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?