When do Seagulls growl?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gary Ellis on July 3, 2012 at 6:03am

It's hard to picture the growl but my guess is, it sounds to me like its a saddle adjustment or string and bridge pin. I would loosen all of the strings , make sure the saddle is set in properly then loosen the pins and pull the strings up tight.

For the record I have no qualifications other than fixing my own mistakes. Unfortunately this keeps me busy.

Permalink Reply by Wayne Simpson on July 3, 2012 at 6:09am

Change the strings. If you play every day they will wear our sooner than you think. If the problem persists with new strings, take it to your favorite luthier/guitar tech.

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on July 3, 2012 at 6:23am

Hmmm ... On a practically brand new Seagull S-6, I'd think loose bracing would be way down the list of probable causes.  The main variable is that you not only changed strings, but you went from uncoated to coated strings.  As others have said, it's kind of hard to imagine exactly what you're hearing from a verbal description, but if this is the first time you've changed strings, it could just be the strings themselves, or it could be a problem in how the strings "seated" under the bridge pins.  If it were me and the new sound were really bothering me, I'd change back to the original Godin (D'Addario) uncoated phosphor bronze lights and see if the problem corrected itself.  If that didn't help, I'd just have a competent guitar tech check it out.  It should still be under full warranty if you're the original owner.

Permalink Reply by Ray on July 3, 2012 at 7:07am

Try playing G in some other chord fingerings.

Try putting a capo on the 1st fret, and then try playing some chords.  Switch it to the 2nd fret and play an F shape chord, which is then a G - does it have the same growl?

Also try tuning all the strings down a half step, and see what happens.

My guess is that you are getting some resonance from your truss rods.

Permalink Reply by John Culver on July 3, 2012 at 7:16am

...When my Maritime first arrived, the truss rod adjustment was VERY loose...(the guitar sounded a little "brassy", and the neck was bowed in a little)...a quick adjustment, and all was well!

Permalink Reply by Reg Hayes on July 3, 2012 at 8:05am

All the advice given here so far is good.  I'd make sure that the strings are seated well in the bridge and with the bridge pins.  There may be one or more that aren't snug to the bridge plate inside the guitar and vibrating obnoxiously.  The other thing may be the truss rod being lose.  Sometimes the neck may not need adjustment but the truss rod is just sitting there lose and changing the strings may have freed it to vibrate at the frequency of a G chord.

Permalink Reply by Mark Barrett on July 3, 2012 at 3:52pm

Thanks to all of you for the feedback. I believe it may have been a loose truss rod. All else appeared well,relaxed the strings to test saddle and nut, tuned, then tighten the rod 1/4 turn. Back to normal!
Thanks again.

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on July 3, 2012 at 5:36pm

Good news!!

Permalink Reply by CaliGull on July 24, 2012 at 10:58pm

FWIW I do not care for the sound of EXP's. They dull out on me on my other guitars real fast and I have heard the same thing from others. I will have to try them out on my S6.