I like the clarity of the Artist Mosaic but the Maritime seemed louder which I also like. I have a 2 year old Artist Mosaic, cedar top and mahogany back/sides. Wonderful guitar 👌.
I have owned both and the artist was better. I put a 1.8 bone nut(which widening string spacing just have to sand the ends down a bit) and bone compensate saddle with good D'addario xs 11 gauge strings. Tusq sucks as a saddle
Yup, got the cedar topped Artist dreadnought, but also a spruce topped SWS. They compare very well with far more expensive guitars. I also own a vintage Martin D28 which is a class apart, but I love the Seagulls (got a folk parlour too). Got one in every room in the house that I want to play in so there's always one to pick up.
@@williampinnock2256 awesome! This is my only Seagull but I love it. The only thing I don't like about mine is the Element pickup. So I removed it and I'm gonna install a K&K Pure mini over the holidays. I also have top quality Yamaha acoustic guitars. Both the FS5 and FG5 and they are incredible guitars! The Seagull Artist Mosaic can't keep up with the power of the FG5 but instead there is that special cedar warmth in the Seagull. All great guitars.
Great review. I've recently discovered these Seagull guitars and they are brilliant, so much guitar for your money. Easily compete with Martins and Taylors in my opinion.
Wonderful review, thank you ! I bought a Seagull Maritime EQ two weeks ago. I'm really impressed by the guitar's sound and feel. It handles rock, funk and bluegrass playing amazingly. Its sound is quite loud, which I like (louder than my Larrivee D-03R). It's hard to believe Seagull is able to put such quality and refinement in a guitar of that price. Merci Seagull, Merci Godin.
Bought my Maritime eight years ago, and can,t take it off my hands, definitly a Winner, also bought a Norman B-20 12 strings, made by Godin guitars, i,ll keep them forever, thanks for testing these two quality guitars.
Top notch, superb review and comparison my friend. Thank you so much. Had an Original S6 for years and regrettably sold it. Now I’m looking for an all solid wood and these 2 are my final choice. Thank you for doing this.
Thank you for posting this review. I owned an Artist Mosaic and it was a great guitar. I regretfully sold it and I do miss having it but I was lucky enough to find a Maritime SWS Ch on line for a great price . I'm looking forward to its arrival and can't wait to play and hear/feel the differences/similarities to the Artist.
I bought the Maritime, and found a cosmetic defect which Godin guitars promptly replaced with another Maritime that sounded even better than the one I returned. With acoustics, No two are alike , even between the same model. That being said, in the store the day I bought the Maritime, it didn’t sound 600$ dollars cheaper than the Artist. But it did sound better than the comparable Taylor and Martins in the same price range. And it’s made in my home province and supports our guitar builders, so it was all a win-win.
@@mdoucette45 The SWS has a wider neck than a Taylor, but I believe they offer a narrower neck as well. I have the wider one and it's not what I'm used to, but it's great for fretting while finger picking. If I had big hands it would be ideal. Best thing about this guitar is it never goes out of tune.
I've owned a Seagull S6 original for about 12 years, and just a few days ago upgraded to the Artist Mosaic EQ (cedar top). I love how it feels and plays. I also like the lighter weight of solid wood construction. I've played a few solid wood guitars, but only briefly. The sound this guitar produces is absolutely excellent for the price. I'm sure I will be very happy with this instrument for quite some time.
Just curious, where did you come across the cedar top for this guitar? I can't seem to find any other than spruce and I've been looking fervently. Is it a used Seagull that you got?
@@derekchip1684 I bought it brand new from Instrumental Music & Sound, in Ludington, MI. I didn't notice if they had any other in stock, it's worth giving them a call though. They will ship. According to the guys at that store the Artist line is no longer in production. I don't play with a pick, so the bigger bass and mids that the cedar top produces sound great with fingernails.
@@derekchip1684 My guitar is just like this one in this demo from Sweetwater th-cam.com/video/ualPHR8itBc/w-d-xo.html , except mine has the pickup and electronics all hidden. There's no box in the side like this QII setup. There's just a little volume and tone dial hidden behind the sound hole. Sorry, I'm completely unfamiliar with electronics. I only play acoustically for myself.
🎉 Godin guitars acoustic or electric are fantastic! Quality and sound and quality of craft are top . Thank you for the wonderful presentation. Greetings from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 😎
One of the key differences between the two guitars is the nut width. The Maritime is wider at 1.8 inches vs 1.7. I've got a Seagull S6 with the 1.8 inch nut and there is a bit more room for chording and finger picking, especially if you have larger hands.
This is helpful. Would love to see a comparison like this for the Mosaic and the Metropolis since they are similar in price and at the top of Godin/Seagull's series. And hear which one you think is a bigger bang for your buck.
I'll see what I can do. I'm not sure if in a video you could pick out a whole lot of difference. They sound very similar, since it is the same bracing. It's just the look and feel that is quite different. Especially the neck shape. The metropolis neck profile is deeper and rounder.
I;ve owned Godin;s / Seagulls / Art Luthieries / Si mon Patrick and their fine electric guitars too and still have some . I think my nest one will be the Maritime SWS . What great Canadian guitar Company Robert Godin created .
I was at our local music store today and was delighted to discover they had the Seagull Maritime guitar in stock. It sounded great. I have to admit its sound compares favorably with my Martin D-35 but at a much lower price point. Is my D-35 better? Yes. But the difference is so small I find it hard to justify the price differential. (D-35 $3,099 - $749 for the Seagull)
I bought the Artist EQ today april 17th. 3 years ago i sold my Martin accoustic eq and my fendewr telecaster and amp, but i regret having done that. was longing to get a new guitar so i liked the artist EQ came with a good carry case (Tric). has a nice sound . Need to get my finger memory back now. :)
Nice demo Roger... both sound great! As many of us will play on stage plugged in to a board, maybe you could do a shorter video, comparing them thru pickup systems, no close mic or room mic? Just two minutes each, Anthem at 50 / 50? Thanks for reading!
Thank you so much for this video. I am a big fan of Seagull guitars, and only own a S6 Original, which I purchased a year ago. It is so good for the price. And I have owned a couple of Martin D28’s through the years and was forced to sell them. After listening to these two guitars compared side by side, I guess I need to save up for the Maritime. I preferred that guitar over the Seagull Artist.
We have a local artist Mark Domonico who plays a Mariitime and the sound is awesome! I recently played an Artist series and was blown away by the warm tone as well as the beauty of the guitar with the inlays! I have an S-6 original that I love but the Artist series sounded as good as any Martin I have ever played! I also have a Taylor 414ce and I did a comparison in the music store ( on their Amp) and it seemed like the Taylor gave me more tone control with the Expression 1 system! Most comparisons rate the LR Baggs as superior but would love to hear a comparison between them! In any case- this is a wonderfully warm sounding guitar that is gorgeous! And the price is certainly worthy of giving it consideration!
Thanks so much! I have had several similar inquiries about the demo tune. I am glad you like it. At this time I don’t have any tabs for it. I might do a tutorial sometime soon. Cheers. Roger
I have a Coastline Momentum, which I love - Seagull brings so much guitar to the table for the price. These two both sound great, just different. My ears slightly prefer the sound of the the Maritime. Thanks for the comparison!
I've owned several Seagulls. Currently, I have an S6 Original CH CW and a Seagull Performer. The S6 is their most popular model, and it's not because of price. It's because it's the sweetest one. I'll try every guitar on the wall, and none are as sweet as my S6. Love love love it. I have the Performer, which is a spruce top, with maple back and sides. Costs a lot more than the S6. But again -- I'll take the S6 anytime, hands down. In fact, I may just get rid of my Seagull Performer, because compared to the S6, I just don't enjoy it. The Performer is a lot louder and brighter than the S6. The S6 is much sweeter and woodier.
As a singer songwriter with a higher (1st tenor) voice, I actually prefer the warmer, bassier, fuller sound of the Maritime, because it would blend better with my voice. And for $600 more (lets call it $500 as it comes with the case) the Artist's extra appointments don't justify the much higher sticker price, IMO. Both, very nice guitars though.
So I bought the SWS Maritime Cutaway and it is well beyond its price point. I’m more a heavier handed player. Rock style mostly and this thing takes anything I give it. Which isn’t much but I do go hard at times. The electronics are more than fine for my needs. Haven’t found anything I would change. The lack of a case means absolutely nothing to me. You can find excellent hard cases second hand or new for less than $100 anytime you look. Highly recommend the SWS Maritime to anyone wanting an all solid wood North American made acoustic. I did find that it responds differently to different strings. I put Eixirs on when I first got it and it sounded very good. About a month later I put Martin Strings on and it sounded GREAT. To my ears, this is very comparable to a Martin costing 2-3x the money. I know because I have a Martin D35 and a Martin GPCPA4. It sounds better than the GOCPA4 but not as rich as the D35. Totally expected because of the bracing of the D35. To my ears, no other guitar sounds like a D35.
Which one of these would you recommend for Jazz (yes, I know, but they have the 1.8" nut and I have giant hands / really long fingers). How do they compare to the basic S6? I played that one at Guitar Center Hollywood and thought it was great. Which top do you prefer - cedar or spruce? Excellent playing! Thanks, Jeff Newton
What an excellent review! Thank you for the complete research and for playing, realy honest and quite precise. I would like to have your opinion about buying Seagull, because I want to buy one and I can afford till 800€. I do trully like the sound of the Maritime, but should I spend the money on it or instead are better options like the S6, the Coastline, the Entourage or another of this range, usually cheaper all of them than the Maritime? Thank you in advance. Merry Christmas from Madrid, Spain.
Agree with your observations. The Artist is sweeter and refined, the Maritime is bolder and more forward sounding. I am a Rock/Blues/R&B guy and the Maritime ticks the box for me. I also prefer the more "rugged" look. #nobadchoices
I love Seagull guitars bright tone and they are some of the loudest guitars available, just a wall of sound! In my opinion they sound as good or better then the big boys like Martin, Taylor and Gibson!
Hey Baby, I think the Maritime is better to me. Some ppls said the Artist is more clear or bright, but I think Maritime has more sound and lows, and can also get clear and high when you need it. In any case, I also think other than the cosmetics, they could have been priced the same. Just give people choice instead of trying to see the $ to $ differences. You feel me?
i tried both recently at the store. the maritime was acoustically superior than artist atleast to me. but when plugged in the artist had it defeated by a mile because of the anthem pickup.
I think I like the Maritime. At about :10..., the guitar sounded like something between a piano and a harpsichord, and ringing like a bell. Gorgeous tone. My '93 S-6 is very well seasoned by now. I like the Ernie Ball 80/ 20s lights or extra lights. Medium strings ruin the tone of my Seagull and phosphor bronze don't do it any justice either. I learned my lesson as far as that goes. Seagull is no doubt to me the best bang for your buck acoustic guitar.
Hello, I had emailed an inquiry regarding the Maritime Seagull and I had not heard back. I'd like to know if they are still available , if so, does this particular Maritime have a wide neck or a tradition width neck? May I ask Roger, do you prefer wider or traditional for finger picking? Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
SPOT ON WITH YOUR CONCISE REVIEW. I KEPT COMING BACK TO THE MARITIME AS IT IS MORE MARTIN LIKE; HOWEVER, THE ARTIST PERHAPS GIBSON LIKE AS YOU SAID . I DON'T THINK THE ARTIST IS WORTH THE JUMP UP IN PRICE WHEN YOU CAN NOW BUY MARTIN'S FROM THE FACTORY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A COMPARISON OF A MARTIN COMPARABLE TO THE ARTIST HOW THEY SOUND WITH PRICING. I ENJOYED YOUR REVIEW AND PLAYING.
You can't even compare (although don't get me wrong, im glad you did) but the Artist Mosaic just sounds way better. It's more open and airy and clear. Sparkly, expressive and articulate. The other one .. albeit beautiful as it is, sounds like an excellent midrange guitar. It's a bit warmer, more "down to earth .. but also more narrow, closed in .. *yellow sounding - not as balanced, not as rich. it's more unbalanced and dead sounding compared to the A.M. Both great, but the artist mosaic is the clear winner. It's a stunner.
Wow I can definitely hear a more vibrant tone from the Artist EQ. Maybe it's just the video but I can't hear a difference in raw power from either guitar. I recently purchased a recording king rd 328 solid rosewood guitar but its not even that loud lol. I'm trying to sell it and buy something that will actually give me a big f** punch!
nothing to do with these models but i have a 30 yr old s12 that sounds better than the day i got it. I'll never get rid of it and it's a great compliment with my martin
Wow both are so impressive. While not Martin guitars, who cares? They had articulation, they look comfortable in your playing style, and had excellent warmth and not the tinny trebles I despise. Great balance but enough warmth to put them in the category of higher end preference. They would record well.
I would love to try the Artist Mosaic -- but the nut width is only 1.72". I have a Seagull Performer, and an S6, because I need the wider nut, at 1.8". They both have laminate bodies. I really want a Seagull with solid wood back and sides -- but with the wider nut, at 1.8". AND it cannot be a dreadnought; I prefer a Concert Hall or Auditorium body. And as I understand it, Seagull does not offer that combination, is that right? (Solid top, solid body, 1.8" nut, and Concert Hall shape.)
You’d have to buy older Artist, they use to have 1.8”, the new ones have 1.72”. It’s a shame they don’t have more variety with the Artist series, they have currently 3 models and all have same wood combinations and same nut width. I look at some older models and they attract me more.
@@jbc22112 It may be that the Artist Mosaic (mahogany) has 1.71, while the Artist Studio (rosewood) has 1.8. I wonder whether they have the same bracing, though.
@@daedalusjones4228 Yes but that’s not any of the current models they offer, all the Artist guitars are now mahagony. And who knows when they release a new line up. I’ve been looking at their website since 2021 and the only new guitar was just released last week and that’s the original S6. It’s possible the new line up will be rosewood, but you’ll have to wait, or buy used older model.
Artist was smoother and not as tinny. I guess I shouldn't say tinny but can't find the right word. I have a Maritime Rosewood back and sides, nice guitar but like the Artist better. The price jump is not a factor in purchasing.
Deal breaker on these guitars are the richlite fingerboard, and the stupidest spot for a strap button. Heel would have been better. Otherwise,they sound great! That's why own a Performer, Grand Parlor, S6 and 12, and mini jumbo. The last 4 have cedar tops! Oh yeah, I forgot the Excursion.
I see that I commented a year ago and have become better. I sold my Maritime sws cw gt q1t like an idiot just when it was sounding better and better Everytime I played it. I put a bid on artist peppino. The artist series is the better and that was before their new optimized bracing system. But, I gotta say for the same price you can get a ZAD80. It's better than anything else of all acoustic guitars USA. But, spoiler alert. Zagar Guitar International is not made in America
Do not buy a gordin seagull there throw away guitars, the neck is epoxy to the body unable to do a neck reset plus the neck to body construction is poorly designed I have a seagull sws and so pissed off no one will do a neck rest the cost is more than the guitar is worth if they don’t destroy the guitar trying to do it
Don't buy a Seagull. I bought an S6, which I rarely played. The first time I went to change strings, the little white plastic washers under the tuning keys were broken. Clearly, the keys had been torqued much too tightly during assembly, but Seagull refused to send me a new set of those washers. Multiple emails to the company about the issue have been ignored. They would rather lose a customer than send out a set of plastic washers that cost them pennies. This is the very definition of arrogant, apathetic customer service. They do not deserve your business. Buy another brand.
I love that headstock. I guess im one with those who can handle change .. plus the pointed headstock helps these guitars stay in tune. I'd say that's an invaluable feature
I like the recognizable headstock, but I've only ever owned guitars from Seagull. It always makes me smile when I see another Seagull player out in the wild.
It is not a cosmetic or marketing idea, it is actually designed to do 2 things. The first is the the strings do not change direction through the nut which is supposed to improve sound. The second is they do not tilt back and have chance of surviving a fall.
I like the clarity of the Artist Mosaic but the Maritime seemed louder which I also like. I have a 2 year old Artist Mosaic, cedar top and mahogany back/sides. Wonderful guitar 👌.
Thanks for sharing!
I have owned both and the artist was better. I put a 1.8 bone nut(which widening string spacing just have to sand the ends down a bit) and bone compensate saddle with good D'addario xs 11 gauge strings. Tusq sucks as a saddle
Yup, got the cedar topped Artist dreadnought, but also a spruce topped SWS. They compare very well with far more expensive guitars. I also own a vintage Martin D28 which is a class apart, but I love the Seagulls (got a folk parlour too). Got one in every room in the house that I want to play in so there's always one to pick up.
@@williampinnock2256 awesome! This is my only Seagull but I love it. The only thing I don't like about mine is the Element pickup. So I removed it and I'm gonna install a K&K Pure mini over the holidays. I also have top quality Yamaha acoustic guitars. Both the FS5 and FG5 and they are incredible guitars! The Seagull Artist Mosaic can't keep up with the power of the FG5 but instead there is that special cedar warmth in the Seagull. All great guitars.
Great review. I've recently discovered these Seagull guitars and they are brilliant, so much guitar for your money. Easily compete with Martins and Taylors in my opinion.
Quite definitely.
Wonderful review, thank you ! I bought a Seagull Maritime EQ two weeks ago. I'm really impressed by the guitar's sound and feel. It handles rock, funk and bluegrass playing amazingly. Its sound is quite loud, which I like (louder than my Larrivee D-03R). It's hard to believe Seagull is able to put such quality and refinement in a guitar of that price. Merci Seagull, Merci Godin.
What a great review!! A person cannot go wrong with either one but I would like select the Maritime. I really like that sound.
Bought my Maritime eight years ago, and can,t take it off my hands, definitly a Winner, also bought a Norman B-20 12 strings, made by Godin guitars, i,ll keep them forever, thanks for testing these two quality guitars.
Top notch, superb review and comparison my friend. Thank you so much. Had an Original S6 for years and regrettably sold it. Now I’m looking for an all solid wood and these 2 are my final choice. Thank you for doing this.
Thank you for posting this review. I owned an Artist Mosaic and it was a great guitar. I regretfully sold it and I do miss having it but I was lucky enough to find a Maritime SWS Ch on line for a great price . I'm looking forward to its arrival and can't wait to play and hear/feel the differences/similarities to the Artist.
I bought the Maritime, and found a cosmetic defect which Godin guitars promptly replaced with another Maritime that sounded even better than the one I returned. With acoustics, No two are alike , even between the same model. That being said, in the store the day I bought the Maritime, it didn’t sound 600$ dollars cheaper than the Artist. But it did sound better than the comparable Taylor and Martins in the same price range. And it’s made in my home province and supports our guitar builders, so it was all a win-win.
How does the neck of a seagull play compared to a Taylor with a super playable neck?
@@mdoucette45 The SWS has a wider neck than a Taylor, but I believe they offer a narrower neck as well. I have the wider one and it's not what I'm used to, but it's great for fretting while finger picking. If I had big hands it would be ideal. Best thing about this guitar is it never goes out of tune.
Excellent review and your opinion at the end. Thank you so much
Many Thanks
I've owned a Seagull S6 original for about 12 years, and just a few days ago upgraded to the Artist Mosaic EQ (cedar top). I love how it feels and plays. I also like the lighter weight of solid wood construction. I've played a few solid wood guitars, but only briefly. The sound this guitar produces is absolutely excellent for the price. I'm sure I will be very happy with this instrument for quite some time.
Just curious, where did you come across the cedar top for this guitar? I can't seem to find any other than spruce and I've been looking fervently. Is it a used Seagull that you got?
@@derekchip1684 I bought it brand new from Instrumental Music & Sound, in Ludington, MI. I didn't notice if they had any other in stock, it's worth giving them a call though. They will ship. According to the guys at that store the Artist line is no longer in production. I don't play with a pick, so the bigger bass and mids that the cedar top produces sound great with fingernails.
@@derekchip1684 My guitar is just like this one in this demo from Sweetwater th-cam.com/video/ualPHR8itBc/w-d-xo.html , except mine has the pickup and electronics all hidden. There's no box in the side like this QII setup. There's just a little volume and tone dial hidden behind the sound hole. Sorry, I'm completely unfamiliar with electronics. I only play acoustically for myself.
🎉 Godin guitars acoustic or electric are fantastic! Quality and sound and quality of craft are top . Thank you for the wonderful presentation. Greetings from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 😎
Please review the Artist Mosaic Concert Hall CW Bourbon Burst GT next.
One of the key differences between the two guitars is the nut width. The Maritime is wider at 1.8 inches vs 1.7. I've got a Seagull S6 with the 1.8 inch nut and there is a bit more room for chording and finger picking, especially if you have larger hands.
Both guitars are beautiful 💕
Wishing to own this guitar someday 🙏
Regards from Philippines!
I have played both and I like the Artist Mosaic CW EQ GT Q1T the best
This is helpful. Would love to see a comparison like this for the Mosaic and the Metropolis since they are similar in price and at the top of Godin/Seagull's series. And hear which one you think is a bigger bang for your buck.
I'll see what I can do. I'm not sure if in a video you could pick out a whole lot of difference. They sound very similar, since it is the same bracing. It's just the look and feel that is quite different. Especially the neck shape. The metropolis neck profile is deeper and rounder.
@@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener Oh good to know, appreciate the reply thank you.
For me The Metropolis is the top-shelf for the entire Godin line, it's amazing
I;ve owned Godin;s / Seagulls / Art Luthieries / Si mon Patrick and their fine electric guitars too and still have some . I think my nest one will be the Maritime SWS . What great Canadian guitar Company Robert Godin created .
I was at our local music store today and was delighted to discover they had the Seagull Maritime guitar in stock. It sounded great. I have to admit its sound compares favorably with my Martin D-35 but at a much lower price point. Is my D-35 better? Yes. But the difference is so small I find it hard to justify the price differential. (D-35 $3,099 - $749 for the Seagull)
My Godin Metropolis LTD is easily as good as my D28.
@@trenthogan4212 Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely check out the Godin Metropolis LTD before making my next guitar purchase. 🧐
I bought the Artist EQ today april 17th. 3 years ago i sold my Martin accoustic eq and my fendewr telecaster and amp, but i regret having done that. was longing to get a new guitar so i liked the artist EQ came with a good carry case (Tric). has a nice sound . Need to get my finger memory back now. :)
Sooooo awesome. Both sound great. Either would work awesome in my studio. What a great guitar. Both!!!!!
Nice demo Roger... both sound great! As many of us will play on stage plugged in to a board, maybe you could do a shorter video, comparing them thru pickup systems, no close mic or room mic? Just two minutes each, Anthem at 50 / 50? Thanks for reading!
That's a good idea. I'll see if I can get that done. Cheers.
Thank you so much for this video. I am a big fan of Seagull guitars, and only own a S6 Original, which I purchased a year ago. It is so good for the price. And I have owned a couple of Martin D28’s through the years and was forced to sell them. After listening to these two guitars compared side by side, I guess I need to save up for the Maritime. I preferred that guitar over the Seagull Artist.
@Lily Cat ....The Maritime is significantly less than the Artist Mosaic.
Thanks. You are very welcome.
For my level the Maritime is more than enough
We have a local artist Mark Domonico who plays a Mariitime and the sound is awesome! I recently played an Artist series and was blown away by the warm tone as well as the beauty of the guitar with the inlays! I have an S-6 original that I love but the Artist series sounded as good as any Martin I have ever played! I also have a Taylor 414ce and I did a comparison in the music store ( on their Amp) and it seemed like the Taylor gave me more tone control with the Expression 1 system! Most comparisons rate the LR Baggs as superior but would love to hear a comparison between them! In any case- this is a wonderfully warm sounding guitar that is gorgeous! And the price is certainly worthy of giving it consideration!
Roger, I love the tune you play. Do you have tabs for it? Great demos and commentary! Thank you!
Thanks so much! I have had several similar inquiries about the demo tune. I am glad you like it. At this time I don’t have any tabs for it. I might do a tutorial sometime soon. Cheers. Roger
@@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener Thanks so much for the reply! I'm very grateful! The tune is beautiful. :)
@@nathanswenson-reinhold7209 Thanks again. Roger
I have a Coastline Momentum, which I love - Seagull brings so much guitar to the table for the price. These two both sound great, just different. My ears slightly prefer the sound of the the Maritime. Thanks for the comparison!
Hi Roger. Could you compare the tones of Artist Mosaic and Metropolis LTD pls? Are they similar in tone?
Great playing. Love the instrumental song. I prefer the sound of the Maritime. Both nice.
I like both guitars, they are different in tone but each has its own thing going
I've owned several Seagulls. Currently, I have an S6 Original CH CW and a Seagull Performer.
The S6 is their most popular model, and it's not because of price.
It's because it's the sweetest one.
I'll try every guitar on the wall, and none are as sweet as my S6.
Love love love it.
I have the Performer, which is a spruce top, with maple back and sides. Costs a lot more than the S6.
But again -- I'll take the S6 anytime, hands down.
In fact, I may just get rid of my Seagull Performer, because compared to the S6, I just don't enjoy it.
The Performer is a lot louder and brighter than the S6. The S6 is much sweeter and woodier.
As a singer songwriter with a higher (1st tenor) voice, I actually prefer the warmer, bassier, fuller sound of the Maritime, because it would blend better with my voice. And for $600 more (lets call it $500 as it comes with the case) the Artist's extra appointments don't justify the much higher sticker price, IMO. Both, very nice guitars though.
So I bought the SWS Maritime Cutaway and it is well beyond its price point. I’m more a heavier handed player. Rock style mostly and this thing takes anything I give it. Which isn’t much but I do go hard at times. The electronics are more than fine for my needs. Haven’t found anything I would change. The lack of a case means absolutely nothing to me. You can find excellent hard cases second hand or new for less than $100 anytime you look. Highly recommend the SWS Maritime to anyone wanting an all solid wood North American made acoustic. I did find that it responds differently to different strings. I put Eixirs on when I first got it and it sounded very good. About a month later I put Martin Strings on and it sounded GREAT. To my ears, this is very comparable to a Martin costing 2-3x the money. I know because I have a Martin D35 and a Martin GPCPA4. It sounds better than the GOCPA4 but not as rich as the D35. Totally expected because of the bracing of the D35. To my ears, no other guitar sounds like a D35.
Great video! To me, the Artist sounded quite different. Sounds more three-dimensional than the Maritime.
Gulls rock for the price and I'll be seeing you soon !!! My Coastline need a partner
Get one while they last! We do have some inventory at this time, but Covid has put the factory way behind on delivery times.
Fantastic comparison video and you are a great player.
Excellent report. Thanks.
But I’d definitely spend the extra $$$ for the Mosaic EQ, especially since it has the amazing LR Baggs Anthem already installed.
The Normans are nice. Used to see 'em at Manny's Music, off of Times Square.
Nicely done. Convinced me.
Which one of these would you recommend for Jazz (yes, I know, but they have the 1.8" nut and I have giant hands / really long fingers). How do they compare to the basic S6? I played that one at Guitar Center Hollywood and thought it was great. Which top do you prefer - cedar or spruce? Excellent playing! Thanks, Jeff Newton
Artist to my ears
What an excellent review! Thank you for the complete research and for playing, realy honest and quite precise.
I would like to have your opinion about buying Seagull, because I want to buy one and I can afford till 800€.
I do trully like the sound of the Maritime, but should I spend the money on it or instead are better options like the S6, the Coastline, the Entourage or another of this range, usually cheaper all of them than the Maritime?
Thank you in advance.
Merry Christmas from Madrid, Spain.
Thanks so much. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
This is all solid wood. Those others you mentioned are layered back and sides. For the small price difference, go all solid if you can
@@mikepj1025 Oh! Thank you for answering. Finaly I bought the Maritime some months ago and I feel absolutely happy with it.
Agree with your observations. The Artist is sweeter and refined, the Maritime is bolder and more forward sounding. I am a Rock/Blues/R&B guy and the Maritime ticks the box for me. I also prefer the more "rugged" look. #nobadchoices
I have an older SWS mine has a pickguard and rosewood fretboard and bridge. Mine after 12 years of play sounds more like a d18.
Excellent review- would have liked you to strum a bit harder - to see when it breaks up a bit-
Thanks. Fair point. Cheers.
Roger
I love Seagull guitars bright tone and they are some of the loudest guitars available, just a wall of sound! In my opinion they sound as good or better then the big boys like Martin, Taylor and Gibson!
Finally a comparison thata bot not an audition for a gig somewhere. Yes, professional people are better at their jobs.
Thank you kindly! Cheers. Roger
Hey Baby, I think the Maritime is better to me. Some ppls said the Artist is more clear or bright, but I think Maritime has more sound and lows, and can also get clear and high when you need it. In any case, I also think other than the cosmetics, they could have been priced the same. Just give people choice instead of trying to see the $ to $ differences. You feel me?
i tried both recently at the store. the maritime was acoustically superior than artist atleast to me. but when plugged in the artist had it defeated by a mile because of the anthem pickup.
I think I like the Maritime. At about :10..., the guitar sounded like something between a piano and a harpsichord, and ringing like a bell. Gorgeous tone.
My '93 S-6 is very well seasoned by now. I like the Ernie Ball 80/ 20s lights or extra lights. Medium strings ruin the tone of my Seagull and phosphor bronze don't do it any justice either. I learned my lesson as far as that goes.
Seagull is no doubt to me the best bang for your buck acoustic guitar.
Many thanks!!
Hello,
I had emailed an inquiry regarding the Maritime Seagull and I had not heard back. I'd like to know if they are still available , if so, does this particular Maritime have a wide neck or a tradition width neck? May I ask Roger, do you prefer wider or traditional for finger picking? Any response would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
SPOT ON WITH YOUR CONCISE REVIEW. I KEPT COMING BACK TO THE MARITIME AS IT IS MORE MARTIN LIKE; HOWEVER, THE ARTIST PERHAPS GIBSON LIKE AS YOU SAID . I DON'T THINK THE ARTIST IS WORTH THE JUMP UP IN PRICE WHEN YOU CAN NOW BUY MARTIN'S FROM THE FACTORY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A COMPARISON OF A MARTIN COMPARABLE TO THE ARTIST HOW THEY SOUND WITH PRICING. I ENJOYED YOUR REVIEW AND PLAYING.
You can't even compare (although don't get me wrong, im glad you did) but the Artist Mosaic just sounds way better. It's more open and airy and clear. Sparkly, expressive and articulate. The other one .. albeit beautiful as it is, sounds like an excellent midrange guitar. It's a bit warmer, more "down to earth .. but also more narrow, closed in .. *yellow sounding - not as balanced, not as rich. it's more unbalanced and dead sounding compared to the A.M.
Both great, but the artist mosaic is the clear winner. It's a stunner.
Thanks for taking the time to listen and then share your impressions. Cheers. Roger
Wow I can definitely hear a more vibrant tone from the Artist EQ. Maybe it's just the video but I can't hear a difference in raw power from either guitar. I recently purchased a recording king rd 328 solid rosewood guitar but its not even that loud lol. I'm trying to sell it and buy something that will actually give me a big f** punch!
easily the artist EQ .. perfect sounding guitar
Thanks for sharing your impressions.
nothing to do with these models but i have a 30
yr old s12 that sounds better than the day i got it. I'll never get rid of it and it's a great compliment with my martin
Wow both are so impressive. While not Martin guitars, who cares? They had articulation, they look comfortable in your playing style, and had excellent warmth and not the tinny trebles I despise. Great balance but enough warmth to put them in the category of higher end preference. They would record well.
Artist sounds more refined. Though that's not always what I'm looking for.
I would love to try the Artist Mosaic -- but the nut width is only 1.72".
I have a Seagull Performer, and an S6, because I need the wider nut, at 1.8".
They both have laminate bodies.
I really want a Seagull with solid wood back and sides -- but with the wider nut, at 1.8".
AND it cannot be a dreadnought; I prefer a Concert Hall or Auditorium body.
And as I understand it, Seagull does not offer that combination, is that right?
(Solid top, solid body, 1.8" nut, and Concert Hall shape.)
You’d have to buy older Artist, they use to have 1.8”, the new ones have 1.72”. It’s a shame they don’t have more variety with the Artist series, they have currently 3 models and all have same wood combinations and same nut width. I look at some older models and they attract me more.
@@jbc22112 It may be that the Artist Mosaic (mahogany) has 1.71, while the Artist Studio (rosewood) has 1.8. I wonder whether they have the same bracing, though.
@@jbc22112 Looking for a solid wood body, with a 1.8" nut. The only one I see is the Artist Studio, which is solid rosewood.
@@daedalusjones4228 Yes but that’s not any of the current models they offer, all the Artist guitars are now mahagony. And who knows when they release a new line up. I’ve been looking at their website since 2021 and the only new guitar was just released last week and that’s the original S6. It’s possible the new line up will be rosewood, but you’ll have to wait, or buy used older model.
@@daedalusjones4228 There is actually one all solid wood and 1.8” nut in current selection as well, it’s Maritime SWS Natural AE. It’s mahagony.
SWS appears to have better dynamics in higher positions
Tend to favor the Maritime over the Artist Mosaic.
I prefer the Maritime
I'm going to buy me one
The Artist sounded much more defined to me. It must be the bracing. I still prefer the Godin Metropolis LTD.
Please norman guitars
What model is this Maritime?
Seagull Maritime SWS Natural SG A/E
Here is the link: brickhouseguitars.com/product/maritime-sws-natural-sg-a-e/
what kind of mic are you using??
It's an Apogee MiC 96K USB connected directly into my I-Phone. Simple but very effective for this purpose.
@@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener the mic through the phone sounds great!
Artist eq !
Artist was smoother and not as tinny. I guess I shouldn't say tinny but can't find the right word. I have a Maritime Rosewood back and sides, nice guitar but like the Artist better. The price jump is not a factor in purchasing.
It’s interesting how two seemingly identically built guitars could sound so different.
The bracing is different…
Hard to beat a Seagull especially cedar tops
Artist knocks it out of the park wow. More power and sustain, just excellent
The SWS sounds better.
Did they made in Asia? You just said, they came from asia.
No, he said other guitars he gets in his shop from Asia need adjusting ,,,these dont ,they are made in canada
The Artist is definitely not worth twice as much as the Maritime. It's kind of wild that the prices are that different.
Deal breaker on these guitars are the richlite fingerboard, and the stupidest spot for a strap button.
Heel would have been better.
Otherwise,they sound great!
That's why own a Performer, Grand Parlor, S6 and 12, and mini jumbo.
The last 4 have cedar tops!
Oh yeah, I forgot the Excursion.
I see that I commented a year ago and have become better. I sold my Maritime sws cw gt q1t like an idiot just when it was sounding better and better Everytime I played it. I put a bid on artist peppino. The artist series is the better and that was before their new optimized bracing system.
But, I gotta say for the same price you can get a ZAD80. It's better than anything else of all acoustic guitars USA. But, spoiler alert. Zagar Guitar International is not made in America
for lack of a better descriptor .... the Artist sounds less "metallic" in the B and treble E strings.
Do not buy a gordin seagull there throw away guitars, the neck is epoxy to the body unable to do a neck reset plus the neck to body construction is poorly designed I have a seagull sws and so pissed off no one will do a neck rest the cost is more than the guitar is worth if they don’t destroy the guitar trying to do it
Don't buy a Seagull. I bought an S6, which I rarely played. The first time I went to change strings, the little white plastic washers under the tuning keys were broken. Clearly, the keys had been torqued much too tightly during assembly, but Seagull refused to send me a new set of those washers. Multiple emails to the company about the issue have been ignored. They would rather lose a customer than send out a set of plastic washers that cost them pennies. This is the very definition of arrogant, apathetic customer service. They do not deserve your business. Buy another brand.
Seagulls are nice but---- they need to ditch that headstock.
All about personal preference.
I love that headstock. I guess im one with those who can handle change .. plus the pointed headstock helps these guitars stay in tune. I'd say that's an invaluable feature
I like the recognizable headstock, but I've only ever owned guitars from Seagull. It always makes me smile when I see another Seagull player out in the wild.
Despite how it looks, it holds the guitar in tune like no other I’ve ever owned.
Lol, easily one of their best features.
What I can't stand about Seagull guitars...is that headstock...I hate it!
It is not a cosmetic or marketing idea, it is actually designed to do 2 things. The first is the the strings do not change direction through the nut which is supposed to improve sound. The second is they do not tilt back and have chance of surviving a fall.
Please go educate yourself !
@@bennywurz2995 send me the tuition
@@bennywurz2995 I don't like the shape of the headstock, it's ugly.
@@bennywurz2995 go...do something else to yourself