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Godin Club

#182
Just bought a Godin Shifter Classic 4 in blackburst. I've only had it a few hours but I spent many afternoons playing it in the store before picking it up. It is early on, but already I'm extremely impressed with it. Even just the gig bag it comes with alone is such a sturdy and well-built piece. Maybe I'll try to get up some pics and a review in time.

Does this mean I get #50? :)
 
#183
blindrabbit said:
Just bought a Godin Shifter Classic 4 in blackburst...Does this mean I get #50?
Click to expand...

Yes, sir. It does!! 50 members!

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
44 ErnieD
45 Rezdog
46 Mindsear
47 pnchad
48 scottclyatt
49 matthewbrown
50 blindrabbit
 
#184
blindrabbit said:
Just bought a Godin Shifter Classic 4 in blackburst. I've only had it a few hours but I spent many afternoons playing it in the store before picking it up. It is early on, but already I'm extremely impressed with it. Even just the gig bag it comes with alone is such a sturdy and well-built piece. Maybe I'll try to get up some pics and a review in time.

Does this mean I get #50? :)
Click to expand...

I got the Shifter Classic 4 in Creme Brulee last week. I haven't posted much about it, yet, because I wanted to play it a bit before giving impressions. I'm also liking my Shifter, but I want more time in a band environment. I played it last Sunday at my church (contemporary pop-rock stuff), and I'm hoping to play it with some other guys in the next week or so.

The neck is comfortable, but it is very different from my Jazz neck that I love. The Shifter is thicker, more round, and the string spacing is wider. However, I adapted quickly, and I do still like the feel. I still have the factory strings on it, which I hesitate to change, right now, because they are supposedly nickel roundwound strings from Godin, and I don't want to throw my DRs on there and possibly not end up with much of a difference. Maybe in a couple months. I'm also planning on buying Nordstrand pickups for it later in the year. :)
 
#185
Alas, after 10 years, the neck on my Godin BG-IV has developed a twist that my luthier says cannot be corrected (went in for a fret job, this bass has 100,000 plus on it)

Kinda sad, as with the EMG's is the PERFECT bass for bluegrass and Folk, as they let me get away with an electric because it has such a great low volume presence (unlike my Sadowsky's which want to be turned up)

Anybody know where I could get a replacement neck? They are quarter sawn which should be a stabilizing force, but I noticed
the grain swells on the 7th fret on the G-string

Phil
 
#186
NoNoise said:
I still have the factory strings on it, which I hesitate to change, right now, because they are supposedly nickel roundwound strings from Godin, and I don't want to throw my DRs on there and possibly not end up with much of a difference. Maybe in a couple months. I'm also planning on buying Nordstrand pickups for it later in the year. :)
Click to expand...

That's helpful to know, as I was already considering whether or not to drop on some DRs (which is what I have on my other basses). The factory strings sound surprisingly good, at least in comparison to what typically gets slapped onto Fenders when they are sent out.

My initial impressions of the pickups is that they are hot, hot, hot! I am in awe of the amount of gain this bass is putting out, and from a passive circuit nonetheless. The good thing is I'm not noticing any harshness or brittleness to the tone, its more like a massive punch in the chest. I'd like to see if I can get them to growl though.
 
#188
blindrabbit said:
My initial impressions of the pickups is that they are hot, hot, hot! I am in awe of the amount of gain this bass is putting out, and from a passive circuit nonetheless. The good thing is I'm not noticing any harshness or brittleness to the tone, its more like a massive punch in the chest.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I think I was surprised this bass doesn't sound more different than my active-circuit Godin BGV with soapbars than I thought it would. May be because I'm using a compressor (Punch Factory), though, too...
 
#189
blindrabbit said:
That's helpful to know, as I was already considering whether or not to drop on some DRs (which is what I have on my other basses). The factory strings sound surprisingly good, at least in comparison to what typically gets slapped onto Fenders when they are sent out.
.
Click to expand...

Godins have used re-badged D'Addario strings for a long time and from connecting the dots with other threads here on TB, so does Fender now.
 
#190
andertone said:
Alas, after 10 years, the neck on my Godin BG-IV has developed a twist that my luthier says cannot be corrected (went in for a fret job, this bass has 100,000 plus on it)

Kinda sad, as with the EMG's is the PERFECT bass for bluegrass and Folk, as they let me get away with an electric because it has such a great low volume presence (unlike my Sadowsky's which want to be turned up)

Anybody know where I could get a replacement neck? They are quarter sawn which should be a stabilizing force, but I noticed
the grain swells on the 7th fret on the G-string

Phil
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear. These things do happen. The BG IV neck was unlike the the other basses in the Godin stable as it was multi-piece with kick-back headstock vs the "Fender-style" necks on all the others. I'd give Godin a call and see what they have lying around the shop. It's a nice enough bass that it's worth looking into.
 
#191
Hello Godin fans,

I'm somewhat new to the bass and just joined the forum after lurking for a little bit. Also just picked up a Godin Shifter Classic 5 last month so I figured I ought to be jumping in here as well. I bought the bass from the Music Zoo and some nice [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] are still on their site. Note that it says "Sorry, out of stock". That's because I've bought it. I really love this instrument and have been keeping it busy daily. Funny thing is that I can't see another exactly like it for sale anywhere online. I looked before pulling the trigger on this one and it was the only one I could find. Search as I may, I've still only seen 4 string versions and the black finish version and one like mine but with the maple fretboard but not one exactly like this one anywhere. Here's a cellphone shot in case the Music Zoo page has been deleted by the time people read this:

GSC5.png


Anyone else own a Shifter Classic 5 exactly like this one? I'm really curious as to why this is the only one I've seen. :confused:
 
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#194
blindrabbit said:
That's a gorgeous bass!
Click to expand...

I say the same thing every time I open the case. I'll bet your "blackie" 4 string looks just as sweet. Wish I could afford to grab one of those too. ;-)

I've seen the 5-string versions on the Godin website, but not in person. It does look like all the 5s are J/J pickups, while the 4s get P/J.

These are such great and underrated basses. I continue to love my Shifter Classic 4 more everyday.
Click to expand...

I'm a huge fan of the company. I have one of their 5th Avenue Kingpin archtop guitars and love it. A friend has one of their nylon string synth guitars which is just a great and innovative instrument too. I wanted to get a 5 string bass with passive J's and when I saw this, I pounced without hesitation and I'm really glad I did. Couldn't be happier for the money I spent. If it said "Fender" on the headstock and had the same build quality and attention to detail that this bass has, (and was built in North America) it would likely be close to double the price.
 
#195
Updated list:


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
44 ErnieD
45 Rezdog
46 Mindsear
47 pnchad
48 scottclyatt
49 matthewbrown
50 blindrabbit
51 DampSneaker
 
#196
DampSneaker said:
I say the same thing every time I open the case. I'll bet your "blackie" 4 string looks just as sweet. Wish I could afford to grab one of those too. ;-) I'm a huge fan of the company. I have one of their 5th Avenue Kingpin archtop guitars and love it. A friend has one of their nylon string synth guitars which is just a great and innovative instrument too. I wanted to get a 5 string bass with passive J's and when I saw this, I pounced without hesitation and I'm really glad I did. Couldn't be happier for the money I spent. If it said "Fender" on the headstock and had the same build quality and attention to detail that this bass has, (and was built in North America) it would likely be close to double the price.
Click to expand...

I don't play guitar, but looking at Godin's archtops makes me want to - they are just stunning.

I absolutely agree with your last comment - call these Fenders and these basses are double to triple the price of what they are. When you look at features, finish, quality, and then combine that with the fact that some people place value on a bass having a made in USA/North America heritage...lets just say I have yet to see or play a Fender American Standard that compares to my Shifter Classic.
 
#199
Structurally the bass is very solid, cosmetically it's excellent for its age, almost a "closet classic".

It's just the electronics that are giving me headaches right now. Between LR Baggs suggestion of using an Element preamp with a modified control set-up, something from Godin, or fixing the board itself I hopefully will be able to get it back in service.

In a way you just can't blame 20+ year old components. Caps go, Connections oxidize, physical stress on things like knobs and sliders etc.

It's like owning an old house, be prepared to do some work I guess, and hope it doesn't become a money-pit. :)
 
#200
I wanted to get a Godin bumper sticker to evangelize to anyone who might be in back of me in traffic. Sent an email to Godin asking and they said "Sorry, we don't have them anymore". :crying:

So searching around I found a place that does vinyl lettering and actually has the Godin logo available in any color or size. Check the photo of the back of my car. Just put it on today.

CarBack.png


Sweet. I got it from Fusion Arts Decals (fadecals.com) for $6.84 including shipping. Just go to their site and type "Godin" in the search box. Any color other than gold or silver is 2 bucks cheaper. I wanted gold on my black car to match the colors on my case. :D Note that I'm not shilling for this place. Really. Just thought some of you Godin fans might be interested.
 
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