Product: Seagull Maple CW Duet
Price Paid: South African Rands 8000
Submitted
07/06/1999
at
11:44am
by
Joseph
Email: josephe at ibm<dot>net
Features
:
7
This is my second Seagull, and I'm very glad to say its a bargain. It has a Solid Cedar Top with a Solid Maple back, and laminated sides. It has a rosewood FingerBoard. This is a Semi-Accoustic with a LR. Baggs pickup system. This alone is a great feature, since the Baggs system has two components, a microphone that brings the top alive, and a pick up for more conventional amping.
It finish is Semi-gloss lacquer, basically a satin type finish all round. The neck is nice and thin, due I'm told to an aluminium tube reinforcing the truss rod.
Its really a fairly traditional dreadnaught type design, no frills in the finish, although there is some modest inlay around the sound hole and the tuning head is bound and toped with Maple I think.
Its major attraction for me is the sound, this guitar sings, considering that I paid about 1/5 of the price of say a Taylor, and having come from laminated tops, I and everyone I give it to to play, think this is going to be a great instrument.
Sound
:
8
Again, the sound is very clear and quite loud, even unamplified. I think this is the best thing about the guitar, which is as it should be? I have GHS strings on it and it really has a bright sound.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
6
Action was quit good out the box, but I must say, I had it set up by the local dealer (Music Mate) and they just did a great job, it made it possible for me to really play chords I was really battling with.
So if you buy one, especially if its sat in a store for a while, have it set up, it will make the only improvements you can to otherwise really nice guitars
Reliability/Durability
:
8
Get a Hard Case for this, its Satin type finish needs the protection. Also get a humidifier in dry or wet climates. The top is reputed to be quite suceptable to drying out. Although all in all a nice finish.
I would have liked the Seagull case I purchased afterwards to have fitted exactly, I guess they make a one size fits all, so I had to make a small pad to stop it moving. No big deal.
Customer Support
:
9
Here I must say, both Seagull in Canada and my local dealer have been great. What with e-mails back and forth etc. They responded everytime.
Overall Rating
:
8
I've owned guitars for about 10 yrs, the others were not solid tops however, so I'm learning all the time here. I do think that these guitars are very good value for money and they suit the music that I like playing, John denver, Cat Stevens, James Taylor ..(but cause no ones perfect I'll give an 8 since Taylor would be a 9)
