Does anybody know what the difference is between the Seagull line and the A&L line.  I'm specifically referring to the parlor models (Grand vs. AMI).  They appear to be very similar in construction (solid cedar top, laminated cherry sides), but the Grand is 50% more expensive.  There must be something that's not obvious, but what?

Also, any opinions on either or both would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any info.

A&L is very much the Godin budget line, so as a rule the Seagulls will always be more expensive...but that doesn't really answer your question as to the price difference between two otherwise fairly similar guitars.

They dotn really sound the same. I dont know why, but they don't.  Both have a boxy trebly sound.  I was looking at these, washburn rover or somtehing (boy does it sound bad), Taylor (baby and big baby), and martin LX-1.  Ended up with a Martin.

I can't say I'm a complete expert on this, but owning a Seagull Grand (after looking into the A&M Parlor) I'll tell you what I do know:

1) Both are essentially the same - laminated cherry wood back and sides, solid cedar top. Although I think the A&M may also come in a spruce top version.
2) A&M takes some shortcuts in build quality. The Seagull is bound front and back, the A&M is only bound in front.  The Seagull has what appears to be Ping tuners (branded with Seagull logo), the A&M has open gear tuners. I can tell you that the tuners on my Seagull work exceptionally well and the guitar stays in tune nicely.
3) THE BIG DIFFERENCE-- THE ONE THAT SOLD ME ON THE SEAGULL.... The Seagull has a 1.72 inch nut, the A&M is  a little smaller (not sure exactly what size.) If you like a little room for your fingers, this is a no brainer - get the Seagull.
4) Nice thing about the Seagull - it's 14 frets to the intersection with the body. Not sure about the A&M, but it's probably the same. At any rate, I like having 14 frets instead of just 12. Wish Larrivee would do that.

Incidentally, the Seagull is a pretty nice sounding guitar. Never played or heard an A&M.

-jojo

I owned a Grand for a few years and used it as a travel guitar when I flew regularly for work. It was a great guitar. For the few extra dollars you are going to pay, it is much better value than the AMI, IMHO.

Does the Grand have the compound curve top like the rest of the line?

I played a Simon & Patrick Parlor that I liked very much.

I was looking for a travel guitar a few  months ago myself. I looked at the Washburn, Baby Taylor, and the Martin as well as the AMI Parlour. I ended up with a Simon and Patrick Parlour and it has worked out great. It is only 12 frets to the body instead of 14 but the sound is good (yes it's trebely) for the money and I plan on taking it with me to some pretty cold and dry places throughout the year. My daughter has also taken a liking to it and is now picking it up andtrying to learn to play - an added bonus for me as I have been trying to get her interested for a while now. I also bought the Godin TRIC case for it which is the case for the Seagull Parlour, and it's a perfect fit.
I couldn't find a Seagull Parlour anywhere to compare the sound to, but the AMI and Simon and Patrick sounded very similar to me it was just a matter of the look and finish that sold me on the S&P.

Couple of days ago I put a semi-gloss finish on my Seagull Grand. I did it with 0000 steel wool followed by a special polish I got from a luthier years ago. I did the entire body, including the top. Didn't do the neck. It's not a super glossy finish now, but I think it looks considerably better than the satin finish. Really classes up the guitar. I decided to do the top (no steel wooling on the top) because the cedar is so prone to dings. I notice no difference at all in the sound.
Speaking of sound-- this guitar sounded horrible when I first got it (barely used, sent in the mail). After several hours of working it, the guitar seemed to sound better. It actually seems to sound better every time I play it. I'm aware that cedar top guitars generally are supposed to sound louder and more open than spruce at first and aren't known for opening up all that much, but this guitar has really improved  since I got it. I found it sounds best in open tuning played fingerstyle or with a thin faux tortoise pick.
I'm looking around for some sort of flamenco style "golpeador " clear adhesive pickguard to put on this guitar because the cedar top is already getting little dings on it. The distance between the strings and the top of the guitar is not really high enough to avoid the occasional fingernail ding when playing fingerstyle.

I didn't think the Ami had a solid top ... according to their site it doesn't.  Lasido isn't always that quick updating their sites but they have other updates there.  I know some of their other ones have solid cedar tops.

I think their all ply cherry ones are the best deal A&Ls myself.  The solid top ones aren't made as well as the other Lasido lines.  They don't play in tune as well and the truss rods are cheap.  Not stuff you can see but I think the Gulls and S&Ps are worth the extra money over the solid top A&Ls.