Godin love

[bfloyd6969]

I do, I really like the Godin line of acoustics. I have several Art and Lutheries (different woods and sizes) and love them all. I used to own a couple Seagulls, and just helped my sister-in-law pick out her SWS series. Great guitars.

 

However, the thing that puzzles me about the Godin line, is why so many similarities? Just last weekend I was at my local GC and was playing some Seagulls. There was a noticeable jump in sound and quality between the Art and Lutherie dread and the S6, but when I played the few Rustic Seagulls they had, they were identical to my A & L's - same woods, same scale, same nut width, etc. The price was the same as well. So why two nearly identical guitars from the same factory with just different names on the headstock? This leads me to the similarity in the Art and Lutherie and Norman lines. Again very similar in prices and woods. Then the Simon and Patrick compared to the Seagull lines. More very close similarities. I understand that some of the Seagulls have the 1.8" nut width, but as far as I can tell that is the only difference in some... Anyone?

[OldGuitarPlayer]

I could on and on about his for days but...I am drunk...it's Canada day! So lets wait til tomorrow...

 

I live less than 200 miles from were these guitars are produced so I have some experience with the Norman, Seagull and A&L lines...etc

 

They are great guitars, especially the Normans.

[bfloyd6969]

I could on and on about his for days but...I am drunk...it's Canada day! So lets wait til tomorrow... I live less than 200 miles from were these guitars are produced so I have some experience with the Norman, Seagull and A&L lines...etc They are great guitars, especially the Normans.

 

Thanks, and enjoy your drunkness Have a good holiday and I'm looking forward to reading your post...

[Elias Graves]

I wonder this myself.

It seems they were once different lines with different levels of trim, woods, etc. but I think that has become blurred. I could be way off though.

 

EG

[guitarist21]

 

I understand that some of the Seagulls have the 1.8" nut width, but as far as I can tell that is the only difference in some... Anyone?

 

 

My best guess: they're all great guitars and they all sell fairly well. So why not sell all of them if they're selling well?

[guildfire]

I prefer the A&L line to the others. Seagull necks are too wide for me. I played a really nice 12 string A&L a while back. Wish I had picked it up. Don't see too many around here.

[bfloyd6969]

Where'd you go OldGuitarPlayer, you still hungover ?!

 

Yeah, lotsa love for my A & L's... I don't mind the Seagull wider nut widths. Both have similar neck profiles and I can only slightly tell the difference.

[fastblueheeler]

Normans seem to be kind of rare around here. I''d like to try one.

[seagullplayer77]

FlipFlopFly, who's from Canada IIRC, has talked about this a number of times. I can never seem to recall the story correctly, but it goes something like this:

 

Basically, all of Godin's acoustics are the same. Different finishes, different pickups, different names on the headstocks, but they're all essentially the same. The reason for all the different brands is so that they get better market exposure. If there are two guitar shops in town, Godin can sell one of them Seagulls and the other one Simon & Patricks, for example. Instead of selling both shops the exact same merchandise, they get more exposure by selling differently branded guitars.

 

That was kind of awkward . . . It always makes sense when FlipFlopFly explains it. Maybe he'll chip in .

[Tartanlad]

Where'd you go OldGuitarPlayer, you still hungover ?!

 

Couldnt have been that hungover at the time as he was able to type

you a remember

[bfloyd6969]

FlipFlopFly, who's from Canada IIRC, has talked about this a number of times. I can never seem to recall the story correctly, but it goes something like this: Basically, all of Godin's acoustics are the same. Different finishes, different pickups, different names on the headstocks, but they're all essentially the same. The reason for all the different brands is so that they get better market exposure. If there are two guitar shops in town, Godin can sell one of them Seagulls and the other one Simon & Patricks, for example. Instead of selling both shops the exact same merchandise, they get more exposure by selling differently branded guitars. That was kind of awkward . . . It always makes sense when FlipFlopFly explains it. Maybe he'll chip in .

 

I agree with this as long as the guitars are at the same level. All four names have entry level guitars, and all of these I believe to be the same. Art and Lutherie and Norman seem to be similar in alot of their models. Now, Seagull and Simon and Patrick appear to offer higher end models and thus those two names compare together. I don't know, maybe it's a region thing? I mean, we have Art and Lutheries and Seagulls around us, but I have never seen Norman and Simon and Patrick... I don't know...

[bfloyd6969]

Couldnt have been that hungover at the time as he was able to type you a remember

 

LOL

[guildfire]

The A&L is supposedly their "lower line" and Simon & Partick their "higher end". I guess Seagull is in the middle. Not sure where Norman fits in.

[Steadfastly]

FlipFlopFly, who's from Canada IIRC, has talked about this a number of times. I can never seem to recall the story correctly, but it goes something like this: Basically, all of Godin's acoustics are the same. Different finishes, different pickups, different names on the headstocks, but they're all essentially the same. The reason for all the different brands is so that they get better market exposure. If there are two guitar shops in town, Godin can sell one of them Seagulls and the other one Simon & Patricks, for example. Instead of selling both shops the exact same merchandise, they get more exposure by selling differently branded guitars. That was kind of awkward . . . It always makes sense when FlipFlopFly explains it. Maybe he'll chip in .

 

Seagullplayer77: Actually, I think you did an excellent job of explaining it. Thanks for the compliment, though.

[Steadfastly]

 

The A&L is supposedly their "lower line" and Simon & Partick their "higher end". I guess Seagull is in the middle. Not sure where Norman fits in.

 

 

Actually, the prices are all pretty close. The only seemingly difference is in the profit margin from one dealer to the next. Of course there are likely volume discounts as well that could account for some pricing differences but the manufacturers don't really take kindly to dealers that really try to "under cut" the competition.

[guildfire]

There are distint lines of Godin products. At least based on pricing here and what the dealer is telling me.

[Steadfastly]

 

There are distint lines of Godin products. At least based on pricing here and what the dealer is telling me.

 

 

If he is telling you that there is a difference between Seagull, S & P, Norman and Art & Lutherie, he is either misinformed or he is lying. They do have different guitars but an S6 is an S6 and so on.

 

OK, guys, I did a booboo here. I keep forgetting the La Patrie is a nylon string guitar. It is different from the other three but the other three are basically the same guitar with a different headstock.

[guildfire]

They seem to market distinct and different brands and price points. At least they are marketed that way here.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

History

Godin started building Robert Godin's guitars in 1972 in La Patrie, Quebec.

 

Godin Guitars' head office is located in Montreal, and they build their instruments in six factories in four different locations, three in Quebec and one in New Hampshire.

 

Godin Guitars makes instruments under several different labels. Norman makes entry- to mid-level acoustic guitars. Art & Lutherie makes entry-level budget guitars. The Simon and Patrick brand make mid- to high-range steel-string acoustics. La Patrie manufactures classical guitars. Seagull is known for manufacturing solid wood entry- to mid-range acoustic guitars. Guitars under the Godin brand are primarily mid-range to top-of the-line electrics that are made of high quality wood from the northeastern part of North America

[jmannatl]

Speaking of godin, I'm looking for a used glissentar if anyone has one...

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Haha! I am back...and out of recovery.

 

Yes Godin guitars started around 1971 when he bought the Norman guitar company from Normand Boucher. As for the question of were "Norman fits in" it is/was essentially the original line of guitars starting when Robert Godin bought the company. Although the Norman brand is not well known in the USA up here in Canada it is an institution. Before there were any other Godin brands (Seagull, A&L, Simon & Patrick etc..) there was Norman guitars. Many many Candians have either owned a Norman guitar or still do.

 

There are several Norman models starting with the least expensive B-15 model and going up the ladder to the all solid spruce rosewood ST-68. For more info on Norman Guitars go here: http://www.normanguitars.com/aboutus.html

 

Essentially yes the A&L line is the least expensive brand in the Godin line up but I too have found the price of these guitars to be creeping up in the last few years. For more info on A&L guitars go here: http://www.artandlutherieguitars.com/intro.htm

 

Simon & Patrick is also simply another line from Godin and as you can see they use basically the same types of woods and building process for all of the other Godin brands. They do seem to be a little higher end in build and material qualities though. http://www.simonandpatrick.com/intro.htm

 

There is also the "LaPatrie" brand of nylon string classical guitars offered by Godin.

 

Of course all of these brands including Godin are controlled by the parent company "LaSiDo". http://www.lasido.com/

 

I hope this answers some of your questions.

[dgimcmillan]

All the Canucks on the board have posted, so I better, too.

 

I've got a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin, plus a Simon & Patrick Pro Folk, so I should qualify as to having some knowledge of the Godin lines.

 

Build quality, from lowest to highest ranking, would most likely be: Art & Lutherie; then Norman, then Seagull, then Simon & Patrick, then Godin.

 

I don't put La Patrie in the list, because they're the nylon string specialist in the family.

 

If you go by cost, the least expensive is the Art & Lutherie. In my local store, they top out at around $500 CAN. Next is the Normans.

 

The Seagulls lowest line starts at around $350, and goes up to over $1000, with Peppino's signature guitar.

 

Simon & Patricks start at around $400, and go over $1000, too, with their solid rosewood Dreadknought with electronics.

 

Godin's true acoustics are limited to the 5th Avenue archtop, that starts around $450-$500, and pretty well stops there, since the other "acoustics" in the Godin line are hybrids, like a tele-acoustic model or the glissnetar, etc.

 

Art & Lutherie necks are generally 1.72"-1.8", and are generally a strummers guitar.

 

Simon & Patrick necks are the same as Art & Lutherie - profile wise. Much better finishing, throughout. The headstock is very similar to a Martin and very simple.

 

Seagull necks are very different from the rest, with a pronounced C profile and size usually starts at 1.8". Seagull necks have a repuatation as a "take it or leave it" kind of neck. Everyone I've played sounds great, but my mini-meathook of a hand just doesn't feel right yet. The headstock, of course, is the famous Seagull distinctive one.

 

Godin's 5th Avenue neck is much like my Simon & Patrick. In fact, if I play the Folk, then pick up the 5th avenue, the only difference in feel is the strings I use.

 

What sets all the Godin lines apart, in my opinion, is the fact that the cheapest to the most expensive models ALL have dependable finishing, with no slop or glue marks, etc. Godin's quality control is great!

 

The other thing that sets them apart is Robert Godin himself. He does a traveling show supporting his products throughout the world, and plays a mean guitar himself. I'd like to see some of the Gibson, Guild, Eastman execs putting their skills out front like he does.:poke:

 

final thought - buy Canadian!

 

Ian

[Elias Graves]

Cool rundown.

I've played both the S&P and the A&L parlors and I find the S&P a much nicer guitar....but the sound and playability are pretty consistent...mainly aesthetics.

 

I still predict that the Godin lines will become sought after collectables one day. Really good stuff.

 

EG

[Oldskool Texas]

 

What sets all the Godin lines apart, in my opinion, is the fact that the cheapest to the most expensive models ALL have dependable finishing, with no slop or glue marks, etc. Godin's quality control is great!

 

 

I concur - my Kingpin is absolutely flawless, inside and out. I did once buy an LGP90 on which the fretboard was not glued down to the neck properly, but Godin replaced the entire neck under warranty and had it back in my hands in about a week. Try to beat THAT with one of the big American manufacturers!

[Steadfastly]

 

Godin's 5th Avenue neck is much like my Simon & Patrick. In fact, if I play the Folk, then pick up the 5th avenue, the only difference in feel is the strings I use. Ian

 

 

I also have an S & P, a Cedar 6. I noticed the exact same thing when I first picked up a 5th Avenue. If I had a Kingpin II, I don't think my Ibanez AG-75 would get much playing time anymore but it is a great guitar too.

 

PS: You are right about the Art & Lutherie being a nylon stringed instrument. I keep forgetting that it is different from the other brand names in that way.

[Tartanlad]

I have the Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo i got in a bargain as i

payed