Amazon.com Product Review
Seagull Coastline S6 Guitar in Cedar Gloss Top -Fun to Play
The Coastline S6 Guitar in Cedar Gloss Top is an ideal choice for players who prefer the traditional sound of a select pressure cedar top, as well as the great feel and superb sound provided by a hand finished neck with a more traditional nut width feel. The cutaway also makes this a great choice for the gigging musician.
Coastline Cedar Gloss Top In addition to the new compound-curve bracing system, the Coastline Cedar Gloss Top features a Custom Polished Finish and it’s about the same thickness as our semi-gloss treatment but buffed to a high luster. This is truly a great breakthrough in that the guitar has the added responsiveness provided by an extra light finish along with the great looks of high–gloss.
Coastline Series The guitars that make up the Seagull Coastline series represent one of the world's outstanding values in acoustic guitars. The back and sides of the Coastline series models are made from a three-layer lamination of Wild Cherry wood. With a sound that lands somewhere between the mellow tone of a Mahogany guitar and the bright sound of Maple, Wild Cherry has proven itself to be an excellent tone wood. Grown locally, Wild Cherry is also a choice. Coastline series guitars feature very smooth necks made from Silver Leaf Maple.
The Compound Curve Top The guitar top is the part of the instrument that most affects the sound. It is also the most delicate part of any high quality acoustic guitar. The grade and thickness of the wood used (solid spruce), as well as the bracing structure, have a huge impact on the instrument's sound. The idea of applying an arch or a curve to the top is appealing because the added strength of an arched top should allow for the use of a thinner and more lightly braced top. While this is true, there remains a trade-off in applying a curve to the entire top. The most active part of the top is the area centered on the bridge. Applying a curve to this part of the top restricts movement resulting in a loss of dynamic range. On the other hand, the area of the top above the sound hole moves minimally but is problematic because it tends to sink if the guitar dries out even slightly. This tendency is also encouraged by downward pressure from the fingerboard resting on top of it. The solution is a top that has a compound curve.
In the Seagull Performer's design the top is arched slightly in the area above the sound hole and levels out in the area around the bridge. The compound curve top produces excellent stability in the upper part of the guitar top and the power and projection made possible by leaving the top flat below the sound hole flat. With the weak area above the sound hole stabilized, it is possible to make the rest of the top even more active with a new bracing design that allows unprecedented control over the top vibration. The bracing for the Seagull Performer Cutaway Flame Maple High-Gloss QI Guitar is quarter-sawn spruce, scalloped and carved to conform exactly to the curvature of the tops.
A History of Quality In 1982 Robert Godin and a few friends produced the first Seagull guitars in the Village of LaPatrie, Quebec. The concept for the Seagull guitar was to take the essential components of the best hand-crafted guitars (such as solid tops and beautiful finishes) and build these features into guitars that could be priced within the reach of working musicians. Of course there is much more to a great guitar than a solid top with a special finish, so we produced this illustrated guide to help you gain some understanding of the basic elements of a great sounding acoustic guitar.
The Seagull story wouldn't be complete without mentioning La Patrie. La Patrie is a small village in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. This is where the first Seagulls were made in the early eighties. Today, La Patrie has a population of about 475 and about half of these people are guitar builders. These folks take a great deal of pride in the guitars they build. Pick one up and you'll see why.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(2 customer reviews) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Great value for under $500,
April 23, 2011 RCS1955 "RS from NW-PA" (Erie area, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar GT Guitar (Electronics)
I just purchased this Coastline Cedar S6 this week. I looked at twenty other models for under $700 that had laminated back and sides online and listening through youtube. I sent back two after trying them out,(sounded like plywood when strummed). This Seagull is overlooked in my opinion. The combination of the cedar and cherry make this dred sound wonderful when strummed. The sustain rings for a long time. I particularly like the wider neck, only 1/8 inch more, it gives you room to maneuver big fingers or in the case of a beginner, less chance of deadening an open string. If you need a beginner guitar or a campfire backup, and want good quality and sound, consider this one. I bought it as my campfire-travel guitar to augment my expensive Martin. P.S. The satin finish and the light coating on the cedar top is the key to the beautiful sound! Put some new coated strings on it before you decide!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Had mine for 6 years and love it!,
January 14, 2012 This review is from: Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar GT Guitar (Electronics)
This is a wonderful guitar and is very reasonably priced for the quality and the sound. I have had mine for 6 or 7 years. When purchasing I compared it to many others in the same p rice range (300-350) at the time and it blew them all away (Yamaha, Takamine, Fender, Applause, etc.)
Selecting a guitar is always a personal preference for sound, feel, and playability as well as many other things. I couldn't be happier with the Seagull line and would pick up another in a heartbeat, should I ever need to.
Someday I'd love to get a Taylor or a Martin, just like everybody else. This seagull makes me wonder why I really want one. If I am really honest with myself it will suite my playing fine for many many years.
