Godin Club

[Templar]

BTW, anyone know if a tort Shifter guard is available anywhere?

[NoNoise]

Keep it going!

1 NoNoise
2 Rafael
3 RandyMolson
4 cavemusic
5 22pauld22
6 Sabu
7 jgregpegleg
8 andertone
9 Feel my bottom
10 Hughsie
11 kraigo
12 4Mal
13 topcat2069
14 johhn smith
15 fullrangebass
16 Gopher Bob
17 VTheHTyphoon
18 MrLenny1
19 KPJ
20 bass_lord_mutha
21 lpdeluxe
22 ric stave
23 BulbousMoses
24 maevinj
25 jay stevens
26 Ryno
27 sunnycal
28 ReginaldPLinux
29 notdecraw
30 ChemDave
31 BluesMagoo
32 Basically Bob
33 Khronic
34 Jon_West
35 lmfreeman9
36 Inconnu
37 Burwabit
38 Corbeau
39 huido
40 Templar

[Corbeau]

Bumpity bump.

My Godin SD has just arrived:



A really nice bass, with a good variety of sounds and very playable.

[winston]

Originally Posted by Corbeau

Bumpity bump.

My Godin SD has just arrived:



A really nice bass, with a good variety of sounds and very playable.

Beautiful!

I regret selling mine--strung with TI Jazz Flats through the body, it had some of the best P-Bass tones I've ever heard.

[Inconnu]

Originally Posted by winston

Beautiful!

I regret selling mine--strung with TI Jazz Flats through the body, it had some of the best P-Bass tones I've ever heard.

Anybody ever compared the old SD basses with the Freeway passives and the new Shifter P-J model? Do they all pretty much sound similar ?

[winston]

Originally Posted by Inconnu

Anybody ever compared the old SD basses with the Freeway passives and the new Shifter P-J model? Do they all pretty much sound similar ?

To my ears the SDs sounded meatier than the Freeways I tried. I attributed the difference to the fair bit of routing beneath the SD pickguard, and the fact that its single cutaway design has more mass.

Haven't played the basswood Shifter but would love to. The SD-4 epitomized a maple-bodied bass to my ears: clear, growly, and warm, well-balanced throughout its range.

[Corbeau]

I would love to play the newer Godin basses, as a comparison. It's just so hard to find Godin products here. I haven't seen a Godin bass being sold in the local music shops ever [I bought my Godin SD through ebay], and it's a bit frustrating.

Godin needs more love!

[Landy67]

Well... That's the long, and the short of my Godin collection.

[blastoff99]

^^^ Impressive!

Godin A4 Acoustibass here. I know; no pic, no bass = no number. I'm too lazy to post one right now.

[winston]

Originally Posted by Landy67

Well... That's the long, and the short of my Godin collection.

Beautiful! Are those magnetic pickups stock?

[JYBass]

Is anyone in the Santa Cruz, Cali area selling a fretless acoustibass?

[Landy67]

Originally Posted by winston

Beautiful! Are those magnetic pickups stock?

Hi Winston, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I just re-found the post.

It's a semi-acoustic hollow body, and yea the pickups are stock. On the A4 Bass there are saddle pickups in the bridge, and the magnetic pickup is a "Lace Sensor." It's got three jacks. One does both the acoustic and electric pickups, one does just the electric, and the third is a 13 pin synth port.

It's a cool sounding guitar, it sounds like an acoustic bass, or electric. The body is chambered to help take out most of the feedback, but it's still heavy.

[Landy67]

Did I ever get a number for the club?

If it helps, I played my Godin today instead of working!

[NoNoise]

Updated list! Happy Holidays!!

1 NoNoise
2 Rafael
3 RandyMolson
4 cavemusic
5 22pauld22
6 Sabu
7 jgregpegleg
8 andertone
9 Feel my bottom
10 Hughsie
11 kraigo
12 4Mal
13 topcat2069
14 johhn smith
15 fullrangebass
16 Gopher Bob
17 VTheHTyphoon
18 MrLenny1
19 KPJ
20 bass_lord_mutha
21 lpdeluxe
22 ric stave
23 BulbousMoses
24 maevinj
25 jay stevens
26 Ryno
27 sunnycal
28 ReginaldPLinux
29 notdecraw
30 ChemDave
31 BluesMagoo
32 Basically Bob
33 Khronic
34 Jon_West
35 lmfreeman9
36 Inconnu
37 Burwabit
38 Corbeau
39 huido
40 Templar
41 Landy67

[343 Salty Beans]

Godin Freeway 4, owned since 2003 (I think...it's been a while). My first and only bass.



A pic in action at a wedding gig I played in Santa Cruz, CA this summer.



Alas, the stain on the headstock is from a bottle of fretboard conditioner that spilled while in the case. I call it "character"

Also signed by Abe Laboriel on the back of the headstock, got to spend some time hanging with that dude. Nicest guy in the world, and so humble.

Woohoo, #42!

[NoNoise]

Way to ring in the new year!!

1 NoNoise
2 Rafael
3 RandyMolson
4 cavemusic
5 22pauld22
6 Sabu
7 jgregpegleg
8 andertone
9 Feel my bottom
10 Hughsie
11 kraigo
12 4Mal
13 topcat2069
14 johhn smith
15 fullrangebass
16 Gopher Bob
17 VTheHTyphoon
18 MrLenny1
19 KPJ
20 bass_lord_mutha
21 lpdeluxe
22 ric stave
23 BulbousMoses
24 maevinj
25 jay stevens
26 Ryno
27 sunnycal
28 ReginaldPLinux
29 notdecraw
30 ChemDave
31 BluesMagoo
32 Basically Bob
33 Khronic
34 Jon_West
35 lmfreeman9
36 Inconnu
37 Burwabit
38 Corbeau
39 huido
40 Templar
41 Landy67
42 343 Salty Beans

[Hawkeye]

About time I shared my Godin journey:

My first bass guitar (10 1/2 yrs ago) was a Godin Freeway 4. I was going to buy a MIM Fender Jazz but the salesman suggested the Godin, and it was clearly the better instrument. It was a great bass to learn on and I played it in church for a while. I fell victim to Fender GAS and traded it with some cash to pick up a MIA Fender Precision. I didn't keep the Fender because of all the dead-spots on the neck. Worst I ever experienced.

About 5-6 months later I picked up my first five string, a Godin BG5 which was, in retrospect, a really terrific instrument that I now wish I still owned. I was inexperienced back then and didn't know what I had. I traded it straight up here on TB for a MIA Fender 50th Anniversary Jazz Deluxe with John Suhr pickups and discontinued Crimsonburst finish. I was really torn. The BG5 was a highly-capable fiver with Seymour Duncan p/ups and preamp, had a fast neck, was well balanced, and had a nice modern sound. The Jazz Deluxe was a real classic with the added cachet of having a discontinued finish, 50th anniversary, and Sunr pickups that were only used for a couple of years. Sorry BGV, I couldn't resist, the Fender's a keeper. I still have it, it's my only 4-string. Here's the BGV. It was a beauty.



The 3rd Godin I owned was a SD4 that I quite liked but found that ultimately it didn't quite fit me because of the short upper horn and long body. The 1st fret felt like a real stretch but I have always loved the SD body shape and especially the shape of the pickguard. Classic modern retro, way cool. Continuing a trend of trading away Godins for Fenders, I traded that one for a MIJ Fender Jazz fretless to a TB'er who already had one SD4 and wanted another.



My 4th Godin didn't stay around long. Because I loved the SD body shape and tone I bought a NOS SD5 in '08. It must have been sitting around the store for a while. I picked it up for $400. It was several years after my SD4 experience so I wanted to try one again to see if I would find it to be more comfortable this time around. Unfortunately, it wasn't, still too much of a stretch to reach 1st fret, and I returned it. It had a phenomenal B-string though, really excellent. In black metallic with ivory pickguard, this SD had a really classic look.



I've had the same 4 basses for a while now; Lakland 5501D, Fender MIA Jazz, Reverend 5L, and Sadowsky Metro RV5PJ.

Godin # 5. I just added a Freeway 5 Active. Bought it for an unbelievable $299 (reg. $840) at a Long&McQuade Boxing week sale. The bass has a mahogany body, weighs an absolute ton, but has a big warm sound with a taut and responsive B -string. Nice resonance when playing it unplugged, that's always a good sign. Such a nice neck on the Godin 5-strings and so easy to play. Not as wide as the Sadowsky which is a good thing.

It needed some attention with set-up and the stacked bass/treble pot was loose. So far I'm dialing it in and the bass looks like a keeper (especially taking into account what i paid for it). I'll adjust the bridge height and intonation when I change out the strings. I'm thinking D'Addario Chromes to accentuate its warm and dense sound. It can do that Gibson "mudbucker" thing. I find the factory rounds (D'Addario) somewhat indistinct and lacking in fundamentals, with a moaning sound that is rich in harmonics. Some would say they are "warm" sounding as a result but I've never cared for them. I prefer strings with a more distinct response that emphasizes the fundamental. The Chromes have a more solid fundamental note response and have good tension. I use them on my Reverend and like 'em.





It's too bad that Godin hasn't earned more cred yet with the bassplayer community. They make some very good, made in North America instruments at very realistic prices. I like that they try different things and mix it up (ie. Shifter Bass, semi-hollow A-series basses with synth access).

Sorry for the long post. Got a number?

[NoNoise]

Great story, Hawkeye! I agree that it's sad Godin hasn't been bigger in the community, but, this club will hopefully catch at least a few people's eyes. :P

1 NoNoise
2 Rafael
3 RandyMolson
4 cavemusic
5 22pauld22
6 Sabu
7 jgregpegleg
8 andertone
9 Feel my bottom
10 Hughsie
11 kraigo
12 4Mal
13 topcat2069
14 johhn smith
15 fullrangebass
16 Gopher Bob
17 VTheHTyphoon
18 MrLenny1
19 KPJ
20 bass_lord_mutha
21 lpdeluxe
22 ric stave
23 BulbousMoses
24 maevinj
25 jay stevens
26 Ryno
27 sunnycal
28 ReginaldPLinux
29 notdecraw
30 ChemDave
31 BluesMagoo
32 Basically Bob
33 Khronic
34 Jon_West
35 lmfreeman9
36 Inconnu
37 Burwabit
38 Corbeau
39 huido
40 Templar
41 Landy67
42 343 Salty Beans
43 Hawkeye

[ErnieD]

just bought it new in early Dec 2012. I'll come back with a pic and get a # then.

So glad I came here to do a search on it. No manual came with it and on my own I just found the online manual of the Piezo bridged pupped A5. At least now I know how to use those preamp sliders with the mix output, which I tend to use mostly.

I bought and returned a new Boulder Creek A/EBG fretless 5 for this Godin. The BC is a very nice looking and sounding bass. I just could not get used to the jumbo body. I was getting right-forearm/wrist pain trying to reach around the wide body to play it. Was not sure the A5 would be that much better/comfortable. I got lucky in that the A5 arrived just two days before I shipped the BC bass back to seller. So I got to do a true A/B of both basses. I liked the BC bass that I considered keeping it if the A5 was not that much better.

Well the A5 fretless body is much easier for me to play on and the tone is so rich, woody, huge bass tone just a great sounding and great feeling bass overall. The BC was my first ABG and I quickly realized I would never use it unplugged. So even the unique placement of the soundholes would not serve my purpose. But Boulder Creek makes a very good looking bass and I was almost getting used to it. If they later make them wiht unlined, ebony boards, I will really consider buying another one.

I've only used the A5 at one band practice so far. Still getting used to it at home for now. The first nite I got it I took it practice with my recently rejoined Motown/Funk band. Our first set consists of slower, soul tunes and the band thought the A5 sounded great with alot of big bottomed bass. And it did. But our 2nd/3rd sets are more funk/slap style tunes and I've not gotten a good slap/pop tone outta the A5 yet. So I'm still working on that. It'll help that I now know how the knobs/sliders all work.

I'll post back with a pic and more of my experience with my new A5. First off, I was rather surprised the weight of this bass, its pretty heavy. But with my widest strap it feels OK. Any others have details of their A5 fretless/fretted pls share. Bumping this thread into 2013 with A5 fretless 5er content. Peace, ernie

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

I've got an older A4 thats has been in its case for a few years unplayed. I recently pulled it out and plugged it in and couldn't get any sound out of it not even a hum. Tried different amps etc and nothing. So I ask you the Godin experts for any advice as to what may be wrong before I take it to a Tech.

Thanks,

Rezdog