Simon & Patrick

[TeleBrew]

Tried a Simon & Patrick guitar today. It was a righty, so I couldn't really lay into it, but it seemed nice. The company (Godin) guarantees its durability in a climate as low as 25% humidity, which is relevant to me living in semi-arid Colorado. For a hand-made in Canada, all-wood guitar, the price is really low, too.

Anybody own one? Played one?

[AnthemBassMan]

-Not sure myself, but I've also been checking them out. Unfortunately no one around here has them. Seagulls I can find, but no Simon & Patricks. The same with Art & Luthrie. Are these two just higher end versions of the Seagulls? The specs and reviews look pretty promising.

L8R,
Matt D.

[WallyArms]

Originally Posted by AnthemBassMan

-Not sure myself, but I've also been checking them out. Unfortunately no one around here has them. Seagulls I can find, but no Simon & Patricks. The same with Art & Luthrie. Are these two just higher end versions of the Seagulls? The specs and reviews look pretty promising.

L8R,
Matt D.

I wouldn't call them higher end versions.... more like the differences in a Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac. Same basic instruments made by the same company with different looks and appointments. The Simon and Patrick and A & L are more standard than the Seagull models to me - Seagulls feature a unique headstock and a slightly wider neck (on most models). I have a couple of Seagulls that I really like. As stated, the Simon and Patrick, A & L, and Norman guitars (all made by LaSiDo) are harder to find in shops than the Seagulls. The Normans are very nice if you can find them - I take them as LaSiDo's Martin - thus the name Norman.... get it? I think all of the LasiDo line are a great value for the money. If anything, the Seagulls and Simon and Patrick would probably be the "higher end" models as they all feature solid tops - not true of A & L and Norman.

[Sacdubro]

I had a Seagull S6 they're solid well made guitars. Very stable with solid tops and laminated bodies. LaSido's complete line-up represent great bang for buck.

[RickG501]

I've played one. Stumbled upon the S&P one day when I went to a small shop to buy some strings. I was very impressed. Great projection and good balance then the owner tells me they're only $460, I thought they were an excellent value, but as with all of them you've got to try to find the one that speaks to you. The orchestra style was weak and didn't play as nice as the dreadnaught cutaway. The dread was verrry nice. I thought it was a heck of a value.

[rocksteady Max]

I own one and play one for 2 years. It's a mini jumbo that features a cedar top and cherrywood back and sides, the neck is made of maple. Very basic guitar, the ultra thin lacquer let the wood ring. Paid really little money for mine because the guitar was made in my province + my friend was an employee of the place and could get the guitar at just a little higher than cost
The cedar top is perfectly suited for fingerstyle by the way.

[imwjl]

They (and Seagull) are fairly common around my metro area and they seem to have nice tone and play well. I'm in a large university area and we have a well organized bluegrass assoc., so a lot of students and not too far out of college folks play the Godin brands and Larrivees with the other end of the economic spectrum who are playing $5000+ guitars and they sure hold their own.

FWIW: I'm a big fan of used and I see the Godin brands (A & L, S & P and Seagull) show up with Larrivees in craigslist and local shop inventory. The Larrivees are also good ones to consider and a used Larrivee might be close in price.

[RickG501]

I stumbled on to a spruce top dread cutaway at pawn shop on Friday. The guy( looked like junior samples from hee haw) had it priced $139. As soon as I was interested in it he said he'd take less. I'm thinkin' I'll go back and offer him a $100 bill if it's there after Christmas. It's got what seem to be the original set of strings on it, I probably need a tetnus shot after playing it, but the wood seemed to be in good shape no big dings or dents.
Looks like a steal to me.

I think it's a CW spruce, Simon & Patrick.

Any opinions?

[Valvey]

I probably need a tetnus shot after playing it

LOL

[slickoneuk]

I have a seagul and love it. I wouldnt give it up for anything!!

[Jorge]

I have a Simon & Patrick 6 Spruce. I love the sound of it and how versatile it is. The only "real" problem I have found is that it looses its overtones pretty quickly, and because of this I need to change the strings frequently.

[jjz28]

Originally Posted by imwjl

They (and Seagull) are fairly common around my metro area and they seem to have nice tone and play well. I'm in a large university area and we have a well organized bluegrass assoc., so a lot of students and not too far out of college folks play the Godin brands and Larrivees with the other end of the economic spectrum who are playing $5000+ guitars and they sure hold their own.

FWIW: I'm a big fan of used and I see the Godin brands (A & L, S & P and Seagull) show up with Larrivees in craigslist and local shop inventory. The Larrivees are also good ones to consider and a used Larrivee might be close in price.

I live in Vancouver where Larrivee's are made. I don't think you'll have much luck finding a used one in that price range.(I puruse Craigslist daily) Their cheapest new model is $1200.!! I have a Larry Parlor I bought in '99 for $600., they are now $1500. I've played all the Godin lower end models and although they are good for the money, they are no Larrivee's....

[Tele-Ryan]

Hey, also a Canadian here.

I say if you can afford it, Larrivees are the best Canadian built acoustics. Howver, bang-for-buck goes to the Seagulls.

[Borgnine!]

A&L is the 'budget' line of Godin acoustics...