Acoustic Function of Back and Sides

• The backs and sides of guitars serve a different function than the top. While the top does most of the resonating, the backs and sides must reflect those vibrations toward the front of the guitar, adding some warmth and tone as they do so. For this reason, guitar backs and sides have traditionally been made from denser woods, such as rosewood and mahogany.
  
  

Why Laminate?

• Laminating involves gluing two or more thin sheets of wood together in such a way that their grain orientations alternate. Laminating guitar woods provides two benefits: it makes the wood much stronger than solid wood, and it reduces cost since expensive book-matched woods need only be used for the topmost ply. The use of even small amounts of glue, however, reduces the resonant responsiveness of the wood and makes it heavier. These effects are more detrimental to a laminated top than they are to backs and sides.
  
  

Seagull Laminate Models

• Seagull uses laminated backs and sides in its Entourage, Original, Coastline and Performer series. Performer guitars use laminated flame maple for the backs and sides; the rest of these lines use laminated wild cherry. These laminates allow for the creation of beautiful exteriors at a much more affordable cost than is possible for solid wood guitars. Most reviewers credit the Seagull laminate guitars with surprising warmth of tone and overall sound quality for an entry-level guitar.
  
  

Seagull Solid-Wood Models

• Most of Seagull's all solid-wood guitars feature solid mahogany or rosewood backs and sides, although one, the Artist Cameo CW, uses solid flamed maple. These are beautiful guitars, with custom polished finishes and mother-of-pearl design accents. Because these guitars have advanced acoustic features, such as compound curve tops and scalloped bracing, it's a little difficult to distinguish how much of their sound quality is due to the use of solid backs and sides. However, the Maritime and Artist Series Seagulls all have a reputation for well-balanced sound with clear deep tones and trebles that avoid tinniness.