seagull 05
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Seagull is a registered trademark of LaSiDo inc. / All specifications are subject to change without prior noticePrinted in Canada on Recycled Paper / Photography & Graphic Design : Katherine Calder-Becker
Seagull Guitars are hand crafted in Canada.
Seagull Guitars, 19420 Avenue Clark-Graham, Baie D’Urfé Québec Canada H9X 3R8www.seagullguitars.com
The village of La Patrie is nestled amongst tree-covered mountains in Quebec'sEastern Townships. You won't find a shopping mall in La Patrie or a movie theatre.And there are no traffic jams. What you will find, is a community of guitar builderswho take great pride in their craft. These are the people who build Seagull guitars.Their dedication to their craft is especially evident in the current Seagull line-up.Some of this year's developments are obvious by just glancing through the catalog—check out the new MJM6 (mini jumbo) and the decorative highlight added to theSeagull headstock. In keeping with the goal to build ever-better sounding guitarsthere are also several new developments that are more obvious to the ear, such asthe implementation of the compound-curve-top design and the new AdirondackSpruce bracing.
The Seagull “sound first” approach to guitar design began in 1982 when RobertGodin built the first Seagull guitars. Robert wanted to build a guitar that included theessential components of the best handcrafted guitars with pricepoints within reach ofall guitar players.
The catalog begins with an illustrated guide that explains the basic elements of agreat sounding guitar.
AgingRight out of the box, a solid top guitar willgenerally sound much better than a laminat-ed (plywood) top guitar. However, that's notthe only benefit. A solid top improves oropens up over time. That's right, your guitargets better sounding the more you play it!This phenomenon is called 'aging'. It isimportant to note that aging is caused byvibration and the best way to make the topvibrate is to play the guitar. So, it is playing,rather than time, that promotes aging in asolid-top guitar.
Solid TopsThe vibration of the top is the single most importantfactor in the sound of a guitar. Solid top guitars offerricher sound, wider dynamic range, and best of all -they get even better the more you play them! (see'aging') All Seagull guitars feature solid tops.
Each solid top is made from a single layer of Spruceor Cedar. This extraordinary wood comes fromCedar and Spruce trees that are hundreds of yearsold. The straight grain in this wood produces aunique combination of strength and flexibility. Thetop is strong enough—in the direction of the grain—to withstand the pull of the strings while at the sametime it's flexible enough—across the grain—tovibrate freely. This is why all of the best soundingguitars feature solid tops.
Cedar Top or Spruce Top?Cedar and Spruce share the same virtues in termsof better sound and the ability to age. All thingsbeing equal—and they never will be working withwood—Cedar ages faster and leans in the sweetand mellow direction, sound-wise. Spruce agesover a longer period and is usually brighter sound-ing. Having said that, this is a subjective questionthat is best answered by playing some guitars andletting your ears decide.
solid top
tight, straight grain
The grain in this wood is so straight that initial splitting of thewood is easily accomplsihed using a mallet and a wedge.
laminated top solid top
Genuine Lacquer FinishSeagull guitars feature a genuine lacquer finish, akey characteristic of the best hand-crafted acousticguitars. A lacquer finish protects the wood withoutreducing the top's vibration. Our semi-gloss finishinvolves four coats of lacquer. The guitar is handsanded between each coat. This process takesabout four days to complete. Seagull high glossmodels use eight coats of lacquer. The more com-monly used polyester finishes wrap the guitar in athick, plastic blanket that muffles the vibration of thetop and inhibits aging.
Adirondack SpruceThe bracing of the guitar top serves two purposes: itreinforces the top to withstand string tension andtunes the response of the top by controlling its vibra-tion, much like an equalizer. Seagull guitars arebraced with Adirondack Spruce which grows in theNortheast where the shorter growing season resultsin Spruce that is both very strong and light. Thiscombination of strength and lightness makes forideal bracing material.
Book-matchedA top starts as a single piece of wood, which issliced open—like a book—and then glued together.This technique is called book-matched and results inan even grain pattern across the top of the guitar.
lacquer finish
polyester finish
solid top is sliced in half then opened
enlargementof section
‘cross-section’ of giant tree- 8” (20.3 cm) in diameter X 24” (61 cm) in length -
The circles are growth lines which appear againlater as the grain in the top.
Reverse HeadstockEach Seagull neck starts out as a singlepiece of Mahogany or Silverleaf Maple. A 45degree cut is made after which the toppiece—the Headstock—is glued back on withthe grain reversed. This is a key step in theSeagull process for creating incredibly stablenecks.
The Compound-Curve TopThe idea of applying an arch or a curve to the top isappealing because the added strength created bythe arch makes it possible to use a thinner and morelightly braced top. While this is true, there remains atrade-off in applying a curve to the entire top. Themost active part of the top is the area centered onthe bridge. Applying a curve to this part of the toprestricts movement resulting in a loss of dynamicrange. On the other hand, the area of the top abovethe sound hole moves minimally but is problematicbecause it tends to sink if the guitar dries out evenslightly. This tendency is also encouraged by down-ward pressure from the fingerboard resting on top ofit. The solution is a top that has a compound curve.In this design, the top is arched slightly in the areaabove the sound hole and levels out in the areaaround the bridge. The compound curve top pro-duces excellent stability in the upper part of the gui-tar top and the power and projection made possibleby leaving the top flat, below the sound hole. Withthe weak area above the sound hole stabilized, it ispossible to make the rest of the top even moreactive.
regular top
compound curve top
45 degree cut
reversed grain
Neck PitchIn order to enjoy all of the advantages of a well-crafted neck, a great deal of caremust be given when joining it to the guitar body. The angle of a guitar’s neck attach-ment—often called neck pitch—plays a crucial role in the instruments tone. Simplyput, if the neck is too far back the guitar will lose its bass and sound tinny. On theother hand, if the neck angle is too far forward, the guitar will lose its high frequencyand sound muddy. The Seagull neck attachment system ensures consistent neckpitch. It also produces the added advantage of a superior neck/body energy transferbecause the neck is attached to the body with a clean wood-to-wood connection.There is no glue or finish to impede the vibration between the heel of the neck andthe guitar's body.
The HeelThe heel is a potentially weak spot in anyguitar neck. Maple dowels inserted throughthe heel reinforce Seagull necks. As a result,this connection becomes several timesstronger.
neck pitch
adjustment
muddy
tinny
maple dowels
dowels run downinto neck
Nut & SaddleSeagull guitars use nuts and saddles madewith Tusq®. This material was developedspecifically for this purpose and has demon-strated significant tone enhancing properties.The saddle is fully compensated to ensurethat the guitar plays beautifully in tune allover the neck.
LeftiesThe bass and treble sides of a guitar top arebraced differently to achieve the bestresponse. A left-handed guitar must bebraced in reverse to ensure even sound.Simply reversing the strings and pickguardwill not result in a great sounding guitar. Ourleft-handed models are built inside and out tobe true left-handed guitars.
The Tapered Headstock—Tuning Made EasyTuning can be a pain-in-the-neck (sorry).You may have wondered why it is that evenafter you have carefully tuned each string, itis often necessary to go back and make fur-ther adjustments on a few of the strings.This is because the neck moves slightly asyou change the tension of the strings.Therefore you don't just tune the strings butyou also balance the neck at the same time.
The tapered headstock on Seagull guitarsprovides straight string pull, which minimizesmovement in the neck. This ensures that itwill be easier to get your guitar in tune andkeep it that way. This is particularly advanta-geous for the growing ranks of players whouse open tunings.
tapered headstock
tapered headstock
tuning machines
nut
neck
frets
upper bout
soundholewaistrosette
solid top (soundboard)
compensated saddlebridge
lower bout
back & sides
The third Seagull body style is the compact body used in the Seagull Grand. The small body istuned to produce a very clear fundamental tone which makes it another excellent choice for fin-gerstyle playing and traditional acoustic blues.
The Mini Jumbo (MJ) is a new body style for Seagull. While the overall size of the MJ is quiteclose to that of the standard Seagull S6, the look and sound are quite different. A comparisonwith the standard model reveals that the MJ is larger across the upper bout by about ½ an inchand slightly wider at the lower bout. The biggest difference is in the waist where the MJ comes ina full inch narrower. Beyond its curvaceous looks, the MJ offers a sound distinguished by astrong full-range response, suitable for performing and recording situations that call for a guitarthat will cut through the mix.
Now you know something about the workings of acoustic guitar design. Enjoy browsing throughthe catalog and consider this: the best way to determine which body style and wood combinationis going to suit you the best is to try some Seagull guitars at the nearest authorized Seagull deal-er. After all, your guitar is something that you're likely to find yourself attached to for many yearsand there is probably a special guitar out there just waiting for you.
Seagull Body StylesSeagull guitars are available in seven body styles.
The full sized body is the most popular and is the shape used in the original Seagull S6. Recentdesign updates—and perhaps the fitness craze—have narrowed the waist of this body slightly.Slightly smaller than a typical Dreadnought size guitar, the Seagull is narrower in the upper bout.This shape discourages unwanted boominess in the sound and is one of the factors that makesSeagulls guitars record exceptionally well.
Our standard cutaway (CW) models are based on this same body style with better access toupper frets.
The Folk models are the size and shape of a typical classical guitar but with a deeper profile.The smaller body emphasizes mid-range response and suits fingerstyle playing and solo guitar.
The Cutaway Folk is the compact acoustic for players who want access to the top portion of thefingerboard.
standard standard cw folk folk cw grand mini jumbo mini jumbo cw
The guitars that make up the Seagull S Series are renowned for theiroutstanding value. The back and sides of the S-Series models aremade from a three-layer lamination of Wild Cherry. With a sound thatlands somewhere between the mellow tone of a Mahogany guitar andthe bright sound of Maple, Wild Cherry has proven itself to be an excel-lent tone wood that records beautifully. Grown locally, Wild Cherry isalso an ecologically friendly choice.
The + models feature a dark stain applied to the back and sides thatgives the Wild Cherry a rich, distinctive appearance.
The S Series guitars are made with Silverleaf Maple necks. Silver LeafMaple is strong, stable, and lends itself to a very smooth feeling finish.
S Series
S6 CedarWinner of several awards, the S6 is perhaps the instrument that best represents the Seagull phi-losophy of affordable excellence. Everything about the design of the S6 has been carefully con-sidered to produce the best possible guitar playing experience.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6+ SpruceThe Solid Spruce top will generally produce a slightly brighter sound than that of the standard S6.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S12+ CedarSeagull 12-string guitars are renowned for their exceptional stability and responsiveness. Easy totune—thanks to the tapered headstock, and easy to own—thanks to its tremendous value, theS12 continues to be among the most popular 12-strings on the market. TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6 Cedar S6+ Spruce S12+ Cedar
S6+ CW CedarAn excellent choice for players who like to play all over the neck. Highlyrecommended with the optional Quantum I electronics.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6+ Cedar GT (Gloss Top)The S6+GT features a solid top finished with a high-gloss luster that is asresponsive as our ultra-light, semi-gloss finish. TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6+ Cedar Burst GT (Gloss Top)A striking sunburst version of the S6+.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6+ CW Cedar S6+ Cedar GT S6+ Cedar Burst GT
GlossTop (GT) finish
More and more guitarists are discovering the pleas-ures offered by small-bodied guitars. These guitarsare very comfortable to play and produce beautifullydistinctive tones.
S6+ Folk Cedar & S6+ Folk CW CedarThis concert size model is based on the dimensions of aclassical guitar body. The Folk boasts excellent projection,particularly in the mid range frequencies, thanks to itssmaller body. Great for fingerstyle playing or anytime youneed to cut through the mix. The cutaway model offerseasy access to all of the upper frets.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
GrandThe body of the Grand has dimensions very close to thatof a parlor guitar. But the Grand is unique with a neck thatjoins the body at the 14th fret (a traditional Parlor guitarneck meets the body at the 12th fret). The small size of theGrand can be deceiving; this guitar records beautifully in awide variety of contexts and is very comfortable to play. TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
S6+ Folk Cedar S6+ Folk CW Cedar Grand
The three guitars pictured here are Seagull's most popular cutaway models. Each guitar features theSeagull gloss-top finish and is matched with Godin Quantum electronics and a TRIC case. Each ofthese packages combines superb performance and tremendous value.
S6+ CW GT QII MJM6 CW GT QII S6+ Folk CW GT QI
Seagull Acoustic-Electric Performance Packages
The Quantum II with internal micand under-saddle transducer
The revolutionary TRIC case
S6+ CW GT QII *(mic & transducer)The S6+CW GT uses the new gloss-top finish and comes equipped with the Dual sourceQuantum II electronics system and the revolutionary TRIC case.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
MJM6 CW GT QII *(mic & transducer)The cutaway version of the MJ comes packaged with the Godin Quantum II Dual sourceelectronics system and a TRIC case. A complete recording/performing package. TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : MAHOGANY
S6+ Folk CW GT QI *(transducer)The compact dimensions of the Folk CW GT are roughly the same as a typical classicalguitar - but deeper. Very comfortable to play, the Folk produces a full sound that belies itssmall size. The Quantum I electronics in the Folk CW uses the same under-saddle trans-ducer as the Quantum II but without the QII's internal microphone. TRIC case included. TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : WILD CHERRY
*Please see the Electronics Options section for more details.
The Quantum I withunder-saddle transducer
The M-Series guitars are made with Mahogany back and sides.Generally speaking, Mahogany back and sides produce a more mellowsound than other tone woods. The M-Series Seagull guitars feature aunique lamination of Mahogany on each side of a center layer of WildCherry. This results in a sound with slightly more highs than a typicalMahogany guitar but not as bright as the S-Series Seagulls. The necksof the M-Series guitars are made from Honduras Mahogany.
M Series
M6 Cedar GTThe combination of Mahogany and Cedar produces guitars that are oftendescribed with words like sweet and mellow. With its ultra-thin Gloss finishon the top the M6 Cedar easily lives up to that billing.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES : MAHOGANY
M6 & M12 GlossThe M6 Gloss and M12 Gloss both feature solid Spruce tops and a beauti-ful high gloss lacquer finish. TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES : MAHOGANY
M6 Cedar GT M6 Gloss M12 Gloss
The Mini Jumbo guitars are the first to feature theinnovative, new Seagull Arched Rosette.
MJM6 (Mini Jumbo)Beyond its curvaceous looks, the MJ offers a sounddistinguished by a strong midrange response, makingit suitable for performing and recording situations thatcall for a guitar that will cut through the mix. The live-ly midrange in this guitar will also appeal toFingerstyle players.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES :MAHOGANY
MJM6 CW GT QII *(mic & transducer)Performance PackageThe cutaway version of the MJ comes packaged withthe Godin Quantum II Dual source electronics systemand a TRIC case. A complete recording/performingpackage. *Please see the Electronics Options sec-tion for more details.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK & SIDES :MAHOGANY
MJM6 MJM6 CW GT QII
The process that creates the Artist Series guitars begins with the selec-tion of premium tone-woods. From there, our most experienced luthierscraft each of these solid wood instruments in a specialized shop setapart from the main factory. It is here that they can devote additionaltime and attention to these special instruments. Each of the ArtistSeries guitars can be identified by the Abalone and Mother-of-PearlSeagull logo inlaid on the headstock as well as the solo Mother-of-PearlSeagull set into the 12th fret. The Artist Series guitars make a greatchoice for the professional player as well as the serious collector.
Series
Mosaic, Mosaic CW &Mahogany FolkThe combination of Mahoganyand Cedar makes for a verywarm sounding guitar, well suit-ed to softer musical styles.These guitars feature a specialhand-polished finish that pro-duces a luster that falls betweensemi-gloss and high-gloss. Thefinish is not only gorgeous tolook at but is exceptionallyresponsive.TOP : SOLID CEDAR / BACK& SIDES : SOLID MAHOGANY
Mosaic Mosaic CW Mahogany Folk
Cameo CWThe combination of Maple and Spruce gener-ates a lot of high frequency in the sound. As aresult, the Seagull Flame Maple really workswell in live performance where it more easilycuts through the mix. Highly recommend withthe Quantum II or iBeam Duet.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES :SOLID FLAME MAPLE
Portrait CWA little mellower sounding than the RosewoodSpruce, the Mahogany Spruce has been aSeagull staff favorite ever since its introduction.This is another versatile instrument that will eas-ily blend into most musical situations.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES :SOLID MAHOGANY
Cameo CW Portrait CW
Studio & Studio CW Many consider Rosewood back and sides with a Spruce top to be the ultimatecombination for an acoustic guitar and it's hard to disagree when you hear thisexceptional instrument. Finished with eight coats of genuine lacquer, handsanded between each coat, and buffed to a beautiful high gloss finish.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES : SOLID ROSEWOOD
Studio Studio CW
Peppino D’Agostino Signature ModelDeveloped in celebration of Seagull’s decade-long asso-ciation with acoustic virtuoso Peppino D'Agostino, thisguitar features an extra-wide neck for fingerstyle players.Solid Rosewood (back & sides) and a solid Spruce tophelp this guitar to produce a full palette of tones with awide dynamic range.TOP : SOLID SPRUCE / BACK & SIDES : SOLIDROSEWOOD
Back3-Layer Wild Cherry
Sides*Wild Cherry
TopSolid Cedar
Solid Spruce
NeckSilver Leaf Maple
Mahogany
FinishSemi-Gloss Lacquer
Gloss TopCutaway ModelLeft-HandedNut WidthUpper BoutLower BoutWaistBody LengthBody Depth
ElectronicsQuantum I
Quantum II
S6
S6+
Spr
uce
S12
+ C
edar
S6+
CW
Ced
ar
S6+
Ced
ar G
T
S6+
Ced
ar B
urst
GT
S6+
Fol
k C
edar
Gra
nd
S6+
CW
Ced
ar G
TQ
II
S6+
Fol
k C
W G
TQ
I
S6+
Fol
k C
W C
edar
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.14”14.76”9.46”19.6”4.5”
1.8”11.14”14.76”9.46”19.6”4.5”
1.72”9.28”13”
7.35”18.3”4.2”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.14”14.76”9.46”19.6”4.5”
SPECSAll Seagull guitars have a 24.84” scale length, Indian Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge,16” fingerboard radius,14:1 ratio tuning machines, Tusq® nuts & saddles by Graphtech. *Sides made with a three-layer lamination of hardwood - never pressboard.
Note: Seagull Artist Series guitars come equipped with deluxe Tusq® bridge pins withMother-of-Pearl inlay. (as shown below)
All Specifications are subject to change without prior notice.
S Series
M6
Ced
ar G
T
M6
Glo
ss
M12
Glo
ss
MJM
6
MJM
6 C
W G
TQ
II
Mos
aic
Mos
aic
CW
Mah
ogan
y Fo
lk
Cam
eo C
W
Por
trait
CW
Stud
io
Stud
io C
W
Pep
pino
D’A
gost
ino
BackMahogany
Sides*Mahogany
TopSolid Cedar
Solid Spruce
NeckMahogany
FinishSemi-Gloss LacquerHigh-GlossGloss Top
Cutaway ModelLeft-HandedNut WidthUpper BoutLower BoutWaistBody LengthBody Depth
ElectronicsL.R. Baggs ElementQuantum II
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.59”
16”9.53”20”5”
1.8”11.59”
16”9.53”20”5”
M Series
Back & SidesSolid MahoganySolid Flame MapleSolid Rosewood
TopSolid Cedar
Solid Spruce
NeckMahogany
FinishHand-Polished Lacquer
High-Gloss
Cutaway Model
Nut WidthUpper BoutLower BoutWaistBody LengthBody Depth
ElectronicsQuantum IIL.R. Baggs iBeam Duet
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
Artist Series
1.8”11.14”14.76”9.46”19.6”4.5”
1.8”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
1.9”11.38”15.87”10.54”19.8”4.9”
TRIC caseThe TRIC case provides a level of impactprotection for your guitar that rivals the pro-tection offered by many flight cases. Withsome significant differences: the TRICcase is similar to a gig bag, weighing in atjust 3.65 lbs (1.66kg), but is significantlylighter than a standard hard-shell case thatweighs in at 11.25lbs (5.1kg).
Add to that the TRIC's capacity to resistchanges in temperature and you have thebest thing to happen in guitar protection inyears.
The phenomenal combination of resilienceand lightness in the TRIC case is possiblethanks to a high-tech material calledExpanded Polypropylene. This materialnot only withstands impact but also willendure multiple impacts thanks to itsremarkable capacity to return to form afterit is compressed.
Comfort pads suspend and securely holdthe guitar in place for ultra shock protec-tion.
There are TRIC cases available for everySeagull body style.
”Piano” hinges
Comfort padssuspend andsecurely hold theguitar in place
High-impact polymerlatches are virtuallyindestructible
Easy-grip handle isreinforced with a highdensity polymer insert An arched deflector
shield reinforces the top
Seagull Electronic OptionsGodin Quantum I (QI)The QI is a pickup system comprised of an exceptionally responsive under-saddle transducer controlled bya side-mount preamp. The preamp is perfectly matched to the transducer and features a very friendly con-trol set including rotary controls for volume, bass, and treble. The cover plate is crafted of pewter with anantique brass finish. The EQ control range and frequency have been contoured specifically to capture theSeagull Sound.The QI is powered by a single 9v battery. Typical battery life is about 200 hours.
Godin Quantum II (QII)The QII is a dual-source system that blends the signal from a high quality electret microphone with the sig-nal from the under-saddle transducer used in the Quantum I system. The microphone capsule—specificallydesigned for this application—is mounted on a flexible six-inch boom, which positions the mic inside thesound hole. The mic can be blended either in or out of phase with the saddle transducer. The preamp fea-tures four rotary knobs to control volume, bass, treble, and presence/phase. The controls are easy to useand set in an attractive pewter plate with an antique brass finish. A single 9v battery powers the QII. Typical battery life is about 200 hours.
L.R. Baggs ElementThis superb sounding system is available in the Seagull M-Series guitars. The streamlined design of theElement system is the latest in a long line of superb acoustic guitar pickup systems designed by L.R.Baggs. This system boosts the sensitivity of the transducer for a lively and open sound with a smooth highend.The side mounted preamp features volume, bass, mid, and treble controls.A single 9v battery powers the Element system. Typical battery life is about 200 hours.
L.R Baggs iBeam DuetL.R. Bagg's pioneered the dual source concept with the original Duet system. This latest incarnation of theDuet combines the Bagg's Element under-saddle pickup with the iBeam bridge plate transducer. The pre-amp provides a very sophisticated control set including: volume, mix, 3-band EQ, and phase reverse.A single 9v battery powers the iBeam Duet system. Typical battery life is about 200 hours.
Godin Quantum I (QI)
L.R. Baggs Element
Godin Quantum II (QII)
L.R. Baggs iBeam Duet