Seagull S6 Review: Is it the Best Acoustic Guitar for the Money?

Are you looking to buy the S6 Seagull acoustic guitar?

As one of Seagull’s flagship guitars, it’s received some high praise. But is the S6 any good?

With a wealth of acoustic guitars on the market. It’s a challenge to find the right one to suit your needs.

So let’s go into depth. From the build quality, hardware, performance, warranty, and more. This review will leave no stone unturned.

Let’s reveal all with the Seagull S6 review.

About Seagull Guitars

Seagull Guitars was founded by Robert Godin in 1982. They manufacture all of their guitars in and around Quebec, Canada.

From the sourcing of wood to crafting the guitar. The full manufacturing process takes place in North America.

Seagull is an eco-friendly brand. They make their guitars using reclaimed native woods. This helps reduce deforestation and limits the need to import materials.

Seagull is a branch of Godin guitars. Having won awards, the S6 Original is one of their leading guitars.

Seagull S6 Highlights: 

With its classic dreadnought shape and tonal warmth, the S6 Seagull deserves the attention of many guitarists. Let’s look at what we liked and what we didn’t.

What We Liked

• Craftsmanship. Seagull is a brand that pays attention to build quality. The S6 feels like a guitar crafted by a skilled workforce.
• Tone. An all-encompassing acoustic tone. The low end is warm, mids are crisp, while the high end supplies shimmer and sparkle.
• Affordability. Built-in Canada, it’s rare to find a North American-built guitar at this price point.

What We Didn’t Like

• The cedar top sounds great. But it’s softer than spruce, so is more susceptible to denting.
• Wide fingerboard. This could suit some players. Other guitarists with smaller hands may find it a struggle.
• Bearing in mind cedar is a scratch risk, the scratchplate could’ve been bigger. This doesn’t apply to fingerstyles, but if you’re a free-flowing pick user there could be some cosmetic damage in the future.

Seagull S6 Review: Features & Specifications

• Modified dreadnought body shape. The depth of the body reduces towards the neck. This adaptation provides dreadnought tonal qualities but with less boom.
• 1.8″ nut width is ideal for guitarists with larger hands. The string space is roomy.
• Cedar top offers a classic acoustic tone with loud projection.
• TUSQ nut for improved tuning stability.

Seagull S6 Review: Our Insights

So is the S6 Seagull picking up your interest? Let’s break it down and go into detail.

Build Quality

The country of manufacture is a gauge of build quality. They build the S6 Seagull in Canada. A country that’s often overlooked as an instrument maker. So how does it hold up?

The build quality of the S6 Seagull is outstanding. The materials are high quality and all sourced within Canada.

Seagull uses reclaimed wood to reduce deforestation. If you’re concerned about the effect this has on build quality, fear not. The woods are tough and compete with higher-priced guitars.

A solid cedar top with a laminated wild cherry back and sides makes up the body. The solid cedar top is of excellent stock.

Although cedar is more susceptible to scratching and dents than spruce—there’s no penny pinching on this front. Beyond the tonal qualities of cedar, this wood ages faster. So, the maturity in tone will arrive in no time.

Because the back and sides are laminate, you lose a little resonance. The positive spin is that the back and sides are durable. Likewise, the silver leaf maple neck feels robust in the hand.

There’s proof of skilled handcrafting in production. For example, the integrated set neck and the custom polished finish. This guitar has telltale signs of North American build quality.

Hardware and Electronics

Let’s begin with the tuning stability. The S6 Seagull holds its tune like a master. This is down to some clever hardware appointments.

While it might not look important. The nut can make a big difference. String buzz, intonation, and tuning can all suffer from a poor nut.

The Tusq not only allows for sharp sound clarity but it helps to keep the guitar’s tune. The compensated Graphtech saddle adds further stability.

Although the tuning machines are back to basics closed gear tuners, they do their job. And the quality of the saddle and nut ensures reliability.

In its most basic form, the S6 Seagull doesn’t come complete with connectivity. If you’re a gigging musician playing larger venues, you may need this.

In this scenario, consider the upgrade. For some extra dollars, you can get the S6 Seagull complete with QIT electronics.

The Godin QIT system is an acoustic guitar system delivering a top amplified tone. This pickup system maintains the tonal qualities of the acoustic. You have options to sculpt your acoustic tone with the bass and treble controls. Then there’s a volume dial and an onboard tuner.

This system looks tidy. With its gold trim, it looks the part and isn’t oversized. It won’t cause any obstruction while playing.

Sound

Tonewoods are integral to the sound of an acoustic guitar. The sound quality of the S6 Seagull is down to, in no small part, the quality of wood.

The solid cedar top resonates with full, rounded, and warm nuances. But, this guitar isn’t without its sparkle. The wild cherry back and sides supply the treble which shimmers and shines.

As a dreadnought, you can expect the sound to project with loudness. The tapered body shape rounds off any boom sometimes associated with a dreadnought.

Overall, the S6 Seagull offers a well-balanced tone. The careful mix of high and low frequencies makes this guitar versatile across the genres.

Playability

So how’s the playability on the S6 Seagull?

Now is a good time to mention the headstock. The distinctive tapered headstock is a signature of Seagull guitars.

Strings enter the tuning posts without obstruction, you’ll notice improved tuning stability. If you’re a user of alternative tunings, this is a breath of fresh air.

With a nut width of 1.8″, the fretboard airs on the larger end of the scale. The larger nut means there’s ample space between the strings. It’s nice and roomy for players with larger hands.

It’s down to preference. Some guitarists enjoy the space. Others with smaller hands can find it difficult. But all isn’t lost. If you feel you’d enjoy the benefits of a smaller nut. The S6 Original Slim offers all the same qualities but with a smaller 1.72″ nut.

The craftsmanship of the S6 Seagull shines through. The frets feel good and smooth. If they’re not to your liking and a little sharp. This might be a humidity issue and can be fixed by a guitar tech.

The S6 Seagull comes complete with .012-.053 strings. You can always go up or down a gauge. A small shift in gauge requires no adjusting of the truss rod.

There’s no cutaway so if you’re hoping for high fret riffs, this one might not be for you. But overall, the S6 offers an enjoyable playing experience. 

Value

So does the S6 offer value for money?

For a touch above $500, the S6 offers remarkable value for money. You can expect to pay big bucks for a handmade North American guitar. So, the S6 is an anomaly to the rule.

There’s a lot of attention to detail gone into making each guitar and it shows when you play one. Considering the build quality and the well-balanced tone, the S6 is worth much more.

For the green-minded guitarist, there’s some extra value in the S6. The practices at Seagull protect the environment. So this guitar gives you peace of mind.

Seagull S6 Review: Buying Experience

So what else do you need to know?

If you’ve decided the S6 Seagull is for you. Let’s make sure you get the most out of your buy. This information relates to buying from Sweetwater.

Shipping

Guitar shops are great. But sometimes, you can’t beat the ease of buying online.

One problem can be the cost of shipping. There are no issues here. Shipping is fast, free and there are no hidden costs.

Sometimes you want your new guitar yesterday. If you can’t wait, you have the option of next-day delivery. But there’s a fee for this service.

Another good thing about Sweetwater is the 55-point inspection process. Any instrument priced above $299 qualifies for a strict quality check. So the S6 Seagull is ready to play out of the box.

It’s worth mentioning that the S6 Seagull doesn’t come with a case. So for long-term protection, a hard shell is a worthy buy. If you buy this from Sweetwater, they’ll ship the guitar in the case for extra protection.

Warranty

Protecting against defects in materials and workmanship, Seagull offers a lifetime warranty.

So, of course, you’ll want to play the S6 upon arrival. But after the first strum, log onto the Seagull website and register your product.

There’s further protection through Sweetwater. They offer a 2-year warranty for free. While it’s worth reading the policies, you’ll have options should your guitar encounter faults.

There’s no denying the strength of build quality with Seagull guitars. But, mistakes in production happen. Rest assured, the lifetime warranty will cover you.

Return Policy

We often speak of playability as preferential. What if you got the S6, but you didn’t find it to your liking?

This is when you want a return policy. The Sweetwater “no hassle” policy is just the ticket.

If the S6 isn’t for you, you can send it back with no questions asked—it’s that simple.

A few things to note. You’ll have 30 days to decide. Also, they’ll deduct the shipping cost from any refund.

Should You Buy the Seagull S6?

The qualities of this guitar extend to many players. Here are some scenarios where it’s the perfect guitar for you:

• You’ve set up a home studio and want to record a sweet-sounding acoustic guitar.
• You’re a singer-songwriter wanting a warm, full, shimmering acoustic tone to write on.
• You’re a beginner who wants a guitar that’ll meet demands as your skill level progresses.
• You’re an intermediate who’s ready to practice on a guitar that outperforms entry-level picks.
• You’re a budget-conscious professional wanting a guitar to compete with more famous brands but without the cost.
• You want North American build quality but without having to pay thousands of dollars.
• You want to help protect the environment. From recycling wood to the use of hydroelectricity, Seagull is a green company.

Seagull S6 Alternatives

If you’re not sure about the S6 Seagull. Let’s see how it compares to some top alternatives in a similar price bracket.  

Seagull S6 Vs Seagull Entourage 

If you like the idea of a Seagull. The Entourage is a great alternative.

Like the S6, the Entourage guitar is 100% made in Canada. It has the same excellent indigenous woods. 

You can expect a similar style of build quality with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship. And they also made the Entourage guitar with the same respect for the environment.

So where does it differ?

The first striking difference is the color. The Entourage has an Autumn Burst finish. This is Seagull’s take on sunburst. So if you prefer this type of guitar. The aesthetics may sway your decision.

The Entourage uses a solid spruce top while the S6 is solid cedar. Therefore, we hear some differences.

The spruce top guitar chimes more than the cedar on the S6. This helps us see who’d prefer which guitar.

If you want dark, mellow, and warm vibes, the S6 is a champion. It will still project beautiful gleaming high frequencies, but on the whole, it’ll be a fuller tone.

For fingerstyles, the S6 would be more ideal. Whether that’s for recording folk or day-to-day finger playing.

But for a more clear bell-like high frequency the Entourage is your guitar. The Entourage is clear and present.

This is helpful in a band setup. It’s a tone that’ll cut through the noise. For the lead guitarist, the Entourage is available in a cutaway. So, not only will you be heard, but you can also reach those high frets.

Both the S6 and Entourage are fantastic guitars. So let your application decide this one!

Seagull S6 Vs Martin D-X1E

This is tough. See, sometimes the appeal of a Martin is enough to sway decisions. But beyond the name on the headstock, how’s the S6 hold up against acoustic royalty?

First, let’s say that the DX1-E is a low-end Martin. While the build quality is good, the woods are laminates. So, although it’s a durable guitar, it doesn’t have the premium sound of higher-priced models.

But, with the Fishman pickup, the Martin DX-1E has a killer amplified tone. So the decision between these two guitars can again come down to your application.

If you’re a gigging musician, the laminate woods will keep the Martin protected for heavy use. The Fishman pickups are also high quality. Connectivity to PA systems will be effortless and stage sound will be to a good standard.

If you want a studio instrument or a guitar for songwriting. The S6 is responsive and has many tonal layers.

Martin is a big name in acoustic guitars. So sometimes the draw of the name is enough to sway your decision.

But with both guitars at a similar price, down to tone alone—the solid top wood of S6 offers a more rounded sound.

Seagull S6 Vs Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2

Taylor is another brand that excels in the acoustic market. So how does it compare to the S6?

The Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2 has a mahogany top. So expect a tone with a prominent midrange. It’s a tonal characteristic at home in blues and roots genres. 

But the BT2 has a more blatant disparity. It’s a 3/4 size guitar. This has many advantages. If you’re of a smaller build the BT2 is more manageable.

Likewise, if you want to travel with your instrument. Then the BT2 is a superb choice because of its portability. 

These are two great guitars. But both with two unique sounds. The BT2 has presence and midrange. Making it a nice guitar for use with slides.

The S6 is full size and with darker overtones, it’ll sit nicely in classical, folk, and indie. Also, complementing the voice for solo performance.

Truth is, let the size be the guide with this one. The BT2 is an affordable chance to own a Taylor. But if you find a 3/4 size guitar claustrophobic—then it’s the S6 all the way.

The Bottom Line

The Seagull S6 is a stable, lush-sounding instrument. Priced a touch above $500, it has to be in consideration whatever your skill level.

• For professionals looking for a day-to-day guitar that suits fingerstyle playing.
• For intermediates, this is a step up from your average beginner guitar.
• It’s even affordable enough for beginners. The ‘buy your second guitar first’ mentality saves learning on poor cheap-made guitars.

At the price, you will struggle to find a guitar with the same quality of woods and North American build quality.

While it may not have the same prestige as a Taylor or Martin, the S6 is a top performer. Whichever way you decide, happy playing and hope you can now act with some knowledge on the Seagull S6.