software

Ok, I've been looking into buying a nice acoustic. I've finally settled it to 1 of 2 Seagull guitars. They both are the exact same price, so no problem there. The 2 models btw are an Artist Portrait cutaway model, and and Artist Studio cutaway. Here's the dilema: they both sound great, but to my ears the Studio is just a little bit nicer, and the feel is also a bit better. I tried out every Seagull in the store except one(it was out of my price range so didn't bother), and the Portrait played better and sounded better than all of them except for the studio. So, seems like I'd go for the studio, right? Well, here's the thing, the Studio is just the guitar, and is 100% acoustic, no pickup inside the guitar, and doesn't include a case. The portrait on the other hand includes Godin's pickup system, and includes a case. Now, since they're the same price, the portrait is obviously the better deal, but the studio just has that little extra something in tone and feel. I'm probably going to spend a good few hours in the store the day I decide, and just go back and forth between the 2 of them until I make up my mind, but just wanted a little idea about what others would do.

Unless you need it as a stage guitar, you should definitely buy the Studio. Even if you *do* need it as a stage guitar, you should still consider the Studio. There are plenty of ways of adapting a pure acoustic into the acoustic-electric world; there aren't so many ways of taking a guitar that doesn't quite have *it* and making it have *it.* Chances are, if you buy the Artist Portrait, you'll forever hear in your head that slightly better sound that you could have had, if only...

buy the one you like the best or you'll be kicking yourself forever. if you are going to use it in the studio you'll need to mic it for best results anyways so the pickup factor is not that big of a deal. by the way, great choice with the seagull! they're awesome guitars.

i'm definitely with the other 2 guys. go for the one you like, if you're playing live you can always just mic it, and if youre in studio you'd probably be micing it anyways. good choice with seagull too, i've got one of their S series guitars and its served me well.

I agree all the way..buy the guitar that feels and sounds right and save up for a pickup. You could put a Baggs element in there for $100 plus installation($50). Then you'd have a guitar you'll really want to keep.

Good luck!

Mike

Ok, sounds like the Studio is going to be the one then.

Well, if I do end up using it live, I don't really want to alter the guitar at all, so has anyone tried those SD Woody pickups, or the Dean Markley ProMag series? They're the ones which you can just slip into your soundhole for when you need them. Do they sound any any good?

Mag pickups can be cool. I tried a Fishman Rare Earth and was pleasantly suprised at the tone. Mag pup sound a little quot;electricquot;, but they can be cool. The Baggs M1 is probably the best mainstream bet for this kind of thing. It picks up some of the motion of the body for a more natural tone.

Mike