Seagull S6 20th Anniversary

High gloss finish, flamed back and sides, dreadnought, fort case and no electronics. Features for for the price? What can I say I own one!

I play folk, bluegrass, country and classic rock. For the sound I am after it's great. I own a martin d-15 and many other guitars over the years but this one is a definite keeper. The thing rings true all over the neck and it plays like butter. The intonation is great as well and the thing stays in tune. I dislike nothing about the guitar other than I would really like to have an ebony fretboard.

I can't comment on how it was set up from the factory but the music store I bought it from set it up pretty close to what I consider good action. I cannot find flaws on this thing and believe me I tried!!! The first thing I did was take it home and take all the strings off and inspect all the bracing, kerfing, frets, ect. Very nicely built.

I have only had it one day and it's got to gigs this weekend! The martin I own is currently in the process of major repair so this guitar was purchased as a "spare". I think this will be my new gigging axe considering how much I love it already. It seems to be built to do what I will be using it for but it's a little too early to tell.

Never dealt with seagull but from the looks of the other reviews I don't think it will be a problem.

Been playing all my life and have made it my career for 10 years. I am really happy with this instrument and hope to have it for a long time. I think this guitar sounds almost as good as my martin d-15 (only because my martin is old and has alot more playing time and the wood has aged very well). I hope in the future it will age as good as my martin did. If this guitar were lost or stolen I'd be VERY upset! I would def try to find another one. I really needed another guitar and have searched for awhile. Having 2 little children and being on a budget I really was at a loss till I found the seagull. For the price you can't beat it!

I've had my seagull for 6 months now. I played it for about two hours in the shop and lived on bread and cheese for two months so I could get it home as soon as possible. The day I had the money to get it was also the day I could have met Steve Vai. For the money It is beautiful. Nothing comes close, and I tried everything in the price range- $900-1200 aust. I bought it from Perth and now I'm living in Darwin where the humidity is high (80-90% is normal) It lives in the room i sleep in with air conditioning on half the time and (so far I've been in darwin 3 months) it is standing up to the harsh conditions beautifully. It came with the L.R baggs element pickup which I like alot but in all honesty this is the only elec/acous I've had. Gigged with it once. Stays in tune from c# up. Solid top, lovely, durable gloss finish. The flame maple on the back and headstock is too cool. Came with fort case which i foolishly traded for a standard one. The battery change on the pickup is hassle free, no wires to contend with, push down on it, it pops out. I truly love and cherish this axe.

Nice, bright strumming, plenty of body and bottom. Arrpegiate, fingerpick, plectrum, pluck with flesh it is all nice. The intonation is good but is going out slightly on the B and G since I moved to darwin. The first five frets on the G are actually getting quite bad come to think of it. You can hit this guitar HARD and it doesn't buzz- much. Rich and full. Sounds better than any washburn, cole clark, maton, Ibanez,segovia, yamaha in the price range and up.

The action is good but can be improved past the 8th fret. I found the Ibanez neck slightly more playable. The factory has left plenty of room for adjustment without making anything stupidly high. Pickup is great. Miniscule flaw at the neck/headstock join. The gloss is incredibly durable, I wore the natural finish away (bottom of rosette) on my S12 in a week,( just a small bit you understand) Six months of not quite punishing strumming and- not a scratch. The wood- in all respects coruscates. I hate fingerboard binding and love the angle these guys have on the edge. The frets kik ass, no pokey bits. The binding on the headstock IS a bit quirky. Everthing else rooolz.

No problems live. Excelent quality hardware. It WILL last in anywhere but Darwin where all acoustics become disposable unless one constantly monitors humidity (which I do) The one strap button is solid. So far, no reiability problems with pickup.

I think I read somewhere that the guitar is guaranteed for life- but don't quite remember. If I can't fix what's wrong, I'll pay whatever. Never dealt with the factory.

Been playing about 8 years. If it weren't for this axe, I couldn't afford a decent one. If it were stolen I would cry for roughly a week, then start saving for another. I compared it to all the guitars I could find in the price range and settled on the gull because it was by far the best, infact the only truly good quality instrument. I play it every day.

This is a 2004 s6 anniversary model,cedar top with laminated mahagony back and sides it was made in Canada by our good friends at the golin guitar company.The neck is pure mahagony and the fretboard is stained maple. It has the hand rubbed oil finish that takes several days to apply but gives it a laqure like look that is even more durable without the tendancy to crack as laqure will in time.It is a very pleasing guitar ro look at as well as a very stable and sturdy made guitar that with a little care will last many years.It came with a bomb proof case that is made of some material that I am not use to seeing in a guitar case,I am told the material is used to make up the filling for bumpers on modern cars,at anyrate it is a very durable case

This is a very nice warm melodic sounding guitar that will get better with time and playing.I own one of the early s6's the seagull company sold and it has aged bueatifuly over the last 20 yrs.The Highs in this particular s6 are very clear but not overly bright the mids come through distictive yet very nicly blended the bass while not the thump you get with a matin still shine with enough volume to give the whole sound a very warm and pleasing sound.I will not go as far as to say this guitar sounds better than all martins,taylors gibson or some of the other fine high end guitars but it is extremly comparable.I would say that as far as struming country,light rock and even some finger picking(which is my style) that the mellow melodic sound of this guitar would be pleasing to even the most critical of ears.The guitar realy shines in minor keys.

This is a well made and fitt guitar with no frett buzz and a good medium low action. I can find no flaws in the finish and the tuners seem to hold real well

I do not gig but I play everyday.I have no reason to believe this guitar is not as well made as my other s6's (3).I think it will bring years of pleasure as well as increased pleasure in the sound

This is one of the finest customer friendly company's you will ever run accross.I have never had an issue with warranty with them but I have called and written there company with questions and they were prompt in response as well as very informative with thier answers.I do not know how they are at turn around on repairs becuase I know noone who has had an issue that had to go back to the company.I once had my maple/spruce s6 back at the store for a neck adjustment but it was so minor it was done while I waited and still made it back to work before lunch was over.

I would give this an over all rating of 9 if I rated on dollar value it would be a 10++++. I cant see giving a 10 to a $400 dollar guitar when thier are the classics out there that are so masterfuly made.I am a relativly new player who picked up a guitar one day and descided I was going to fufill and anx that I had as a kid.I would replace this guitar with another seagull like it if stolen or lost. The wider fretboard on these guitars seem to work for me so well I dont see me owning anything but.

Hand-made in LaPatrie, Quebec, Canada. If I remember correctly, around 85% of the town's residents work in the guitar craft. Made on May 23, 2003, as stated on the included certificate. 14 frets to the body, 21 in all. Straight up acoustic; no electronics. The top is beautiful solid cedar. The sides are constructed of gorgeous flame maple veneer. Mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. Maple also makes an appearance on the trademark Seagull tapered headstock. The body is a dreadnought. Rosewood bridge, Tusq nut and saddle. For some reason I really like this Tusq stuff. Just seems to give the guitar some more class, not that it needed any. Gold plated seagull hardware. Godin (Seagull's parent company) Phosphor-Bronze light strings come standard, however I purchased mine used, so I'm not sure what are on there now, as I haven't recieved my replacement strings yet. Neck has a satin finish which originally seemed out of place considering the high gloss finish of the rest of the guitar, however it is quickly growing on me.

It came with a Fort EPP case and a certificate from Godin. I believe if you purchase this from the factory, then the pickguard comes seperate from the body, however if you're like me, you'll want to keep this guitar looking pretty. The Fort EPP case looks like a cheap imitation at first, as it is mostly constructed out of some type of high density foam. However upon further examinations/reasoning, this case seems to be highly efficient. It weighs little more than a gig bag and I'm convinced that it offer's better protection than my roommate's hardshell.

My only gripe as far as the features are concerned are the strap on the case and the fingerboard inlays. The case is pretty awkward to carry, but I don't carry it much anyways. And the standard dot inlays are a bit too routine for a limited edition guitar. I would have loved to see a logo inlay or something like that. Still, these are not enough to bring the features rating down from a 10, considering the price.

I've played all sorts of stuff since recieveing my seagull, and have yet to be disappointed. As stated in the above section, I'm not sure what type of strings I've got on there now, but they sound great. It only recieves a 9 because I have not had enough experience with different guitars to justly give this a 10, though i would love to give it one.

I purchased it used, and it looks to have been professionally set up. The frets are absolutely amazing. I'n not quite used to the neck yet, but it feels great. Again seagull, I'd love to give you a 10 here, but can't.

I don't gig simply because I'm not good enough yet. My only criticism of this guitar is the fragility of the top. The finish itself is great, and from what I understand, it takes 8 days to apply it. You're gonna have to baby this one. Again, all around, the finish is beautiful. There is no problem with it. Just a fragile top. But trust me, once you lay your eyes/hands on this guitar you are going to want to care for it. I have yet to use the strap buttons, so I can't comment on them. Hardware is very, very nice. The gold plating actually works, which doesnt happen so often. I love the tuners, and they stay in tune rather well after some tightening.

I can't comment on customer support, but I have looked through the Seagull site and they offer a lot of information, such as where to place strap buttons, truss rod adjustment, etc. My rating for customer support is based on the quality of information and content available on their site rather than a customer support phone number or email address.

I have been playing guitar for 6-7 months now, and plan on playing this Seagull the rest of my life. I hope that this guitar will accompany me the rest of the way. I will not ever sell this. I would buy this guitar in a heartbeat if lost. If the retail price for this guitar had been $1000, and I was able to try it out, then I would most likely purchase it for that if I have it. I bought this blindly due to the great reputation of Seagull and I am so glad that I did.

Also, I'd like to thank Mike and Loretta from Anderson Strings. By far the most courteous online retailer I've dealt with. Godin has found themselves a loyal customer with this guitar.

I strongly urge you to check out seagull guitars at www.seagullguitars.com

Feel free to email me for any reason.
-Chris

Seagull 20th Anniversary Spruce, handmade in Canada on January 22, 2003. Solid Spruce top, Flame Maple back and sides, Mahogany neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Tusq nut and saddle, High gloss lacquer finish. Came with an L.R. Baggs pickup and Micro EQ installed. Also came with a wonderful Fort EPP case that so far has done a great job of protecting the Guitar from shock and rapid changes of temperature. Some people might think the case is unconventional, but I think it's great. Tons of features, and all for only $600! I'm a lucky man!

I play Mountain Music and write songs, and this Guitar is absolutely wonderful for Flatpicking, and the occasional Fingerpicked tune. It has a rich full sound unplugged, (which is how I play it most of the time) and has opened up a lot already, even though I've only had it 6 months. Plugged in it has a nice sound too, not as rich as the unplugged sound, but close. I have compared this Guitar with Martin's, Gibson's, and everything in between, and it outperforms the competition every time. Sounds great, I love it!

The Guitar came set up perfectly from the factory. The action was just right. The pickup was adjusted nicely, and the Guitar had no flaws whatsoever when I bought it. It has a very nice, durable, gloss finish, and I haven't had virtually any problems with the action, fit, or finish.

This Guitar withstands live playing. I know! I play it live every weekend! This thing is built like a tank. The hardware and finish are solid, and the one strap button is pretty durable. I depend on it, and I never have used a backup with it, even though I have one. Rock solid!

I've never dealt with the company, but the Guitar comes with a lifetime warranty. But I'll give this category a 10 because the Seagull team does such a great job building great Guitars for people on a budget. Keep up the good work, Seagull!

I play not only the Guitar, but the Banjo and Mandolin as well. I'm trying to learn the Fiddle. I have the Seagull, a Fender DG-8S Acoustic, a Raven RG-100 Electric, Lotus LM-301 Mandolin, Fender FM-53S Mandolin, Checkmate Banjo, Laffayette Fiddle, and a Rogue GS-50R Amp. If this Guitar were stolen, I would mourn and weep, then if I couldn't find the Guitar, I'd go out and buy another Seagull! I love this Guitar, and I would highly recommend you buy a Seagull if you're looking for your next Guitar.

My 20th Anniversary Spruce Seagull is 2 years old now (2004). It is absolutely the best guitar for the money I paid ($600). Even my guitar teacher, who's been at it for 30+ years, says it compares with his "best" guitar, which was almost 10x the cost!

The guitar has the Baggs pickup, which is really good. The Spruce top and flame maple sides are simply gorgeous. The high gloss finish has kept up well to consistent use by me and my son (who is a far better player than I am). I've oiled it once on the body, and twice on the neck/fretboard.


As a 20th Anniversary edition, it came with a Fort case (extruded styrofoam), which is very light and easy to haul around (I had a Fender and still have a Sigma - those hard cases weighed a TON). I'm not sure about the ultimate durability of the Fort case, but so far, it's held up to everything I've hauled it to.

The sound is "oh-so-mellow" - for anything I play and anything my son plays, it just sounds lovely. It's a "fine instrument" and needs to be treated as such; with proper care, I expect this to last my liftime, and I know my son is looking forward to the day he "gets the Seagull."

I play mainly in church. Nice sound somewhere between mellow and bright. I use a Kustom amp with it. I only expect this to get better as (a) I become a better player and (b) the instrument ages.

I would say that the only problem I have is a slight buzzing on the low E at the second fret. My guitar teacher and I are working on this problem now. I hope I don't have to send it back to be repaired - only because this one is much easier on my hands than other guitars I have access to.

I did have to have my guitar instructor set it up. It came with light strings, which was recommended by the factory, and which I still use on it (GHS strings right now, but I'm open to change). The wood was exactly matched; a beautiful piece!

I don't think the neck is particularly fat on this one; I have arthritis and it's by far more comfortable than my Sigma, and more comfortable than the variety of guitars I played before investing in this one.

The strings were a little rusty, but that could have been from the shop; the proprietor said he had the guitar there for a couple of months, and he was running a humidifier right under the Seagull rack. The only complaint I have (and it may be because I'm new at this) is that the pegs seem a little hard to push in when I'm changing strings - especially the lower, thicker strings.

I did not put the included pick guard on it. First, I usually fingerpick and don't use a pick much. Second, I did buy a clear pick guard for it - I can't see having such lovely wood and putting a nasty brown guard on it!! So far the finish is holding up well. I do wipe it down every time I'm done playing. I did have to put a strap button at the base of the neck (where the manufacturer instructed it to be placed). So far, they seem solid, although I may have purchased a strap that's a bit too thick at the back end - my fault, and not Seagull's.

I feel that I can depend on this and the times I've played solo at church,I have not hauled a back-up. I haven't needed to.

I've read where people have had problems with the bridge, etc. This guitar NEEDS to be humidified and kept in its case when it's not being played!! I had many questions before I purchased it, and I found the Seagull customer service response to be quite good. When I finally made the decision to purchase, I sat in the guitar shop and played every Seagull they had. This one just sat in my lap like it was meant to be there.

I dealt with the company via e-mail to answer a bunch of questions on the guitar's durability, etc. They were quite helpful and responded within a reasonable amount of time to my inquiries.

I have not had to have the guitar repaired (and don't hope to have to do that!). The warranty is the standard one they have. I did not have an option to purchase any extended warranty. So far, I'm not sure whether any repairs I may have to have could be done at my local shop, which has a good tech there.

I have been playing guitar for 2 years (a rank beginner!). I also own a Sigma DM-3, which was my first guitar purchased used for $60.

If this Seagull was stolen or lost, I'd try my darndest to get another one. The action on this is just right for me; the neck fits my hand like it was made to be there. I can't wait for it to mellow and sound even richer than it does.

I played EVERYTHING I could find before I purchased this one...Martin, Dean, Washburn, Tacoma, Fender...Sat in the stores till my hands cramped up.

I wish they'd include a clear pick guard - the guitar is so pretty that a clear pick guard would allow you to see more of the beautiful wood.

For the money I paid, to have an instrument that's hand made and obviously well thought-out - it's incredible. I'd buy another one - even though I can only play one at a time!

Made by Godin, a Canadian company. Solid spruce top, laminate cherry sides and back with flamed maple veneer (blonde). Cream-colored binding on top and back, herringbone-type rosette. Has rosewood fretboard, a maple (might be mahogany, not sure) neck with flamed maple headstock veneer and gold tuners. No electronics. Dreadnaught model. A little wider neck, which I like. Great action off the rack. High gloss, bulletproof finish on body (more on this later), with satin finish neck.

For the price, $346, this is one sweet guitar. Sounds as good as many all-solid guitars, believe it or not. It's a damn good lookin', beautiful guitar with sound that matches it's looks.

I have a Larrivee D10 (for which I paid $1600, used, but runs around $2200, new), a Tacoma DM9 (paid $250, used, but will cost you close to $700, new), an Alvarez Regent Classical (free, and couldn't tell you how much they are new) that was given to me and that I never play, and this Seagull ($346, new). Whenever I talk to someone who's interested in learning to play guitar, I always recommend the Seagull because of it's sound quality and it's low price.

For a mostly plywood guitar (back and sides), this thing sounds incredible. Like I said, it can compete with many of the all-solid guitars I've heard and, when you factor in the price and the appearance, it smacks 'em all down.

I know many well-established musicians, mainly country singers/players, and I was playing this guitar in front of one of them on a trail-ride back in September. He came over and sat next to me and said, "is that your guitar, John? Man, that thing sounds really nice." When I told him it has laminated back and sides, he couldn't believe it.

Excellent sound, period.

Smooth, low, fast action off the rack. The guitar has high gloss finish on the body and what seems like either semi-gloss or satin finish on the neck (high gloss headstock veneer). Whatever it is, I love it. I find the high gloss neck finishes on other guitars to be somewhat sticky or tacky, whereas the satin type finish seems to allow faster movement up and down the neck.

As mentioned above, I also have a Larrivee D10 and a Tacoma DM9. The Larrivee, which is, in my opinion, the finest sounding guitar I've ever heard, has a high gloss finish that seems somewhat soft compared to the Seagull finish. Barely bump the Larrivee and you'll spend the rest of the day cussin' and spittin'. To dent the Seagull, you have to wind-up and swing the damn thing. I'd almost swear it's bulletproof. I use it as my traveller and I never worry about it.

Like I said, this thing is as close to bulletproof as you can get a guitar to be. I've bumped it at least 30 times and I've yet to mark it. However, I've been teaching a friend to play and he finally put a good divit in the finish on the spruce top. I won't let him touch the Larrivee. Oh well! Of all my guitars, I take this one with me wherever I go. The tuners, and I forget what they are, keep the thing in tune very well. It only has a strap button on the bottom. There is no button on the neck heel, but I just use a strap that ties on at the nut and it works fine. Although it's a plywood guitar, I don't want any power-tools coming near it, although I now refer to my friend (who dented it) as Mr. Black & Decker, and I still let him play it.

I really couldn't tell you. I've never dealt with 'em and I don't plan on it. I'll give 'em a 10, though, for having the intelligence and foresight to build a tank with six strings. Those guys probably sit around all day playin' poker and drinkin' beer. Finally, a company who's decided to put the customer first. Way to go, Seagull (Godin).

Given the unreal sound for a plywood guitar, I'd say that it's the best value you'll find anywhere at this price. It's a beautiful instrument that your friends will "ooooh" and "ahhhh" over, it's tougher than nails, it sounds incredible, and it won't even come close to breaking the bank.

I've been playing drums for 21 years and guitar for much less, but it doesn't take a Bethoven to know good sound and good value when you see and hear it. Music is my passion and I learned a long time ago that you don't skimp on quality when it comes to buying an instrument. If you do, you won't sound as good and you certainly won't be as enthusiastic about practicing.

I play mostly bluegrass, country, folk, R&R, and blues. I also play a little classical and this thing handles all of the above with outstanding finesse.

One more thing. I've come across many folks who will tell you that Seagull guitars "suck." Then I've come across a few who have said that Seagull guitars have "really, really come a long way. They used to suck, but they make a killer-sounding guitar nowadays." In short, beware of the cynic. Maybe Seagull used to be less than par, but today, they're a different, fine-quality instrument maker.

Made in Canada Jan. 20, 2003, 14 frets to the body, 20 total, solid spruce top (nicely bookmatched), back and sides are flamed maple laminate (also very nicely bookmached), headstock topped with flamed maple, and I think the neck is maple. Body style is dreadnought, compensated saddle, and double action truss rod. Finish is a high-gloss lacquer, very nicely done. No pickups installed, but I?ll probably install a PUTW stealth undersaddle pickup and internal preamp later this year. Gold tuners, rosewood fretboard, and a radically different case, the Fort EPP. The case weighs 2-1/2 lbs, and is said to be more impact resistant than a standard wood case.

It suits my music style fine, which is uncomplicated, just for me, folk, country, and a little R&R. Sound is a very nice, even voice from open bass E to 12th fret high E string. Even the bass notes are crisp and bright. I can?t find anything to dislike about the voice. Intonation is precise.

I?m not a luthier, okay? I find the finish and choice of woods (especially the flamed maple back and sides) outstanding. The damn thing just looks pretty! Action out-of-the-box so to speak was just plain good. I just couldn?t find anything to criticize about the finish. The pickguard was not attached (for you that don?t like them). I peeled off the adhesive backing strip and installed mine. Only one criticism: The only place to mount a front strap button is on the flat bottom of the neck heel. Owing to the construction method of the neck, mounting in the usual place halfway up the swoop of the heel might damage a critical dowel or hit a bolt. I?ll probably glue a small oak block inside adjacent to the neck block for reinforcement, and install a strap button on the side of the upper bout close to the neck. This is the only reason the rating is 8 and not 10.

I?ve only had it a couple of days, so I really can?t make any comments about durability. so far, so good.

Again, I?ve only had the guitar for a few days, and can?t comment on company service. The warranty is the typical limited lifetime type. Seagull doesn?t require registration, but you will need your sales receipt for any warranty service.

I?ve been playing guitar on and off for about forty years. I own or have owned Gibsons, Silvertones (remember those?), Martins, Tacomas (great guitars!), Guilds, and Taylors. I even owned one made by that great Mexican guitar company Hecho En (joke, get it?). If this puppy was lost or stolen, I?d buy another that same day. (That might be difficult, because the 20th anniversary is a limited run.) I love it?s voice, playability, and the beautifully flamed maple sides and back. Usually when I buy a guitar, I?ll pull it off the wall and play it over three or four visits to the store. This one I took off the wall, plunked a few chords, and immediately took it to the cash register. The only things I really care about in a guitar are voice and playability, but this one also has beautiful woods and finish. You don?t usually get this combination for less than $400. Your mileage may vary, but not by very much.

Since this is a 20th Anniversary model, 2002 is the only year it was made. It is sort of a cross between Seagull's S6 and Artist models. It is a round-shouldered dreadnaught made with laminated Maple back and sides, and a solid Spruce top.

The back and sides are nicely bookmatched and absolutely beautiful Flame Maple. The headstock has a matching Flame Maple overlay and gold-plated tuners with off-white plastic buttons. Binding on the top and back is cream colored, which nicely complements the Maple wood.

The top is select, Artist-grade solid spruce. The neck is Maple, with a Rosewood fretboard. The bridge and heelcap are also Rosewood.

This guitar sports a full gloss finish (except the neck), similar to the Artist series. Overall, it is a very beautiful instrument, at least as good-looking as an Artist series instrument

It has a crisp, clear sound; full and rich, without being overly bright. It does not have the booming bass of a Martin, but the bass is strong and solid. The overall sound is very well balanced. It has good volume and sustain. It does not sound like a cheap, mass-produced laminated guitar. Even though it is laminated, the quality of the top, as well as the quality of workmanship and attention to detail make for an excellent sounding instrument. It sounds as good as any guitar costing 2X its price.

At first, I wasn't blown away by the sound, even for this price. But then I changed the strings and, now that they are fully broken in, what a difference!

I have heard many complaints about the stock strings on Seagull guitars. I do not know what strings they use, but I have been spoiled by Phil Petillo's strings. I don't know who makes them, but they are made according to his own specifications. To me, no other strings come close. At $10 per set, they may seem expensive, but they are well worth it. They are not coated, yet they last almost as long as coated strings. Unlike coated strings, they do not sound dull and lifeless (far from it!).

I once owned a Taylor guitar and was quite impressed with the playability, but not the sound. I replaced it with a Martin D-16GT which sounded fabulous, and yet, the playability was even better than the Taylor. This Seagull equals that Martin in outstanding playability. In some ways, I like it even better; it has wider string spacing, which makes it better for fingerstyle, yet it plays just as easily!

I've heard mixed reviews on the playability of the Martin D16GT - maybe mine is just a freak! But this Seagull is every bit as good, while making fingerstyle playing even easier.

At first the Seagull had a bit of buzzing. Not bad, but enough to annoy me. I loosened the truss rod 1/8th of a turn and - no more buzzing!

This guitar certainly seems to be solidly built. Seagulls do seem to last. A neck reset, if it ever needs one, would be simple and inexpensive, since it has a bolt-on neck (you can't expect a dovetail in this price range, anyway, and at this price such a neck reset probably wouldn't be worth it).

I've never dealt with Seagull, but I hear they stand behind their products as well as anyone else.

I've been playing guitar since 1979, and I have owned everything from a $225 Yamaha to a $2400 Taylor (710 BRZ). I got rid of the Taylor because it didn't float my boat. I recently dumped a Martin HD-28V after my car died and I had to come up with a quick down payment on a replacement vehicle. I bought this Seagull to fill the void, and I am quite happy with it.

I would like to own another Martin. When I do finally get one, I will keep this. But I want my next Martin to have wider string spacing.

This is a beautiful looking and great sounding guitar, with near-flawless playability. At $399 purchase price with case ($495 list), it is a dead bargain.

Seagull S-6 Spruce Anniversaire Edition, manufactured December 2002 in La Patrie, Quebec, Canada
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Solid spruce top, laminated flame maple back and sides (flame maple veneer over wild cherry?), gold tuners with pseudo-ivory knobs, bound headstock and body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, 8-coat gloss lacquer finish. Even includes a slightly funky-looking but seemingly effective Fort EPP case. I wouldn't want to take a velcro-latched case on an airplane, but it seems great for protection around the house or on road trips, insulates the guitar from temperature changes, and increases the effectiveness of in-case humidifiers because it doesn't absorb water like a traditional HSC with lots of cloth-and-foam padding. A fingerboard binding wouldn't hurt, but that's the only thing I'd think of adding; I don't go for fancy inlays and ornamental gee-gaws. In a pure acoustic, what more do you need?

The sales guy got my attention when he pulled this guitar off the wall and started playing, saying it sounded "like a dove". This guitar has amazing range, from whisper-quiet to surprisingly loud. Sweet when played softly, but gets extremely punchy when pushed. I've played with a lot of guitars off shop walls (including a few $2000+ guitars) and haven't yet seen one that kicks like this one. Very good sustain, and very well-balanced; at all volume levels, all six strings ring nearly equal in volume, without the heavy bottom end of many dreadnoughts. Crisp, bright sound... not muddy in the least, but still very pleasing to the ears. Incredible sound for an under-$400 guitar. Being fairly new to guitar-playing, I haven't developed a personal style yet, but I love the way this guitar sounds.

Very playable, no fret buzz. Frets generally well-fitted, but a little more rounding of the outside edge of a few frets wouldn't have hurt; I didn't notice it while playing, but when running my index finger over the fingerboard edge from a non-playing position. Not really an issue to me, but the fret edges on my S6 cedar were much more thoroughly rounded. The fingerboard is relatively large-radius, similar to many acoustics but not nearly so easy to barre-chord as one Martin DM I tried.

Visually, this guitar is gorgeous. The spruce top has a perfect bookmatch, the maple sides are nicely flamed, and the flame-maple veneer on the back is bookmatched to look for all the world like a solid-wood guitar. The flame-maple headstock veneer is heavily burled and glows under nearly any light. All seams are very tight, and the 8-coat lacquer gloss finish had no visible flaws. I have NO visual complaints about this guitar.

I just bought this guitar a few days ago, so its reliability hasn't been put to the test. It seems solidly constructed and my S6 cedar (same hardware) stays in-tune, so sure, I'd gig with it... but I need to do a lot more playing before I'M ready to gig.

I have not dealt with Seagull's customer service.

I just started playing guitar a few months ago, at the age of 30.

I also own a Seagull S6 Cedar (very mellow-sounding with strong bass, but not nearly as quick to speak as the spruce/maple combo) and an Ibanez GAX-75 electric (nice features for the price, very playable, but a bit on the heavy side).

If anything happened to this guitar, I'd want another *just* like it.

I tried lots of other guitars- standard Seagull S6+ Spruce, Martin DM, Tacoma Chief, etc plus some pricier models. I liked the sound of this particular guitar - the DM is pleasant and mellow but comparatively lacking in punch, the Chief is much pricier and the tone (of the particular examples I tried) not as pleasant, and the Seagull S6+ Spruce was boomy in bass (like my Cedar), lacked the punch of the maple body, didn't have the gloss finish and cool-looking apointments, and would have cost MORE money. ($349 guitar + $80+ for HSC). I liked this guitar's balance, range, and punch, so for a mere $389 it was a no-brainer.