Avis aux spécialistes SEAGULL (Godin) : les vieilles Seagull

Thanks for the link poorbs. I went to my sent mail and found the serial number. It's serial #40956, which predates the new dating system according to the link you posted, which means it's older than 1993. I knew it was older as the top is pretty banged up, which is what immediately attracted me to the guitar in the first place. It has soo much character to it lookwise. You can tell the previous owner (owners?) really enjoyed playing it as it is worn in quite well. The sides and back are in excellent shape, as well as the neck (I love the width of the neck by the way). As soon as I picked it up and started playing it just felt "right". The sound is astonishingly full, woody and warm. As I said, it is listed as model "6" which also predates the current model system. I'm sure the s6 is based on this particular model. From the looks of it I would say it came from the mid to later 80's, which means the guitar has been given a chance to age, and what a nice job it's done. Personally I think it sounds way beyond the price I paid for it....like in another galaxy beyond.
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-104591.h[...]html

"For those of you wondering how our serial numbers work, here's a brief explanation:
Starting in '93 we introduced the following system:

First two digits: year - fiscal year beginning August 1st of the year before

next two digits: week of the fiscal year

fifth digit: day of the week

last three digits: rank of instrument made that week

Example: 98113231 would translate as Wednesday, second week of October '97, 231st instrument made.

02361055 would be Monday, first week of April 2002, 55th instrument made."
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/archive/index.php/t-485151.html

In the words of Robert Godin, "Making a good $2,000 guitar is easy. Making a good $200 guitar is hard."

(...) The purpose behind the Seagull guitar was to incorporate such important handcrafted guitar features as solid tops and lacquer finishes in an affordable guitar suitable for use by working musicians. By relying on cedar or spruce tops, rather than a laminate, Seagull produced a richer tone that actually improved with age as the wood loosened up. A genuine lacquer finish was intended to protect the wood while allowing it to vibrate and enjoy the benefits of aging. Other important features of the Seagull were a tapered headstock to facilitate tuning, a double action truss rod in the neck to better compensate for the bowing effect caused by string tension or humidity, maple dowels in the heel to reinforce the neck, and a fully compensated saddle to make sure that the guitar played in-tune throughout the neck.

(...) The company is still keeping a lot of the same attributes that they had in their previous guitars such as a wild cherry color on the back and sides of the guitar, a solid top, and the same distinctive headstock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seagull_%28company%29

Seagull répondent bien aux mails, pas toujours rapidement cependant.
Si tu as donné le numéro de série ils te donneront l'année de fabrication.
Pour la mienne c'était 98 et ils m'avaient aussi donné les bois!

The Godins look and spec the same as D'Addario EJ16 (P/B light) gauge: 53-42-32-24-16-12. I think Godin just re-labels them.

I like the EJ16's or EJ26 Custom Lights - 52-42-32-22-15-11.
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?1908301-What-string[...]l-S6