Well, I might as well weigh in here too!
Justaguy, Seagull is NOT Godin's cheap line of acoustics, and the S6 is one of the best deals that can be found in an acoustic guitar. Some time back ago, my best friend talked me into getting one, and were it not that it was a dreadnaught, I'd still own it today. Mine was a Spruce top with a satin finish, and I believe it had mahogany sides and back.
A couple of weeks ago, I played both Samick and Stagg acoustic bass guitars. For the price, both were impressive. I think I liked the Stagg best of the two.
Katastrophe, if your Johnson sounds good when in tune, why not spend a couple of bucks for a decent nut and bridge saddle? You can get new saddles and nuts made from a number of quality materials, ranging from Tusq to bone, and even some forms of ivory. It might be cheaper to go that route than to buy a new guitar.
The Stratacoustic has never done it for me. The body shape does not lend itself well to acoustic guitar. If you want a strat, get a strat. A much better choice, if you can find one, is a Gibson Chet Atkins CE. They were discontinued about a year or so ago. Here's a link:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Gibs...inuted Models/Chet Atkins/Chet Atkins CE_CEC/
My best friend is a folk singer-songwriter, and owns four acoustic guitars. One is a custom, luthier-built instrument by Randy Allen. It is one of his early prototypes.
http://www.allenguitar.com/
Paul also owns another luthier-built instrument, this one by midwestern folk legend Jan Burda.
Both the Allen and the Burda are fantastic guitars that sound just wonderful, but until recently, neither of them had a pickup, so they both stayed at home in their cases when Paul would play out. His stage axe for a number of years was an early Ovation Custom Balladeer.
These are all $expensive$ guitars, without a doubt. About six months ago, on a whim, Paul bought a cedar Seagull S6, just for giggles. Two weeks ago, we found a Fishman Matrix pickup for sale at the local GC as a return. That night, we installed it, and that is the instrument he used (in addition to a Samick-built 335 clone) when we took to the stage in Woodstock last week. I've got to tell you, it sounded sweet!
As for me, I don't like dreadnaughts, finding them uncomfortable to play. Yes, they have volume, but that's why God invented piezo pickups and microphones anyway, so who needs the extra bulk? I surely don't, I have enough of my own! That's why my little Epiphone has been my acoustic partner for over ten years now. Many years back, I installed a Martin (Fishman) Thinline 332 pickup into it. I've given thought to purchasing a Seagull S Series Grand, but in order to keep peace at home, I would have to sell something off to buy it, and if I'm doing that, then I'm getting an acoustic bass of some sort!
http://www.seagullguitars.com/productgrand.htm
