The Seagull sounds the best to me. It's bright and articulate. I do like the nice warm tone of the Martin too. Didn't care for the tone of the Blueberry much. It sounds almost hollow and distant.
I wonder how many Martin fans were certain that guitar A was their Martin and, when they found out it was the Seagull, immediately rationalized a reason to like guitar B more! I play a Seagull Entourage and knew right away that guitar A was mine...and it blew the others away. Thanks for the validation. Seagull players know they are on to something awesome but, deep down, we feel like we have to justify our choice in guitar to the Martin and Taylor majority.
I,ve owned my SWS Maritime SG dreadnought for 6 years now,just love it. and a Norman B 20-12, I,ll keep it for life,incredible sound at half the price of any big name,575.00 with tuner, pre-amp on board.
A then C then B :) . "A" sounds so nice and full. I started falling for its sound so decided to scroll down to listen without knowing what letter was up. I chose to only scroll up when I heard a fantastic sound/tune... Every time it was A.
Looking into getting a seagull and I wanted to watch this video for the vary reason you made it. These are my thoughts of each guitar as I listened: Seagull- Sounded great in both finger style as well as strumming, nice and bright Martin- Finger style was rich and the guitar sounded quite tame Blueberry- Strumming was the most pure sound I have heard coming from a guitar. Finger style sounded bright and cheery Overall I am surprised with seagulls performance and I will still purchase a Seagull Maritime SWS. I beilieve Martin makes great guitars and should be thoroughly considered for any spender looking over $1,000. I was most surprised with the blueberry. 💙 I fell in love with that guitar and if I continue with my guitar dream I will have to get my hands on one. Thank you for this comparison
@@bjornyesterday2562 You can find it on reverb.com write to FB facebook.com/alexander.bondarev.921 and I’ll tell you how to buy cheaper then seller want to sell
@@bjornyesterday2562 Look on apps like offer up. Just 3 days ago I bought a 2008 spruce top seagull s6. It has its original case and manual. The only problem is that the top has sunken a little due to it drying up because I live in Arizona. But it’ll go back to normal in a a couple of days because I am humidifying it.
Holy crap lol, I just bought a seagull s6 and i'm waiting for it to arrive, I listened to the guitars and the one I liked the most was the A then B then C, i was really hoping the seagull wasn't C. Very happy lol.
Thank you so much man. I was thinking about getting a Martin (who doesnt right?) but kept reading about and listening to Seagull vids and it was winning me over. Well, your blind method proved it to be true. The Seagull had the deep punch but each note was super clean where the Blueberry seemed to get muddy and amazingly I thought the Martin lacked a punch. SEAGULL IT IS!!
+Dan Adams The Seagull is an amazing instrument! One thing I can say for Martin is it plays absolutely like butter. The thing NEVER goes out of tune, heck even changing the strings is easier for some reason. They are just a well made instrument. The seagull isn't far behind though and has a different tone that the Martin (not better or worse to my ear, just different), I consider Seagull the best value.
I must say... for being (BY FAR) the cheapest guitar, that S6 just dominated. It's not like it "kept up" with the others, it just owned them. especially for the price.
The sound is a lot brighter and resonate more than the other guitars due to its solid cedar top. My Seagull S6 came with Godin HD strings and it makes a big difference.This guitar will be a collector item 30 years from now.
I actually traded my Martin in on a seagull and got some cash back. Price tag looking at the two would definitely look like a trade down, but after falling in love with the seagull, I played it better and to my ears, sounded better, which means I’m happier. More $ doesn’t equal better, especially when sound and playability is extremely subjective
how easy it is to play though? That is my concern. I have an old 20 year old Martin dx1 that is pretty smooth to play on the frets. I worry the Seagull is gonna be hard to press the strings or slide on fretboard. How does it feel to you in comparison?
@@cooloutac it’s as easy as my Martin was. It just sounds better to me. My Martin would have been about 12 years old when I traded it. My seagull was made in 2015. To someone else’s ears, the Martin may have sounded better, but I only play for myself, so the seagull is the winner for me
I was shocked. I picked A, as my favorite, almost every style. B and C we're close and I had to go back and listen a 2nd time. Each time, I came away impressed with A, while trying to choose which style/sound I preferred for the remaining 2. I figured, the Martin had to be A. Color me shocked, to find out, my very own CHEAP Godin/Seagull S6, ran away with it. The Martin may play better, but all around the Seagull smokes the others, for versatility. Sounding sublime, articulate and full-bodied in every clip.
Thanks, Ryan. When I've browsed acoustics in stores…playing Taylors, Breedloves, Martins, etc. (all fine guitars) I always pick up a Seagull when available…and always wonder at how nicely they play and sound (esp. for $400-$700). So, I ordered their Artist Studio CWQII (about $1400) last Saturday. Your demo just solidified my confidence! Thanks again.
I can't believe I pick the seagull I bought one of these look at that factory videos it's amazing what they do there's good as any guitar. Seagull hasn't sold out like Martin. They make their machines and they do things right pretty amazing attention to detail that matters. they don't just Jack their prices up because of the name. I picked the sea go when I was in Guitar Center over all the other guitars before I knew anything and I still pick it here amazing
I picked out the Seagull. I own one just like it. On Sunday I found a Seagull on Craigslist with a cedar top. I got the nice guitar, hard case, tuner, metronome all for $100 because the guitar had a broken string! For my ear, the Seagull was much better than the other two....and at 1/2 the price!
I've owned a Seagull for 8 years. Everybody I play with says it sounds like an orchestra. Tip: Never use coated strings in on acoustic. I use Ernie Ball Earthwoods. They sound tremendous but have a short life. I don't mind changing strings.
A was definitely my favorite. Warm and balanced. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't like B as much, since I haven't really liked any of them I've tried.
Great Idea how you did the sound test blind. I was blown away at the end by the price points. I had no idea a Seagull could hang with and sound as good, if not better than guitars more than twice its price. Very good vid man, thanks for sharing. Definitely do more vids like this. : D
Good morning, thanks so much for the review. i unfortunately lost my first guitar which was an electric and figured i would finish teaching myself on the acoustic, i always loved acoustic. however i have been researching on and off for two years. You have blessed me to make my decision. Furthermore, your review technique was genius. GENIUS!
+Ryan Heywood They're definitely a good deal. I got my martin back in the 70s used and thought I got an awesome deal when I got it for $650 and put another $50 or so into strings and a missing gear or two. (I have the slotted 12 string D-35-12 from around 1966.) But oh, man I love the sound of that guitar. I need to take guitar lessons and learn to play it right and lay down about $500 and get the neck properly reset in Palo Alto. I am scared to death to trust that guitar with anyone who doesn't have an insanely good reputation for being a top expert.
I picked A...it wasn't even close for me (thot it was the Martin tbh). B was 2nd and C was a distant 3rd. I was looking at online reviews of the Martin Maritime SWS SG so there's comfort in knowing they make excellent guitars. This was a very cool test. Great vid
I don't know why I have never played a Seagull until yesterday. I walk into a pawnshop with an amazing selection, I see the Seagull. I planned on tryin all guitars, but nope. Picked up the Seagull and instantly knew this was the guitar for me. Great acoustic and I payed $200. Dif model though
Which S6 do you have? Mine is a solid cedar top with laminate wild cherry back and side. Listening to the blind samples, I thought B was the Seagull based on my guitar's sound, but since you stated it had a spruce top, I then understood why I was wrong.
I too have an S6 cedar, I love the mellow sound and guessed B was the Seagull. I play left-handed so have played very few guitars, thinking of getting a Seagull S6-12 sometime. Thanks so much for this excellent review!
I did my research before buying my guitars and, I'm happy to say, this review supports my findings. I too play left-handed and have an S6 cedar. I bought the cedar top because I liked the mellow sound of my Seagull Coastline S12 with a cedar top.
Nicely! Thank for the vídeo! Please, for beginners the S6 would be good for strumming? In fact playing Beatles, 60's and 70's rock or even some folk? Below $ 800, you would have other suggestions. Thank you for all!
I’m an Entourage owner, spruce top. I didn’t want a dreadnought, I wanted a concert body guitar, but the store girl told me to try it. It was love at first chord. Not just for the rich sound, it’s so dynamic, you can touch it hard of quietly and sounds awesome. And is so easy to play. I ljust ove it.
I bought my S6 back in '09 and it just keeps getting better as time goes by with age. I adjusted the string slots at the nut and it is one of the best sounding/playing guitars for the money that I have ever played.
I'm a guitar player. And I was just looking at these Blueberry guitars online because I've never seen or played one. I listened to this and got them picked right. I definitely think the Blueberry sounds best too. I'd love to get one of them someday absolutely amazing.
My Seagull (6), quite old now, but still outstanding in playing and especially in sound. Round warm with all the tonalities vibrant clear and nicely blending. I have many friends playing guitars like Martins, Taylor's, Yamaha's, Fenders etc. but they all look my way for none has this 'mature' sound. I was never tempted to get another guitar - it's just my perfect mistress. This test is proof.
Knew which was which and the Seagull was my favorite. I was looking for some reassurance about Seagull guitars and this put me on point with what I wanted. Thanks!
love my seagull, I played at least 30 in store at various price ranges and my s6 original beat all of them. I'm thinking of getting a 12 string version this summer.
I have a Taylor 110 right now and am going to buy a new acoustic shortly ...the Seagull is top of the list for me ...may the guitar gods bless Robert Godin for building these beautiful things
Thank you for the video! The one thing I really walked away with was none of them sounded best at everything. You threw a good mash up of stuff at them and I thought they all had their moments. That being said, given my last name is not Gates, and I can not afford 3 high end guitars, to be honest, at my level and budget two out of the three are well out of my price range. Oddly enough overall I liked the sound of the Seagull the best. I think the biggest surprise was hearing how well the Seagull stood up to guitars that cost two to four times as much. Some questions for you, if you don't mind. Did you notice any differences in playability between the three of them? Did they all stay in tune about the same, How did the actions compare? How did the neck shaping compare? Did you do any post factory set up on any or all of them etc?
Thanks for the great vid, Ryan! Last week I sold my Martin DX1 and bought Seagull Artist Mosaic. What a beautiful guitar. Love its sound and look. Unlike Martin (at least for my old DX1), Seagull has very clear mid and crisp high. I played my friend's Taylor 414ce (~$2200) couple days ago and I didn't really feel that it sounded better than mine. Of course the size was dreadnought vs. grand auditorium, but my Mosaic was better in overall sound. Seagull makes really great guitars. If anyone looking for a guitar, make sure you listen to Seagull. Highly recommend!
Great job. I was looking at the Seagull. I kept picking out A. Going to GC tomorrow to pick one up. They have them for 419.00. To think I almost fell for a Zager. The Martin came in last for me. LOL
I've owned a Seagull MJ M6 CW since 2008. It's a 06 model I traded for and I love it. Watch the video of how they build their guitars. You'll want one. Mine plays as well as any Martin or Taylor I've got access to and the Godin system through the amp to me kicks butt man!
Thanks for the positive comments! I think overall I'm most attached to the Seagull. When I got the Martin I was disappointed that it didn't sound much better (if any) than the Seagull. The Martin plays the easiest for my style of playing, I can't imagine an acoustic playing any better. The blueberry might play just as easily if I lowered the action a tad. I rarely ever have to tune the Martin or Blueberry, the Seagull holds tune pretty well and plays nicely, but not quite like the Martin.
Very enlightening experiment! I think you did a great job of demonstrating these guitars in an unbiased manner. I've only been playing for 1 1/2 years, and bought my first guitar at GC with a $500 budget. The salesman played several guitars in that $ range, and I loved the sound of the Seagull! I went home with my new guitar and still had $50 left. I'm at the point now, where I know I love playing and have the urge to buy a "Serious" guitar, like a Martin or Taylor. Something in the
My favorite was the Seagull, followed by the Blueberry, then the Martin. I've always had a strange love/hate relationship with Martin and Taylor guitars.
Love my Seagull. Great sound, different than a Martin and Taylor for sure, but can hold its own to lower end versions of those for half the price. Out of box was setup great. My first had an issue with it and they took care of it right away sending me a new one. Only real complaint is the pickup, though sounds amazing, is very sensitive, and feeds back quite easily. Even at acoustic gigs, can start feeding back a bit. To each their own for sure, but Seagull has impressed me so much I bought a Godin electric which has also blown me away. Either way, nice video here, very helpful.
Thanks for posting this video, and thanks for doing it as a blind test. That was really helpful. It's funny because I have a bias toward the Seagull for a number of reasons. So I jotted down a couple of notes while listening, before I knew which guitar was which, and I said: A) best balance; B) brighter; C) didn't like it as much as the other two. So I picked A and was happy to learn that I had confirmed by own bias with the Seagull!
I liked the Seagull the most. I thought it was more articulate in that you could hear all of the strings and undertones. The other two were good, with the Blueberry sounding better than the Martin when picking. The Martin did sound the darkest, or warmest. I know nothing about guitars so, just my novice opinion as a person who listens to a lot of classical guitar, fwiw. They all seemed to project well with the Seagull coming in first, Blueberry 2nd and Martin Last. I came to video looking to learn a little in order to buy my preteen son his first guitar. Based on this, I'm getting him a Seagull.
For me the Seagull did the job ::) Pity it wasn't the Cedar-cherry model. The cedar-cherry seems to be most common and therefore it should had been interesting to compare it with the others.
Very nicely executed comparison. I liked both the Seagull and the Martin - I honestly thought "C" was a laminate top guitar, it sounded very muffled and not much bottom end. I was shocked when you said it was several thousand dollars! I"ve got a SJ6. I think I'll stick to that. 🙂
The Seagull was the best sounding guitar . I played one at Guitar Center and I can say it’s a very well made guitar . The action was low without any buzz and the craftsmanship was superb . In this video the narrator says it has mahogany sides and back but as far as I know , did a lot of research, it’s wild cherry laminate. Nonetheless a beautiful guitar , sounds great and it was priced at $420 .
As a Seagull owner, I laughed at the fact that I picked A, as the best sounding overall. Mine is mahogany as well. I think it blends better with my voice. Great video thanks for doing that.
I appreciate this... Been looking at Seagull and doing lots of homework... Kept thinking... A sounds wonderful. C is next, then B. They all had their moments though, sometimes it was very hard to tell, other times, it was easy. I felt like A came sprinting out of the race ahead of both though and never lost the lead. :) Glad, cause I bought a 97 S6 CW in great condition and waiting for it in the mail!
Great way to make a comparison. I noticed the tuning was slightly off but to me, that was noo biggie at all. I chalked it up to the new string job and them settling in. I have been eyeing the Seagull since I first heard of it a few days ago and am loving checking out the comparisons and this one was awesome! After the first few rounds you went through, I pretty much figured that C was the blueberry and BARELY liked the Martin over the Seagull, but again that could have really gone either way with me and for the price difference?? That settles it for me as far as what my next guitar will be!! I'll throw some bucks Mr. Godins way for sure and gift my present one, a $5 Flamenca, that I got at an estate sale in WA last year to someone who needs one that can't afford a good starter guitarr! LOL Thanks for all the work you put into this video Ryan!! :-)
Thanks! I'm glad you found this useful. Every seagull owner I know has been incredibly happy with their guitar, the value is very good. I am curious how a Seagull compares to a Mexico made Martin since their price points are more similar.
I checked out blueberry website and they are definitely for the high end guitarist ! I've been debating about which guitar to buy and this video sold me on the Seagull which was my first choice anyway !
great playing ryan ... Recently recorded some songs on my phone with a awful ibanez V50(100$) and was surprised at how good it sounded..... Think one should test guitars in different rooms, outdoors , indoors and diffirent wheather conditions, but thats only my opinion... Good video
I love Seagull Guitars! I really didn't know about them until recently and bought the Seagull S6...the tone and quality of seagull guitars are awesome to me they even sound better then SOME Taylor's and martin's...for the price you can't beat seagull!
All three are fine sounding instruments. I picked the Martin with a very slight margin over the Seagull. The Blueberry was a close third. I'm researching to purchase a Seagull G6. To me, it's sound quality right there with the finest instruments in the world!!! Thanks for the comparison.
I am a Martin owner and I thought A was also the Martin to start with. I am Tossing up whether to buy a Seagull at the moment which is why I listened to this comparison. Totally blown away by how good it sounds. The Blueberry was different sounding, fuller, more complex? better in the mids? probably because of the body Shape. In terms of price point, how can you go wrong with the Seagull. I don't think that was a great Martin, certainly nowhere near as good as mine. I liked C the best then A then B the least
The Martin used in this video is definitely a budget Martin with laminate back and sides. It was also made in the USA, before they started outsourcing their less expensive guitars to their new factory in Mexico. Even though $1,200 for a guitar may sound like a lot, back then, for a Martin with a cut away and electronics, that was about the cheapest you could get. That said, I still love my Martin, it sounds good, I wouldn't say better than any of the guitars in this video, but it plays like a dream, stays in tune better than any guitar I've ever owned, and is just made well. Also nice to see someone appreciating the Blueberry, it does have a complex sound, it's hard to hear the detail and subtle nuances if your not listening to the video with studio monitors.
C sounded too “thin” for my ears. B was easy to pick out because it was deeper, hence the Martin. I was hoping A was the Seagull because I just ordered one. And it was!
As a guy who plays a Seagull Maritime SWS everyday, I could tell guitar A was the Seagull guitar. I have 6 guitars and the Seagull is not the most expensive but is by far my favorite. Most Seagull guitars have a very bright tone and they have a lot of volume. All your guitars sound great but the Seagull gets my vote hands down!
Yep i guessed all 3 and really surprised myself. IMO the seagull ounds the best of all 3 and being the least expensive i am now really impressed. Guess i am gonna have to get one
I prefer a brighter sound with lots of definition, so my preference is the Martin, but the Seagull definitely holds its own for being by far the least expensive of the three. Oddly enough, the most expensive guitar sounded the worst to my ears - too dark and boomy for my taste. Go figure.
It's just a mash-up of different common chord progressions and playing styles. Probably the the most prominent song/chord progression is Pachabel's Cannon" I play it starting at 1:50 and continue for the rest of the sound test.
I chose A and found it was the Guitar I own. B was my second choice. I absolutely love the sound my Seagull S6 puts out. I recently purchased an Ibanez AEG50 online after watching video reviews but was disappointed with the sound compared to my Seagull. It still sounds nice but lacks the rich tone of my Seagull.
Just bought a Taylor 214e. Beautiful guitar with excellent tone until I brought it home and tried to outplay my 20yr old Seagull S6 Cedar CW. I am bringing it back, the Taylor, and searching for a local Seagull dealer to see about playing some of the latest models. Even the Taylor Expression 2 electronics could not out play the LR Baggs in my S6.
I may be wrong, but I think the fact that S6 has a spruce top makes it sound brighter than the typical cedar top versions... I find the cedar tops pretty muted compared to a nice Martin. My 2 cents. It DOES sound great in this configuration though!
I own a Seagull S6 Original in spruce and a Godin Sessions so I was hoping (praying) that I woild recognise the distinct sound of the Seagull over the others. I have to say it was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. Initially I thought the Seagull was A but then halfway through in different cords I bagan to think it might be C, especially in the higher register. Guitar B sounded nice and rich / warm in the mid register. So my personal preference - no1) Seagull, close no2) Martin and a bit further behind no3) Blueberry. Very good comparison test.
I have an S-6 as well as the Coastline S-12. I love them both...I also have a nice Gibson J-200. Personally, I play the Coastline more than anything else unless I need to plug in and then I grab the Les Paul. Seagull's are by far a steal for the quality of the instrument that you are getting. I've played high end Martins that couldn't touch the playability or sound of the Seagull line.
As listening I just liked A overall for the most balanced, punchy tone. C sounded nice as well, just a bit different.. B was more scooped and a little thinner as a result, I was surprised that it was the Martin.
Before listening I took a piece of paper and then was writing down which letter each guitar was (as I thought), and also which guitar I liked more! And I guessed all of them, amazing))) "A" was the best, "B" was quite average and "C" had the most unbalanced and strange sound. Anyway, I believe it's time for me to pay close attention to Seagull guitars. Thanks for such interesting and useful experience))
I was looking for a comparison just like this so the bias was removed. Liked A the best and the S6 is the one I've been eyeing so it looks like my choice has been made.
+Southern Detour I tuned them all with my little snark clip on tuner, I don't have the ear of a pro, and the intonation may be out a tad and I may bend the strings slightly as I finger the chords (I am no pro), I used what I had and it was tune enough for my ear.
+Ryan Heywood Yeah. I noticed, too. I tried to overlook it and separate out the intonation from the characteristics of the strings and the sound of the guitars themselves in both low and high registers while trying not to pay attention whenever a string would buzz against a fret. I wonder how they sound when hitting some harmonics.
Your tuning sounded good. I am using a neat little clip on myself, the A to G Chromatic which is pretty accurate to my ears anyhow, tunes by plucking the string, very simple. I checked later by using an electronic tuner and clip on was spot on Here's the link if anyone is interested www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00N7BAYW8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Thanks very much to take the trouble with this demo, it was pretty excellent and innovative. I have a seagull S6 which I would never part with. The sound is pretty amazing
Not saying anything you don't already know, but the out of tune guitars were a distraction from an otherwise well done comparison. Seagull hit it out of the ball park
I guessed them, also. I have a late 80's Seagull 6 and I knew it wasn't "C". The Martin has a fuller sound from top to bottom and is incredibly musical. The Seagull gave such beautiful mid and high range, it could be best sounding for some applications. The Blueberry was dead and just rattled in comparison ..
ya the blueberry was terribly buzzy. But honestly, it was hard to tell a difference between A and B. The B was every so slighly warmer if listening as hard as you can lol. Honestly I'm very impressed with that Segal.
I judged the martin the best but my s 6 wasn't represented being the cedar top. That is bound to make a difference. Liked both a and b almost equal. Gotta give the nod to the martin though.
I liked b the best but I was between a and b, and I was praying that the seagull was one of them, because I can afford it, and the difference was negligible. A was more present, b was more balanced and responsive with a sweeter tone. C was thin, tinny. Just bad.
Wow, I can't believe I thought the Martin sounded like garbage. For those saying guitar C didn't sound good, I'm a little surprised, but anyway, try to notice how the bass notes sustain and sound "separate" from the upper ones. That implies refinement to me. I'd have to listen again but I found it hard to choose between A and C, they're different but not sure I like one over the other.
I didn't think and of these sounded bad.but i disliked the blueberry's tone the most.I think it depends on what kind of music you play on which you might prefer.
The Seagull sounds the best to me. It's bright and articulate. I do like the nice warm tone of the Martin too. Didn't care for the tone of the Blueberry much. It sounds almost hollow and distant.
I wonder how many Martin fans were certain that guitar A was their Martin and, when they found out it was the Seagull, immediately rationalized a reason to like guitar B more! I play a Seagull Entourage and knew right away that guitar A was mine...and it blew the others away. Thanks for the validation. Seagull players know they are on to something awesome but, deep down, we feel like we have to justify our choice in guitar to the Martin and Taylor majority.
I own a Seagull Maritime Jumbo SWS HG. I don't *care* what others buy with *their* money.
I,ve owned my SWS Maritime SG dreadnought for 6 years now,just love it. and a Norman B 20-12, I,ll keep it for life,incredible sound at half the price of any big name,575.00 with tuner, pre-amp on board.
The only reason why I have not bought a Martin is I haven't found one that sounded as good as my Seagull SWS Maritime dreadnought.
Well im a martin fan and just go my balls busted. Gonna buy a S6 today.
@@vertigo2112 me too
A then C then B :) . "A" sounds so nice and full. I started falling for its sound so decided to scroll down to listen without knowing what letter was up. I chose to only scroll up when I heard a fantastic sound/tune... Every time it was A.
I can't believe "A" was the Seagull!! Definitely the best one.
Looking into getting a seagull and I wanted to watch this video for the vary reason you made it.
These are my thoughts of each guitar as I listened:
Seagull- Sounded great in both finger style as well as strumming, nice and bright
Martin- Finger style was rich and the guitar sounded quite tame
Blueberry- Strumming was the most pure sound I have heard coming from a guitar. Finger style sounded bright and cheery
Overall I am surprised with seagulls performance and I will still purchase a Seagull Maritime SWS. I beilieve Martin makes great guitars and should be thoroughly considered for any spender looking over $1,000. I was most surprised with the blueberry. 💙 I fell in love with that guitar and if I continue with my guitar dream I will have to get my hands on one. Thank you for this comparison
Same here. I'm looking at three different seagulls on Facebook marketplace right now I can go by a gently used S6 original for $220
@@bjornyesterday2562 You can find it on reverb.com write to FB facebook.com/alexander.bondarev.921 and I’ll tell you how to buy cheaper then seller want to sell
@@mcbriteguitartutor6623 thanks. I'll keep that in mind
@@bjornyesterday2562 Look on apps like offer up. Just 3 days ago I bought a 2008 spruce top seagull s6. It has its original case and manual. The only problem is that the top has sunken a little due to it drying up because I live in Arizona. But it’ll go back to normal in a a couple of days because I am humidifying it.
I go for Guitar A all the way. Probably Seagull is my next guitar.....
Great guitars, great price. Two nut widths so play a few to pick the one you prefer.
Holy crap lol, I just bought a seagull s6 and i'm waiting for it to arrive, I listened to the guitars and the one I liked the most was the A then B then C, i was really hoping the seagull wasn't C. Very happy lol.
I'm sure you're not disappointed with your seagull. Awesome guitar.
I am in the EXACT same situation 😂😂😂😂😂
I loved the blueberry sound. Just goes to show we're all different .
Thank you so much man. I was thinking about getting a Martin (who doesnt right?) but kept reading about and listening to Seagull vids and it was winning me over. Well, your blind method proved it to be true. The Seagull had the deep punch but each note was super clean where the Blueberry seemed to get muddy and amazingly I thought the Martin lacked a punch. SEAGULL IT IS!!
+Dan Adams The Seagull is an amazing instrument! One thing I can say for Martin is it plays absolutely like butter. The thing NEVER goes out of tune, heck even changing the strings is easier for some reason. They are just a well made instrument. The seagull isn't far behind though and has a different tone that the Martin (not better or worse to my ear, just different), I consider Seagull the best value.
Hi, thanks so much for the video. For my ears... 1Seagull, very similar but on second place Martin, and 3 Blueberry.
I must say... for being (BY FAR) the cheapest guitar, that S6 just dominated. It's not like it "kept up" with the others, it just owned them. especially for the price.
The sound is a lot brighter and resonate more than the other guitars due to its solid cedar top. My Seagull S6 came with Godin HD strings and it makes a big difference.This guitar will be a collector item 30 years from now.
Seagull wins in my book. Great comparison and method. Thanks.
Thank You Ryan, I just made a decision to buy a Seagull S6 :)
I actually traded my Martin in on a seagull and got some cash back. Price tag looking at the two would definitely look like a trade down, but after falling in love with the seagull, I played it better and to my ears, sounded better, which means I’m happier. More $ doesn’t equal better, especially when sound and playability is extremely subjective
how easy it is to play though? That is my concern. I have an old 20 year old Martin dx1 that is pretty smooth to play on the frets. I worry the Seagull is gonna be hard to press the strings or slide on fretboard. How does it feel to you in comparison?
@@cooloutac it’s as easy as my Martin was. It just sounds better to me. My Martin would have been about 12 years old when I traded it. My seagull was made in 2015. To someone else’s ears, the Martin may have sounded better, but I only play for myself, so the seagull is the winner for me
@@justaname109 tks.
I was shocked. I picked A, as my favorite, almost every style. B and C we're close and I had to go back and listen a 2nd time. Each time, I came away impressed with A, while trying to choose which style/sound I preferred for the remaining 2. I figured, the Martin had to be A.
Color me shocked, to find out, my very own CHEAP Godin/Seagull S6, ran away with it. The Martin may play better, but all around the Seagull smokes the others, for versatility. Sounding sublime, articulate and full-bodied in every clip.
Great idea! They all sounded great. I guess it's a matter of taste, style and the sound your looking for. Thank you! Very helpful.
Thank you for this excellent example of the three. Very helpful. Cheers!
Thanks, Ryan. When I've browsed acoustics in stores…playing Taylors, Breedloves, Martins, etc. (all fine guitars) I always pick up a Seagull when available…and always wonder at how nicely they play and sound (esp. for $400-$700). So, I ordered their Artist Studio CWQII (about $1400) last Saturday. Your demo just solidified my confidence! Thanks again.
Glad to hear it was useful. How do you like your Artist Studio CWQII?
I have been looking at getting an S6. I picked guitar A as the Seagull and it confirmed for me that it is great value for money.
Cynical Nihilist me too! i was hoping A was the Seagull while listening lol
I can't believe I pick the seagull I bought one of these look at that factory videos it's amazing what they do there's good as any guitar. Seagull hasn't sold out like Martin. They make their machines and they do things right pretty amazing attention to detail that matters. they don't just Jack their prices up because of the name.
I picked the sea go when I was in Guitar Center over all the other guitars before I knew anything and I still pick it here amazing
I picked out the Seagull. I own one just like it. On Sunday I found a Seagull on Craigslist with a cedar top. I got the nice guitar, hard case, tuner, metronome all for $100 because the guitar had a broken string! For my ear, the Seagull was much better than the other two....and at 1/2 the price!
Seagull with Martin a close second and the Blueberry is good for firewood or to stir paint.
discoveryman59 lol. i pissed myself lol
I've owned a Seagull for 8 years. Everybody I play with says it sounds like an orchestra. Tip: Never use coated strings in on acoustic. I use Ernie Ball Earthwoods. They sound tremendous but have a short life. I don't mind changing strings.
+Guitar Player good to know.
Yea I just threw mine into the fireplace ;) just kidding I own a Seagull...
A was definitely my favorite. Warm and balanced. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't like B as much, since I haven't really liked any of them I've tried.
Excellent way to compare. Great video . Thanks
Great Idea how you did the sound test blind. I was blown away at the end by the price points. I had no idea a Seagull could hang with and sound as good, if not better than guitars more than twice its price. Very good vid man, thanks for sharing. Definitely do more vids like this. : D
I see I made the best choice when I bought my Seagull
Good morning, thanks so much for the review. i unfortunately lost my first guitar which was an electric and figured i would finish teaching myself on the acoustic, i always loved acoustic. however i have been researching on and off for two years. You have blessed me to make my decision. Furthermore, your review technique was genius. GENIUS!
+D'Andre Carter Thank you sir! I bought my Seagull used with a case a while back, best $300 or so I ever spent.
+Ryan Heywood They're definitely a good deal. I got my martin back in the 70s used and thought I got an awesome deal when I got it for $650 and put another $50 or so into strings and a missing gear or two. (I have the slotted 12 string D-35-12 from around 1966.) But oh, man I love the sound of that guitar. I need to take guitar lessons and learn to play it right and lay down about $500 and get the neck properly reset in Palo Alto. I am scared to death to trust that guitar with anyone who doesn't have an insanely good reputation for being a top expert.
I picked A...it wasn't even close for me (thot it was the Martin tbh). B was 2nd and C was a distant 3rd. I was looking at online reviews of the Martin Maritime SWS SG so there's comfort in knowing they make excellent guitars. This was a very cool test. Great vid
I don't know why I have never played a Seagull until yesterday. I walk into a pawnshop with an amazing selection, I see the Seagull. I planned on tryin all guitars, but nope. Picked up the Seagull and instantly knew this was the guitar for me. Great acoustic and I payed $200. Dif model though
Which S6 do you have? Mine is a solid cedar top with laminate wild cherry back and side. Listening to the blind samples, I thought B was the Seagull based on my guitar's sound, but since you stated it had a spruce top, I then understood why I was wrong.
+Lance VeDepo Its just called an S6 Spruce/Mahogany.
+Ryan Heywood you're welcome sir my pleasure
I too have an S6 cedar, I love the mellow sound and guessed B was the Seagull. I play left-handed so have played very few guitars, thinking of getting a Seagull S6-12 sometime. Thanks so much for this excellent review!
I did my research before buying my guitars and, I'm happy to say, this review supports my findings. I too play left-handed and have an S6 cedar. I bought the cedar top because I liked the mellow sound of my Seagull Coastline S12 with a cedar top.
Nicely! Thank for the vídeo! Please, for beginners the S6 would be good for strumming? In fact playing Beatles, 60's and 70's rock or even some folk? Below $ 800, you would have other suggestions. Thank you for all!
I’m an Entourage owner, spruce top. I didn’t want a dreadnought, I wanted a concert body guitar, but the store girl told me to try it. It was love at first chord. Not just for the rich sound, it’s so dynamic, you can touch it hard of quietly and sounds awesome. And is so easy to play. I ljust ove it.
I bought my S6 back in '09 and it just keeps getting better as time goes by with age. I adjusted the string slots at the nut and it is one of the best sounding/playing guitars for the money that I have ever played.
I'm a guitar player. And I was just looking at these Blueberry guitars online because I've never seen or played one. I listened to this and got them picked right. I definitely think the Blueberry sounds best too. I'd love to get one of them someday absolutely amazing.
Many thanks for this comparison. Well done. Greetings from Germany.
How would the seagull s6 compare to a Martin DRS1 or a Taylor 114ce? Im stuck between the three! I would love some opinions!
My Seagull (6), quite old now, but still outstanding in playing and especially in sound. Round warm with all the tonalities vibrant clear and nicely blending. I have many friends playing guitars like Martins, Taylor's, Yamaha's, Fenders etc. but they all look my way for none has this 'mature' sound. I was never tempted to get another guitar - it's just my perfect mistress. This test is proof.
Knew which was which and the Seagull was my favorite. I was looking for some reassurance about Seagull guitars and this put me on point with what I wanted. Thanks!
love my seagull, I played at least 30 in store at various price ranges and my s6 original beat all of them. I'm thinking of getting a 12 string version this summer.
I have a Taylor 110 right now and am going to buy a new acoustic shortly ...the Seagull is top of the list for me ...may the guitar gods bless Robert Godin for building these beautiful things
A sounded the best. And it's less than half the price of the others. Awesome. Been thinking about purchasing it.
I choose the Martin based on the full pick strumming sounds, my general style.
Funny I listened again and still choose the Martin. I guess I know what I like when I here it...
I wish this was a 12 string demo as well. Looking at buying one soon and seagull is one of my choices. Thanks for the blind demo!!
Consider the Norman b20-12 (owned by Godin also) ,i,have one and I,ll keep it
I liked A and B nearly the same, and C not much at all. I actually own a Seagull and love it.
Thank you for the video! The one thing I really walked away with was none of them sounded best at everything. You threw a good mash up of stuff at them and I thought they all had their moments.
That being said, given my last name is not Gates, and I can not afford 3 high end guitars, to be honest, at my level and budget two out of the three are well out of my price range. Oddly enough overall I liked the sound of the Seagull the best.
I think the biggest surprise was hearing how well the Seagull stood up to guitars that cost two to four times as much.
Some questions for you, if you don't mind. Did you notice any differences in playability between the three of them? Did they all stay in tune about the same, How did the actions compare? How did the neck shaping compare? Did you do any post factory set up on any or all of them etc?
Thanks for the great vid, Ryan! Last week I sold my Martin DX1 and bought Seagull Artist Mosaic. What a beautiful guitar. Love its sound and look. Unlike Martin (at least for my old DX1), Seagull has very clear mid and crisp high. I played my friend's Taylor 414ce (~$2200) couple days ago and I didn't really feel that it sounded better than mine. Of course the size was dreadnought vs. grand auditorium, but my Mosaic was better in overall sound. Seagull makes really great guitars. If anyone looking for a guitar, make sure you listen to Seagull. Highly recommend!
Great job. I was looking at the Seagull. I kept picking out A. Going to GC tomorrow to pick one up. They have them for 419.00. To think I almost fell for a Zager. The Martin came in last for me. LOL
I've owned a Seagull MJ M6 CW since 2008. It's a 06 model I traded for and I love it. Watch the video of how they build their guitars. You'll want one. Mine plays as well as any Martin or Taylor I've got access to and the Godin system through the amp to me kicks butt man!
Ryan, sorry I took so long getting back to you. I love my Seagull! Thanks again.
Thanks for the positive comments!
I think overall I'm most attached to the Seagull. When I got the Martin I was disappointed that it didn't sound much better (if any) than the Seagull. The Martin plays the easiest for my style of playing, I can't imagine an acoustic playing any better. The blueberry might play just as easily if I lowered the action a tad. I rarely ever have to tune the Martin or Blueberry, the Seagull holds tune pretty well and plays nicely, but not quite like the Martin.
OMG I got them all right! I knew for sure that A was the Seagull, but I had to think about B and C for a while.
Very enlightening experiment! I think you did a great job of demonstrating these guitars in an unbiased manner.
I've only been playing for 1 1/2 years, and bought my first guitar at GC with a $500 budget. The salesman played several guitars in that $ range, and I loved the sound of the Seagull! I went home with my new guitar and still had $50 left.
I'm at the point now, where I know I love playing and have the urge to buy a "Serious" guitar, like a Martin or Taylor. Something in the
My favorite was the Seagull, followed by the Blueberry, then the Martin. I've always had a strange love/hate relationship with Martin and Taylor guitars.
Great video with excellent sound quality. Thanks for sharing!
Love my Seagull. Great sound, different than a Martin and Taylor for sure, but can hold its own to lower end versions of those for half the price. Out of box was setup great. My first had an issue with it and they took care of it right away sending me a new one. Only real complaint is the pickup, though sounds amazing, is very sensitive, and feeds back quite easily. Even at acoustic gigs, can start feeding back a bit. To each their own for sure, but Seagull has impressed me so much I bought a Godin electric which has also blown me away. Either way, nice video here, very helpful.
oh great vid and thanks for taking time to research
Thanks for posting this video, and thanks for doing it as a blind test. That was really helpful. It's funny because I have a bias toward the Seagull for a number of reasons. So I jotted down a couple of notes while listening, before I knew which guitar was which, and I said: A) best balance; B) brighter; C) didn't like it as much as the other two. So I picked A and was happy to learn that I had confirmed by own bias with the Seagull!
I liked the Seagull the most. I thought it was more articulate in that you could hear all of the strings and undertones. The other two were good, with the Blueberry sounding better than the Martin when picking. The Martin did sound the darkest, or warmest. I know nothing about guitars so, just my novice opinion as a person who listens to a lot of classical guitar, fwiw. They all seemed to project well with the Seagull coming in first, Blueberry 2nd and Martin Last. I came to video looking to learn a little in order to buy my preteen son his first guitar. Based on this, I'm getting him a Seagull.
For me the Seagull did the job ::) Pity it wasn't the Cedar-cherry model. The cedar-cherry seems to be most common and therefore it should had been interesting to compare it with the others.
Very nicely executed comparison. I liked both the Seagull and the Martin - I honestly thought "C" was a laminate top guitar, it sounded very muffled and not much bottom end. I was shocked when you said it was several thousand dollars! I"ve got a SJ6. I think I'll stick to that. 🙂
The Seagull was the best sounding guitar . I played one at Guitar Center and I can say it’s a very well made guitar . The action was low without any buzz and the craftsmanship was superb . In this video the narrator says it has mahogany sides and back but as far as I know , did a lot of research, it’s wild cherry laminate. Nonetheless a beautiful guitar , sounds great and it was priced at $420 .
As a Seagull owner, I laughed at the fact that I picked A, as the best sounding overall. Mine is mahogany as well. I think it blends better with my voice.
Great video thanks for doing that.
I appreciate this... Been looking at Seagull and doing lots of homework... Kept thinking... A sounds wonderful. C is next, then B. They all had their moments though, sometimes it was very hard to tell, other times, it was easy. I felt like A came sprinting out of the race ahead of both though and never lost the lead. :) Glad, cause I bought a 97 S6 CW in great condition and waiting for it in the mail!
I totally called which guitar was which before the end, literally felt the most pro ever.
Great way to make a comparison. I noticed the tuning was slightly off but to me, that was noo biggie at all. I chalked it up to the new string job and them settling in. I have been eyeing the Seagull since I first heard of it a few days ago and am loving checking out the comparisons and this one was awesome! After the first few rounds you went through, I pretty much figured that C was the blueberry and BARELY liked the Martin over the Seagull, but again that could have really gone either way with me and for the price difference?? That settles it for me as far as what my next guitar will be!! I'll throw some bucks Mr. Godins way for sure and gift my present one, a $5 Flamenca, that I got at an estate sale in WA last year to someone who needs one that can't afford a good starter guitarr! LOL Thanks for all the work you put into this video Ryan!! :-)
Thanks! I'm glad you found this useful. Every seagull owner I know has been incredibly happy with their guitar, the value is very good. I am curious how a Seagull compares to a Mexico made Martin since their price points are more similar.
I checked out blueberry website and they are definitely for the high end guitarist ! I've been debating about which guitar to buy and this video sold me on the Seagull which was my first choice anyway !
great playing ryan ... Recently recorded some songs on my phone with a awful ibanez V50(100$) and was surprised at how good it sounded..... Think one should test guitars in different rooms, outdoors , indoors and diffirent wheather conditions, but thats only my opinion... Good video
I love Seagull Guitars! I really didn't know about them until recently and bought the Seagull S6...the tone and quality of seagull guitars are awesome to me they even sound better then SOME Taylor's and martin's...for the price you can't beat seagull!
All three are fine sounding instruments. I picked the Martin with a very slight margin over the Seagull. The Blueberry was a close third. I'm researching to purchase a Seagull G6. To me, it's sound quality right there with the finest instruments in the world!!! Thanks for the comparison.
Sorry S6
I am a Martin owner and I thought A was also the Martin to start with. I am Tossing up whether to buy a Seagull at the moment which is why I listened to this comparison. Totally blown away by how good it sounds. The Blueberry was different sounding, fuller, more complex? better in the mids? probably because of the body Shape. In terms of price point, how can you go wrong with the Seagull. I don't think that was a great Martin, certainly nowhere near as good as mine. I liked C the best then A then B the least
The Martin used in this video is definitely a budget Martin with laminate back and sides. It was also made in the USA, before they started outsourcing their less expensive guitars to their new factory in Mexico. Even though $1,200 for a guitar may sound like a lot, back then, for a Martin with a cut away and electronics, that was about the cheapest you could get. That said, I still love my Martin, it sounds good, I wouldn't say better than any of the guitars in this video, but it plays like a dream, stays in tune better than any guitar I've ever owned, and is just made well. Also nice to see someone appreciating the Blueberry, it does have a complex sound, it's hard to hear the detail and subtle nuances if your not listening to the video with studio monitors.
C sounded too “thin” for my ears. B was easy to pick out because it was deeper, hence the Martin. I was hoping A was the Seagull because I just ordered one. And it was!
As a guy who plays a Seagull Maritime SWS everyday, I could tell guitar A was the Seagull guitar. I have 6 guitars and the Seagull is not the most expensive but is by far my favorite. Most Seagull guitars have a very bright tone and they have a lot of volume. All your guitars sound great but the Seagull gets my vote hands down!
Yep i guessed all 3 and really surprised myself. IMO the seagull ounds the best of all 3 and being the least expensive i am now really impressed. Guess i am gonna have to get one
I prefer a brighter sound with lots of definition, so my preference is the Martin, but the Seagull definitely holds its own for being by far the least expensive of the three. Oddly enough, the most expensive guitar sounded the worst to my ears - too dark and boomy for my taste. Go figure.
What is the song called or what you are playing? Seagull is such a great guitar!
It's just a mash-up of different common chord progressions and playing styles. Probably the the most prominent song/chord progression is Pachabel's Cannon" I play it starting at 1:50 and continue for the rest of the sound test.
I chose A and found it was the Guitar I own. B was my second choice. I absolutely love the sound my Seagull S6 puts out. I recently purchased an Ibanez AEG50 online after watching video reviews but was disappointed with the sound compared to my Seagull. It still sounds nice but lacks the rich tone of my Seagull.
Just bought a Taylor 214e. Beautiful guitar with excellent tone until I brought it home and tried to outplay my 20yr old Seagull S6 Cedar CW. I am bringing it back, the Taylor, and searching for a local Seagull dealer to see about playing some of the latest models. Even the Taylor Expression 2 electronics could not out play the LR Baggs in my S6.
I may be wrong, but I think the fact that S6 has a spruce top makes it sound brighter than the typical cedar top versions... I find the cedar tops pretty muted compared to a nice Martin. My 2 cents. It DOES sound great in this configuration though!
I own a Seagull S6 Original in spruce and a Godin Sessions so I was hoping (praying) that I woild recognise the distinct sound of the Seagull over the others. I have to say it was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. Initially I thought the Seagull was A but then halfway through in different cords I bagan to think it might be C, especially in the higher register. Guitar B sounded nice and rich / warm in the mid register. So my personal preference - no1) Seagull, close no2) Martin and a bit further behind no3) Blueberry. Very good comparison test.
I have an old Martin, it is more ringy and sustains longer, but for solo lines I like the Seagull because it is rounder
Very well done comparison video. Thanks!
I love the sound of the Seagull....the one I played at GC sounded like I was in a cathedral!
Is the Seagull s6 with the Spruce/Mahogany the natural gloss top by any chance?
I am not sure, it is natural, doesn't seem like it has any coating at all on it.
I have an S-6 as well as the Coastline S-12. I love them both...I also have a nice Gibson J-200. Personally, I play the Coastline more than anything else unless I need to plug in and then I grab the Les Paul. Seagull's are by far a steal for the quality of the instrument that you are getting. I've played high end Martins that couldn't touch the playability or sound of the Seagull line.
Great idea for a sound test. I had A as the Seagull but wasn't sure about the other two. Can't beat a Seagull for the money.
As listening I just liked A overall for the most balanced, punchy tone. C sounded nice as well, just a bit different.. B was more scooped and a little thinner as a result, I was surprised that it was the Martin.
Yes...I also use the elixers 10's polyweb sounds great and the strings last and hold tone quality for a long time.
I blindly chose A especially when it was being strummed!
I own a martin but my ears on that recording I liked the Seagull best with the Martin in #2 spot.
a very well balanced guitar
Before listening I took a piece of paper and then was writing down which letter each guitar was (as I thought), and also which guitar I liked more! And I guessed all of them, amazing))) "A" was the best, "B" was quite average and "C" had the most unbalanced and strange sound. Anyway, I believe it's time for me to pay close attention to Seagull guitars. Thanks for such interesting and useful experience))
I was looking for a comparison just like this so the bias was removed. Liked A the best and the S6 is the one I've been eyeing so it looks like my choice has been made.
Seagull has a warm tone compared to the two. But i agree that Martin and Taylor guitars do play well on hand, thay just feel more refined
I had them BAC with C lagging by a mile. B and A were closer, but the blind test goes to the Martin.
Why would you go through the effort of this video, but not bother to make sure all the guitars were in tune?
Haha tell me about. Noticed that right away. Still a good comparison though.
+Southern Detour I tuned them all with my little snark clip on tuner, I don't have the ear of a pro, and the intonation may be out a tad and I may bend the strings slightly as I finger the chords (I am no pro), I used what I had and it was tune enough for my ear.
+Ryan Heywood Yeah. I noticed, too. I tried to overlook it and separate out the intonation from the characteristics of the strings and the sound of the guitars themselves in both low and high registers while trying not to pay attention whenever a string would buzz against a fret. I wonder how they sound when hitting some harmonics.
Your tuning sounded good. I am using a neat little clip on myself, the A to G Chromatic which is pretty accurate to my ears anyhow, tunes by plucking the string, very simple. I checked later by using an electronic tuner and clip on was spot on Here's the link if anyone is interested www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00N7BAYW8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks very much to take the trouble with this demo, it was pretty excellent and innovative. I have a seagull S6 which I would never part with. The sound is pretty amazing
Not saying anything you don't already know, but the out of tune guitars were a distraction from an otherwise well done comparison. Seagull hit it out of the ball park
I guessed them, also. I have a late 80's Seagull 6 and I knew it wasn't "C". The Martin has a fuller sound from top to bottom and is incredibly musical. The Seagull gave such beautiful mid and high range, it could be best sounding for some applications. The Blueberry was dead and just rattled in comparison ..
ya the blueberry was terribly buzzy. But honestly, it was hard to tell a difference between A and B. The B was every so slighly warmer if listening as hard as you can lol. Honestly I'm very impressed with that Segal.
I judged the martin the best but my s 6 wasn't represented being the cedar top. That is bound to make a difference. Liked both a and b almost equal. Gotta give the nod to the martin though.
I liked b the best but I was between a and b, and I was praying that the seagull was one of them, because I can afford it, and the difference was negligible. A was more present, b was more balanced and responsive with a sweeter tone. C was thin, tinny. Just bad.
I like the seagull sound myself
I'm a Seagull owner but I liked the Martin the most, but it was close.
Wow, I can't believe I thought the Martin sounded like garbage. For those saying guitar C didn't sound good, I'm a little surprised, but anyway, try to notice how the bass notes sustain and sound "separate" from the upper ones. That implies refinement to me. I'd have to listen again but I found it hard to choose between A and C, they're different but not sure I like one over the other.
More of these videos please.
I didn't think and of these sounded bad.but i disliked the blueberry's tone the most.I think it depends on what kind of music you play on which you might prefer.