This is one of those occasions when I regret having done this review. It is torture; a temptation. I set out to put this Godin through the usual tests, coffee in hand and on autopilot. I was completely hooked on the instrument before I knew its price. When I got the fantastic news that it cost a little under 30% of what I had estimated, the idea of buying it started running through my head. Why do you tempt me, you sinners?
First impressions
There is little left to say about Godin at this point. There are two or three brands that any novice musician thinks of first as "prestigious" or quality brands. However, more experienced guitarists know that there are other makers of excellent quality that often outperform many of the more "popular" models. We'll talk more about this later.
When this importer sends us guitars, one thing always catches my eye: the appealing padded gig bags its instruments come in. Great quality and convenience, whether from Rock Bag or, as in the case of today's guest, from Godin itself.
When I took the instrument out of the bag, I sensed good vibes right away. A great feel. Flamed maple finish, an especially smooth neck, ergonomic design, light weight and an exceptional string setup. Its playability and the smoothness of its strings (Godin High Definition) make it feel truly comfortable and fast. Things are looking good.
Finishes, materials and precision
Reading the spec sheet already gives us an idea of the quality of this instrument's materials: maple neck, Indian rosewood fretboard, maple body with poplar wings and a flamed maple top. Pure luxury.
The product is really well finished. The construction materials, the fine detailing and the sturdiness of the neck/body joint, secured with four solid screws, make the instrument's precision and comfort outstanding.
I don't know how it sounds yet, but its feel, the ease with which it produces harmonics, its perfect intonation and how pleasant it is to play fast runs certainly make it a very "tempting" guitar for those who want to shred, or who simply want to play without unnecessary effort.
As for stability, its tuning is so well balanced that it gives us absolute confidence when playing.
Electronics and sound
The guitar is fitted with two Godin GS1 single-coil pickups and a Seymour Duncan SH-5 Custom humbucker. At first glance, these components suggest versatility: the single coils for sharp, more crystalline sounds, leaving the thick, gutsy role to the double-coil Seymour.
We also find a battery housed in the back of the body, so there is an active circuit. It is controlled by the H.D.R. (High Definition Revoicer), a small push button located near the tone and volume controls, which turns the active circuit on and off. If you consider that the pickup selector has five positions and that we can combine several single coils with the humbucker, you get the math: five pickup positions times two modes (active or not active). We get ten well-nuanced, distinct tones, giving the sonic palette great versatility.
We already know that the tuning/intonation is exquisite, that the feel is truly comfortable and that its electronics are powerful and versatile. Now add practically infinite sustain, on harmonics as well as on open strings and on the high notes at the top of the neck. Incredible.
And now, how does it sound, or what does it sound like?
When I took the amp's tubes off standby, I started playing, first in the brightest selector positions. Mind-blowing. I hastily, eagerly flip the pickup selector up to keep soaking up the Godin's sounds. It fascinates me. It has a round, balanced, powerful sound with a crushing "pointed" attack. Thanks to the three very different pickups and the H.D.R., we get a range of possibilities covering practically the whole tonal spectrum.
We can range from piercing highs, bright but full-bodied, or rich mids, finally arriving at a good selection of darker lows (especially if we play with the H.D.R. and darken the tone with the pot).
Although the guitar is strongest in the highs and mids, its lows are also outstanding. What's more, all its tones have something in common: beautiful sounds with body and enormous punch in the attack. This last detail makes the richness of its nuances exceptional. The guitarist playing today's guest has many tools for adding nuance, finding harmonic points easily, getting "slapped" sounds, etc. In short, prodigious dynamics.
Hardware
Remarkably precise. Mathematically exact Godin tuners. A chrome floating bridge whose action is held by three springs. The whammy bar screws in, and we can set it looser so it drops out of the way, or, on the contrary, tighten it so it stays firmer and we don't have to go "looking for it" in a moment of "urgency." The bar has no play at all; it is rather stiff. Every guitarist has their own preference, out of habit, when it comes to the tremolo arm. In any case, what is clear to me is that this particular system is extremely reliable and precise.
Conclusions
Generally speaking (and I think this is an impression shared by many guitarists), there are three or four brands that dominate the musician's mind. Their sounds are clearly distinct: some offer legendary, rather bright vibes, others the characteristic dark tone for battle, and a third kind satisfies those looking for metal, ergonomics and speed of action on the neck.
I have always thought that to handle every kind of context (in solid-body electrics) you need three instruments: the bright classic one, the dark one and the fast one. Just as happens to me with Music Man, the Godin Velocity changes this idea, since the bright concept and the fast concept go hand in hand here, uniting those two families of guitars in a single one. The low, dark vibe is also perfectly achievable, although it is a little further from the Gibson® concept. What I can state, empirically (not as a hypothesis), is that this guitar is better, more precise, more powerful-sounding and better-feeling than others in my collection that are very well known and cost more than €2,400. When I received the delivery note with this model's price, €989, I was completely blown away. Objectively and hand on heart, I can say that it is almost impossible to resist buying this guitar. Fantastic.
