Simon & Patrick SP6 Spruce/Mahogany

I have a Canadian Made 2001 Simon & Patrick SP6 Mahoghany and Cedar guitar. It has a mahoghany neck, back & sides with a rosewood fretboard (21 frets) and a solid cedar top.

The only negative to this guitar is that the wood is a little soft and it does have a tendency to scratch rather easily. Although a little "character" can be endearing, I would strongly suggest getting a good quality hard case. This will protect the wood and keep the resale value high...although I doubt you will ever want to sell it.

This is the greatest guitar for the money that I have found anywhere, and I've been playing for 18 years. It really and truly sounds as good as most(under $1500) Martins or Taylors...and I don't say that lightly. I bought mine in late 2001 for about $350 (with the case included). The tone and resonance of this guitar is equivalent to other instruments that cost 5 times as much.

One of the best things about this guitar (other than its nice natural look, great feel, ideal weight, & unbeatable sound) is that it keeps in tune FOREVER. You can literally play it several times without having to tune it at all. You can also walk away from it for weeks and pick it back up and it will be in perfect tune. If you're into a low maintenance guitar that doesn't need to be tuned frequenty, this guitar can't be beat. If you put some Elixir strings on this guitar, you will be able to play it for very long periods of time without any string replacements needed and very little tuning.

When I need to amplify the sound, I just use a Dean Markley ProMag+. It works great if you need to get a little extra "umph" when you're playing in a large room / church / etc... If you're going to amplify the sound frequently, you might want to consider using Zebra strings. Those strings work great with a pickup insert and really reflect the resonance of the guitar when amp'd up.

Overall, I am one very satisfied customer. For the modest $300 price, I would recommend buying this guitar for a beginner. I guarantee that and they will keep if for life. It really is a cradle to grave instrument. The more the play it the sweeter the sound gets.

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Never had to use it.

I give this product a 9.75 out of 10

This is a Canadian made solid spruce top guitar. Made in 2005. It has a beautifully simple satin finish, which is what makes it sound so amazing. Dreadnought style body. It has an adjustable truss rod in the neck which can increase or decrease the bow of the neck and thus adjust the action on the guitar. Mine was perfect right out of the box. No sharp edges from the frets on the sides along the neck. It has Grover Style tuners which stay in tune perfectly well. This is my second model of this guitar. The first one I had to tighten the tuner heads with a screw driver so they would be harder to move by accident. This one did not need to have that done. This guitar is simple but excellent. It does not have tons of unnecessary features, but it has all it needs to make this an excellent looking/sounding guitar for any level of player.

I like all sorts of music styles but find myself playing mostly soft rock, classics from Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Sting etc. This guitar blows me away every day by the amazing sound quality it has. When I was shopping for it, I compared with Yamaha's, Taylors, Gibsons, Takmine, even some really expensive Larivee's (which I love by the way) but this guitar, for the price... hands down: THE BEST SOUND. It produces rich, warm sound with bright highs and deep lows. No buzzing or rattling that I noticed. I told my friend to buy one and he did get the same model after hearing how great mine sounded and his had a little buzz on the low end... but we fixed it with a slight adjustment of the action. This is what makes Simon & Patrick what it is... the awesome sound and quality for the money.

My first one had a little bit of chipping around the truss rod adjustment... which i simply pulled off... My new one has no flaws except for a couply of shinny spots on the side, probably from rubbing while in transit (???) but it is hardly noticeable. The finish is superb, every detail is taken care of. No sloppy glue left overs or anything of the sort. The action was perfect although my first one was a bit higher than I like... the new one is awesome.
Godin bought the Lasido co. last year and since then they have changed the geometry of their solid tops. I believe the bracing is a little different, and it allows it to resonate even better than before. The rosette is real wood inlay an NOT a sticker like another reviewer noted somewhere else on this site.

The guitar is solid and well built. It does not seem like this guitar would be less likely to put up with live gigging than any other guitar ... the satin finish is soft, but the spruce top is harder than cedar... mine show no wear and tear and I have had it for a while and play it almost every day. The hardware is first class. No complaints here.

As I said before, this is my second guitar. My first one I bought 3 years ago and last year I noticed a crack on the top right down the middle (almost exactly where the two sides join in the matchbook effect)... I contacted the company and explain that this had happened even though I used a sound hole humidifier since I brought the guitar home. I felt the guitar may have been defective as I took great care of it. After a lot of "phone-tag" finally got the ok to have the store where I purchased it send it back to Quebec for me. It took a while to hear back from them, but they decided to fix it. When it came back the guy at the shop was embarrased to show it to me. They had just run some glue up and down the crack and then heated it (to seal it I guess?) anyway... the results were attrocious, as what was before an almost unnoticeable crack now was totally obvious as it was this super shiny strip down the otherwise dull, satin finish of the top. Needless to say I was unhappy with this. So I contacted them again. They agreed to take the guitar back and replace it with a new one. The person I spoke with was actually very nice and felt that the repair may have left the factory without a final check... regardless... I got a new guitar and they also replaced my hard case which had gotten damaged in shipping.

I also own a Dean Daytona... no comparison... the S&P kicks major butt. The Dean is my beater guitar... the one I take outside, or to parties etc. I have an Ibanez JetKing 1 electric as well. I love the simplicity and high quality of this guitar. I like the fact it looks friendly and majestic at the same time, the satin finish is beautiful and you will find that the more you play it, the wood will season, and will begin to sound better and better. The color of the spruce top will change as well. It will deepen to a darker golden shade... There is nothing I hate about this guitar... sometimes I wish it had more decoration, like some fancy mother of pearl inlays or whatever, but some quitars look quite tacky when over done with frily details, the S&P will stand the test of time with ease. It will looks just as good 10 years from now. I have been playing for about 3 years, but took lessons a loooong time ago when I was about 10 years old. Did not play again until about 3 years ago or so. I am a very picky buyer... and I research everything to death before making a final decision. After reading all about the Factory LaSiDom the amount of care to detail that goes into making these instruments, and consumer opinions and testing them out in stores and comparing them to other makes and price ranges... I decided on the Simon & Patrick Spruce/Mahogany. I have never regreted my decision.
I would not think twice if I had to buy this guitar again. I would do so in a heartbeat, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great sounding, well made guitar which rivals those of other big name guitar makers costing hundreds of dollars more than this one.
I LOVE it. Buy one.. .you will love it too.

handmade in qubec canada
21 frets - but 15 until the body
solid 'AA' grade englemann spruce top - average of 800 years old apparantly
Indian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
1 ? nut width
tusq nut
fully compensated tusq saddle
quarter-sawn spruce bracing
nice inlayed wood rosette
the neck is quite thin - like an electric so it's easier to play and move along it - especially round the 9+ frets

in terms of features, the guitar is quite plain, it is also pretty light in terms of weight. i was at one point tempted to buy the tanglewood TW28 ASR or the TW15 which both look amazing and have lots of decoration like snowflake or abalone and mother of pearl inlays, white binding etc but i'm glad now that i didn't! the finish is really thin which apparantly helps the aging and the sound of the wood. i actually prefer it now compared to the shiny plastic finish of other guitars. it looks simple but it's really grown on me. the quality of the materials used is better than a lot of more expensive guitars and by far the best in this price range. hence i will give it a ...9 - hey, the wood inlay is pretty cool!

i originally ordered the cedar mahogany since i hadn't played either at the time but based on description i guessed that i would prefer a mellower warmer sound. they didn't have it in stock after delaying delivery for 20 days so i just got the spruce. since then i've been to our local guitar store and played the seagull cedar s6+ which is almost exactly the same as the simon and patrick - made by same company using same materials and techniques and such. i much prefer the sound of the spruce now - with elixir polyweb strings on it sounds amazing and not too bright but just right - it's great!!
it's loud and the mahogany makes the sound more rich and deep.
the original strings - godin strings, were brighter but didn't sound half as good as with the elixirs on. apparantly the elixir nanoweb is a bit brighter. i changed the strings and then i made my mind up to keep the spruce instead of swapping for the cedar - let me make this clear though, i did not settle! it sounds amazing!
i couldn't find a guitar anywhere in this price range that sounds as good- i ended up comparing it with a lakewood (couple of thousand) and although it wasn't as good, it was the closest rival in the store. - definitely a 10! it's the best thing about the guitar

all set up from factory i was happy with, action is great, it was only tuned down half a step from the box!
the thin satin finish is great - it lets you feel the grain in the wood and it looks and feels great, but just make sure you don't leave it out in the sun too much or in a really dry environment cos i can imagine the wood having no problem shrinking and expanding although this is the same care you would take with any guitar. in the booklet they give to you they say that the wood will shrink and expand in different conditions but the guitar is made to accommodate for it - no permanant damage will be sustained.
i have gone over the guitar many times to check the quality and the only thing i could complain about was a tiny bit of glue near the nut - but you can only see it if you are looking for it. being handmade, it's much higher quality than its rivals in its price range and by far superceeded my expectation for the price!

this guitar seems pretty durable and i assume it'd be great for playing live. since the finish is thin, it might be more susceptable to damage but the spruce top and mahogany back and sides are pretty tough so it'll take a lot before you notice anything. the cedar one though is softer and so the top will damage easier - this is not the case for the spruce. also read the bit about the finish above. if you are a professional i reckon you'd have no problem using this as a backup if not normally. if you aren't quite professional i see no problem with depending on this alone.

warrenty is lifetime which says a lot for the quality of the guitar -it's ace.

loosing this guitar would be a nightmare - just looking at it fills me with joy :P and hearing someone play it ...ah bliss!
i'd buy another one straight away - the mahogany back and sides is well worth the upgrade from the regular wild cherry i reckon. this is built to last and get better with age. i've been playing only for 6 months now but this review is also taking into account what my brother is saying about the guitar and he's been playing for years. anything less than a 10 is an insult especially considering how much it cost.

I purchased this Guitar used from St.johns music in Winnipeg Canada for $150. It is a solid spruce top with very tight grain across the entire face. the sides are 3 layer Hardwood with a beautiful solid mahogany back. The finish is satin( I ahve heard that this helps the sound and I have also heard it is done to keep costs down)Th rosette is stylish(sticker)and the Toritise pickguard is a nice touch. I have had trouble with the 'B' tuner after bending. The sting goes way-flat. Another trouble area was the bridge pins, I had to physically hold down 4 of them when I was putting in the new strings.
While I am on the strings...they Rattle noticiably when played loudly. I also got a grey fur-lined hard shell case included. Overall this is a good dreadnought for learning on. It has an OK tone but it is not smooth and sultry like a Seagull or Taylor.

Very nice sound when played quietly, tone becomes harsher as volume increases. If I lift the action up to the factory height the string rattle goes away. But the fretboard to string height from the factory was .480"...way too high for me. Overall it has a pleasing sound at normal volume.

Fit and Finish....Hmmmm. This guitar was set up poorly when I got it but it was used. So I cannot blame the Lasido company for that one.
The finish is very consistant overall and Does get polished in the places that it contacts your body. I might buff the whole thing up at some later date.

With the slipping Tuner and the string rattle, this guitar cannot gig. If you miked it, the rattle would make everyone grab their ears and run screaming for the exits.It only has a strap button at the back.

I cannot find the Email address for Simon and Patrick guitars. I really want to Date this guitar with the serial number but I can't contact them throught the Email.

I shopped around for about 3 months before I bought this one. I kinda did a spur of the moment thing(I was in the store to buy a Yamaha F403...the best sounding guitar for under $300). I could not pass this DEAL up I mean $150???? ANyway I am quite happy now. This Guitar kills my Wahburn A/E

This is an update of the previous review. I finally got a reply to my inquiry, although it took 3 months. I got an e-mail today answering all my questions. Better late than never as they say.

Bought new in Feb. 2004 at Music Masters in Scottsdale, AZ for about $400. Solid spruce top, laminated sides and back, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. No-name tuners, but seem to work ok. Came with a cool case made of high impact foam and covered with what I can only call a gig bag. Very light but seems to provide excellent protection. Made in Canada.

I've only been playing about 7 months, but I compared to virtually ever other guitar under $500. It easily sounded the best, with full deep bass, crisp treble, and even volume on all strings. No complaints or I wouldn't have bougth it.

One of the things that attracted me about this guitar was the evident care that went into making it. I can find no flaws and it is beautiful to look at. The strings did buzz slightly but that was easily fixed by loosening the truss rod about a quarter turn. The intonation seems right on and the action is fine for me.

I don't gig and am typically gentle with my stuff, but I don't see anything that would cause me concern over the long haul. The finish is a thin laquer, but I think that helps the sound and with proper care should be fine.

Here's where I have a problem. I am a pretty new guitarist (7 months) and this is my first acoustic. As they are obviously more fragile and require more care than a solid-body electric (my other guitar) I was expecting an owner's manual of sorts to lay it all out. It didn't come with anything like that. So, I wrote the company (snail mail, there is no e-mail link on their website...lame) asking about string gauge, finish care, what, if anything, to put on the unfinished rosewood on the bridge and fingerboard, stuff like that. Well, that was like 6 weeks ago and I have not gotten any kind of response. First of all I think it's ridiculous that it doesn't come with a manual of some sort since it is targeted to beginning players, and secondly I think it is inexcusable to ignore a customer who takes the time to write a letter asking for information on a product that was just purchased. I really like the guitar but I would think twice about dealing again with a company that treats customers this way. Wake up Simon and Patrick!

Overall I think it is a terrific guitar for the money. My instructor had never heard of the company before and guessed that it cost several hundred dollars more than it does. He was very impressed with it and he's been playing for 20 years. I don't think you can go wrong with it for the money, but be forwarned that if something does go wrong with it customer service seems extremely lacking. It would probably get a 9 if I had gotten a response to my inquiry, but since I didn't I'm dropping it to a 8.

Made in Canada, 1999. Solid spruce top, mahogany sides, satin finish. Thin neck. Pretty standard, nothing ornate or fancy about it. Schaller style tuners. Low (small) frets. It's the lightest (in weight) guitar I've played. Very similar to Seagull S6 but in dreadnought shape.

I had phosphor bronze strings on it originally and thought it sounded a bit bass heavy. I have elixir polyweb on it now and this it sounds great. I've tried much more expensive Martin and Taylor guitars but still prefer the sound of this S&P.

Excellent fit and finish. Excellent bookmatch. Factory action was a slightly high. I have since lowered it.

The satin finish makes it easier to ding and dent, but I think it also allows the wood to resonate. Tuners never seem to go out of tune. Frets are beginning to show wear around the 2nd and 3rd fret where the unwound strings are. I think it will last a long time.

Never contacted.

I think it's a great value. Some magazine rated it the best guitar under $500 and I believe it. I would buy another one in heartbeat. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I have yet to see it in a music store though. For the money, I don't think you can buy a better sounding guitar.

Mine is spruce and mahagony with chrome tunersand a flat wood finish

It sound pretty good a 3-400 dollar acoustic guitar

the action is good the neck is somewhat thin. I just wish the neck was a little wider, because while I have played for three years and have gotten used to the guitar with I still get lazy and my fingers hit the other strings blocking the sound.

It has lasted a long time and still looks good and I keep it in a hard case so it still smells like it did new.

no problem

3 years
I play Ibanez JS1000
Play through a PA with (6)10's
with a wah supra dist. and a metal zone

This is a Canadian made dreadnought style guitar with a satin finish. Solid spruce top , mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, with rosewood fretboard and bridge,and schaller tuners.

I am a flatpicker and this guitar fits my style just right with a great sound, base and treble just rings out with a big bright sound. I compared it to at least a dozen others in the store, some even higher priced, and none sounded better. Could not find a better buy for the money.

This guitar is not highly ornamented, it has rather a flat plane finish, but the fit and finish of the bindings, joints, bridge, and nut is very good. The solid spruce top has a straight grain, and the count varies from 24-26 lines per inch in the center, to 10-12 at the edge, beautiful mahogany grain on the back & sides, Good action, no fret buzz. Overall appearance is very astetic and pleasing to the eye.

This is a well made guitar and made to be played, all hardware and bindings are plane but first class.
Finish seems rather thin and may prove a problem with age. But believe the thin finish is one of the features that gives this instrument it`s great sound.

Have been playing about 6 mounths, own no other gear. Have a Luthier friend who gave me help on the selection.If it were stolen I would want another just like it. Love the sound and action, finish could be better if it would not hurt the sound, like the beautiful grain of the mahogany back and sides. Compared it with Martins,Gibsons,Guilds,Seagulls,Fenders,and others. This is guitar was undoubtedly the best buy for the money.

This is a standard dreadnaught, made in 1999, manufactured in Canada. Standard number of frets, 14 open to where the neck meets the body. It's a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany sides and back. The neck is mahogany. The fingerboard is rosewood as is the saddle piece. It has a satin finish. I give it a n 8 because it's a very plain little acoustic. The mahogany is very bright and the bookmatch on the spruce top is good. It's a very clean looking guitar

I place mostly folk and country, mostly finger picking, some flat pick and this guitar sounds decent. I also have a Martin DM. It doesn't compare to the Martin but it is adequate. I bought this guitar to have something to take to work and to lessons and out to practice wherever I might end up. It's well balanced from bass to treble and has a fair amount of sustain and projection. Again, nothing like the Martin but decent.

I bought this guitar over the internet and it came set up fine. Lower action than my Martin and easier to play. No buzz that I have noticed. I will probably have it checked out in a couple months just for my own peace of mind. As mentioned above, the bookmatch on the top is very good. I haven't found any flaws in the guitar. The saddle (micarta) isn't glued in and when I changed the strings, it came out. I contacted the manufacturer and they responded in a timely manner and explained that they don't glue it in and the strings would hold it in place just fine which is true.

I have just picked up playing again after a much to long layoff so I mostly play at home or with friends. Finish is satin so I will be careful with it. Hardware is good quality, enclosed tuners. It stays in tune pretty well. If I were to gig with it, it would probably be the backup and I would use my Martin as the primary.

As mentioned above, I e-mailed Simon & Patrick with some questions and they were very quick to respond. The guitar has a limited life time warranty and, from previous reviews, they seem to honor it without question.

I've been playing off and on for many years but have just come off a many year layoff (much to long - worldly clamors, blah, blah, blah....). I tried many other guitars in this price range: Washburn, Takamine, Sigma, Seagull, Carlo Robelli, etc. The Seagull was the closest (made in the same town in Canada). None of the others came close. I'm very happy with this guitar. If it were stolen I would get another without hesitation. The most surprising thing about this guitar is the neck...very thin and easy to play...low action with no buzz. Discount Music Center were great to deal with also, really helpful. I'd recommend them strongly.