What's Up with Seagull???

CASD57 · #1 01-23-2021, 07:26 PM

Nothing new, reducing models...
It will be a sad day if they go of business.

drive-south · #2 01-23-2021, 07:28 PM

Blame it on the pandemic. I'm sure they will bounce back.

whvick · #3 01-23-2021, 09:00 PM

That brings up a thought. Have some of the medium size brands gone under during the pandemic, and which ones?

Wellington · #4 01-23-2021, 09:05 PM

I doubt they're going anywhere, but it's true they are cutting models a lot, I don't think they even have a mini jumbo anymore, and less and less 1.8 nuts, which is surprising as that was a signature thing for them and was found on almost all their models in past. The whole epoxying the neck thing sort of steered me away, but they are awesome guitars otherwise.

johbren · #5 01-23-2021, 09:23 PM

I hear they are subsidized by the canadian govt so they sould be fine.

folkmusikfan · #6 01-23-2021, 10:46 PM

I really miss the wider but. I have an older SWW Folk model and was looking for something similar hopefully in rosewood. Sad to see they cut so many models.

CASD57 · #7 01-23-2021, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by folkmusikfan

I really miss the wider but. I have an older SWW Folk model and was looking for something similar hopefully in rosewood. Sad to see they cut so many models.

I've got the CH momentum with a 1.8 nut and I wanted to try more like the folk model. And even the mini jumbo but I want a cedar top., Hopefully they get back into production soon

folkmusikfan · #8 01-23-2021, 11:21 PM

I love my Folk model. It has opened up nicely and is so comfortable to play size wise. Would love to try a mini jumbo with spruce over hog or rosewood.

takamineGD93 · #9 01-24-2021, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johbren

I hear they are subsidized by the canadian govt so they sould be fine.

That is actually illegal (china does it anyway).

I can live without the Seagull headstock.

Dbone · #10 01-24-2021, 01:06 AM

Firstly, it is my understanding that the Godin guitar group, the parent company of Seagull, sells more guitars yearly in North America than any other manufacturer. They sell in high volumes world wide too. With this said, I wouldn’t worry about them going any where any time soon.

Apparently Mr. Godin is quite a smart business man from what I’ve read. His reasons for changes to the Seagull line up are probably a combination of smart business and try to make sense relative to the guitars he has in the various other lines under the Godin umbrella...Simon and Patrick, Godin itself, etc...

Also, this idea that they are subsidized by the Canadian government is likely nothing more than a rumour. I’ve heard it said too, but I’ve also heard that it is not true. I would love to see some evidence.

I had a tremendous experience with my first guitar 20 years ago. A Seagull. As did my wife with her Seagull at the time. I had a recent horrible experience with a Godin electric guitar a few months ago that I refused delivery on in favour of a PRS. Quality control issues. It shocked me a bit. I’m sure it was just bad luck, a one-off problem, etc...

catfish · #11 01-24-2021, 02:53 AM

Godin guitars is a huge business. If the material or anything else were subsidized by the Canadian government it would have been investigated and known as a fact, not a rumor.

Robin, Wales · #12 01-24-2021, 05:26 AM

The "subsidised by the Canadian government" thing may have stemmed from the fact that Godin has a licence to collect fallen trees from government land. They have first call on the big old growth spruce and cedar trees that come down. And I suspect that they may have similar access to maple and cherry.

Personally, I don't see a problem with that.

Mooh · #13 01-24-2021, 05:46 AM

Huge well run company with a sound business plan, good leadership, and great products, weathering an international crisis better than most others.

It doesn't look good on this forum to spread rumours. Let's not.

Dru Edwards · #14 01-24-2021, 06:57 AM

I don't know if this is the case with Godin but in other industries less products (i.e. guitar models) may help keep the assembly line producing more product because there's no downtime required to switch models. Might mean greater efficiencies during this time, especially given new work rules in offices/factories.

Thinking that in another year more models will pop hop. Hopefully.

CASD57 (OP), thanks for bring this up. I wasn't aware.

CASD57 · #15 01-24-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooh

Huge well run company with a sound business plan, good leadership, and great products, weathering an international crisis better than most others.

It doesn't look good on this forum to spread rumours. Let's not.

This wasn't meant as a rumor...It was a concerned question from a Seagull Fan-Boy.
I was hoping others would have some insight into what is going on..