Willis Music Oxmoor Product Profile
Seagull S6
Handcrafted in Canada, Solid Red Cedar top w/ a compound curve, Wild Cherry body, Silverleaf Maple neck, straight-pull headstock, real lacquer finish, Tusq® nut and bridge saddle
I’ve spoken of the dedication to quality Robert Godin’s instruments have, and the Seagull line of guitars is another example of it. These instruments have become revered by players of all ages and levels because what they might lack in cosmetic frills they more than make up for in sonic ones. These guitars feel and sound alive in your hands, and that’s becoming a rarity.
The Seagull S6 is a bare bones acoustic guitar that sounds amazing. The solid Cedar top provides exceptional response to how hard or light the guitar is played and has a rich, mellow tone. Wood aficionados claim Cedar sounds today like Spruce will in ten years. Spanish guitars have utilized Cedar for decades for that very reason. To take the sound quality up a notch, the S6 has what is called a “compound curve” top design. This is a brilliant feature that gives the player much more sound projection and helps prevents sinking near the neck since the curve ratio is reduced beneath the soundhole. The sound is bold and clear when struck hard and doctor’s office-quiet when strummed lightly. The rigid Cherry body adds brightness and volume making the S6 sound like a guitar costing much more than it does; always a welcome discovery. The instrument is finished in 4 coats of lacquer and buffed to a smooth semi-gloss finish. The use of lacquer greatly improves the vibration capability of the guitar and allows the wood to dry (season) the more it is played. Again an example of a technique usually found only in instruments sporting much higher costs and the player benefits dramatically.
Seagull has chosen Silverleaf Maple for the neck of the S6 and it’s a choice I strongly support. Mahogany is the more common neck wood, but since it is so soft many players find themselves constantly re-tuning their guitar during performances. Maple is a much harder wood, therefore tuning stability is greatly increased. Seagull has also had the forethought to cut the neck just behind the nut and attach the headstock with the wood grain reversed in direction to provide much more stability at the nut area of the guitar. The neck is topped off with a tapered headstock designed to keep the string path as straight as possible. This is a simple but very effective deign and it would be nice if more companies put this much thought into their guitars. The nut and saddle are carved from Tusq® which is essentially man-made ivory. This contributes crystal clear notes and better intonation to the S6 and is a common aftermarket upgrade for players unhappy with the typical plastic nuts and saddles installed on their guitars.
I don’t know how else to say it; this is a substantially better guitar than many costing nearly double the price. Seagull’s history with players and reviews in magazines all speak of consistently above average instruments and the S6 is no exception.
Reviewed by: Mike McAfee
Contact reviewer at: oxmoorstore@willis-music.com
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About the Contributor:
Manager Mike McAfee is a 13 year plus Willis veteran who has hand picked each employee on his floor because they excel in providing a superior experience to every customer. The confidence, knowledge and courtesy you encounter lives up to an environment tailored for each department of their store. The home-like piano experience alone is worth a visit, and no other store in town carries the stock or selection of Willis’ Oxmoor location. Please accept Mike’s personal invitation to see first hand how hard we’ll work to make sure you’ll always come back home to Willis Music at Oxmoor Center.
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