Is a used Godin worth taking a look at?

[CaribooBass]

There is an older Godin bass shifter bass for sale near me. At this point I have not seen it or played it. Been told it is a “Classic “ model with a sunburst body and a maple neck. It has the three pickup set up and all the electrics work well.
Does any one here have any experience with these Bass guitars?
Any thing I should look for?

Please let me know and thank you in advance.

Clayton

 

[Jeff Scott]

I don't see any pics of it...

 

[yodedude2]

no experience here with shifter classics, but with godins in general. i.m.o. they occupy the space formerly occupied by carvin instruments--not collectible, but great values for the money. do not pay over going market rates ~ and you might get your new favorite bass.

 

[Nedmundo]

I've tried a few Godin basses and guitars over the years. They've always been very well built and they have great playability IMO, so I think it's worth a look.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Godin makes nice stuff in Canada and is often a bargain for the quality. If you like the neck feel and sound it’s a great choice.
The Godin factory was included in an episode of Discovery How It’s Made if you’d like to see the factory at work.

 

[bholder]

I have a Godin Shifter guitar that's very funky. Only thing is I broke a tuner knob and it's impossible to find matching replacements - the cost of having such cool knobs. But it plays great. I would assume the bass would too. No idea what it's worth though. Worth checking out, I'd say.

 

[Beej]

I've owned a few Godins and have worked on many over the years, and IMHO they are really high quality instruments. Certainly on par with higher-esteem FSOs.

 

[J Wilson]

Godins are generally well-built guitars and basses that are just a little different, like the Shifter Bass with three pickups. In good overall shape and no electronic or setup issues, IF it appeals to you, it could make a you a good axe. Their fretless, 'solid acoustic' (those with the sliders on the upper horn) basses and guitars are highly respected.

 

[Turnaround]

Generally I have found Godin basses and guitars great value for the money. They don't re-sell well - i.e. you can get a good used ones for bargain prices. Well-built serviceable instruments.

 

[hrodbert696]

I had the three-pickup shifter, and it was a great bass. Probably should have held onto it, but oh well. I would go for it if the price is good. As others have said, it's not a brand that's particularly collectible, so don't expect to be selling it for a profit in five years or anything. But they're good basses.

 

[groooooove]

i had their archtop guitar for a while.

a friend of mine i believe is endorsed by them.

very nice quality instruments. if you like it i'd go for it assuming it's a fair price.

 

[TheReceder]

I'd owned a Freeway 5 for quite a few years. Ended out letting it go since I never got into the 5ers. I'd agree with others that have said they're comperable to carvin quality. Overall a solid well built bass. I've also got a Godin Multiac Electric/Midi Classical guitar.... I'll never sell that.

 

[Engle]

I did a repair on a Godin guitar a while back and it was a quality instrument. If the aesthetics and price work for you, it's worth checking out.

 

[BAG]

The only bass I regret selling was a Godin Shifter Classic (the black burst P/J).
Excellent build quality and sounded good too.

 

[40Hz]

The shifter is a nicely built bass with a lot of tonal variety. If you can get it for a good price it’s a good bass to own. I’ve owned a few Godins over the years and still have one of their fretless LR Baggs models. As others have already mentioned, they don’t seem to hold a lot in terms of resale value. But that doesn’t take away from them being really good basses.

 

[ToneMonkey]

I've owned four Godins (all guitars). They never stick with me. They are always a hard resell on the flip. Caveat emptor.

 

[GreyBeard]

Godin makes a good quality instrument

 

[Beej]

I've owned four Godins (all guitars). They never stick with me. They are always a hard resell on the flip. Caveat emptor.

That's likely more of a US-specific issue. Outside of the US, we care less about US made items, so it tends not to enter into the equation the way I commonly see it expressed by those in your home country.

 

[winston]

I had a Godin SD-4 bass. P-J pickups, kind of weird single-cutaway Les Paul-ish body with odd ergonomics. Sounded fantastic with TI Jazz Flats strung through-body (literally one of the best P-Bass tones I've ever heard). I sold it to a friend for $11 more than I paid for it. I also have a Godin Core P-90 guitar, an Arts & Lutherie parlor acoustic guitar, and had a Seagull dreadnought acoustic (both are Godin brands). Overall - Godin construction and component quality is high - minus the electronics which are cheap and noisy (small pots/switches and skinny wire), with no shielding.

As others said resale is not great, so search TB for actual sale prices and make an offer accordingly. That said, there are enough value-conscious guitarists/bassists aware of the brand that they're not completely unknown. Also John McVie of Fleetwood Mac played a Shifter P-J in recent years, and John McLaughlin has used Godin guitars for much of the last 2 decades. And there are not too many other 3-pickup Strat-style basses like the Shifter so if you're feeling it...

 

[40Hz]

That's likely more of a US-specific issue. Outside of the US, we care less about US made items, so it tends not to enter into the equation the way I commonly see it expressed by those in your home country.

Any US bias seems to be mainly directed against Asian guitars for no good reason I can figure. And it’s largely coming from a small but vocal minority anyway. When it comes to guitars it’s even more pointless IMO considering how little music gear is actually manufactured in the USA to begin with.

But FWIW I’ve never heard a knock against Canadian instruments. Dingwall in particular is highly respected name among all the bass players I’m friends with.