Seagull Coastline S12: A Versatile Guitar

September 16, 2023
Pran Jawty Khanam

Table of Contents

A Deep Dive into the Seagull Coastline S12 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Today, I’m thrilled to dive into the world of acoustic guitars and share my insights on a remarkable instrument – the Seagull Coastline S12.

This 12-string dreadnought acoustic guitar is a creation of Seagull Guitars, a brand known for its dedication to crafting instruments that not only play beautifully but also deliver exceptional sound quality.

So, let’s embark on this musical journey and explore what makes the Seagull Coastline S12 an outstanding addition to the world of acoustic guitars.

Don’t miss our blog on the best 12-string guitar in history.

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Made In	Canada
Model	Coastline S12
Body	Dreadnought
Top	Solid Cedar
Neck	Silver leaf maple
Scale	24.84″ / 630.9mm
Nut Width	1.9″ / 48.3mm
Weight	9 lb
Fretboard	Rosewood Fingerboard
Frets	21
Bracing	X-bracing
Electronics	N/A
Bridge	Rosewood
Inlays	Dots
Truss Rod	Double-Function
Case	N/A
Design	Non-cutaway
Colors	Natural

Body Quality

Top and Sides

The Coastline series guitars boast a select, pressure-tested solid cedar top that has undergone rigorous testing for rigidity and stiffness. This ensures optimal harmonic vibration, allowing the guitar to resonate with a warm, rich, and balanced tone.

Dreadnought Shape

The Coastline S12 Cedar features a modified dreadnought body shape that tackles a common challenge with 12-string guitars – excessive boominess.

This design choice results in a well-balanced tone that’s perfect for both live performances and studio recordings.

The guitar’s body shape contributes to a controlled projection. This ensures that each note is clear and defined, even in a twelve-string guitar configuration.

Check out different guitar body styles here!

Dimensions

The dimensions of the Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar contribute to its comfort and playability.

With an upper bout measuring 11.38″, a lower bout measuring 15.9″, and a waist of 10.54″, the guitar fits snugly against your body, ensuring a comfortable playing experience.

The body depth of 4.9″ strikes a balance between resonance and ergonomics. This results in an instrument that’s a joy to play for extended periods. Which is why it is considered as one of the best guitars on the market.

Laminated Wild Cherry Back and Sides

The tonewood selection for the back and sides of the Coastline S12 Cedar is as unique as it is intriguing. The use of Canadian wild cherry strikes a balance between the warmth of mahogany and the brightness of maple.

This distinctive combination leads to a tonal profile that’s rich and expressive. It makes the guitar versatile enough to handle a wide range of musical genres and playing styles.

Check out different guitar-playing styles here!

Modern Neck Construction

A guitar’s neck is not just a platform for fretting but a vital component that contributes to its tone. 12-string guitars must endure a great deal of extra stress on the neck.

Seagull understands this, which is why the Coastline S12 Cedar features an integrated set neck made from silver leaf maple.

When the neck pitch is excessively forward, it can result in a muddled and unclear guitar sound, whereas if it’s set too far back, the guitar may produce a thin and tinny tone. Seagull’s ingenious approach ensures an optimal balance between sound quality and playability, a hallmark feature seen throughout the entire Seagull guitar lineup.

The dual-function truss rod system takes it a step further, allowing adjustments to be made in both directions. This accommodates various playing preferences while ensuring optimal neck alignment.

Hardware

Top-Notch Tuning Stability

One of the standout features of the Seagull Coastline S12 is its focus on tuning stability. The guitar is equipped with a tapered headstock designed to provide a straighter string pull.

This innovative design minimizes the potential stress on the neck, resulting in improved tuning accuracy and stability. Whether you’re playing standard or altered tunings, the Seagull Coastline S12 remains steadfast.

Click here and learn more about 12-string guitar tuning.

Bridge

The Seagull Coastline S12 guitar boasts a beautifully crafted rosewood bridge that serves both aesthetic and tonal purposes, surpassing other bridge wood options. This bridge wood choice adds a visually striking element to the guitar’s design.

It creates an eye-catching contrast with the rest of the instrument. Beyond its visual appeal, the rosewood bridge significantly influences the guitar’s sound. It imparts a warm and bass-inclined tonal character that often outshines alternatives. I’ve played the Seagull Coastline S12 myself, and I can confirm that the rosewood bridge adds a wonderful warmth and depth to the sound.

Whether you’re strumming chords or fingerpicking intricate melodies, the Seagull Coastline S12’s rosewood bridge offers superior versatility and a full-bodied sound that is noticeably better than many other bridge wood options.

Nut & Saddle

The Seagull Coastline S12 has a Tusq nut and saddle. Tusq is a synthetic material that is often used in place of bone or plastic for guitar nuts and saddles. It is known for its durability, stability, and ability to produce a warm, rich tone.

One unique thing about the Seagull Coastline S12, the Tusq nut and saddle help to produce a clear, balanced sound with good sustain. The harmonics are solid, and the string buzz is minimal.

This makes the guitar a good choice for a variety of musical styles, including fingerpicking, strumming, and fingerstyle.

Electronics

Being acoustic-electric is the bonus that makes the Seagull Coastline S12 a fantastic 12-string guitar. It stands out in its price range because it comes with a Godin QI preamp system, which has different parts that make it more flexible.

The under-saddle pickup is at the heart of this system, collecting the vibrations of the guitar’s strings and translating them into an electrical signal. This pickup ensures that the acoustic sound of the instrument is authentically translated when amplified.

Furthermore, the guitar includes a convenient battery connection for quick power replacement, guaranteeing you’re always ready to perform.

The endpin jack is where you connect your guitar cord, which allows you to easily plug into an amplifier or sound system. The built-in tuner is very useful, allowing for on-the-fly tuning adjustments during live performances or practice sessions.

Tapered Seagull Headstock

The tapered headstock of the Coastline Cedar 12 enhances the playing experience by maintaining tuning stability and enhancing the overall playing experience.

By ensuring that the strings travel in a straight line from the nut to the tuning machines, this feature lessens the likelihood that excessive angles will cause detuning.

As a result, you can confidently explore various tunings without worrying about frequent retuning.

Sound

Reviews from users highlight the Coastline S12’s room-filling sound and its ability to produce warm, resonant tones. The solid cedar top adds warmth and depth to the sound, while the wild cherry back and sides contribute to its unique character.

Overall, the Seagull Coastline S12 is praised for its superb sound quality, making it a reliable choice for musicians seeking a 12-string guitar with a distinctive and pleasing tonal profile.

Handcrafted in Canada

For over a quarter of a century, Seagull Guitars has been crafting instruments with care and precision in the village of La Patrie, Canada.

Each Seagull guitar, including the Coastline S12 Cedar, is a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality.

The attention to detail, choice of tonewoods, and dedication to creating the best possible instrument shine through in every aspect of this guitar’s design and performance.

Pros and Cons of the Seagull Coastline S12

Pros:

Exceptional Tonewood Blend:

The combination of a solid cedar top and wild cherry back and sides delivers a unique tonal character that stands out in any musical setting.

Tuning Stability:

When adjusting and maintaining the tuning of a 12-string guitar, the tapered Seagull headstock’s straight string pull is a huge advantage.

Innovative Neck Construction:

The integrated set neck and modern truss rod system contribute to stability, playability, and optimal neck alignment.

Cons:

Sensitivity to Climate Changes:

Like many solid wood guitars, the Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar may be sensitive to extreme changes in humidity and temperature, requiring proper care and maintenance.

Final Words

I’m here to tell you that the Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar acoustic guitar is an absolute masterpiece.

The Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar is all about the little details that make a big difference. Features like the tapered headstock and modern neck construction not only enhance tuning stability but also ensure you have a comfortable and exceptional playing experience.

So no matter what you’re playing, the Seagull Coastline S12 will be your faithful companion.