Dear Fish Fingers---There are some who would argue that stripping the varnish OFF a guitar can improve the tone.....It will certainly alter it ! A famous American actor & musician, Andy Griffith, did it to his previously - varnished Martin dreadnought,such that the subsequent Andy Griffith commemorative model had,I think ,an unvarnished top.
However, that is a bit drastic !! I have altered the tone on my Martin & Avalon guitars by using solid brass bridge-pins--You certainly get more volume in "sessions",etc. !! Back to the subject--Seagulls seem OK to me, although I did try a Seagull 12-string once,& it souded a bit "Muted ". I wouldn"t say NO to one as a gift !!