Seagull

[leftync]

Waht's the deal with Seagull brand loyalty? Every thread seems to turn into praise forSeagull. I've seen it on other boards as well, like the one at Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Don't get me wrong: I own two Seagulls and while I could live without my 12-string (personal tastes probably, I'm sure the instrument is fine), I love my M6. I've praised it many times here. I love the reinforcement of my own purchasing decision. I had particular difficulty as I was looking for something with a short scale, wide fretboard and left-handed.

As a beginner I stretched my budget a bit for the M6, but I figured I might never need another guitar.

But most guitarists love their instruments, don't they? What's happened to make Seagull so popular? Have they taken over the low-mid market?

I started one threat several weeks ago where I mentioned that I was a bit put off by a magazine interview with Robert Godin, in which he seemed to be substituting high tech for that "hand crafting" we all value so much. Has Godin found the perfect combination of man and machine for producing great guitars?

[sevensinner]

Originally posted by leftync Has Godin found the perfect combination of man and machine for producing great guitars?

Sort of - I think it's partly because they are a small company that they can have better control over whats being made and how they manage the usage of their CNC machines. All mass-produced instruments essentially use the same technology - laser guided CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines. A smaller company with a smaller yield has a better chance of detecting poor/defective product within a given timeframe. With this, they are able to produce a more consistent product.

It also helps that Seagulls are well designed - albeit being a bit on the ugly side. I can say that, I have an S6 Cedar.

[SlowFingers]

I think it is because they make the best in the sub-$500 market. I love my M6 also, and actually enjoy playing it much more than my Larrivee I paid twice as much for. That short scale sure makes it easier to play for me. The bulky neck seems to fit in my hand just right. Add in a little room with the wide fretboard, and you just have a guitar that is so easy to play.

[BigBaby]

To your first question, people respond to Seagull because its a great value - people can afford a better guitar for the money. That builds brand loyalty.

I have a Folk so my comments correspond to that guitar.

Great sound - good bass, bright trebles, good stirng to string balance. I've heard better but nowhere in the price range.

Good intonation - consistently in tune over the fretboard

Decent action - only had to file the nut slots a little

Great look - cherry and cedar have a classic look, not a "bling-y" look for sure

Good tuners - no binding of strings during tuning, stays in tune well

[Rada]

Seagull is not my favorite of the Godin line, but I think they are great guitars

I love my Mosaic...I don't think anyone makes better cedar tops than Godin

I also like their guitars because of the "no-frills" aspect. I've never been a really big fan of abalone, over-the-top inlays, and all that stuff

I think the Artists Series blows away a lot of the higher end models of more famous makers, but that's up to each person's ear I guess

price-quality ratio is amazing, they look great, sound great, feel great, they're very sturdy....what's not to love

[bjorn-fjord]

Originally posted by sevensinner Sort of - I think it's partly because they are a small company that they can have better control over whats being made and how they manage the usage of their CNC machines. All mass-produced instruments essentially use the same technology - laser guided CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines. A smaller company with a smaller yield has a better chance of detecting poor/defective product within a given timeframe. With this, they are able to produce a more consistent product. It also helps that Seagulls are well designed - albeit being a bit on the ugly side. I can say that, I have an S6 Cedar.

Godin is not a small company. They have 6 factories. Before making their own line(s) of guitars they were mass producing necks and bodies for other manufacturers. I don't know their sales figures but I would bet that they sell way more guitars than Martin. Friends of mine who work in guitar retail have said they sell more Godin's (Seagulls, A&L, S&P, Norman, La Patrie) than all other brands combined.

[LosBoleros]

Seagul grand parlor converted into a tres cubano. For the price, it's hard to beat.

[dead matt]

I smell my S6+CW almost as much as I play it.

[gtrdave]

Originally posted by dead matt I smell my S6+CW almost as much as I play it.

I've owned my S6+CW for probably 7 years and I enjoy playing it as much as as when I first bought it.

Seagull/Godin just seems to design well-made affordable guitars for players and not get caught up in the 'me-too-ism" that the big manufacturers seem consumed with.

In addition to my Seagull I also own:
Godin A6
Godin Solidac
Godin Freeway 5 bass
La Patrie Concert

They must be doing something right.

[guit30]

:wave: :wave:


Seagulls Are ugly!!!!!
Jim

[leftync]

Again, I njoy my guitar. But is is really so much better? My M6 is quite nice sounding, with a very nice finish. But it's still a solid-top laminate combo. How is it that much better than Alvarez, Takamine, etc.,--not to mention lower-end Martins and Taylors? Are there workmanship problems in othr brands? Do they sound cheap in comparison?

[guit30]

I think they are great for the money, imo, they are just ugly and the necks are like baseball bats, but people love em, probably because they are Canadian made. I wonder if they were Chineses if they would go over that big.
imo Blueridge 100 series are a great quality bargain, and the Mexican made Taylor 110.
Jim

[leftync]

i've seen blueridge and I liked them, especially for the money. but i'm told that quality is inconsistent. maybe that's an advantage of Godin's.

[franchelB]

Godin makes great guitars for the money!

[wdreamsmaycome]

got mine (S6+ folk) today, the store OTOH had only two in stock so I couldn't really be too choosy. I am a beginner so I'm not quite sure if I got a "good one" or not, but I have heard seagulls are fairly consistent, and a friend of mine who plays quite well said that it sounded ok.

Of course I am getting buyer's remorse in terms of "maybe I should've gotten the other one", but hey, what can you do. One thing I noticed is that the neck wood seemed a slightly different shade on the other guitar, but to my (untrained) ear they sounded fairly alike.

[LosBoleros]

Originally posted by wdreamsmaycome got mine (S6+ folk) today, the store OTOH had only two in stock so I couldn't really be too choosy. I am a beginner so I'm not quite sure if I got a "good one" or not, but I have heard seagulls are fairly consistent, and a friend of mine who plays quite well said that it sounded ok. Of course I am getting buyer's remorse in terms of "maybe I should've gotten the other one", but hey, what can you do. One thing I noticed is that the neck wood seemed a slightly different shade on the other guitar, but to my (untrained) ear they sounded fairly alike.

I was the guy in the store watching you. After you left, I bought the last one. I think it's the best one in the world! Luck me.

[wdreamsmaycome]

Originally posted by LosBoleros I was the guy in the store watching you. After you left, I bought the last one. I think it's the best one in the world! Luck me.

lol :D:D