Godin xtSA

November 2008 Guitarist 89
GODIN SUMMIT CT, VELOCITY HDR, TRIUMPH & XTSA £541-£1,044
ELECTRICS
excellent with instantaneous
response, which is all you could
hope for – the synth sounds are up
to you!
Verdict
Four fine guitars, all with their
own particular character, and at a
price point that seems reasonable
for the level of workmanship that
you are getting.
The HDR system in the Summit
CT and the Velocity is an
innovation that is both well
thought out and beautifully
implemented. With a single push
of a conveniently placed button
you are getting two sets of sounds
from the same guitar.
While each of these guitars
offers a very different aesthetic
that will probably appeal to two
very different groups of players,
neither is restricted to a particular
genre of music as both have an
extremely versatile tonal range
thanks to the way the pickup
switching is implemented and
that HDR system. We prefer the
smooth ebony fingerboard and
the shorter scale of the Summit
CT – qualities that make it a
guitar we just wanted to keep on
playing – to the maple of the
Velocity, but that’s a matter of
personal taste. Indeed, if a maple
Godin Summit CT
We like: Fast feeling ebony
fretboard; versatile range of
sounds
We dislike: Black hardware
Guitarist says: We’ve seen better
looking guitars, but just close
your eyes and play…
Godin Triumph
We like: Retro vibe; well-voiced
pickups
We dislike: Not much, but we’d like
to see a version with a Bigsby!
Guitarist says: Cool sounds and
cool looks combine to make it –
and you – stand out from the crowd
Godin Velocity HDR
We like: Variety of sounds; slimline,
sculpted body
We dislike: A locking vibrato might
better suit the sort of players who
would go for this
Guitarist says: This is a sleek
souped-up electric with extra sonic
clout, a great guitar with which to
cover a lot of styles.
Godin xtSA
We like: Well-organised control
over all three sounds; fast synth
tracking; unlimited potential…
We dislike: You need a synth to
unleash its full potential!
Guitarist says: Not all players
need synth access, it’s here if you
want with acoustic and electric
voices. A do-it-all from Montreal!
The Bottom Line
fretboard doesn’t appeal, the
Velocity is also offered with a
rosewood option.
If you are looking for simplicity
and a cool vibe that sets you apart
from the mainstream, the
Triumph may be for you. While
the look may scream retro or
glam, Godin has ensured that
there are sounds onboard for a
variety of genres. The range of
tones may not be quite as wide as
the Summit CT and Velocity, but
the sound has real quality.
For the ultimate in versatility,
though, the xtSA is a guitar for
those of you who need a large
variety of sounds on a single gig,
but can’t take several guitars.
There are other alternatives, of
course (you could fit a hex pickup
to a favourite guitar and use a
Roland VG system), but the xtSA is
an elegant solution that not only
does a lot on its own, but can also
directly interface with a VG
system for ultimate flexibility.
It also has great potential for
sculpting hybrid tones – a great
asset in the studio.
Impressive guitars that offer
a viable alternative to the
traditional choices – it may
be time to go Godin.
The xtSA has RMC bridge transducers enabling the guitar to provide acoustic sounds
If the HDR-equipped guitars are versatile,
they’re nothing compared to the xtSA.
It really is a do-everything guitar
GIT309.rev_godin 89 8/10/08 3:49:29 pm