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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$745.14
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8.5
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Description:
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The A4 and A5 basses produce acoustic bass sounds from instruments that are only slightly larger than a standard solid body bass and much lighter. The two chambered body design found in all of the A-Series instruments is also at work in the A4 and A5. This design resists feedback as well as the negative effects that loud stage levels can have on top vibration. Vibration of the solid cedar top is further controlled by a cello inspired bracing pattern. The custom A-Bass electronics include an under-saddle ribbon transducer and preamp by L.R.BaggsTM
Specs
Rock Maple neck
Rosewood Fingerboard on Fretted Version, Ebony on Fretless version
16" fingerboard radius
34 " Scale
1 13/16" nut width (5-String)
1 1/2" nut width (4-String)
Two-Chamber Silver Leaf Maple body
Solid Cedar Top
LR Baggs Ribbon Transducer and custom preamp
Volume, Mid, Treble and Bass controls
Natural Semi-Gloss
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Author
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craigb
needs to spend more time on music and less on gear
Registered: January 2000
Location: Spring, TX (Houston metro)
Posts: 2126
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Review Date: Thu March 11, 2004
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $416.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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flexible tone, sweet neck
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Cons:
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ergonomics, piezo only
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The A4 (mine is fretted) is a sweet sounding semi-acoustic with piezo only. That is both it\'s strength and weakness.
Strength because the semi-hollow body gives warmth, air and a blossoming aspect to the tone that can recall a fully acoustic instrument. Weakness because to achieve that tone a price is paid in some other aspects of the bass.
First the tone. It is warm. It blossoms like an acoustic instrument. It is very responsive to changes in hand position, attack and the 3-band eq. It can range from almost faux-upright (given the right strings, eq and muting) to electric-like with some growl and cut. With the standard flats it has a warmth and sweetness to the upper strings and ranges that is addictive. It has as much bottom as you want with the help of the eq. I love playing it on almost any type of music. Want that latin baby-bass kind of sound & feel for some Santana? No problem, back off the mids and highs and play up by the neck. Want a more growly electric-like tone for some classic rock? No problem, add mids for growl and pluck back nearer the bridge.
To my mind where many solid-body basses have sounds that punch, growl and claw their way through the mix (Stingray, G&L L2000) the A4 lays down a supportive, more subdued bottom that underlies the mix and oozes (in a good way) through the cracks.
The drawback to the tone is that it just doesn\'t have the same punch as an electric. And the piezo, while a good one, is still a piezo and you have to be watchful for some the fame piezo quack (probably more of an issue with a fretted example like mine than a fretless).
I find similar plusses and minuses in the ergonomics. For me the neck is superb. Jazz-like dimensions, satin finish and just all around comfortable and quick. I have ergonomic issues with the body. The square edges on the thicker body can bother your plucking forearm if you rest it on the body edge. Also the single-cut body shape makes the 1st fret a ways farther out to the left (I\'m a righty) than on a \"standard\" type of bass. One other issue is that if you rest your thumb on a pickup (I don\'t, mine floats) there\'s nothing there.
I get around the \"too far to the left\" issue by using a Strapture strap and have learned to deal with the body edge.
It is larger and somewhat longer than \"normal\" solid bodies and does not fit in all gig bags. Mine came with a Godin hardshell case which is nice and I found that it fit in my inexpensive Fender double gig bag.
Although I am not and have never been a fretless player this bass makes me want to experience a fretless model.
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wanting off the GAS carousel but enjoying the ride too much
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jongor
Registered User
Registered: January 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 1248
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Review Date: Sat March 13, 2004
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $800.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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weight (low), tone (sweet)
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Cons:
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square body edges
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I\'ve owned both the fretted and fretless versions of this bass. I preferred the fretless, it had a beautiful full, sweet acoustic tone. I traded for a bass that at the time \"I had to have\", that turned out to be a mistake, I wished I\'d never traded it.
So the second time around I got a fretted one. It had the same great tone, but I couldn\'t stand the click-clack of the strings against the frets that the piezo seems to enhance, so I sold that one too.
Like the first review, I really loved the neck of theses basses, nice jazz-like shape, excellent quality.
So the third time around.....I was shopping for another fretless A4 and ended up getting a used Turner Renaissance fretless, because of all the hype we all hear about them. It\'s a great bass, good tone, but I\'m not convinced that I like it more than the A4 fretless that I first had.
I\'d never tried the TI acousticore strings on the A4 fretless, I wish I had. But they\'re the only strings the really sound good on the Renaissance....
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Medium Scale Bass Club Member #65
Praise and Worship Band Club Member #216
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stoutman
Registered User
Registered: March 2004
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Tue March 30, 2004
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Acoustic bass like tone
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Cons:
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dead spots on G string - my bass at least
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I tried a number of bass guitars with piezos looking for one that had an acoustic tone. The Godin A4 fretless has a great acoustic tone for the money.
Though I do feel at the new price of @$900 it is a little over priced especially since the back of the guitar body seems to be made of some sort of plastic.
The finish and fit are great. No complaints.
Can get a very deep bass sound; great for Bob Marley tunes.
I too wish there was something to rest my thumb on but I guess since the top is \"active\" - it does vibrate - putting a thumb rest would deaden the top and effect the sound.
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1954bassman
Registered User
Registered: June 2004
Posts: 938
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Review Date: Tue June 8, 2004
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $900.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Pro quality constuction, Smooth playablity
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Cons:
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I too am somewhat bothered by the \"square\" top shoulder
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I have an A5 fretless, and I love it! I get lots of compliments on it\'s \"near up-right\" sound. I run it through an art tube Studio V3, then straight into the mixer. I occasionally play through my small GK amp, and this set-up also sounds great. My main bass is a Modulus Q6 fretted, and of course the Godin does not cut through like it\'s EMGed bigger brother. Our group plays acoustic Gospel, and the A5 blends great with acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, etc. Another quick is that if I play aggressively, I get an odd twang from the bass, so I have to really use a careful right hand touch for a good smooth sound. The case is one of the better wooden cases, but I have grown to prefer \"Gator\" type cases.
PS: the entire bass is wood, even the back, it is just painted black.
deBassMan
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The Older I Get,
The Less I Knew
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Rayzorx
Registered User
Registered: August 2004
Location: outside of Los Angeles
Posts: 135
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Review Date: Sat August 27, 2005
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very playable neck, close to URB sound but portable
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Cons:
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EQ is settings are touchy
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I\'m like 1954bassman, as I have an A5 fretless. I really love the neck, very similar in feel to a Rick Turner Ren. The EQ is really touchy, especially the bass slider. Once you hit halfway it\'s like a light switch. But I\'ve been playing with my setup and different amps and I\'m getting it dialed.
Just got some Labella nylon wrap stings to try on it. I\'m hopeing to improve the \"upright\" sound quality.
IMHO, For the money, this a a high quaility intrument. I got mine new at a killer price so I can\'t complain.
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"I'm a Dinosaur, somebody's diggin my bones "
King Crimson
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bassfinger
Registered User
Registered: May 2006
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Thu May 18, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $550.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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tone, slimbody, low action
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Cons:
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dead spot on G string, weight
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I own a fretless version. I felll in love with its tone the first time I heard it. It's very different from electric fretless I owned before and A4 fretless has a very unique tone like an upright bass.
I'm the 3rd owner of this bass, bought it for S$550 (less than US$400). The 1st owner brought it from Canada with some 'accident'  on the front body. But this is not the reason why he sold it away. The 2nd owner, like myself, bought it because of its unique tone.
The construction and workmanship is very good. I love its very low action. I strung it with D'addario flatwound 0.45. The slimbody makes this bass easy to play like an electric one, despite of its quite-heavy weight. I use the corner of the neck as a thumb rest, but sometimes my thumb floating, too.
Agree with stoutman, a very noticable dead spot on C note on G string. I'm not sure whether it's due to the chip on the front body or other factors. Otherwise, it has a very good sustain, especially the E string.
I recommend this bass to electric player who wants to get an upright sound.
To Godin: it'll be great if A4/A5 fretless has a new version with archtop body and can be played arco upright.
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Smallmouth_Bass
Registered User
Registered: December 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 3358
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Review Date: Wed December 27, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Huge upright-like tone, fun to play, sounds good acoustically too
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Cons:
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Not very versatile, square edges can be uncomfortable, dead spot
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Mine is fretless.
To me, this bass was designed to do one thing and it does that well. That is, get a big fat upright-like tone that is warm and fuzzy. It plays really well and is just plain fun. You get some thud (with flats) and some mwwahh but not too much of either and it really blends with a band well. Played unamplified, it also sounds very good and gives enough volume for practice situations.
The undersaddle transducer can be "clicky", but being a fretless, I do not find this is a problem. The electronics seem adequate and only small adjustments are required. Too much boost will produce far too extreme sounds that would not be useful. There is a very noticeable dead spot on the G-string around fifth fret C. The square body edge can be a bit uncomfortable on your plucking hand forearm, but it's not too bad. I've also heard people complain about the lack of a thumbrest, but I always anchor mine on the E-string so I do not find it to be a problem.
Overall, this is a well made, good looking and great sounding and playing bass that does it's job well.
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TB Dingwall Club Member #11
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LaMarquis J
Registered User
Registered: January 2006
Posts: 229
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Review Date: Sun September 2, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,200.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great feel, tone, looks
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Cons:
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rough spot on back of neck
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I have the A5 with midi option. It is outrageou!!! The feel and sound of this instrument is well worth the money. When you finally get over the loveliness of the bass itself and decide to use the midi pup along with its natural sound, it is simply blissful. Tracks like crazie. Hard to put this one down and I play and own ALOT of basses. LJ 
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"Basses arent for everyone.....just the sexxy people"
http://www.ritter-instruments.com/ar...s-the-bone.php
http://sadowsky.com/pop/artists/jefferson.html
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lpdeluxe
Still rockin'
Registered: November 2004
Location: Deep E Texas
Posts: 3479
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Review Date: Mon May 23, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Playability, sound, appearance, weight.
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Cons:
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Doesn't have a magnetic pickup
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I traded a Martin B-1, a Samick L-5 clone and a Fender Blues Jr NOS plus a little cash for this new Godin A5 natural fretless. I've been strictly a Precision guy for the last few years: Classic '50s, AV '57, and a Standard FSR with a fretless Warmoth neck, all played through a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x1k5. To my mind, the AV '57, especially, through that amp was the voice of God (when God chose to play bass). For convenience at smaller venues, I picked up a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t and added another 10t speaker to get above the drums. Recently a friend told me he had lent his A5 fretless to a mutual friend who plays upright and who has a G-B similar to mine. He added that the friend raved about the sound of the combination. Since I recently started playing with a new line-up, I decided to check out the A5 fretless, which would give me a fiver, also.
I practiced at first through a small Ibanez amp at another friend's home, and got really comfortable with the bass right away. The neck is very nicely shaped for a P player, wide and a little chunky. The fingerboard has small lines that are visible at the edge and lap over the top to just past the B string. These are supplemented by side dots in the usual places -- there are no markers on the face of the ebony fingerboard. The preamp controls are on the upper bass bout, and consist of a couple of MIDI switches and a phase reversal switch at the top, then a volume slider, then treble, mid and bass sliders followed by a MIDI volume slider. Very compact, but unlabeled, and the bass came without a manual or other instructions. Of course, a little familiarity makes it easy. There is an 8" strip parallel to the strings on the B string side, apparently to use as a thumb rest, since there are none of the usual protrusions found on a conventional electric bass. By the same token, there is nothing to interfere with your right hand. The scale is 34", with apparently fixed string saddles, and the last marker is at the 20th fret point of a fretted bass. It came strung with unknown brand flat wounds and has a well made, robust gig bag.
With the markers it is a snap to play with good intonation. The fingerboard radius is flat enough that you don't run into the usual parallax error of trying to predict where the higher strings are in relation to the "fret" marker. I can easily play in tune about any place on the fingerboard I try. For faster passages I'll have to practice, but that's my limitation, not that of the bass. Action is easy -- I didn't measure it, but I had no problems with it. Ergonomically, the bass works whether you play standing or sitting down, with good balance on a strap or on your knee -- although I use a strap sitting down to keep the bass from moving around too much. The controls are easily accessible.
I plugged the bass into my G-B, with everything set flat on the bass and the amp, and experimented. I ended up with some treble rolloff on the bass, everything mostly flat on the amp, with "tone shaping" knob on the amp that gives a shelving boost to the treble (if you have one of the larger Genz-Benz amps, you'll find a lot more options and knobs). The result was a convincing, fat upright "mwah," especially above the 9th "fret" position. This is a killer sound that I've been looking for for a long time. It won't fool an upright player, but we're talking a much smaller instrument and a puny amp! I don't expect it to replace my Precision/Mesa-Boogie for rock or dance hall gigs, but now I've go a really cool alternative for the other music I play. If it had a P pickup it'd be perfect.
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"Digo: 'paciencia, y barajar'." -- Don Quijote de la Mancha, Part II, Chapter 23 / Fender fretless #3 TX bassist #48 fretless #233, Fender P #242, Godin #21, StingRay Club #468
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nickidame
Registered User
Registered: March 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 28
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Review Date: Fri July 22, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $700.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great tone, good looks, nice patina on the wood
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Cons:
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Ergonomics (balance and positioning)
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Rotosound 88 (nylon)
A4 Fretless.
The A4 has beautiful inherent tone... But, I'm finding that there is an art to getting more out of it. It feels like a different creature to any of the other bases that I have (Upright, Acoustic, etc.)
I've had it for a few months now and use it as a secondary instrument, so I'm still discovering more about it.
As others have observed, the balance is... tricky. I've yet to find a configuration that makes complete sense to me. The sharply defined edge means that it's uncomfortable to rest my forearm on.
The "floating thumb" thing also takes some getting used to. But, I've tried the ones with a long wooden thumb rest... and they're just lame.
The on-board EQ is a complete mystery to me. The instructions from the manufacturer are hopeless... And I just can't get a sense of what the bloody things do, let alone what sounds best.
That said... I love it.
It's all about the tone - And most of the issues I'm dealing with are due to the player (me) not the instrument.
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NicholaWard.com
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matthewbrown
Registered User
Registered: January 2003
Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Posts: 289
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Review Date: Tue May 29, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $650.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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design, sound, playability
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Cons:
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Used for what it's made for, none
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This is my second Godin A4; this one has the synth output, which is superfluous for me. Besides the synth output, is essentially the same as my old one, except that the thumb rest has returned.
I love this bass, and I don't understand why people criticize it for lacking the punch of a P-bass or a J-bass. Strung with the right strings and properly eq-d this bass is plenty punchy. It's not slow to speak if you play near the bridge, trust me.
As for clack, I have the fretless version, so it's no problem.
Technically, the fretless A4 demands your best, and if you can play a rock gig without a glissando on it, if you've got your tone set right, no one will complain about the lack of punch. The new Godin strings mine has are splendid -- an improvement on most flats -- and have plenty of presence.
I would never buy the fretted version of this bass, but for your main fretless axe, you could do far, far worse for the money.
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Everybody wants to be a cat.
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