Seagull Peppino D'Agostino

Solid figured spruce compound curve top (very tight grain), solid Indian rosewood back, Indian rosewood/ maple laminated sides, Indian rosewood bridge, Tusq nut, compensated saddle and end pins. The tuners are very nice gold sealed Seagull units with pearl buttons.

The finish is a very thin, beautiful gloss lacquer, the neck is oiled mahogany with a "naked" Indian rosewood fretboard.

The neck is very wide (1.9"), but thin and flat around back. The frets are smallish (I'm mostly an electric player), but well dressed. It is longish-scale: not as short as Gibson, not as long as Fender. The fretboard has a very flat radius (feels like around 16" or 18")

One gripe: there is no front strap button installed from the factory.

No electronics on this one, but it did cone with a nice older model Seagull TRIC case.

I'm generally a rock player, but started taking lessons in classical and Jazz so I was looking for something that was a bit better suited than a traditional boxy banger.

The sound of this guitar is very full and rich, with a powerful bottom end and a clear top. It's closest to the traditional Super-Jumbo sound, but with better midrange, like a Dreadnaught. Hard strumming produces a rich piano-like attack with good note-to-note seperation. Playing fingerstyle is a joy with the wide spaced strings, and creates a very distinctive "vocal" timbre.

This is a very versatile and expressive instrument. I have not yet added electronics, but the acoustic tone is to die for mic'd.

The setup was off out of the box, although it was used upon purchase. I needed to tighten the truss rod and sand down the saddle to get it "just right", but it turned out spot-on perfect. After setup the action is really, really low with very minimal buzzing (only when I play too hard).

The fit is very good, although there is some gap at the neck joint (about enough for a sheet of paper) that doesn't adversely affect playability.

Finish is great, except for a very small area under the neck joint that needed a tiny bit of finish polish. Note that this is a hand-rubbed lacquer finish, not the baked-on one step finishes many of the other high end manufacturers use. It is a labor intensive process to properly apply lacquer and such minor cosmetic blemishes are not unexpected. Also, these type of finishes tend to "sink in" over time, improving the sound of the instrument over time, while the other types simply cover the wood for the life of the instrument.

Because it was a used guitar and I do not know the previous owner, I will assume some of the setup issues are due to their ignorance and deduct only for factory errors. All in, not bad, just not perfect.

This guitar has already withstood regular live playing with no issues whatsoever. The hardware is bulletproof and adjustable. Component selection is excellent, especially considering the price range of the used ones.

I have had no need to use Customer Support, and since I purchased it used, I'm not sure of any warranty that would apply.

I've been playing around 10 years, and have to say that this is the finest acoustic I've ever owned. There are nicer out there, but they're generally $2k or higher, nowhere near the cost of this one.

I considered a Breedlove prior to purchasing this, but the Seagull was $400 cheaper with better wood selection, a wider neck and an included case. I have not regretted going with the Seagull.

the one thing I'd caution potential buyers about is to be sure you like wide and thin necks. There are days I feel I'm "fighting" it more than playing it, but when things are right, they are VERY right. The extra wide neck does require some adjustment for those who are used to narrower, thicker necks, but it does encourage fast playing and accurate fretting; it's just a bit less forgiving than others.

All in all, a tremendous guitar and a tremendous value.

2004 Artist Series. Made in Canada. Factory installed L. R. Baggs I-Beam Duet electronics. Compound curve top. Has a 1.9" wide nut. Solid spruce top; solid mahogany neck; laminated rosewood sides; solid rosewood back, fretboard and bridge; rosewood peghead overlay. 21 frets. Tusq nut and compensated saddle. A small tasteful amount of pearl and abalone inlay.

Very nice full sound with great sustain. It has an especially clear top end.

Absolutely wonderful fit and finish. A real work of art.

Have not had it long but I believe it will stand the test of time. It has a high gloss lacquer finish. Well supported jack plate in rear.

Godin has been quite responsive via e-mail. It would be nice if they had a telephone service but I will take this as a trade-off if it helps them maintain their attractive price point.

This is my first high quality acoustic guitar and I am very pleased with the purchase. It should improve with age and look forward to playing it for years to come.