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Telarkaster · May 4th, 2008, 09:45 PM

I've been shopping for an acoustic for the past few months now, learning a lot in the process. I've been playing guitar for the past 20 years but never had a 6 string acoustic. I have a nylon string classical and a 12 string and a bunch of electrics, but no 6 string.

At first I thought I wanted a dreadnaught. I tried Martin D-18s, 16s, 35s and 28s and loved them all, particularly the D-28. But none of them had a pickup installed and I wanted to hear it first before paying to get it installed. So I tried the Taylors. Nice sound plugged in (especially the 314ce), but it wasn't a Martin and I wanted more for a $2000 guitar.

Armed with this knowledge of what a good guitar sounds and feels like, I figured out what my needs were:

-pickups to play with my band
-something that sounded great plugged AND unplugged
-cutaway to do the odd solo with
-wide enough neck to fingerpick with
-neck that fills my hand
-something that won't break up with medium strumming

I was leaning towards getting the Taylor 314ce when I stumbled across this guitar and fell in love with it immediately:

The Seagull Performer Mini Jumbo cutaway with QII electronics:

Better photos can be found at this site:

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/SEPMJ.htm

It's not a Martin or a Taylor, but then again it didn't cost $2000. The amplified sound is amazing thanks to the under saddle pickup that doesn't have that typical quacky sound, and this gooseneck mic in the soundhole:

The mic can be turned off for high volume situations, or blended in or out of phase (top left knob) the other knobs are bass, treble and volume:

It definitely needs a sound hole cover (3 and 7/8 inches diameter) to reduce feedback with the band. Sounds great through the PA system, sounds like an acoustic should.

I tried the dread version of the Seagull but it didn't sound as lively and the neck wasn't as wide as the Mini Jumbo.

A big thank you to Jakedog for his opinion on Seagull and the QII system, his description of its sound was dead on. I hope he gets his fixed soon. Also thanks to Rick, Stefan, Brent and everyone else I chatted with about Martins and Taylors. One day I will get a D-28 when I have a front porch to sit on and strum acoustically in my retirement, but right now this Seagull meets my exact needs and I couldn't be happier with it. Plus it was made just down the road in my neck of the woods (relatively speaking) at LaPatrie Quebec, so I got to help the local economy.

You know a guitar is good when you can't put it down!

May 4th, 2008, 09:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Telarkaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Posts: 1,600	And the winner is...Seagull!!! I've been shopping for an acoustic for the past few months now, learning a lot in the process. I've been playing guitar for the past 20 years but never had a 6 string acoustic. I have a nylon string classical and a 12 string and a bunch of electrics, but no 6 string. At first I thought I wanted a dreadnaught. I tried Martin D-18s, 16s, 35s and 28s and loved them all, particularly the D-28. But none of them had a pickup installed and I wanted to hear it first before paying to get it installed. So I tried the Taylors. Nice sound plugged in (especially the 314ce), but it wasn't a Martin and I wanted more for a $2000 guitar. Armed with this knowledge of what a good guitar sounds and feels like, I figured out what my needs were: -pickups to play with my band -something that sounded great plugged AND unplugged -cutaway to do the odd solo with -wide enough neck to fingerpick with -neck that fills my hand -something that won't break up with medium strumming I was leaning towards getting the Taylor 314ce when I stumbled across this guitar and fell in love with it immediately: The Seagull Performer Mini Jumbo cutaway with QII electronics: Better photos can be found at this site: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/SEPMJ.htm It's not a Martin or a Taylor, but then again it didn't cost $2000. The amplified sound is amazing thanks to the under saddle pickup that doesn't have that typical quacky sound, and this gooseneck mic in the soundhole: The mic can be turned off for high volume situations, or blended in or out of phase (top left knob) the other knobs are bass, treble and volume: It definitely needs a sound hole cover (3 and 7/8 inches diameter) to reduce feedback with the band. Sounds great through the PA system, sounds like an acoustic should. I tried the dread version of the Seagull but it didn't sound as lively and the neck wasn't as wide as the Mini Jumbo. A big thank you to Jakedog for his opinion on Seagull and the QII system, his description of its sound was dead on. I hope he gets his fixed soon. Also thanks to Rick, Stefan, Brent and everyone else I chatted with about Martins and Taylors. One day I will get a D-28 when I have a front porch to sit on and strum acoustically in my retirement, but right now this Seagull meets my exact needs and I couldn't be happier with it. Plus it was made just down the road in my neck of the woods (relatively speaking) at LaPatrie Quebec, so I got to help the local economy. You know a guitar is good when you can't put it down!