My 24 year old Yamaha 12 string has the thick baseball-bat neck design and is pulled so the action is too high now to enjoy playing anymore. But I tried a Taylor model 555 last night and it was so nice, even barre chords were almost effortless. So I've got the hankering for a 12 string again.. But Taylors are a little pricey for my budget right now. Has anyone ever played any "Seagull" guitars?
[ January 30, 2009, 05:33 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Was your Yamaha made in Japan, Korea or somewhere else. Japanese manufactured guitars usually have Japan on the tuning key covers. They are very well made and may be worth getting someone to open it up,straighten it out and reglue the bridge plate. Also Stew Mc has a new tool that can accomplish that without removing the top. Then a neck shave to the thinner shape you like would be possible. If you can get that done for under 250-275, you'd be still be ahead of the game. New guitars of the same model usually don't compare with 25 year old instruments. You may have to spend $500-$600 new, to get the quality you paid half that for in what you have now. Only you know how it sounded before, and how bad it has pulled up. When I laid a straight edge behind the bridge of my 1979 FG-335, I saw it pulled slightly, so I brought it to a friends shop. He looked at it, and I looked at new guitars. They were some that interested me alot, including the Seagulls(nice satin finish and they sound good too), but I was looking at 5 bills to approach the quality of my old beater. My friend said my problem was no that bad. He suggested removing the medium gauge strings and let sit in the closet for a week then go back with light gauge strings or just keep playing it like it was. I thought he was crazy. He gave me drawing of a makeshift clamp to use while it sat. It worked and i've gone back to medium gauge string. With all that being said, if you want a new guitar, go get one. Most Seagulls have solid cedar tops. Look up La-Si-Do, They are one of North America's largest guitar manufactures. They are they mother company of Seagull. They also make Minstel and Simon & Patrick guitars. Seagull is the mid-quality line.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
This may be a little off your topic Wayne as I am not really into guitars but own two vintage electric models. One is a red hollow body Moserite blues guitar ID # 10 and the second is an electric stand up Jazz Bass by Hofner which Hofner says and I quote ' We have never seen one for sale so it would be hard to put a value to it as there weren't too many made ' These that I have are not for sale but just thought I'd mention them.
Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
One of the guys that I used to play some gigs with had a couple of Taylors- sold one of them, then later replaced it with a Seagull- he really liked the way they all played, but the Taylors were kinda pricey. I think he still has a Baby Taylor and the Seagull.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Santo, My Yamaha was made in Japan. It does have a rich tone and I think it actually rings louder than the Taylor I played. It's just such a bugger to play. But I could never part with it because it was a gift from my sweetie. I'm going to check into that tool from SM you mentioned. And thanks for all the great tips!
Joey, I once owned a Hofner hollow body electric which had a built-in pre-amp with several fuzz distortions, a little wah lever you control with your pinky finger and a whammy bar. It was old as the hills but in great condition. You could get some wild sounds out of that contraption.
Thanks Michael, if I can't get my Yamaha back into shape, I might try a Seagull.
[ January 31, 2009, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Wayne, I got stories you wouldn't believe but the Hofner I have is an electric solid body stand up jazz bass which is very rare as less than 100 were made. In the late 60's I owned one of Paul McCartney's Hofner bass which I got from during a visit when I made shirts for rock bands back then. I gave it to my nephew and the rest is history
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Wayne, I have a 23 year old Ibanez, and it used to really test the muscles in my left hand, doing barre-chords, and I used it less & less. The action was just too high.
I tried to fiddle with the steel rod up through the neck, but didn't really know what I was doing, and ended up leaving it alone.
Later I took it to a music shop where the guitar expert there lowered the bridge quite a bit, to allow for the warp in the body, and I don't think he adjusted the neck at all. Anyhow, now it's great, and the repair was all of $35.00
I bought an oldish electric acoustic- can't remember the brand- which sounded good, and the action was great. Once I got the Ibanez back, and started playing it, I was actually amazed at how much nicer the acoustic Ibanez is- you can just hear the better clarity in it. (It was about $700 in the mid 1980s)
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Hey, what do y'all think about a guitar-panel swap??
You can find old (unplayable) acoustic guitars at yard sales and thrift stores all the time for like $3-$8 bux. Would'nt it be fun to paint 'em up and swap em!! If you cai'nt find one, you could always paint one on a panel or cut-out sumthin' . . .
just an idear . . .
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
Wayne, I have played a Seagull, It is a nice guitar. I know Taylor is a bit pricey but I highly recommend Taylor Guitars. I own a black DDSM Taylor and I absolutely LOVE it! I also own a Taylor 810 and a Baby Taylor. My guitar of choice for the stage is the DDSM because of it's pick-up system which is Hex Pick-ups by LR Baggs.(each string has it's own Hex pick-up.) I play it through a Bose L1 system
It has great definition and plays like a dream
I liked it so much when I played it that I traded my 1977 Martin Herringbone-28. A fine guitar only appreciates in value.
For bluegrass pickin' try Taylor's new GS series of acoustic guitars. The body style is grand auditorium.
Below is the DDSM Series...
[ January 31, 2009, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I'd like to see that bass, Joey. Bet it's worth alot. My son, Jon, owns a 3/4 size and is pretty good on standup bass. He also plays an Ibanez acoustic/electric.
Sheila, If I ever get to have a meet down here, you and that sneaky Mr. Boone better keep your brushes away from my guitars. Yeah...that sounds like a cool idea.
Ian, Im glad you got your Ibanez in good shape, that gives me hope for my old Yamaha. I just pulled it out of the case awhile ago it does sound great. Nothing like the natural aging process.
Mark, my son Jon wants a Martin D28. Right now he plays an Alvarez. Thanks for the info on the Seagull and the Taylors.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Wayne,
a friend handed me his 40(?) year old Takamine elec-acoustic to hold for a bit at a concert, and I played it a bit: I've NEVER felt a better instrument- when he dies, I hope he leaves it to me!
I've used three newish Matons- they're very popular here, famous, and pricey- and their owners love them (maybe they convince themselves they're good because of the price paid???) but honestly, my old Ibanez leaves them for dead!
Perhaps the old Matons were great, but these newish ones have more 'I'm cool, look at my Maton' value than actual well-designed quality, in my opinion, and I'm no expert whatsoever- just judging it on comfort, ease of playing & sound.
But that Takamine...it was a beauty!
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
Hey... I can actually answer this post!!
Back about 20 years ago, when I was married to Jon and my daughter was about 2 years old, we went up to Canada with the dogs for a flyball tournament.
While there, Jon HAD to go to the local music store (he is an amazingly talented musician and singer - thank goodness Emily took after him! LOL!)
He played a Seagull and was extremely impressed (this coming from the guy with the custom made Olson guitars).
Ended up buying it. Back then I played as well, and when we split up, he kept all the instruments (guitars, bass, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, dobro, fiddles, etc) but I wanted a guitar, so I kept the Seagull.
It's a fabulous guitar for the money. Emily plays it every once in a while here, and has held up beautifully over the years.
I even brought it to Mazeppa and had DeWayne put some feathers on it, and Dave the Letterman striped it (then, of course, DeWayne signed their names INSIDE one of the stripes!)
Went and took a look... it's a 6 string, single cut-away, Model S(6) C.W. Serial #27317.
Two thumbs up from here!
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Ian. I told you wrong. Jon's acoustic/electric bass is a Takamine. It's a nice instrument for sure.
Thanks Dana, I'm going to have to try one of those Seagulls.
Posted by Mr Curtis Dalton (Member # 7547) on :
I played a six string Seagull about two months ago... it was amazing! Fiddled with some Neil Young and then strummed Metallica's "Seek & Destroy" really hard to try and knock it outta tune... it didn't work.. it stayed in perfect tune. The store owner took it back and asked me not to touch the instruments.
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Yeah...that sounds like a cool idea.