Seagull S6+ Cedar GT

- Solid cedar top, satin cherry wood sides, rosewood frets/bridge

- Solid chrome tuners

- Large fretboard, smooth and sturdy neck

- Classic Sunburst finish

The recommended string gauge is about an RPM 12, but I placed DR Rare 11s on and the bass response is still pretty good. Not too heavy, but strong mids and bright highs. The tone is very warm and surprisingly very uniform. I own a Yamaha FG720s and I thought that was a pretty darn good guitar, but right off the bat the Seagull made its presence known. It is something I will hold onto for many years and I wait anxiously for it to mature into my collection. I can't wait to hear what it will sound like in 10 years!

The only downside to this guitar is that it can be a bit difficult to play at first. The action is a bit high from what I'm used to (2 Yamahas and an Epiphone) and the frets are in fact larger than standard. Playing open chords can be easier, but barring and transitioning will take some time and practice due to its oversize. But what it lacks in playability it redeems itself in TONE.

Holding this thing for the first time felt like I had something organic in my hand. That's a huge statement considering that most of the guitars in this price range feel really boxy and mass-produced, like something without a spirit or personality. Man does this guitar have PERSONA! You can tell from the satin cherry wood side/back to the rosewood wood frets that this thing comes from REAL wood. Something that was once alive and breathing before being manifested into a beautiful piece of art through years of tradition (Godin is known for its love of fine woods and craftsmanship). I have to wipe it down with polish after every nearly session!

If it were lost or stolen I would definitely get another one. A bit pricier than the Yamaha FG720s I own, but it's worth it online on eBay for almost 3/5 it's retail price. I wish I had a TRIC case to protect this thing! (Cedar is very soft and damage prone)

Just here to update previous post. Previously gave it a 7 for features but considering the price and my new opinion on the tuning heads I'm giving this an 8.

I had previously mentioned that I might replace the tuning heads on this guitar...not anymore I won't! I bought this guitar a year ago and have since put it through a lot of play. I've been experimenting with a lot of alternate tunings and I am amazed at how well these tuning heads do their job. I originally didn't like the shape and size (too small) of the tuning heads, but they work like a dream. Also, since recommending this guitar to others I am hearing more good things about them.

Can't say enough about the sound that this baby can produce
Kick ass Attack, rich bass, smooth mids.
If you like a shimmery high end though this is not the guitar for you.

After one year the guitar has held up well. I'm going to upgrade this to an 9 from an 8 as I had previously expected more wear by now.

again the finish has held on better than I thought so this now gets an 8. The guitar is still so light that I have to be careful not to toss it about.

I asked them a few questions about strings for the guitar and they sent me a new set without asking for them!

If this guitar were stolen I could easily see myself willing to pay $800 to get it back.

The features are what you should expect for a $300-400 guitar, but with a bit more, in my opinion. Solid Cedar top and nice construction. I have played and seen many other guitars at GC and Sam Ash and the Seagulls stand out for the price for sure. There is no fancy inlay, there is no fancy emblem between the tuners, etc. The bridge is standard stuff. The finish is very good. The gloss top is unmarred and I can't find a flaw, actually. The sides and back are deep rich in color, and the binding is very well placed. There is no binding around the neck, but the frets are well placed so sliding is not an issue at all. Full body style. Tuners are good. I bought mine on clearance (I later bought an S6+ original spruce top for my girl this Xmas (a few weeks ago) because I liked this so much). I rate it a 9 because for the price, it should get a 9.

Amazing sound. Deep mellow sound on the bass all the way up to the high notes. Sustain is ridiculous. I have played two songs I think sound amazing with hammer ons and pull offs on the seagull, compared to Ibanez, Washburn, Fender, Yamaha, etc guitars (in the same price range). The seagull performs. I have only found one other guitar in the price range that sounds as good. You'll pretty much have to pay $800-1000 for an equally sounding guitar unless you buy online. The "usual suspects" you'll find in any big name instrument store don't have the sound of the Seagull for the price, imo. I play chords and fingerpick with fingerpicks because I also play the banjo. In learning to play banjo, I have developed a sense for picking with equal power with each finger, which many guitarists lack, so they think the guitar is at fault when it is really their fault. The Seagull sustain on all the strings is very similar and well-rounded. I can't speak enough. I give this a 10 because, well, it deserves it. I have asked several GCs to pick up the line but if you buy from a reputable dealer, they will ship the instrument protected well.

The gloss finish is very nice. The full finish is nice, though the area between the tuners shows finger prints easily. Not a big deal, but we're talking about fit and finish here. As mentioned before, the components are matched well, the guitar was sent mail order with loosened strings so I don't understand the question about setup, since no guitar should be shipped fully setup. Once re-tuned, the setup was fine, though the action is just a tad low. Easily rectified, but I've started to like how easy it is to play. Solid build all around, but easily smudged near the tuners, so I give 'er an 8.5

Live playing? Sure why not. Maybe not if you're Dave Mathews, but for most musicians, its a great all around guitar. Some people complain about the lack of a forward strap button. This can be added for the cost of a button if you really want it, but learn to tie the strap behind the nut, instead, so it supports the neck better anyway.

No problems with the instrument so I can't complain or praise them.

Not many. As you've likely already read, the S6's are pretty no frills. Solid cedar top, cherry back and sides, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, Tusq nut. Mine came with a glossy finish that seems pretty durable, though I mostly finger pick so I'm not too worried. No ornamentation on the fingerboard and thin herringbone decal around the sound hole. Annoyance alert: like so many lower priced guitars (and some higher priced ones as well) there is only one strap button (on the base of the body). I don't know why it is so hard to include two...

Actually, I was pretty surprised by how good this guitar sounded for the price. I tried comparably priced acoustic along with the Seagull and it was definitely a step or two up. My S6 produces very warm lows and middle tones though the high strings seem to lack the presence and the sparkle of higher-end guitars. But for less than 300 bucks (much, much less than the price of a nice crisp Martin or a Taylor) I can't complain.

The action was good from the factory. A bit higher than I'm used to (I recently switched over from an electric). So far, I havent's found anything in the fit and finish that would give me pause-- the joints are solid, no sloppy gluing, nicley bookmatched top. The guitar stays in tune and seems pretty solid so far (I've owned it for a couple of months)

I've only owned this guitar for a couple of months, so it's hard to predict. It is a fairly light guitar and that took a bit of getting used to. It was noticably lighter than the other acoustic guitars I tried. The top seems a bit thin. I don't really see this as a problem, the guitar seems solid enough, but it's worth pointing out. I don't treat it especially gently, but rather like a working instrument.

I haven't dealt with customer support, so I have no opinion. 1-year warranty.

I have only been playing for a little more than a year and this is my first acoustic guitar. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the purchase. For less than $300, I think this is a very nice guitar. If it were stolen, I'd definitely buy another. I don't think this will be the last guitar I'll ever purchase, by any means. But for the money it's a great starter guitar that compares favorably with guitars in the $500-$1000 range.

see above for specs
very good features for cost
will probably replace tuning heads in the future
agree with other reviewer that the guitar is fragile (no problems but you can tell it is not meant to be tossed about)

I think I got lucky with my guitar. I've played at least 8 others of this model after I bought mine and none seem to compare to the one I bought, or to eachother. So you definitely want to spend some time playing this guitar before you buy.

My guitar delivers a rich mellow tone with a solid bass punch (unlike others reviewed here). Great sound for folk, blues, and rock.

The action is sweet but I can't say whether it was set up at the factory or by the previous owner (I bought my guitar after it had been returned to the shop. The previous owner disliked a lacquer flaw on the neck...totally cosmetic)

all hardware is in order with no flaws

I have not had this guitar for long (4 months) so it's hard to say.
I bought this guitar because of the top quality tone that it produces, which was better than numerous Martins that I was considering at the time.

That said, however, this is an entry level guitar and as mentioned I will likely upgrade the tuning heads, and will not toss it about.

Very friendly company. Have not had any problems to report or deal with.

You cannot beat the price of this guitar but you really must check out this model at different stores to find one that works for you. Like all factory built guitars there is a lot of variability out there...take your time. Because of the great sound that my guitar gives me I'm giving this guitar a 9 overall.

Made in 2004, in Canada
Special features usually not mentioned:
Dual sound system: piezo + boom mic in the hole. Knob mixes the two.
Unusual compensation layout of the bridge
Very light, very tough case-surrounded-by a gig bag. Has shoulder straps. Closes with zippers and velcro (velcro no longer sticks, but zippers are sufficient to secure it.)

Plays like a nylon string guitar--amazingly beautiful when you play softly to moderately, but gets distorted(sorta "crunchy") if you don't. I play fingerstyle folk, and flatpick for folk and rock.
Lacks the deep bottom end of most acoustics, so if you want your guitar to help hold up the bottom end in a pure acoustic session (e.g. fiddle, piano, guitar) this is not your guitar (I tried to get decent bottom end by using an amp and an EQ, without good results. Maybe it's the cutaway--I wasn't able to find a Seagull without the cutaway.)
The Seagull site says, great midrange and highs, "ideal for fingerstyle"--I completely agree. For this style of playing, I'd rate it a 10. For acoustic jamming without a bass, I'd give it a 5.

Action was somewhat high, and adjusted down well, except that the nut was too low on the 4th string. That slot had to be filled a bit. (Yes, filled, not filed).
Excellent finish.

So far, so good. It's well put together, but lighter than your average guitar. Only had it a year, and I do baby it...

Warranty: 1 year electronics, lifetime everything else.
No problems yet.

Been playing 25 years, & have a Gibson L6-S (electric), Arbor steel string acoustic (like a budget Yamaha), and a bargain classical.
I bought it looking for a guitar for church, and it's perfect for that. I had wanted a Taylor, Martin, or Gibson, and had a $2,000 budget. I went and played everything I could get my hands on from $200-$2000, but the Seagull blew me away for it's sensitivity and rich harmonics. Even bar chords sounded great, even compared to the really expensive guitars.
Would definitely buy another one, based on 1 year playing it 5-10 hours/week.
I love it for what it does well. It would be great if it had more bottom end.
If you like the sound of a nylon string guitar, you should check this out as a compromise.

Guitar was made in Canada in 2004. Solid cedar top with wild cherry back and sides. Neck is silver maple and the bridge and fingerboard are both rosewood.

This guitar looks and feels like it is made of very thin plastic (and sounds like it too, see below). It is super light and will not take much abuse (like just taking it out and putting it back in the case).

The neck seems a tad wider than most guitars, but acceptable.

Good tuner hardware. Frets are way low for proper play.

This is absolutely, positively the worst sounding guitar I have ever played. Even accounting for the cedar top, the sound is so dead it sounds like it is being played through a pillow. I have tried a variety of strings and setups without any significant improvement in tone. I have played junior guitars that have better sound. I was given this guitar as a gift and am now, unfortunately, stuck with it (unless, of course, an unfortunate accident should befall it ... wink, wink)

The factory set-up was OK. The fingerboard is very rough, and pretty much precludes much in the way of string bending. After about a month, the fingerboard started splintering just behind the nut.

As already mentioned, due to the lightweight construction of this guitar (undoubtedly accounting for the poor sound quality), this guitar will not withstand much use. The materials seem quite inferior and the finish is thin and unlikely to last. When I tried playing it, I was always afraid I would accidently crush this thing.

I contacted the company about the poor sound quality (indicating to them the point of purchase refused to even look at it), and a Godin representative basically told me that it's not their problem, but that I was welcome to sell it and purchase a different model from them. Sure, I'll be rushing to send my money in.

AVOID THIS GUITAR! I have been playing 20+ years and, as mentioned, this is by far the worst guitar I have ever had the misfortune to play. If it were stolen would I replace it? Man, I would love to have this guitar stolen -- any takers out there! No really, I wouldn't inflict this pile of crap on my worst enemy. At ~$400 bucks, you don't expect a perfect instrument, but the light from mediocre would take about a million light years to reach this thing. If you're looking at this guitar, KEEP LOOKING!

2003 Made by LaSiDo in Quebec, Canada. Gloss finish solid cedar top, and gloss finish on the headstock. Sides and back are a 3-ply laminate made of cherry-maple-cherry. This is not pressboard, but laminated solid sheets. Herringbone rosette (like Martin HD series guitars). Purchased with a non-Seagull hard case. 15:1 sealed tuners, Seagull brand.

I play fingerstyle and flatpick, and for those styles the sound on this guitar is excellent. Also sounds great strummed. The cedar top/cherry sides-back combination makes for a very warm, earthy, "lived-in" tone. Sounds like a 5 year old guitar right off the rack. Can't wait for it to open up over a few years of playing. The bass was a little thin when I first played it, but after only a few weeks it's getting deeper and richer with every passing day.

Top on mine is a perfect bookmatch. Looks like one solid piece of cedar. Fit and finish is good. As with all Seagulls, the first thing I had to do was pull the strings and give the fretboard and bridge a good oiling. When I pulled the strings, the nut fell off, and I noticed that it just sits on the surface (no routed channel). Doesn't affect the sound, but I didn't care for that, hence the lower marks on fit/finish. Factory string height was a little high for my tastes (my other main axe is a Taylor, so I'm used to very low action), so I had it lowered at the saddle when my dealer was installing a Baggs IBeam pickup for me.

I don't play live, but the guitar seems solid enough to hold up. As with my old S12+, the cedar finish (even with the gloss top), scratches and dings easily. But if you're aware of that, and take proper precautions, you should be fine. Only came with one strap button (which always boggles my mind, why do you have to buy a $1000 guitar before the manufacturer thinks enough of your business to give you another lousy $3.00 part).

I've only dealt directly with the manufacturer via email. Responses usually take a few days, but are polite and informative. Our local dealer is great, and would be my first stop if I had any serious issues arise.

I've been playing recreationally for over 30 years, and I think the Seagull guitar line is the best thing that ever happened to beginners or recreational players that are on a budget. I compared it to Blueridge, Ibanez, Fender acoustics in the same price range, and came away with my 3rd Seagull. My other guitars are a Taylor 314ce, a Seagull Grand Artist (parlor/travel size 6-string), and a Johnson JM-998 Resonator. I recently sold a Seagull S12+ (never could get into the 12-string thing, and playing it with only 6 strings on it is what inspired me to replace it with this guitar). If it were lost or stolen, I'd replace it in a heartbeat. Solid wood guitar with a hard case for $400, that plays and sounds like butter...No brainer!

Solid glossy cedar top, creme binding on top and bottom of body, laminated wild cherry back and sides. Headstock is glossy dark brown. Rosewood board. Dreadnought style with more sloped shoulders area. Bought with the Fort EPPS case (looks like a beer cooler, but supposedly offers better protection than other hardshell cases). Tusq nut and saddle, rosewood bridge. Very simple, but elegant appointments. Like all other Seagulls I've ever played the neck is fairly wide which I prefer for acoustic guitar.

Just beautiful. I can't wait to play this over time and hear the top begin to open up--it already sounds great! This one has great bass response which is very important to me in an acoustic guitar. To just strum an open G chord on this guitar just fills the room with beautiful full tone; each string rings out in chords. Set up extremely well too; no fret buzzing even when playing pretty aggressive.

No issues whatsoever. Excellent build quality on these guitars.

Well, who knows?

I will say I believe it's made well. I also know the guy at the shop where I bought this, and he feels LaSiDo really stands behind their warranty. A guy had let his Godin (electric) fall over and the neck BROKE, and they replaced it! I'm not saying they'd always do that, but it's nice to know that there are manufacturers out there who stand by what they make.

I love Seagulls! I've owned several and loved them all. I also had a Simon & Patrick flame maple model (solid spruce, solid FLAMED maple back--BEAUTIFUL guitar!) and it was equally nice. I don't see how they make such good guitars at such good prices. Why anyone would go out and buy a Samick, Ibanez, Cort, etc is a mystery to me. Look no further than our friends to the north--they got this acoustic thing figured out!!