Seagull vs Norman 12’s, anybody?

[ParisStarlight]

I’m hankering for another 12 to noodle with and see how different guitars and woods sound. I’m mainly looking at a Seagull Walnut 12 or the Norman B20-12. Anybody have experience with both or an opinion on either? I’d really love a Guild JF30-12, but that’ll come in another year or two (promise from the wife). I’d go play both, but small market up here. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[johbren]

Seagull coastline 12 is what I'm going after soon. It has a wider neck than the other two which works better for me.

[ParisStarlight]

Originally Posted by johbren

Seagull coastline 12 is what I'm going after soon. It has a wider neck than the other two which works better for me.

Would the coastline be wider than the Walnut 12? I’m horrible at deciphering specs. The neck on my Artist 12 feels fairly wide, but I’ve become used to it. It’s nice for playing without a pick.

[Photojeep]

I'm afraid I can't compare the two Seagull 12s you are talking about but it is important to know the Walnut 12 does have a wide neck (the actual width can be found on their website) AND has a rather thin neck. I mean the measurement from the top of the fretboard to the back of the neck. For me, the neck's "thinness" was a dealbreaker.

I have very large hands with long fingers (I've been able to palm a basketball since age 15) and love fat wide guitar necks but while the width of the seagull fit me beautifully, the thin profile just didn't work for me. I was unable to cleanly fret notes so I sold it.

Of course it is a completely personal thing and no two player's hands will be built the same so rather than relying on others' comments, I suggest you go play them both. Easier said than done in many cases but it truly is the only way you'll know for sure.

Good luck in your quest.

Best,
PJ

[Quebec Picker]

Originally Posted by johbren

Seagull coastline 12 is what I'm going after soon. It has a wider neck than the other two which works better for me.

I actually believe that all Godin 12 string guitars (Seagull, Norman, Art & Lutherie, Simon and Patrick) have the same size, 1.9" neck. I could be wrong about this.

[lowrider]

Seagull lists the nut width on the Walnut 12 as 1.72 inches;


Body Depth 4.9 inches
Body Length 19.8 inches
Lower Bout 15.87 inches
Nut Width 1.72 inches
Scale 24.84 inches
Upper Bout 11.38 inches
Waist 10.54 inches
Convert inches to :

GUITARS WALNUT WALNUT 12 ISYS T


That's mighty tight for a 12 string. Can anyone here verify that measurement?

[johbren]

The specs are coastline is 1.93 neck the walnut 12 is 1.72 not sure on the other

[Quebec Picker]

Originally Posted by lowrider

Seagull lists the nut width on the Walnut 12 as 1.72 inches;


Body Depth 4.9 inches
Body Length 19.8 inches
Lower Bout 15.87 inches
Nut Width 1.72 inches
Scale 24.84 inches
Upper Bout 11.38 inches
Waist 10.54 inches
Convert inches to :

GUITARS WALNUT WALNUT 12 ISYS T


That's mighty tight for a 12 string. Can anyone here verify that measurement?

I would guess that nut width listing is a mistake. I've played the coastline and walnut 12 strings and they felt the same to me. You could contact seagull and ask them.

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by ParisStarlight

I’m hankering for another 12 to noodle with and see how different guitars and woods sound. I’m mainly looking at a Seagull Walnut 12 or the Norman B20-12. Anybody have experience with both or an opinion on either? I’d really love a Guild JF30-12, but that’ll come in another year or two (promise from the wife). I’d go play both, but small market up here. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

No time on the Seagull but I did own the Norman for a couple years. Very responsive guitar, fun to play and loud. It's a cherry laminate, IIRC, with a solid spruce top. For the soloist it reached out to the crappy seats in the audience. It can dominate in a mix so exercising restraint is necessary. Before that I owned a Guild F412 and Martin D12-35. I would place it squarely between them in sound and first in playability.

[Birdbrain]

When I first saw this, I thought, "Why won't they make a 12-fret?"