Update on 12/15/01: Still love my Seagull, and now there are two more of them in our house...one for each of my sons. When you compare the three of them, the quality control is quite good, and each guitar sounds as good as the next. There is a difference in the graining of the spruce tops, and I mention this because if appearance is really important to you, then you will want to pick out your guitar. My Seagull has some nice graining in the spruce which gives it a more browninsh tan color. The top on one of the others shows very little graining, which makes it look lighter and more uniform in color. The top of the third has a more striped appearance due to the graining. But...I would be happy with any of them.

Now...the original review!

After reading many positive articles about Seagull guitars, I was lucky enough to purchase one at a bargain price ($275) complete with hardshell case. I figured that if I wasn't pleased with the instrument, I could always resell it and get my money back. I don't think I will be doing that...the Seagull S6+Spruce is a wonderful guitar and comparable to guitars costing much more.

First of all, this guitar isn't fancy...the instrument is very simple with beautifully stained wood (neck, sides and back) and a natural spruce top. The neck features simple dot inlays with a tapered headstock that seems to be unique to Seagull guitars. The tuners work very smoothly and hold tuning quite well. The instrument has a matte finish, and Seagull instructs the user that a guitar wax can be used on the back and sides, but the spruce top should not be waxed. It can be cleaned with window cleaner applied to a soft cloth. Due to the finish used on this guitar, I think it will require some respect...and wouldn't hold to the abuse some guitars can take (in terms of appearance, not construction quality). I love the look of wood, so this instrument is very visually appealing to me.
The construction quality is incredible for an entry priced instrument...the craftsmanship matches that of guitars costing three times as much. You really need to examine one to see, especially if you have looked at entry level guitars made by Epiphone, Ibanez, Yamaha, etc.

But, most importantly is the sound! This instrument has a really nice sound. If you have been around guitars for a while, you know how much sound quality can vary and how difficult descriptions can be. The Seagull has a warm sound with a very balanced range. It can produce quite a full sound, but it isn't as loud as some boomy dreadnaughts..perhaps this is due to the fact that the S6+Spruce does not have quite as large a body as some other guitars. When you play it, you can feel the difference in the vibrations - or at least I can when I compare it to my Epiphone AJ18. There is enough brightness to the sound (an advantage of the spruce top compared to the cedar top on other Seagull models) that I prefer. The lower strings are warm and resonant without any boominess. This instrument should suit any style of playing. The fingerboard is a little wider than some acoustics..I can feel the difference, but it doesn't seem to affect my playing (but I am only an advanced beginner!). At this point, I am using it to practice picking melody lines/improvisations and chord progressions for various styles of music. I don't have any quality equipment for amplifying it, but I think this instrument would sound great with a quality pickup and acoustic amplifier. In the future, I may consider adding a Baggs pickup!

Out of the box, the guitar setup isn't too bad. The string height at the nut is ok, and the neck is fine. But, the saddle appears to be a little high, which is noticeable as you play above the seventy fret. Since I just received the instrument, I will let it adjust to the climate for a few weeks, and then I will have it set up by a luthier. I'm sure that after a setup, the action will be extremely good!

After checking out a lot of guitars at music stores, I am convinced that the Seagull guitar is a gem, comparable to other instruments selling for close to a thousand dollar...whereas the S6+Spruce can be purchased for under $400 (with a really nice hardshell case). Seagull guitars are not as easy to find as guitars produced by the bigger manufacturers, but they are worth looking for. My son is already planning to save for one of his own, and down the road, I would love to purchase one of their better models with a cutaway and electronics built in....but that's what dreams are for!!







Recommended: Yes