Review by
livefree on Jan 26, 2004
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One of the hardest things about deciding to start playing guitar is that most people who are wanting to learn buy a cheap "starter guitar" with a laminate top for 150 bucks, and get discouraged when the guitar plays and sounds like shit. They then give up on playing because they believe they just don't have the gift. Any seasoned guitar player will say the same thing: you have to make an investment and get a good guitar to learn on. A good guitar will only fuel one's passion for learning to play. So, do you want a guitar that isn't cheaply made but can't afford a Taylor or a Martin? Happily, there is a compromise. Seagull guitars are handmade in Canada, where import taxes on woods are much lower; therefore, the guitars are less expensive. It is possible to get a guitar that sounds and plays like a Taylor for under 500 bucks. I found one in the Seagull S6. The S6 Mahoghany Cedar is an entirely solid wood, handmade guitar. The back and sides are mahoghany, and the top is cedar. The combination of these woods yields a very warm and mellow sounding tone... not a bright tone like a spruce top guitar would produce (I am not discounting spruce-top guitars, but simply saying that the rich tone of the cedar top is quite pleasant). My Seagull came with a nice case, and I paid $485 for it. It was my first guitar, and now, years later, it is still the one that I use more than any of my acoustics, including my Taylor.
So for first time buyers, save up for another month or two and get an excellent guitar for only a couple of hundred dollars more than a "cheap" one. "Inexpensive" guitars (such as a Seagull) are not bad. "Cheap" guitars will only frustrate you. For those of you who aren't just learning, play a Seagull and you will see what I mean. If this guitar was made in the US it would cost at least a thousand bucks.
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Features |
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Features include solid wood construction, a dovetail joining of neck to body, Schaller tuners, and a uniquely designed diamond-shaped head-stock that keeps strings aligned perfectly and prevents them from going out of tune. |
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Playability |
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The guitar has a nice factory set action and a plays nicely. Bluegrass players may wish to lower the action a little, but it is not a necessity. Overall the guitar plays like a dream. |
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Quality |
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As I mentioned, the guitar has beautifully mellow tonal quality and a rich sustain. It sounds very warm. Many people say that certain guitars have more songs in them than others. This guitar has a multitude. |
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Durability |
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I use my Seagull for live gigs and it stays in tune all night. I have not had to make any major adjustments, but I did some fine-tunings just for my own playing style. |
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Overall |
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For an excellent guitar that won't break your bank, a Seagull S6 Mahoghany Cedar is the best bang for your buck. Their spruce top guitars sound great too, but something about this guitar makes it seem as if it has a soul. Its tone is almost like emotion. |
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