Any godin shifter classic fans?

[Nephilymbass]

thinking about ordering one of these. Seen some nice sounding videos with them and I like the somewhat classic but different look. Because there’s no where locally to try them I’m curious about the things I can’t tell anything about from video reviews/demos. You know like weight, balance, can anyone compare the neck to a bass I’m familiar with

 

[corndog]

I played one in a shop about 6 months ago and have gassed for one since. It was a creme brule with maple neck. The thing looked, played and sounded great. The fretwork was fantastic and had great pbass tone. Was fairly light and balanced while I sat.

For the price, these things truly rock. If one comes available locally, I am grabbing it.

 

[hrodbert696]

I haven't played a Shifter Classic. I am a big Godin fan though, with an older model Shifter, an A4, and an electric guitar (a Session Custom). Their instruments are well-made in general, average weight and good balance. I don't know about the 5-strings, but the Shifter 4 I have has a jazz width and profile neck but flatter fretboard than the traditional Fender style.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

I have a four string black burst with rosewood neck. Cannot say enough good things about it. It is several steps better than my MIM Fender in terms of fit, finish, and the neck....so sweet! Closer to a Jazz than a P, and very fast. The pickups are very good, very well balanced, no neck dive at all. Tuners are precise, and stays in tune better than my Fender or Schecter, and that is saying something. Only downside is that mine is a bit heavy, but nothing a padded strap doesn't resolve. That is apparently not the case with all of them, just the luck of the draw I guess. The varieties of tone are really amazing, all different but all actually useable. We play classic rock, country, country-rock and some older 50s-60s rock and roll and this bass does it all. John McVie used two of them (one drop tuned) on latest Fleetwood Mac tour. Only thing I have changed on mine are the strings (Black tapes look and sound great), and the black pickguard screw mod. And, added an ashtray because it just seems to work with this bass. Picture does not do the burst finish justice, looks much better in real life. I was searching for a couple of years for an MIA P I could bond with, but when I played this, that search ended. No need.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

The charcoal one was de-tuned for "The Chain", and a couple other songs they played that have had key changes over the years...

I'm quite anxious to see what basses Johnny-Mac will be sporting on the upcoming tour. I'd love to see him pull out the old Alembics for one more trip around.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

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The charcoal one was de-tuned for "The Chain", and a couple other songs they played that have had key changes over the years...

I'm quite anxious to see what basses Johnny-Mac will be sporting on the upcoming tour. I'd love to see him pull out the old Alembics for one more trip around.

That would be good to see. He can play whatever bass he chooses, but, at least for now, he chooses Godin. And that says a lot.

 

[Semilliw]

Here's mine.

 

[BassPlayerSAHH]

I am extremely happy with mine, after owning it for about a year now. The previous owner installed a Stellartone Tonestyler pot in the back, and it compliments the 4 shifter positions very well. You can dial 40 different and distict sounds on a passive bass and AB’ed next to an EBMM, the Shifter wins hands down in punch and clarity largely due to the passive electronics. Build is excellent, with kind of a tele bass vibe, with squareish corners, but it is easy to get used to. The stock pickups are surprisingly good, and I don’t feel a need to change. This bass stopped all the gas...it was the cure for me.

 

[skullbass]

I am extremely happy with mine, after owning it for about a year now. The previous owner installed a Stellartone Tonestyler pot in the back, and it compliments the 4 shifter positions very well. You can dial 40 different and distict sounds on a passive bass and AB’ed next to an EBMM, the Shifter wins hands down in punch and clarity largely due to the passive electronics. Build is excellent, with kind of a tele bass vibe, with squareish corners, but it is easy to get used to. The stock pickups are surprisingly good, and I don’t feel a need to change. This bass stopped all the gas...it was the cure for me.
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Could you post picture of the back of the bass to show the mod ? Interesting, never heard of that !

 

[HubbardsFate]

On my GAS list...the trans black model w/ maple board...

 

[filler83]

Wanted to feedback from folks on the electronics/pickups. I played two used ones in the past at two different guitar centers. Like others have mentioned, the fit and finish were fantastic. Neck is amazing. But on both of the ones I tried, I thought the sound was very loud and boomy and was hard to get a balanced, articulate sound out of it. Because they were used, I wasn’t sure if this was the way they were setup (or lack thereof) or just an attribute of the pickups they use? Thanks

 

[Michael Milner]

I'm very happy with mine. I've been gigging with it for a few months now. It's a burst model with a rosewood board, (and a substantial piece of rosewood for the fingerboard I might add). With respect to tone, the pickups although passive, are a bit on the "hot" side, especially the "split P" type in the neck position. My favourite modes with the selector switch are either the neck pickup by itself (first position) or the 2 pickups in parallel mode (third position).

 

[EddieJackson]

Bump
I'm getting Shifter 5 envy !
Any more opinions on this one?

From what I heard,the pickups are quite poweful ? What's the neck's depth at the nut ?

Thanks

 

[Nedmundo]

I've tested the four and the five, and I was highly impressed with both, especially the five. It's beautifully built, and the neck is excellent. From what I could tell, the pickups sounded good too, and it's great that the pickup selector includes a series setting. I wanted a passive J5 and was seriously considering the Shifter, but then a used G&L USA JB-5 with lightweight empress body became available locally for a great price, so I went that route.

 

[MsvII]

I have a four string black burst with rosewood neck. Cannot say enough good things about it. It is several steps better than my MIM Fender in terms of fit, finish, and the neck....so sweet! Closer to a Jazz than a P, and very fast. The pickups are very good, very well balanced, no neck dive at all. Tuners are precise, and stays in tune better than my Fender or Schecter, and that is saying something. Only downside is that mine is a bit heavy, but nothing a padded strap doesn't resolve. That is apparently not the case with all of them, just the luck of the draw I guess. The varieties of tone are really amazing, all different but all actually useable. We play classic rock, country, country-rock and some older 50s-60s rock and roll and this bass does it all. John McVie used two of them (one drop tuned) on latest Fleetwood Mac tour. Only thing I have changed on mine are the strings (Black tapes look and sound great), and the black pickguard screw mod. And, added an ashtray because it just seems to work with this bass. Picture does not do the burst finish justice, looks much better in real life. I was searching for a couple of years for an MIA P I could bond with, but when I played this, that search ended. No need.

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I have the same. Everything you said its true. But mine is really light