Seagull S12 Plus Cedar

Bought the Seagull S12+ at Tom Lee's music in Surrey, BC for $449 Canadian. Probably made in 2003, new. Strings were a little oxidized so they threw in a new pack. No case with it. Plain natural "satin" finish. Cedar solid top, wild cherry laminated sides and back, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard. I love the finish as it doesn't have that plasticky shiny look. Neck is wider than my old Ibanez, which makes it much easier to finger pick on. I could never finger pick on the Ibanez as the strings were closer together than the Seagull. Playability of this is great.

Sounds very clear, good bass, great sustain. Has that great shimmering 12 string sound. This model has the cedar solid top. It's not as bright as the M12 model i compared which has the spruce top. However, it is warm and tones ring clear. I also own a 93 Ibanez 12 string and the Seagull is much clearer and has more sustain.

Very playable 12 stringer. Low and very even action throughout the fingerboard. Much, much less effort to chord than my old Ibanez. The fit and finish is excellent for the price. It seems to be much more "expensive" than what you'd actually pay. Chording down the strings does not take much effort unlike your average 12 stringer. The action and sound is what made me want to buy this.

I only play and record at home so durability should be ok. High quality parts. Also, i tend to baby my guitars.

HOpefully i won't have to find out.

I've been playing 23 years. This is my second 12 string. Have a 93 Ibanez. Seagull is a much better guitar in playability, sound, fit and finish. I'd buy one again if it got stolen today. Compared to Simon and Patrick guitars, also excellent as they're made by the same folks who make Seagull. Also compared to Fenders, Yamahas, Takamines. For the price, Seagull wins. You'd have to pay much more in those other makes to get something similar.

Made in '96 in Canada. 21 fret, single piece top. Cedar and cherry wood accoustic. Thin "open grain" satin finish. Typical flat plate and wall acoustic guitar bridge with locking pins. Schaller tuners with fat frets. No accessories. My rating in this catagory is based on the lack of goodies added by the seller. Should've at least given me a cheapo case with it.

If you do folk, folk rock, or accoustic versions of the Beatles, Birds, etc...this little 12 banger's a good one. Tends to rattle at the top end if you're not pressing tight. Tends to easily rattle with a pick too. Be gentle with the pick hand and tight with the chord hand and she has a beautiful rich tone. Lead lines are difficult, very limited, but all 12 bangers are to some degree or another. Beautiful sounding rhthym instrument.

The piece was one of those perfect fits the moment I picked it up deals. I had tried a Guild 12 and an Ovation deep well 12 before the Seagull. The 'gull's action matched the Guild and the sound was close, and it was less than half the price. The satin finish wasn't as perfect but again, for the money, it was damn close. The Ovation was in the same shop as the 'gull. I couldn't even hold a Barre Chord down on that beast, and it cost more than both the other two combined. The overall look and feel of the 'gull is a bit chunky, heavy neck, stubby heel. But it's surprisingly playable, even with my stubby hands and short fingers. The finish on the neck's a little rough, but that will smooth with playing over the years. The finish on the box end is flawless. Beautiful wood. Top and back.

The 'gull looks a bit fragile, but I've never seen an open grained finish guitar that didn't look fragile to me. I imagine it would do fine for a quiet folkie performance in a coffie house, which is the true turf for accoustic 12 bangers anyway. It's a terrific porch picker, just keep in mind how much humidity can effect and even ruin an open grain finished guitar. The dealer recommend keeping it in a case when not in use, and always keep the little moisture packets in there with it. (Why didn't the cheapskate throw 'em in on the deal?) Like all 12 stringers, if it's not going to be played for awhile, loosen the strings. It's hell tuning one back up, but the tension on the bridge and the neck is nothing to ignore. 12 bangers take a little more effort and care than 6 stringers do. Being cedar and cherry with no real finish, it will ding and scratch easily. If you gig with it, you'll have to watch it like a baby sitter. I would do a coffie house session without a backup for it, but not a full blown stage act. I do a lot of Eagles covers. If I get carried away using a pick it will slip tune a little, usually the treble strings, but again that's something 12 bangers are notorious for. Even my beloved Rickenbackers are known to do that.

No idea...got mine from an Ovation dealer. He told me to bring it back if there were any problems. One year warranty.

Been playing some 20 years now. Accoustic rhthym, to electric bass, to electric rhthym. Started with a Fender Gemini, went to Yamaha for a copy of the Fender Bass and am currently keeping the neighbors awake with a 360 Rickenbacker. I have several cheapie odds and ends not worth mentioning here. Several Crate amps, a big twin headed Laney, and an Ampeg R50 for bass. I also have a Schaffer sound hole pickup for accoustics which I plan to install in the Seagull the next time I change the strings. I used it in the Fender for years, terrific gadget. I wouldn't hesitate to replace the 'gull with another just like it. Decent guitar for a decent price. The head stock on the 'gull is nearly the same size as a standard 6 string. So any generic case will fit it. All that extra hardware up there does make it top heavy, lay it down, don't lean it against anything. Again, that's a typical shortcoming with 12 bangers. God love 'em.