Seagull 06/07
A few years ago, the Godin Guitar Company opened the Godin Acoustic Studio—a workshop dedicated to the development of new acoustic guitar designs and construction techniques. Since the inception of the “Studio” Robert Godin has been working with several of the company’s top luthiers on a series of projects that have culminated in complete re-design of the company’s Seagull acoustic guitars.

Robert explains: “Our motivation for this project was to create a new acoustic design that would simultaneously improve sound and structural integrity. As a general rule better sound comes with more delicate construction. Conversely, stronger construction, such as thicker tops and heavier bracing, stifles the sound.”

The Compound Curve Top
The guitar top is the part of the instrument that most affects the sound. It is also the most delicate part of any high quality acoustic guitar. The grade and thickness of the wood used (solid cedar or spruce), as well as the bracing structure, have a huge impact on the instrument’s sound. The idea of applying an arch or a curve to the top is appealing because the added strength of an arched top should allow for the use of a thinner and more lightly braced top. While this is true, there remains a trade-off in applying a curve to the entire top. The most active part of the top is the area centered on the bridge. Applying a curve to this part of the top restricts movement resulting in a loss of dynamic range. On the other hand, the area of the top above the sound hole moves minimally but is problematic because it tends to sink if the guitar dries out even slightly. This tendency is also encouraged by downward pressure from the fingerboard resting on top of it. The solution is a top that has a compound curve.

In this design the top is arched slightly in the area above the sound hole and levels out in the area around the bridge. The compound curve top produces excellent stability in the upper part of the guitar top and the power and projection made possible by leaving the top flat below the sound hole flat. With the weak area above the sound hole stabilized, it is possible to make the rest of the top even more active with a new bracing design that allows unprecedented control over the top vibration. The bracing for the new Seagull guitars is quarter-sawn spruce, scalloped and carved to conform exactly to the curvature of the tops.

(Note: the compound curve illustrated below is exaggerated - the actual 30' radius applied is more subtle than this illustration would indicate).

The perfect neck angle
Neck angle has a tremendous effect on guitar tone. The Seagull re-design served as the impetus for several refinements to Godin’s neck matching technology. Bodies and necks are now matched with incredible precision and the new compound curve in the top provides the additional stability necessary to achieve and maintain optimum neck pitch.