Still love my Seagull S6. Bought it in 1991 and it spent many years under my bed in the 2000's. But now that its out and back in service again, I'm glad I had hung onto it. Still sounds and plays great after thirty years.
I had a Seagull years ago, in the 1990's and loved it. I just bought a new Seagull Artist Studio CW Element and remember why I loved my other seagull so much. I also had a 1970's Gibson Hummingbird. As far as sound, I would put this new Seagull in a class with my old Gibson any day.
The Gibson has such a stronger tone to it, but the Seagull is more clear and it doesn't all mesh together. It's hard to decide which is better. They both have a such a unique sound, and are good in their own right. Depending on the song would decide which is better.
It helps to know the woods used too. The Gibson had a stronger tone than the Seagull, which probably means the back is a little thicker, the front much thinner. The inside bracing means a lot too. The guitars of the 70's were built using wood from naturally grown trees, which had more age to them, as compared to most guitars built today, using younger, replacement trees. If you can find an old Martin where the neck hasn't pulled out, that's a gem! Taylor builds nice guitars, but too overpriced IMHO. Seagull is a sub-brand of Godin from Canada, and there are some Seagulls (obviously for more money!) that sound almost as powerful as that Gibson does! You'll find the same with Breedlove - spend a little, nice guitar; spend a lot, great guitar!...
I used to own your Seagull. I put the hole in it when a bookend fell off a shelf and landed on it while I was playing. I had it in NYC, not sure how it wound up in Connecticut. I think I gave it away when I bought a more expensive guitar but I always thought it sounded great.
Hey Whip - I have a Seagull Entourage Rustic Mini-Jumbo, & the workmanship, sound, feel, playability are fantastic, & I wouldn't trade it for a Martin. The best part is - it cost me about $300!
3 months ago my son and I went to the local guitar shop to purchase a new acoustic. This was a multi visit process but finally came to the last visit. I picked 4 guitars that I had researched and played previously. 2 Gibsons ( J35 , G45 ) Epiphone Master and a Seagull Coastline. Did some cord progression, finger picking and strumming, while my son was listening. The Eppy was removed. Then more strumming. In the end it came down to the 35 and the Coastline.. the 35 was sounding a little fuller. He picked the 35. I said ok now here is the pricing.. the 35 was almost 2.5 times the price. He said and being 13 yrs old. "The price difference isn't justified by the sound difference". We left with the Gull and will soon buy another. Love them that much
I own a Seagull 6 and 12. Also a Minstrel 6 (Seagull before they changed names). The Seagull has more mids, the Gibson sounded like it had fresh strings and brighter.
I'm a big fan of Gibson, but the price is pretty daunting for someone who is just a hobby musician. I've been doing research for about a month now and I had already decided on a Seagull as my next guitar. These couple of videos validated my decision as I chose the sound of guitar B as my favorite. Looking forward now to getting it. Thanks for the great comparison! Also.. The Rain Song - FTW!
I'm glad you like the rain song!! I love that piece! I had a Seagull Entourage Rustic, those have even more bottom end. ( They have a cedar top). Just great guitars for the money....or for any money really.
Hi Dave - nice to hear Rain Song! Love that one. I learned years ago that the tuning is DGCGCD (live is a whole tone up). The tab for playing it in that tuning is here: tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/led_zeppelin/the_rain_song_tabs_73562. Enjoy!
Richer? It sounds only brighter, therefore it may seem to project more... But... And you're right, an instrument must be played to mature into a jewel.
@@fredericlinden I'm still breaking in a pair of 40 year old cowboy boots the salesman told me they do nothing but get better. That's not going so well.
As others have said on here, the Gibson sounds great, but not $2000+ great. The only reason the s6 is less expensive is because they use local wood from around the factory and dont import it like Gibson or martin. When I bought mine used, I played it alongside of a $4200 martin just for the hell of it. I fell in love with the seagull immediately.
Should have known B wasnt the Gibson, cause i liked it better. I hate acoustics that have that twangy shimnery sound most acoustics have. I thought warmer sound was probably the older one. Shows what I know. Great video.
My first was Seagull S6 CW rustic and then a Taylor mini for travel. The Seagull rocks with the Cedar top and new, good strings. It’s rich and fills the room without the high cost. Paid USD$600for it (Seagull) and played it everyday with few exceptions for 9 years. The more I play the better it sounds (even when someone plays it).
B sounds better to me, more balanced. I thought the square shouldered Gibsons were supposed to have more mids -maybe they do, but in this comparison the mids on the Gibson seemed definitely lacking.
I own a seagull, and I picked B instantly. When I was looking for a guitar, I couldn’t believe the number of great reviews for the Seagull. One after the other touted its excellence. It’s been a fantastic guitar for me.
I've had a Seagull S6 for 20 years. My dad bought it for me for $400 plus a discount for a minor spider web on the finish. That guitar was perfectly set up, with amazing low action, no buzzing, and just a beautiful sound with its cedar top. I recently got my dream guitar (so I thought!), an HD-28. The HD-28 has amazing sustain and sounds great itself, but for an almost $2000 price difference? I'm thinking of selling it. Don't sleep on Seagull guitars!!!
This was fun, I have a seagull performer. It's wild cherry back and sides and a cedar top which gives the warm sound I like. I did get it right, because the sound was familiar to me. I feel so fortunate to have found these Seagulls cause I play left handed. When I bought it, the store manager played his custom Taylor against my new Seagull, there again its a close match. His Taylor was thousands of dollars versus 600 paid for mine, just amazing.
@@vin10954 I had a big fight on the Internet over a statement I made.I said my Seagull Entourage sounds as good as a Martin..I was called a moron and tone deaf..They hated my opinion.But it’s tru.Seagull is simply a great sounding guitar.
I was pretty well aware which was which and preferred the Seagull. On edit, lookin at the beginning of the video again, I'm sure the reason I knew which was which was the headstock shape. I have a thirty year old S6 that i wouldnt trade for any Gibso ive ever played. About 1993 I had two inexpensive guitars stolen, the insurance company placed a value on those and sent me a check. I traveled all over North Alabama, playing every guitar I could that that check would cover. Far and away the best guitar I found for around $400, was that Seagull S6, still glad I bought it and glad I have it.
The seagull is great. But it lacks the rich harmonics of the Gibson. And these two videos are a good demonstration of the differences between these two wonderful guitars.
Through my computer speakers, the seagull wins, but using my mixing headphones, the seagull sounds boxy and needs EQing where's the Gibson is just more balanced. Both sound amazing and different tho. I'm getting a seagull S6 tomorrow for $200 Canadian so I'm not complaining at all haha. Great video!
I'm a 66 year old beginner - Right away I new which guitar was the Seagull and which was the Gibson but that's because I've been testing out a lot of acoustic guitars over the last 6 weeks.
over youtube the seagull does sound better to me... It has a tighter sound and much more controlled compared to the unwieldy sound of the Gibson. Maybe it sounds different in the room, but I like the sound of the seagull more.
They both sound excellent to me actually. The Seagull would be great paired with the Gibson in the mix. I like what you said about different tools being right for the job.
I could tell that B was the seagull right away, love that deep mellow woodsy sound. Just recently bought a Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar GT. Curious as to what strings you were using on the Seagull??
I own an s6. It's great. I thought your gibson sounded a little fuller in the low end. You said it was an early 70's? The wood has aged longer. Love your channel. A good sound is all that's really important. I agree we are in "the golden age" of low end, quality guitar. CNC machines at all guitar plants. Peavey silverstripe bandit? Check. Please continue, your take is valued and needed.
I chose A. Enjoyed The Gibson way more. Clearer crisper highs. However the Seagull is much cheaper. So... I'd get the Seagull as an intermediate player. Expert player I'd buy the Gibson.
Is the Gibson made with rosewood back and sides? It sounded like it had a much more scooped sound. Body shape and tone woods will also affect the tone.
Awesome I was wrong I thought B was best and that it was the Gibson see A the strings sound well metal-ish ok that's stupid but I could here like the a jingle in the tone that makes no sense but guitar B) was smooth and pleasant sounding. The good news I was totally wrong which means my luck and insight hasn't changed it still- 'Sucks' ! Thanks Dave ps please don't forget to give me your advice Epiphone all solid back sides top Masterbuilt with shadow electronics or Seagull S6 with Premium B-band elec. or just plain Jane solid cedar top wild cherry back/sides , Thanks David (not Whipple)
They're both good guitars, depends on sonic taste but there is a major $ difference. I love my Seagull as well as my $200 Fender acoustic. Would love to see a test with fingers strumming/picking (i.e. no pick). Thanks Mr. Whip
What you look for in an acoustic guitar is the sound of a lively well tuned top which "tunes to a pitch" as the string tension stresses it into a taut state. This gives an impression of clarity/power/vitality to the notes. It should do this while also being well set up with proper action, not just when the strings are a mile off the neck. High action gives tension/power, but makes it hard to play. What you WANT is high tension and comfortably low action together! The Gibson does that. The Seagull does it---a little, but it is much less "taut" and sounds muddy in comparison. So there's a reason you typically pay the big bucks for better tone. Been selling guitars for over 55 years, that's the deal. I personally own both a vintage Gibson Advanced Jumbo and also own a Seagull and was a dealer for both.
When I took up guitar my Canadian wife blessed me with an s6! I have since bought a Taylor 414 and okayed many Martins etc and even purchased an artist mosaic but darn- every time I pick up my beat up S6 it has some of the richest sounds! The S6 is really an amazing guitar! We
I played a '70 Hummingbird exclusively for years. It was stolen a while back, and it wasn't untill I started playing Seagulls that I didn't miss the Gibson anymore. My impressions on tone are the opposite of yours, however. I hear a wash of overtones in the S6 that isn't present in the Gibson, which is more a fundamental tones instrument. The Seagull is a drier, crisper sound; the Gibson, more dulcet. I account the different to the longer scale length (in the newer Gulls anyway), and the cedar top. I once tried a Seagull Excursion (spruce top, short scale, abbreviated x-braces) that, to my ear, sounded exactly like my old Hummingbird. Thanks for the video!
The real issue is the microphone, hardware and software used to record the music, UA-cam's compression software/algorythms, varying internet interactions and then being re-analogued by my computer and then played back through my do-it-all Logitech speakers (and I doubt my speakers are the worst being used)! Unless you can hear these instruments being played live there are just too many other variances for this to be an accurate comparison. I own a Seagull Artist which I love and find crisp, precise and clear, just how I like it, but I couldn't recognise the guitar I was listening to on this video. The Gibson sounded bright and thrashy which I am quite sure it would not sound live (judging by the Seagull's rendition).
I have both right here and I have to say that they came out just about right in the video. The seagull is a cannon with a lot of low end ( like a good martin) and the gibson is dry and bright.
Great review mate....it's the sound you need for what you need it for and much has to do with the Musician playing the instrument. I've been a Muso for over 40 years and I've seen all the Famous brands turn to shit due to Corporate greed. A lot of passionate "unknowns" are making instruments far superior to the Corporate shit owners who exploit famous names they have acquired and pass them off as the greats that they were. Musicians (real ones) are not fooled. Don't just buy the classic brands for it's name... it's probably made in Indonesia, nice work they do I suppose.... but it ain't worth the money the Brands are charging for it.
you r so right mate, iv bin plying 4 30 years n some of the cheaper brands like seagull have much better sound. n to me its all about the sound n playerbility
Seagulls are great. I have several Godin/ Seagull guitars (6, I think) and recommend them. I also have a 1949 Gibson LG2. The Gibson, and the one in this vid, are better to me. I don’t disagree with you in that both are capable and sound great. It’s not ten times greater, only marginally and that opinion isn’t universal. Thanks for this vid… and thanks for stringing both with identical strings and tuning them both properly to concert pitch. Spot on. 100 bucks was a steal for the Seagull. A well tuned 500 guitar in the hands of a person who can play it is better than a 10,000 instrument in the hands of someone who doesn’t bother to learn and becomes fixated simply on tone.
Excellent comparison! The cost of a modern Seagull M6 guitar is 10 to 15 times less than that of a vintage Gibson J50. If your income is limited, the Seagull could be an excellent choice for you. If you're rich enough to invest thousands of dollars in collectibles, buy the Gibson and keep it in a well-controlled environment ... and a Seagull to play with your friends in front of a campfire!
Thanks for the video. I'm going this Friday to compare this Seagull against a Taylor 110e and Martin D-X1E. Can't wait to see which one I carry out of the store. I'll update afterwards. Liked and subbed.
Three VERY different sounds for sure . I have Seagull and Martin .... want a Taylor 12 string . Taylor seems to have good bottom end and mids .....their 12 strings have really good sparkle like you want in a 12 , but not jangley like guild in my opinion
Have just discovered your channel, very cool. I'm all about the cheap guitars, it's ridiculous what a "good" guitar costs nowadays. I found you because I wanted a review of the Glarry basses. This video caught my eye, because many years ago, waaay back in the '90's, lol, I had a friend, Joe, who played in bands and had a really good ear and knack for finding good guitars. He would tell me that he was looking for a new Les Paul, and would go to the local shops in LA and play like 30 or 40 or whatever of them until he found the one, and it would be a great one, and not ridiculously priced. One day I went to hang out with him and jam, and he had a new acoustic - a Seagull. It sounded great, and I have always respected that brand since then.
I cheated. I recognized the Seagull by the headstock. Nonetheless, I could still a big difference in the sound. If you like the brighter sound, pick the Gibson. If you like the warmer tone, take the Seagull.
I knew that the Gibson was guitar "A" because of how bright it sounded. The Seagull does have a much warmer sound. The warmth and throatiness of the lower end is why I Love Seagull Guitars so much. I have a 1976 Gibson Hummingbird and the top shelf Seagull model from 2018 The Seagull Artist CW Deluxe Element. Price value difference between these two is ,as I'm sure you know, thousands of dollars. I prefer the Seagull for most songs. It's just more pleasing to my ear.
Great Video, thank you..i have been fortunate to own a 1996 seagull s6 rosewood cw duet and a 2002 cameo artist cw..i got it right seagull has a unique warm sound..tks
I bought a seagull cut-away. Good guitar but for some reason, I have a challenge playing it. Particularly with hammer-ons and pull-offs. They don't seem to ring out long enough. Maybe I need light strings because I am still novice,,
The Cedar top makes the guitar a warm sounding guitar . However , Seagull did make quite a number of Spruce top S6 models . They also made some Walnut models .... I love the clarity of walnut. Sound wise and grain wise . Choose some 80/20 strings , or you can go even brighter . Plus stay with 11 - 52 ... no higher for sound brightness
The guitar world has sure changed in the last 40 years. I am spoiled because I bought a larrivee cutaway 40 years ago and it just gets better with time. At the time washburn and Takamine were starting to produce some really nice guitars for a lot less than what I paid for my Larrivee, but I was young with money in my pocket and the Larrivee made me sound like I knew what I was doing with a guitar (I didn't). Since that time I have played a lot of cheap guitars that sound really good. Of course I always come home to my Larrivee. I have been enjoying your videos. I haven't looked at new guitars for a long time and I am learning lots. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. I picked the right one but not because of sound quality the Gibson has more sustain on the high notes but not by much, they are both amazing.
I've played 20 y/o Martin D-28LV exclusively. I paid $2,500 for the Martin 1998. Recently, because I wanted a guitar I could leave on a stand with 3 dogs and the wild humidity changes of Northern Minnesota, I picked up a slightly used Seagull S-6 Original for $350. In the shop, I played the Seagull and HAD to have that guitar. Now I know why: in your comparison my clear preference was B, the Seagull. What a great sounding instrument. I'll leave the Martin to my granddaughter. Great video!
Thanks Gary. I bet most Martin players love seagulls. They are LOUD and rich, with a lot of bottom end, like a lot of Martins. They are truly the best bang for the buck IMO.
Cedar ages pretty fast, though. My seagull s6 has been played most every day for 12 years. It compares favorably to an old Gibson that has been consistently played.
That Seagull does sound fantastic. I've owned a Simon and Patrick for years now and actually have a Norman on the way. I still can't wrap my head around what you get for the money. Great stuff. Also, keep up the quality videos, dude. I noticed you haven't posted in quite a while. Throw us a bone now and then! :)
Hey Dave - I don't know what your criteria was for choosing the Seagull, but right now I got my eyes on a Seagull, and where it was there were two of them, brand new, identical! Little different of a model, so maybe feature this one in another comparison? The model is the new "Entourage" model, specifically the dreadnaught cutaway with the Q1C. I played this guitar not seeing the price tag. Man, this thing "melted" into my chest AND my left hand into the fretboard. SO easy to play, and a great natural sound (they were too busy to plug it in). Then I went looking for the price; it ranges from $499.99 to $519.99. So I'll just say 500 bills. I failed to get it for Christmas, but unless I find something better for the money, this is the one I want. Now I AM partial to Seagull (sort of) because I own a Godin A-12, a two-chamber acoustic/electric 12 string, and the real surprise was I couldn't find one locally to try it out - so I bought it from Amazon sight-unseen. I was OK doing this after I checked with several owners of the same guitar, who were united in saying get it, I wouldn't be disappointed, and, the factory videos they got posted on UA-cam. Some of their manufacturing is done by machines, but especially with the acoustics, they do the important stuff by hand, including custom setting up each guitar before they ship. I don't know how long Amazon had it post-factory, but when it arrived it was almost perfectly in tune! (And yes, as a 12-string player, I won't get caught dead without my tuner!). Right out of the box, this thing was set up perfectly! Now since then, I've tried what I used to trust, a set of Martin SR strings, and two different D'addarios types - all 3 of them, dead in two weeks! I mean, dead lower strings (dum-dum-dum). The guitar has a naturally "tinny" sound, but I run it through a Boss AD-8, which besides killing feedback, has several different ways to change tone, so I use it t bring up the bass and trim off a little of the tinny. For strings, I went back to trying the Godin brand, dang! Can't complain, they're holding up longer and sound the best. I don't know if they wind them themselves or farm it out, but whoever it is makes the best 12-string set! Love your work! Want to see more of these comparisons!...
Hi, I love Seagull guitars have owned over 30 of them. Some sounded better than others but all sounded pretty good. Owned around 20 Simon and Patrick’s, around 12 Art and Lutheries and about 10 Norman’s. These 4 guitars were all produced by LaSido now known as Godin. I’ve repaired a bunch as well, they are very well made especially those made prior to 2005. BUT, comparing a 70’s Gibson is not a very good representation of a Gibson. That’s part or the Norlin years of manufacturing. They were without a doubt the worst Gibson’s ever made. So I believe you could compare that J50 with a Japanese made Yamaha and probably get the same results.
My 2008 S6 Coastline is aging well. It's a short scale cedar top. Closest thing to a J45 for the $350 I paid for it back then. It's my favorite guitar out of the four that I own. If I had to replace it, tonally, I'd look at new Gibsons. I agree with Whip. Good sound is good sound. Give that Seagull 13 years of hard traveling. She'll open up, and she'll also settle down. She'll never have that Gibson sound, but an aged Seagull has its own sound. In my mind, the old short-scale Seagulls are kinda' Gibson-esque, though, like I said. Kinda'. Mine has about done it all in 13 years. It's done most of it well.
I agree with your conclusions ( I got it wrong btw). I have a vintage Ibanez acoustic which is a good guitar but doesn't record all that well to my ears. I have a Collings Dread which does (surprise) but I also purchased a little Jasmine OM size acoustic for £79 (about $100) and that records really well.
I liked the Gibson, because it is bright and I like when a guitar is bright, but if I had to choose between the brands I would go for a Seagull Folk model, that's the guitar that fits to my style the best. I would say in acoustic guitars the top is responsible 70% of the sound, sides, back and neck another 15%, the rest is strings. Sometimes even cheap guitars can sound fantastic with high end strings.
I know I'm late to this, but thought I'd weigh in. I first thought the Gibson was guitar B, so amazing comparison. After a closer listen, the real difference in these to me may be more due to the age of the Gibson and the glue used to put them together. Even if they both use the same high quality hide glue, the age of the Gibson both due to the glue and the top will allow the sound to flower a bit, which to me was the difference. The Gibson felt like it had more natural compression than the Seagull allowing each note in the chords to have a voice of its own. If you prefer the balance that you get on the Seagull side, that won't matter a ton, and besides, compression is easy to address electronically with a good DI. This type of comparison is great, thanks for doing it!
I've played a cedar top S6 Seagull for the last ten years i judge every other guitar I play by how good it plays by my Seagull the sound has even gotten better and still plays like no other guitar
Out of ALL the guitar brands I've owned , I find that my Seagull and my S and P 6 come alive even more than any other guitar when you put the new strings on them. There is something about the Cedar Top and Wild Cherry back and sides that just speaks Volumes with new strings
Seagull S6 is a beautiful guitar. I bought mine new and never plan to get a different acoustic again. At least not a different brand. Just a beautiful instrument with a great sound. Unbelievable value when you look at Taylor and Martin dreadnought prices and test them out in the store
Still love my Seagull S6. Bought it in 1991 and it spent many years under my bed in the 2000's. But now that its out and back in service again, I'm glad I had hung onto it. Still sounds and plays great after thirty years.
No more putting it under your bed...ok.
I had a Seagull years ago, in the 1990's and loved it. I just bought a new Seagull Artist Studio CW Element and remember why I loved my other seagull so much. I also had a 1970's Gibson Hummingbird. As far as sound, I would put this new Seagull in a class with my old Gibson any day.
The Gibson has such a stronger tone to it, but the Seagull is more clear and it doesn't all mesh together. It's hard to decide which is better. They both have a such a unique sound, and are good in their own right. Depending on the song would decide which is better.
I have to admit, the Seagull is nice, but I just like the way the Gibson rings out. Still, 2 nice guitars nonetheless. Thanks Whip!
Thanks DJ! The Gibson is a GREAT sounding guitar, but I gravitate to the tone of the seagull.
It helps to know the woods used too. The Gibson had a stronger tone than the Seagull, which probably means the back is a little thicker, the front much thinner. The inside bracing means a lot too. The guitars of the 70's were built using wood from naturally grown trees, which had more age to them, as compared to most guitars built today, using younger, replacement trees. If you can find an old Martin where the neck hasn't pulled out, that's a gem! Taylor builds nice guitars, but too overpriced IMHO. Seagull is a sub-brand of Godin from Canada, and there are some Seagulls (obviously for more money!) that sound almost as powerful as that Gibson does! You'll find the same with Breedlove - spend a little, nice guitar; spend a lot, great guitar!...
@@whipscheapguitars2856 what is that you are playing at ...1:30 if heard it somewhere
Should have had a guitar comparison with the same materials/similar. Looks like spruce vs cedar?
The headstock was a give away
Aye!
Aye!
My seagull stay in tune better - which for me is almost as important as tone and playability.
I thought the seagull sounded pretty great honestly. For that price, it's an incredible guitar
I used to own your Seagull. I put the hole in it when a bookend fell off a shelf and landed on it while I was playing. I had it in NYC, not sure how it wound up in Connecticut. I think I gave it away when I bought a more expensive guitar but I always thought it sounded great.
Hey Whip - I have a Seagull Entourage Rustic Mini-Jumbo, & the workmanship, sound, feel, playability are fantastic, & I wouldn't trade it for a Martin. The best part is - it cost me about $300!
I totally agree. For my money Seagull is top shelf.
3 Card Monty I have a brunt sunburst cut away electric..The guitar is just superb..499.00
3 months ago my son and I went to the local guitar shop to purchase a new acoustic. This was a multi visit process but finally came to the last visit. I picked 4 guitars that I had researched and played previously. 2 Gibsons ( J35 , G45 ) Epiphone Master and a Seagull Coastline. Did some cord progression, finger picking and strumming, while my son was listening. The Eppy was removed. Then more strumming. In the end it came down to the 35 and the Coastline.. the 35 was sounding a little fuller. He picked the 35. I said ok now here is the pricing.. the 35 was almost 2.5 times the price. He said and being 13 yrs old. "The price difference isn't justified by the sound difference". We left with the Gull and will soon buy another. Love them that much
I own a Seagull 6 and 12. Also a Minstrel 6 (Seagull before they changed names). The Seagull has more mids, the Gibson sounded like it had fresh strings and brighter.
I'm a big fan of Gibson, but the price is pretty daunting for someone who is just a hobby musician. I've been doing research for about a month now and I had already decided on a Seagull as my next guitar. These couple of videos validated my decision as I chose the sound of guitar B as my favorite. Looking forward now to getting it. Thanks for the great comparison!
Also.. The Rain Song - FTW!
I'm glad you like the rain song!! I love that piece! I had a Seagull Entourage Rustic, those have even more bottom end. ( They have a cedar top). Just great guitars for the money....or for any money really.
I caved in on the weekend and ordered my Entourage Autumn Burst CW.
Hi Dave - nice to hear Rain Song! Love that one. I learned years ago that the tuning is DGCGCD (live is a whole tone up). The tab for playing it in that tuning is here: tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/led_zeppelin/the_rain_song_tabs_73562. Enjoy!
Gibson is richer but it's also been played for 40 years
Richer? It sounds only brighter, therefore it may seem to project more... But... And you're right, an instrument must be played to mature into a jewel.
@@fredericlinden I'm still breaking in a pair of 40 year old cowboy boots the salesman told me they do nothing but get better. That's not going so well.
@@orcaazur06 So is the sales pitch it gets better with age. LOL
@@MrTrophyHusband definitely.. everyone buy the speech if salesman great. 👟 🎸
Agree with that 40 yrs but I prefer warmer, creamy sound of *Seagull*. It’s just my personal preference.
Godin really makes amazing guitars for the money !!
ive got an S6 spruce gt acoustic/electric. Has the Godin electronics. Its super fun to play. Thanks for the great videos.
Oh my gosh, I picked B everytime as being the Gibson!! Seagull sounds amazing.
As others have said on here, the Gibson sounds great, but not $2000+ great. The only reason the s6 is less expensive is because they use local wood from around the factory and dont import it like Gibson or martin. When I bought mine used, I played it alongside of a $4200 martin just for the hell of it. I fell in love with the seagull immediately.
I bought my Seagull M6 20 years ago and I still love it.
Should have known B wasnt the Gibson, cause i liked it better. I hate acoustics that have that twangy shimnery sound most acoustics have. I thought warmer sound was probably the older one. Shows what I know. Great video.
Thanks David.
What is that you are playing I've heard it somewhere can anyone help me?? @ 1:30 he starts to play it..
What is is lol..
Led Zeppelin The Rain Song… classic
My first was Seagull S6 CW rustic and then a Taylor mini for travel. The Seagull rocks with the Cedar top and new, good strings. It’s rich and fills the room without the high cost. Paid USD$600for it (Seagull) and played it everyday with few exceptions for 9 years. The more I play the better it sounds (even when someone plays it).
I use my s6 cedar in half step down tuning it sound warmer and deeper for his small size and it’s at least 2500$ cheaper then the cheapest Gibson.
B sounds better to me, more balanced. I thought the square shouldered Gibsons were supposed to have more mids -maybe they do, but in this comparison the mids on the Gibson seemed definitely lacking.
I own a seagull, and I picked B instantly. When I was looking for a guitar, I couldn’t believe the number of great reviews for the Seagull. One after the other touted its excellence. It’s been a fantastic guitar for me.
I've had a Seagull S6 for 20 years. My dad bought it for me for $400 plus a discount for a minor spider web on the finish. That guitar was perfectly set up, with amazing low action, no buzzing, and just a beautiful sound with its cedar top. I recently got my dream guitar (so I thought!), an HD-28. The HD-28 has amazing sustain and sounds great itself, but for an almost $2000 price difference? I'm thinking of selling it. Don't sleep on Seagull guitars!!!
I own the Seagull S6 Original guitar and it still plays with no issues. I always keep it humidified in the case. Peace, Flood!
Awesome.
Two years ago I bought from Amazon Seagull 046386 S6 Original New 2018 Model Acoustic Guitar w/Hard Case for $419. I'm glad I did. Now it costs $549.
I like them both but I think I like the seagull more
I can't believe I got it wrong. I own a j45 and a S6. I love them both. The seagull S6 is one of the best guitars you can buy and it's cheap. Win win.
Gotta love a win win.
This was fun, I have a seagull performer. It's wild cherry back and sides and a cedar top which gives the warm sound I like. I did get it right, because the sound was familiar to me. I feel so fortunate to have found these Seagulls cause I play left handed. When I bought it, the store manager played his custom Taylor against my new Seagull, there again its a close match. His Taylor was thousands of dollars versus 600 paid for mine, just amazing.
I have a Seagull and got it wrong..Damn
LOL. Don't feel bad most people got it wrong.
I got it wrong too and I have Seagull S6. To be honest, I can't tell which sounded "better".
I have a Seagull and I got it right lol
@@vin10954 I had a big fight on the Internet over a statement I made.I said my Seagull Entourage sounds as good as a Martin..I was called a moron and tone deaf..They hated my opinion.But it’s tru.Seagull is simply a great sounding guitar.
I have a new Seagull Performer Mini Jumbo......it's stunning. And in 30 years........30 years of stunning....
I was pretty well aware which was which and preferred the Seagull. On edit, lookin at the beginning of the video again, I'm sure the reason I knew which was which was the headstock shape. I have a thirty year old S6 that i wouldnt trade for any Gibso ive ever played.
About 1993 I had two inexpensive guitars stolen, the insurance company placed a value on those and sent me a check. I traveled all over North Alabama, playing every guitar I could that that check would cover. Far and away the best guitar I found for around $400, was that Seagull S6, still glad I bought it and glad I have it.
The seagull is great. But it lacks the rich harmonics of the Gibson. And these two videos are a good demonstration of the differences between these two wonderful guitars.
Through my computer speakers, the seagull wins, but using my mixing headphones, the seagull sounds boxy and needs EQing where's the Gibson is just more balanced. Both sound amazing and different tho. I'm getting a seagull S6 tomorrow for $200 Canadian so I'm not complaining at all haha. Great video!
Been playing Seagulls and other Godin acoustics since 1996, exclusively. I got it wrong. And I'm VERY happy about that! Excellent video.
Thanks Oren.
Guitat B Seagul is warmer, lesser chime than the Gibson.... my ears says so 😊
I'm a 66 year old beginner - Right away I new which guitar was the Seagull and which was the Gibson but that's because I've been testing out a lot of acoustic guitars over the last 6 weeks.
Right on. Most seagulls sound pretty much the same. Ive yet to play one I didn't like.
I know this was awhile ago but I would like a comparison with fingerpicking.
Whip where are you?we need some more of your video's.
Soon...
I just got myself an S6+ cedar. It looks kinda old i would love to know the year
over youtube the seagull does sound better to me... It has a tighter sound and much more controlled compared to the unwieldy sound of the Gibson. Maybe it sounds different in the room, but I like the sound of the seagull more.
They both sound excellent to me actually. The Seagull would be great paired with the Gibson in the mix. I like what you said about different tools being right for the job.
I could tell that B was the seagull right away, love that deep mellow woodsy sound. Just recently bought a Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar GT. Curious as to what strings you were using on the Seagull??
Martin lights. 12-54 80/20 bronze.
I always really look forward to Whip's videos. He's absolutely right, good sound is good sound.
Thanks Ian!
I own an s6. It's great. I thought your gibson sounded a little fuller in the low end. You said it was an early 70's? The wood has aged longer. Love your channel. A good sound is all that's really important. I agree we are in "the golden age" of low end, quality guitar. CNC machines at all guitar plants. Peavey silverstripe bandit? Check. Please continue, your take is valued and needed.
I chose A. Enjoyed The Gibson way more. Clearer crisper highs. However the Seagull is much cheaper. So... I'd get the Seagull as an intermediate player. Expert player I'd buy the Gibson.
I think either one is the Perfect guitar for some things and vise versa.
Is the Gibson made with rosewood back and sides? It sounded like it had a much more scooped sound. Body shape and tone woods will also affect the tone.
Mahogany.
Awesome I was wrong I thought B was best and that it was the Gibson see A the strings sound well metal-ish ok that's stupid but I could here like the a jingle in the tone that makes no sense but guitar B) was smooth and pleasant sounding. The good news I was totally wrong which means my luck and insight hasn't changed it still- 'Sucks' ! Thanks Dave
ps please don't forget to give me your advice Epiphone all solid back sides top Masterbuilt with shadow electronics or Seagull S6 with Premium B-band elec. or just plain Jane solid cedar top wild cherry back/sides , Thanks David (not Whipple)
A sounds metallic , B sounds warm and cosy.
They're both good guitars, depends on sonic taste but there is a major $ difference. I love my Seagull as well as my $200 Fender acoustic. Would love to see a test with fingers strumming/picking (i.e. no pick). Thanks Mr. Whip
What you look for in an acoustic guitar is the sound of a lively well tuned top which "tunes to a pitch" as the string tension stresses it into a taut state.
This gives an impression of clarity/power/vitality to the notes.
It should do this while also being well set up with proper action, not just when the strings are a mile off the neck.
High action gives tension/power, but makes it hard to play.
What you WANT is high tension and comfortably low action together!
The Gibson does that.
The Seagull does it---a little, but it is much less "taut" and sounds muddy in comparison.
So there's a reason you typically pay the big bucks for better tone.
Been selling guitars for over 55 years, that's the deal.
I personally own both a vintage Gibson Advanced Jumbo and also own a Seagull and was a dealer for both.
When I took up guitar my Canadian wife blessed me with an s6! I have since bought a Taylor 414 and okayed many Martins etc and even purchased an artist mosaic but darn- every time I pick up my beat up S6 it has some of the richest sounds! The S6 is really an amazing guitar! We
seagull has all tones (hi and low), on the gibson i can't hear the bass. Seagull i prefer.
I love my Seagull!!! Made by same company that makes Guild (sp) piano.
Nope. Seagulls are made by Godin guitars in Canada.
@@daveleblanc3558 Yes! I stand corrected and thank you
I played a '70 Hummingbird exclusively for years. It was stolen a while back, and it wasn't untill I started playing Seagulls that I didn't miss the Gibson anymore. My impressions on tone are the opposite of yours, however. I hear a wash of overtones in the S6 that isn't present in the Gibson, which is more a fundamental tones instrument. The Seagull is a drier, crisper sound; the Gibson, more dulcet. I account the different to the longer scale length (in the newer Gulls anyway), and the cedar top.
I once tried a Seagull Excursion (spruce top, short scale, abbreviated x-braces) that, to my ear, sounded exactly like my old Hummingbird.
Thanks for the video!
(That looks like an older, short scale Gull.)
Wow. I'll keep my eye out for one to try. Ive had a couple entourage rustics, and a s6 but never seen the excursion.
I don't know how old it is, I think if its old enough you can tell but as for the new number code I don't think it means much.
I could tell easily. But I guess I have a knack. I did a blind test on violins and knew the crap from the good, right off the bat.
The real issue is the microphone, hardware and software used to record the music, UA-cam's compression software/algorythms, varying internet interactions and then being re-analogued by my computer and then played back through my do-it-all Logitech speakers (and I doubt my speakers are the worst being used)!
Unless you can hear these instruments being played live there are just too many other variances for this to be an accurate comparison.
I own a Seagull Artist which I love and find crisp, precise and clear, just how I like it, but I couldn't recognise the guitar I was listening to on this video. The Gibson sounded bright and thrashy which I am quite sure it would not sound live (judging by the Seagull's rendition).
I have both right here and I have to say that they came out just about right in the video. The seagull is a cannon with a lot of low end ( like a good martin) and the gibson is dry and bright.
Great review mate....it's the sound you need for what you need it for and much has to do with the Musician playing the instrument.
I've been a Muso for over 40 years and I've seen all the Famous brands turn to shit due to Corporate greed.
A lot of passionate "unknowns" are making instruments far superior to the Corporate shit owners who exploit famous names they have acquired and pass them off as the greats that they were.
Musicians (real ones) are not fooled.
Don't just buy the classic brands for it's name... it's probably made in Indonesia, nice work they do I suppose.... but it ain't worth the money the Brands are charging for it.
Spot on my friend.
you r so right mate, iv bin plying 4 30 years n some of the cheaper brands like seagull have much better sound. n to me its all about the sound n playerbility
Seagulls are great. I have several Godin/ Seagull guitars (6, I think) and recommend them. I also have a 1949 Gibson LG2. The Gibson, and the one in this vid, are better to me. I don’t disagree with you in that both are capable and sound great. It’s not ten times greater, only marginally and that opinion isn’t universal. Thanks for this vid… and thanks for stringing both with identical strings and tuning them both properly to concert pitch. Spot on. 100 bucks was a steal for the Seagull. A well tuned 500 guitar in the hands of a person who can play it is better than a 10,000 instrument in the hands of someone who doesn’t bother to learn and becomes fixated simply on tone.
Excellent comparison!
The cost of a modern Seagull M6 guitar is 10 to 15 times less than that of a vintage Gibson J50.
If your income is limited, the Seagull could be an excellent choice for you.
If you're rich enough to invest thousands of dollars in collectibles, buy the Gibson and keep it in a well-controlled environment ... and a Seagull to play with your friends in front of a campfire!
Thanks for the video. I'm going this Friday to compare this Seagull against a Taylor 110e and Martin D-X1E. Can't wait to see which one I carry out of the store. I'll update afterwards. Liked and subbed.
So, which one did you carry out of the store?
Three VERY different sounds for sure .
I have Seagull and Martin .... want a Taylor 12 string .
Taylor seems to have good bottom end and mids .....their 12 strings have really good sparkle like you want in a 12 , but not jangley like guild in my opinion
is there the SAME , Brand New strings on both ?
pretty much
The Seagull sounds good, but that shimmery top end on the Gibson is definitely the difference maker.
Have just discovered your channel, very cool. I'm all about the cheap guitars, it's ridiculous what a "good" guitar costs nowadays. I found you because I wanted a review of the Glarry basses. This video caught my eye, because many years ago, waaay back in the '90's, lol, I had a friend, Joe, who played in bands and had a really good ear and knack for finding good guitars. He would tell me that he was looking for a new Les Paul, and would go to the local shops in LA and play like 30 or 40 or whatever of them until he found the one, and it would be a great one, and not ridiculously priced. One day I went to hang out with him and jam, and he had a new acoustic - a Seagull. It sounded great, and I have always respected that brand since then.
Hi, Mr Dave, what strings did you put on Seagull S6? Also, which strings do you recommend for Seagull S6?
I don't recall what was on there at the time.....I like the d'addarrio's 12-54 phosphor bronze that these guitars usually come with.
whip's cheap guitars, Thank you!!
WOW WOW WOW !!!YOU ARE THE BEST ON UA-cam BY FAR!!!!!!AWESOME VIDS THANKS!!!
Wow. Thanks Joe.
I cheated. I recognized the Seagull by the headstock. Nonetheless, I could still a big difference in the sound. If you like the brighter sound, pick the Gibson. If you like the warmer tone, take the Seagull.
I agree 100%. I play cheaper equipment but I love the sound.
Right on.
I knew that the Gibson was guitar "A" because of how bright it sounded. The Seagull does have a much warmer sound. The warmth and throatiness of the lower end is why I Love Seagull Guitars so much.
I have a 1976 Gibson Hummingbird and the top shelf Seagull model from 2018 The Seagull Artist CW Deluxe Element. Price value difference between these two is ,as I'm sure you know, thousands of dollars. I prefer the Seagull for most songs. It's just more pleasing to my ear.
Seagull sounds better! Awesome. 🤙
Squire Start or Epiphone Les Paul Jr ? for a player switching from acoustic
Either one. Try them out and pick the one you like better. They both can be quite good.
whip's cheap guitars thank u!
Nice Stormy Kromer! Those are quite popular around my parts.
right on
Great Video, thank you..i have been fortunate to own a 1996 seagull s6 rosewood cw duet and a 2002 cameo artist cw..i got it right seagull has a unique warm sound..tks
Thanks DR!
These videos are great man!
Thanks K!!!
I bought a seagull cut-away. Good guitar but for some reason, I have a challenge playing it. Particularly with hammer-ons and pull-offs. They don't seem to ring out long enough. Maybe I need light strings because I am still novice,,
The Cedar top makes the guitar a warm sounding guitar .
However , Seagull did make quite a number of Spruce top S6 models .
They also made some Walnut models .... I love the clarity of walnut. Sound wise and grain wise .
Choose some 80/20 strings , or you can go even brighter . Plus stay with 11 - 52 ...
no higher for sound brightness
The guitar world has sure changed in the last 40 years. I am spoiled because I bought a larrivee cutaway 40 years ago and it just gets better with time. At the time washburn and Takamine were starting to produce some really nice guitars for a lot less than what I paid for my Larrivee, but I was young with money in my pocket and the Larrivee made me sound like I knew what I was doing with a guitar (I didn't). Since that time I have played a lot of cheap guitars that sound really good. Of course I always come home to my Larrivee. I have been enjoying your videos. I haven't looked at new guitars for a long time and I am learning lots. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kevin!
Great video. I picked the right one but not because of sound quality the Gibson has more sustain on the high notes but not by much, they are both amazing.
I've played 20 y/o Martin D-28LV exclusively. I paid $2,500 for the Martin 1998. Recently, because I wanted a guitar I could leave on a stand with 3 dogs and the wild humidity changes of Northern Minnesota, I picked up a slightly used Seagull S-6 Original for $350. In the shop, I played the Seagull and HAD to have that guitar. Now I know why: in your comparison my clear preference was B, the Seagull. What a great sounding instrument. I'll leave the Martin to my granddaughter. Great video!
Thanks Gary. I bet most Martin players love seagulls. They are LOUD and rich, with a lot of bottom end, like a lot of Martins. They are truly the best bang for the buck IMO.
Cedar ages pretty fast, though. My seagull s6 has been played most every day for 12 years. It compares favorably to an old Gibson that has been consistently played.
That Seagull does sound fantastic. I've owned a Simon and Patrick for years now and actually have a Norman on the way. I still can't wrap my head around what you get for the money. Great stuff.
Also, keep up the quality videos, dude. I noticed you haven't posted in quite a while. Throw us a bone now and then! :)
Hey Zach, I totally agree. Every time I try a seagull it impresses me!
Hoora for the Seagull. It doesn't have to cost thousand of dollars to sound good, have great intonation and to be a joy to play.
YES! I feel the same way. Its amazing how good of a guitar the seagull is for the money.
Hey Dave - I don't know what your criteria was for choosing the Seagull, but right now I got my eyes on a Seagull, and where it was there were two of them, brand new, identical! Little different of a model, so maybe feature this one in another comparison?
The model is the new "Entourage" model, specifically the dreadnaught cutaway with the Q1C.
I played this guitar not seeing the price tag. Man, this thing "melted" into my chest AND my left hand into the fretboard. SO easy to play, and a great natural sound (they were too busy to plug it in). Then I went looking for the price; it ranges from $499.99 to $519.99. So I'll just say 500 bills. I failed to get it for Christmas, but unless I find something better for the money, this is the one I want.
Now I AM partial to Seagull (sort of) because I own a Godin A-12, a two-chamber acoustic/electric 12 string, and the real surprise was I couldn't find one locally to try it out - so I bought it from Amazon sight-unseen. I was OK doing this after I checked with several owners of the same guitar, who were united in saying get it, I wouldn't be disappointed, and, the factory videos they got posted on UA-cam. Some of their manufacturing is done by machines, but especially with the acoustics, they do the important stuff by hand, including custom setting up each guitar before they ship. I don't know how long Amazon had it post-factory, but when it arrived it was almost perfectly in tune! (And yes, as a 12-string player, I won't get caught dead without my tuner!). Right out of the box, this thing was set up perfectly!
Now since then, I've tried what I used to trust, a set of Martin SR strings, and two different D'addarios types - all 3 of them, dead in two weeks! I mean, dead lower strings (dum-dum-dum). The guitar has a naturally "tinny" sound, but I run it through a Boss AD-8, which besides killing feedback, has several different ways to change tone, so I use it t bring up the bass and trim off a little of the tinny. For strings, I went back to trying the Godin brand, dang! Can't complain, they're holding up longer and sound the best. I don't know if they wind them themselves or farm it out, but whoever it is makes the best 12-string set!
Love your work! Want to see more of these comparisons!...
Thanks
Hi, I love Seagull guitars have owned over 30 of them. Some sounded better than others but all sounded pretty good.
Owned around 20 Simon and Patrick’s, around 12 Art and Lutheries and about 10 Norman’s.
These 4 guitars were all produced by LaSido now known as Godin.
I’ve repaired a bunch as well, they are very well made especially those made prior to 2005.
BUT, comparing a 70’s Gibson is not a very good representation of a Gibson.
That’s part or the Norlin years of manufacturing. They were without a doubt the worst Gibson’s ever made.
So I believe you could compare that J50 with a Japanese made Yamaha and probably get the same results.
My 2008 S6 Coastline is aging well. It's a short scale cedar top. Closest thing to a J45 for the $350 I paid for it back then.
It's my favorite guitar out of the four that I own.
If I had to replace it, tonally, I'd look at new Gibsons.
I agree with Whip. Good sound is good sound.
Give that Seagull 13 years of hard traveling. She'll open up, and she'll also settle down. She'll never have that Gibson sound, but an aged Seagull has its own sound.
In my mind, the old short-scale Seagulls are kinda' Gibson-esque, though, like I said. Kinda'.
Mine has about done it all in 13 years. It's done most of it well.
The Seagull is an S6
The differnces can be attributed more to the construction materials than the name on the headstock.
Good video, well made. Guitar A is for sure the Gibson.
I agree with your conclusions ( I got it wrong btw). I have a vintage Ibanez acoustic which is a good guitar but doesn't record all that well to my ears. I have a Collings Dread which does (surprise) but I also purchased a little Jasmine OM size acoustic for £79 (about $100) and that records really well.
Totally agree. A good sounding guitar is what it is, no matter whats on the headstock.
I liked the Gibson, because it is bright and I like when a guitar is bright, but if I had to choose between the brands I would go for a Seagull Folk model, that's the guitar that fits to my style the best. I would say in acoustic guitars the top is responsible 70% of the sound, sides, back and neck another 15%, the rest is strings. Sometimes even cheap guitars can sound fantastic with high end strings.
Very cool. I’m a Seagull girl. ☺️✌️
Right on!!!
I put ebony bridge pins in my Seagull and it sounds even better
I know I'm late to this, but thought I'd weigh in. I first thought the Gibson was guitar B, so amazing comparison. After a closer listen, the real difference in these to me may be more due to the age of the Gibson and the glue used to put them together. Even if they both use the same high quality hide glue, the age of the Gibson both due to the glue and the top will allow the sound to flower a bit, which to me was the difference. The Gibson felt like it had more natural compression than the Seagull allowing each note in the chords to have a voice of its own. If you prefer the balance that you get on the Seagull side, that won't matter a ton, and besides, compression is easy to address electronically with a good DI. This type of comparison is great, thanks for doing it!
Did both guitars have same strings?
Good question
Hey! I was right. My ears are more impressive than I would have guessed. Totally agree with your let the sound dictate the fit view.
Thanks scotboyturbo.
Love your videos. Keep it up!
THANKS!
are you guys talking about the M6 cedar top or spruce ? S6 cedar top or spruce ?
I have both and I love my Seagull my Hummingbird I would sell,and it's a cedar one the rustic....
I've played a cedar top S6 Seagull for the last ten years i judge every other guitar I play by how good it plays by my Seagull the sound has even gotten better and still plays like no other guitar
Out of ALL the guitar brands I've owned , I find that my Seagull and my
S and P 6 come alive even more than any other guitar when you put the new strings on them.
There is something about the Cedar Top and Wild Cherry back and sides that just speaks Volumes with new strings
God bless.... I was wrong. I love the seagulls balance and bottom end. Lots of clarity no brassiness
What brand of phosphorus string did you use for the Seagull S6?
D'addario, or ernie ball.......I can't remember.
whip's cheap guitars, Thank you so much!!
Seagull S6 is a beautiful guitar. I bought mine new and never plan to get a different acoustic again. At least not a different brand. Just a beautiful instrument with a great sound. Unbelievable value when you look at Taylor and Martin dreadnought prices and test them out in the store
Couldn't agree more!