The owner of the music store gave me the option of a refund or just exchanging it for another guitar. I played every Garrison in the store and they all had the same dull, lifeless sound. I played Takamines, Martins (over-rated), Ovations, and Washburns. Then I tried out the Seagulls, WOW! The sound of these instruments are really incredible. Singing highs without getting too chimey, and very well defined lows that resonate throughout the guitar and up the neck. The intonation is perfect all the way up the neck.

Beautiful bookmatching. Flawless wood selection. The gloss laquer finish is fantastic. Tuners are excellent. The fretboard and frets are wonderfull, that's what really got my attention. Don't let the laminated back and sides scare you off, the tone of this guitar is truely amazing! Plus with laminated sides and back you'll have less chance of splitting and warping. I've had solid sides and back and I always had to have a case humidifier and a room humidifier, then I was always worrying about too much moisture getting into the wood,... what a bunch of crap. The only thing I would have liked to see in the finish is the same gloss laquer finish on the neck. The neck has a satin finish. The store who sold me this guitar installed a front strap button, at no charge, on the heal of the neck.

I don't see anything cheap or cheesy in anyway with this guitar. Seems very solid. Tuners are great. Neck is great. Really nice finish. I would take it on the road.

The music store I bought the guitar from said it came with a lifetime warranty. The guy who wrote the review before me said something about a 2-year warranty. I don't know, but I have faith in the Music Center in Twin Falls, Idaho, which is where I bought it. Those people will make it right if anything goes wrong.

Remember grandpa sitting on the porch playing that old relic of a guitar saying "I bought this quitar when me and your gramdma got married". Well this Seagull is going to be one of those guitars. This instrument is truely a work of art, and very under-valued in my opinion. Handmade Martins and Taylors cost thousands of dollars. You can have a handmade Seagull for a lot less and get better tone. Make sure you get a good hard case for it, and when you're not playing it, put it back in its case. This simple act makes a huge difference in the longevity of the instrument. Also keep the guitar clean, for Godssake! I dirty, dusty instrument is going to sound and play like crap. The wood needs to breath and expand and contract with the vibration set up buy your playing. Dirty, greasy, grimey wood is dead wood. Clean your guitar!! Anyway Seagulls are a fantastic value, go out a play one today! I rated this category a 9 just because of the satin finish on the neck and I had to buy the hard case separately.

2002 M6 Gloss model, bought in Dec.'02. Made in Canada. 21 frets (I think). This model has a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany sides & back. It is a standard dreadnaught with no cutaway or electronics. I came with an end strap peg but no heal strap peg (bummer). Neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. Finish is a light gloss, not too thick and not too light. This feature is what really caught my eye about the guitar. The bridge is a standard through the top saddle. Seagull uses a bolt on neck and a special truss rod that can provide relief and bow (tension) in either direction depending on which way you turn the truss rod nut. It came with nothing, no case, tuner, strap. Got it at a local "mom & pop" music store for $404 plus tax. I give it a six on features cause it is just a dreadnaught. But that is what I was shopping for.

This guitar is the poor man's Martin. I played guitars in stores for about 100 miles in a radius from where I live, Martin, Taylor, Alvarez, Takamine, Guild, Fender, Ibanez. None had the sound that Seagull does for the price. This guitar is also quite loud when you strum is agressively. The action came from the factory a little high probably for that reason. I had it lowered and it also fingerpicks well with a set of light gauge strings.

When I played the guitar in the store it was in perfect tune, but in a lower octave and I didn't realize this until I got home. I retuned it to standard and after about 2 hours of playing, I noticed a strange buzzing when playing an A chord. Or plucking the A string. I have taken it back to the store where I bought it several times. I have also taken it to another local store with whom I normally deal. It is not a string buzz. Both shops have adjusted the neck and told me the neck is fine. The intonation is good. And there are no braces loose. After a year and a half of taking this thing in and out of the shop, it still buzzes and I'm still pretty unsatisfied. I contacted the company by email (which apparently is the only way they wish to be contacted as no telephone numbers are posted anywhere on their site) and they told me to take the M6 back to the store where I purchased it, and that the 2 year warranty was still good. The store is currently giving me the run around and the company isn't being any help at all.

Since mine is under 2 years old and has basically never been quite right, I give it a very poor durability rating. I also would note that these are fragile guitars.

What support? Are you kidding?

I really liked the sound and looks of the guitar, AND the price. That's why I bought it. My complaints are that mine is faulty and the company isn't interested in helping me. Another problem for me is that the neck is wide. I thought I would get used to it. Wrong! If it seem uncomfortable the first time you play it. It will always be that way.

This is a 2004 M6 Gloss purchased new for about $470 with a hardshell case. It has a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany/maple sides and back.

This guitar sounds great. The high end sparkles like a twelve string and the lows are tight and clean.

Absolutely beautiful. Flawless high gloss finish. The spruce top has some flaming in it which attracted me immediately. Some might prefer a super tight grain in their tops, but I like a little character in my wood. Fretwork is great. I had the action lowered just a tad, but it was quite playable off the rack.

I had another Seagull with a gloss finish and it held up great for years. It will yellow with age, but laquer does that.

This was my third of four Seagulls that I have owned, so obviously I am a huge fan. They are well built, sound fantastic, look great and the prices are very reasonable. I have had everything from the bottom line S6 to the top line Flame Maple Cutaway and they have all been superb.

Made in Canada (La Patrie, Quebec), Seagull is a part of the Godin guitar family. 21 frets, rosewood fretboard. Mahogany sides and back (with cherry) and dark spruce top. This is a nuthin' fancy dreadnought style body. The shoulders are slender, but something about the headstock gave the Seagull M-6 a graceful symmetry. Beautiful tuners, very smooth. Came with hard case for a grand total of $200 US brand new. I'll never forget my reaction upon first seeing the Seagulls: "Ooh...Hey, a lefty!"

Then I strummed it. WOW! I looked at the price tag again. The guitar was on sale for $135. You read that right. The case was offered for an additional $65. It sings. Every note is discernible. Since buying it 18 months ago I have used it for Dylan, Beatles, Country, fingerpicking, and even "flat-pick flamenco," and it sounds beautiful. The mic picks it up beautifully in performance. What I really enjoy is its responsiveness to different attacks in different positions. This allows greater flexibility in arranging two guitars for one. I just love the way it seems to know what I want from it at any given moment. A gorgeous guitar.

The only problem was that pesky back brace that so many complain about. However, I found out that Guitar Player had already explained this as a result of climatic changes in shipment. It is easily fixed by HAVING A PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIAN glue it for you. The dealer should take care of it, if they're worth dealing with at all. Other than that, it has been flawless. I needed no set-up, and the neck, for which the Godin family is famous, was amazing.

There is one mark on my Seagull from a student who decided to use my case as a footrest just as I was removing the guitar. Outside of that, I play it every day and it rarely needs tuning. When I change the tuning, the other strings hold their tone. I teach full time, and use it for lessons as well as gigs. Still only one mark.

I looked up the Contact page at Godin, the parent company of Seagull. Apparently, the only people they have answering the emails are the design techs themselves, in order to keep costs low (which explains the amazing prices). As a result, they answer what they can in their spare time. Just thought those who wondered what was up would like to know. I haven't needed them.

I have played for over twenty years, and am a guitar teacher. I have never heard a guitar like this under a grand. Not satisfied with copying or emulating Martin or Gibson, or anyone else, Seagull has produced their own sound, and it is truly beautiful. Definitely gives the more expensive companies a lot of work to do. I actually enjoy playing the Seagull over my Rick, which costs ten times as much! How they can keep the prices so low yet create such beautiful looking and sounding guitars is beyond me. If you're a professional, you'll love the sound and feel. If you're a beginner, it's all the guitar you'll really need for a long time, for about fifty bucks more investment over any other decent beginner. A ten all the way.

This guitar was just made. I like to think it was made for me, but I know better. It was made in La Patrie, from native woods and Honduras mahogany. Solid spruce top with lovely finish, mahogany neck, cherry-sandwiched mahogany back and sides, rosebood fretboard. nice trim, though no herringbone or stripe down the back. nice looking wood, though and what looks like perfect workmanship. i love the tuners.

i'll give this a 10, and i expect it to get even better when the top opens up. i bought this guitar because i could get it left-handed, and i liked the short scale and wide fretboard. i have some nerve damage in my right index finger. i played a lot of guitars, including martins and taylors. i found it close in sound to a taylor 310 dreadnaught, a great guitar that costs about twice as much.

everything appears to be top-notch here. this is what gives seagull its great reputation.

not really applicable. i suspect it will hold up, but i probably won't take it out of the house much.it came with a nice hard case, though, just in case.

i don't know, but i always found seagull responsive before i ordered the instrument.

Unless I somehow become a star, which is highly unlikely, this will be my last guitar. And that's fine with me.

This guitar was produced in 2002, in La Patrie Canada by the Seagull Company. It has 22 frets, solid Spruce top, 3 layered Mahogany back and sides. It comes with the options of either Godin EPM Quantim (saddle transducer)or the LR Baggs Element (transducer-type)electronics. I opted for the LR Baggs EQ system because it met the requirements I was going to be in need of, and my dealer was accustomed to putting this system in. I can't help comparing the "LR Baggs EQ" to the "LR Baggs I-Beam Duet" that I had on a Seagull Artist series Folk before the M-6. With both hooked up to an amp, I could get more variety of sound response from the Folk and the I-Beam Duet system than what sound I could create the EQ and the M-6 Gloss.
This guitar has a Mahogany neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The M-6 has a high gloss lacquer finish.
This Seagull is basically a dreadnought style with rounded shoulders. It has the Tusq? nut and compensated saddle. I'm not sure what brand the tuners are, but they function like a reasonable non-locking Grover would.
This guitar is 1.8" inches wide at the nut, and has a 24.84" scale length. I bought this one without a case.

For my style of playing (still being developed), which I would describe as basically finger picking and some rhythm-type strumming, this guitar is quite good! It seems to give a really good response from the lower bass to the high trebles. I have owned this instrument for about a year, and it is really developing its own unique voice already. While I have some prejudice for the more mellow sounds of Mahogany, I feel like for the money, the M-6 is one of the most balanced sounds I've heard from this style of guitar.

Action was a bit high on the upper register, but my dealer adjusted it easily. Since the dealer put the pick up in, he made sure it was adjusted properly. My M-6 was truly fine in regard to all of its appointments, but I was careful to examine it before purchasing.

I've not had this long enough to know what kind of durability it will produce, but it seems as if it will hold up. Although I would not want to use any guitar for a gig without a backup, I would come as close to trusting this guitar as any other one.

I've tried twice to contact Seagull. The first time, I received a quick response, and the second I'm still waiting on (several months ago). I've never needed it to be repaired, but if I did, I would take it to my dealer, not the Seagull Company. This guitar has a 2 year warranty.

I've only been playing for about a year. I own a Yari classical, a Alvarez RC 20C classical, and a Fender Fat Strat (Mex). At this point, if my Seagull were lost or stolen I would probably replace it with something else, but not because I am unhappy with it.
I played quite a number of guitars before purchasing this one, and for the money I found nothing that came any where near the sound produced by the Seagulls.
As I'm learning more about what I want in a guitar, I'm finding that I am seeking something with a few different options. If this had a little wider nut width, a florentine cutaway, and the LR Baggs I-Beam Duet electronics...it would be perfect!
I really really like the Seagull instruments, I just wished there was some more options that folks like me could choose from.

I bought my M6 gloss in July or August 2000. I'm giving this a low feature rating because it's a bare-bones, no frills, no nonsense solid-top guitar. The fretboard markers might be inlays, but I don't know. The Seagull Emblem is a decall.

I play medium gauge strings (.013-.056). The sound is balanced and the guitar responds well whether it is driven hard or softly fingerpicked. It does not have the hallmark cheap guitar "washboard" sound. The sound is clear and balanced. It also doesn't sound like nails on a chalkboard when I play hard "chops." (My first acoustic, an Alvarez student guitar, did this.) I like mine with D'Addario phosphor bronze strings. I may try Martin M-150's again, though.

I had to change my picking (plectrum) technique slightly because my Alvarez really projected highs. The Seagull has a more balanced sound. I found that with fingerpicking on the Seagull, I had to use a lighter strike with my thumb, especially when using a capo.

From the factory, my guitar had the action too high. (It was tuned about a half step lower than concert pitch at the store. I noticed the action issues when I tuned it to concert pitch at home.) This made tuning and playing difficult. It feels and plays great after a setup. If you want to buy a Seagull, play a whole bunch of them, because the sound will vary greatly between guitars. Then, once you've picked the one you want, have it set up with the string gauge that you play.

The factory finish was great. But the main selling feature is the neck. I picked the Seagull M6 over a TAYLOR because of the way this neck feels. The neck is very playable.

The rating shown reflects the guitar after the setup. Before the setup, I'd give my particular guitar a 5.

Use common sense and you should be fine. Wipe the strings down and use a guitar polish that won't build up. Don't leave it in the car, the attic, the basement, or the crawlspace, and the guitar should be alright.

Never used them For setups and repairs, I take my guitars to techs that I trust.

The guitar at that time listed for $499. I dickered the guy down to $450 including a hard case. If you buy a Seagull, make sure the price you agree to includes a setup with your string gauge and a hardshell case.

I more or less quit playing for a while. I'm starting back up again, and I still like my Seagull. It doesn't sound quite like a remember it because my fingers aren't in the shape that they were when I bought it. Touch and technique have a lot to do with how it, or any other guitar, sounds.

It is a great intermediate "step up" guitar. If something happened to mine, I don't know if I'd get another Seagull due to the inconsistencies between "identical Seagulls."

Solid spruce top, 3-piece mahogany neck, back & sides mahogany laminate with gloss finish. Dreadnaught shape with slightly narrower, rounded-off upper bout, similar to Gibson J45, rosewood fretboard and bridge, complete with standard Seagull embossed tuners. A no frills guitar with excellent construction that should last a life time.

The sound is clean and crisp with subtle detail, which ideally suites fingerpicking. But compared to a standard shape dreadnaught the narrower upper bout diminishes volume when strumming. If its volume your after, buy a Simon & Patrick, they are also made by Lasido. But if you after something with class that won't cost the earth, try the Seagull.

I bought it used and the set-up is somethings else. Everyone that plays it can't understand how it set-up so low and doesn't buzz, it's as low as my Les Paul. The easiest action on any acoustic I've played. However the couple of frets required a little work with a file to smooth them off, other than that great guitar.

Very well constructed guitar with good tuners. The gloss finish should hold up much better that the satin. I've had it for about 2 years and the only thing that doesn't look the same as when I bought it are the frets, there a little worn. Never gigged with it, but if I did, I wouldn't take a back-up.

NONE EXISTANT. E-mailed them for info a few times, never reply. Perhaps if I sent it in French they may reply.

I've few guitars; Gibson Les Paul, Lowden O12 and a Strat Plus, but this is one I play the most. It hasn't got the volume or warmth of the Lowden, and has no pick-up so it isn't used live. But it's the easiest to play of all my guitars, and fits me like an old pair of shoes. A great all round guitar that didn't break the bank. If it was lost or stolen I wouldn't replace it, I've tried others and they are not the same.
Shame about the customer service though

2001, Made in Canada.

for everything else...see below

Overall a pretty conservative looking guitar...just the way I like it.
Build quality is great except for a tiny gap between the bracing.

Paid $500 with hardshell case

I used to work right across from a music store. Every lunch hour I would go and in and play several guitars. This is the one I picked. For the price there is nothing that compares to the tone this guitar produces.

Build quality is great except for a tiny gap between the bracing.

I lent this guitar to an X-girlfriend, and it returned with several deep scratches. Apparently it was dropped several times in her keeping. Still plays, sounds, and with the exceptions of the scratches, looks great.

I have been playing for 3 years. I am saving up for a Martin (pre 74 D-28) and have several other guitars. But for now and for the fore-seeable future, when I go out to play, this is the guitar Ill have with me.

I reccomend this guitar to everyone.
I have forced several of my friends to buy one
(and they love me for it)

Solid spruce top, 3-ply mahogany neck, back Sides(two mahogany sandwhiching cherry layer). Gloss finish. Dreadnaught with slightly
narrower upper bout. It is not a feature ricih guitar, but is what
was looking for.

This guitar has a GREAT sound. It is full bodied, with a nice low end to it while at the same time presenting good detail. I can hear the individual notes while chording. For finger picking, it rings out strong and clear. It can play pretty loaud as well, at least loud enough for me.

Sound wise, this is better than most of the other guitars I looked at, Taylor, Martin, Takamine.

From the factory this guitar was perfect for me. Nice low action, no buzzing and a very straight neck. The other Seagulls I played were set up well also, but a bit higher. I think this one had the best action in the store.

Finish is perfect, no flaws I can see and I'm "picky".

So far so good, guitar is holding up great, but it's still new. Time will tell. I have 2 little ones at home, so I'm glad this has the more durable gloss finish as I think that will help in this area. The cedar tops seem pretty fragile.

No contact with company yet. Warranty looks pretty good.

I've been playing on/off for 15 years. I recently got rid of my last electric guitar as I plan to focus more on acoustics. I wanted to get a really nice acoustic without breaking the bank. This is the one. I was actually looking for a cutaway and possibly electronics, but after playing many guitars from many brands, I decided that sound and feel of the guitar is more important than fancy decorative touches, or having a cutaway.

I think Seagull makes excellent guitars, especially for the price. As with any brand though, you need to try them all out to get the cream of the crop. I think this guitar is better than many of the Taylors and Martins I played. Does not mean that Seagull is better than Martin or Taylor, just that this particular guitar is better than a lot of other guitars, a real gem. Instead of comparing brands, I say compare individual guitars regardless of brand. I couldn't be happier