Wounded Seagull

Wow. That seems pretty extensive for a fingernail. I'm sure it can be repaired by a pro. Seems unlikely that it can be repaired without refinishing at least the top.

 

A repair of that will only make it look like a repair. At least the way it is now, it adds character.

 

I mean no disrespect, but Seagulls make great “beater” guitars.
I’d live with it.
I have seen, and sold them by the dozens.
Most of em’ get beaten up because they are good “tools”.
People play them, pass em’ around, and knock them around.
I lived in Canada for about 12 years, and they seemed to be everywhere.
Cedar is pretty soft wood.
Like Mick Ronson said, “Play, dont worry!”

 

The first of many.. if you play a 'gull even in a modest "around the house" way the top is going to ding up, it's just the nature of the beast. I have owned at least a half dozen, bought used for little money as they simply don't look as good as the usual Yamaha, Tak or Ibanez after a few years.

 

Willy approves:

 

Is it that bad when you look at the entire top? We're sort of seeing a close up of the ding.

Best thing might be to just look past it. Someone would have to fill it in (I think) and the repair may look worse than the ding.

I'm fussy about guitars so I understand the concern but sometimes life just happens. Like I said; it can't be horrible when you look at the entire top.\

Don't freak out.

 

a small decal or sticker would work ... i would fill it with superglue first ...

 

I think I felt the same way when I got my first ding on my acoustic. Then I realized that here I was, taking this guitar with me literally all across the country to play, and it had to happen sometime. That’s when I started feeling better about it. I’m sorry it happened to yours but I think the best way to deal with it is just to play it. Consider it honest relicing, I guess.

 

Get it to the shop right away. The longer you take to get it fixed, the more tone will leak out. Sure, you can just keep refilling it, but tone gets expensive quickly... and in the meantime, it will continue to leave unsightly tone puddles wherever you park it.

 

Maybe try steaming it out?

 

The first ding is always the worst. I recall reading a bit about dings by the great luthier Frank Ford. Frank wrote that if you play a guitar, it's going to get dinged. Don't worry about it. He also gave this advice: When you get a new guitar, lay it on the floor and stand over it with your keys in your hand. Then, drop your keys on the guitar. There, the first ding is out of the way and you can play the thing without worrying about it.

 

I’ve had 2 Seagulls and one Norman (also a Godin product), and they all had the soft cedar tops that dent really easy. Great sounding guitars, but they don’t stay great looking for long - unless you dig some honest wear. Didn’t ever bother me a lot. I say let it ride.

 

Seagull's cedar tops are fragile. Mine is covered with dents like that. My two cents - get used to it.

 

Like you, yourself said, "get over it". The older it gets, the cooler it gets.

 

Welcome to the "Willie Nelson Trigger Club" but I'd say you have a long way yet to go to get that worn-in look!!

While Cedar is warm, its also soft so, along with the super-thin satin finish, its the nature of the Seagull beast. IMHO, this little divot is looks minor and likely the first of a few more to follow.

If its upsetting, maybe trim yer nails closer before you play it again?

 

A wise man once said, "Some Turtle Wax will buff that right out."