Seagull Coastline S12 Review (2023)

Build Quality:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:
Average:

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Pros:

• Great Sound
• Affordable
• Electronics

Cons:

• Color scheme not for everyone

Hailing all the way from the warm hearted Canadian, Seagull is one impressive guitar manufacturer. These guys have been producing guitars built by hand for so many years, they have mastered the art of making quality instruments no matter what. Which is why the Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar QI Guitar is one of the best affordable 12 string guitars on the market right now. Let’s take a closer look and figure out the details that make this marvel real.

Body Quality

The dreadnought shape is a requirement for a guitar that has to project the sound of 12 strings in beautiful and meticulous detail. The bulky shape allows for a powerful sound with a great intonation and special emphasis on the bass tones of the guitar. The powerful projection comes especially handy when attempting to fully sound the range of sounds that the 12 string guitar possess.

The top of the guitar is made of solid, pressure tested cedar. This hardwood is especially popular among guitars looking for elevated levels of nuance in the sound they produce. As a result you have highly expressive tops and mids, which on a twelve string guitars becomes an exquisite sound. The back and sides of the guitar are wild cherry. This beautifully colored tonewood is known for its sturdiness and the ability to amplify a wide range of tones. Overall the combination of the tonewoods plays to the strengths of each of the strings on the guitar.

The neck of the guitar of the guitar is silver maple leaf. This wood has a darker colour tone than cedar, but is comparatively lighter than wild cherry. As a result, you get a very interesting blend of the three colors. Maple is known for its sturdiness, and the specially designed neck joint holds its own against the twelve strings and anything the world can throw at the guitar. The fretboard of the guitar is a pleasant, smooth and already well-known rosewood.

Hardware

The bridge of the guitar is rosewood. This tonewood adds nice color contrast to the rest of the design of the guitar, as well as creates an interesting effect on the sound of the guitar. The sound becomes a little more bass inclined, which results in very warm and pleasant tones.

The nut and saddle of the guitar are Tusq. This material is especially popular with mid-range guitars and play a good enough role in this 12 stringer as well. The harmonics of the strings are solid and string buzz, while present, can be barely heard.

The tuners on this guitar, just like on most 12-string guitars, are top notch. This is for a reason. After all, who wants to keep returning all 12 strings every month?

Electronics

One of the more unique elements of this guitar is the fact that it is an acoustic-electric 12-string guitar. It is hard to find these, especially in the price bracket where the Seagull is located. Yet here you are, a 12 stringer with a Godin QI.

The set includes a preamp, an under saddle pickup, a battery terminal, and an endpin jack. You also get a nice, built-in tuner, as well as a set of controls to customize your sound. Very handy to be honest.

Seagull S12 Sound

While the guitar has many options to make is great, the defining characteristic is its sound. The sound itself is rather pleasant, with all 12 strings having a strong, nuanced sound and tone, capable of capturing the hearts and souls of the listeners. Warm but vibrant, the controls on the guitar allow the player to customize one step beyond what a purely acoustic guitar could provide. A great sound indeed.

Conclusion

There are not many deals like this one on the market, currently or ever in the past or future. The clean, warm sound combined with the electronics installed on the guitar, as well as the incredibly affordable price, make this one of the top picks for any musician looking to start playing all 12 of the strings.

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