Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Chris
I first heard of Godin Guitars back in the early ’90s, after seeing an ad for one of their nylon-stringed instruments in a guitar magazine. I dismissed them at the time because I thought they looked really plain and was more interested in Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, ESP, etc. So I didn’t even check if left handed Godin guitars were available back then!
Since then, I’ve learned to appreciate all different types of guitar, and have come to the conclusion that not every guitar has to have a high output rock/metal tone or be built to shred. I can now acknowledge that there’s more to playing guitar than rocking out!
How about now then? Let’s find out more about Godin and what left handed Godin guitars are available these days.
Alternatively, you can go straight to the guitars.
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Table of Contents
Who Are Godin Guitars?
Godin Guitars is a guitar brand based in Quebec, Canada, and was founded in 1972 by master luthier Robert Godin, who, as a teenager, began experimenting with his guitars in the quest to emulate the tones of his musical heroes, like The Beatles, and The Ventures. He would try many things with his sound, such as using banjo strings on his guitars or modifying components.
He would share his ideas with local players, and built a solid reputation for innovation in his guitar mods, gaining many fans across Canada.
Check out Harley Benton’s range of left handed acoustic guitars!
In 1972, while on a hunting trip in La Patrie, a small town near the border of New Hampshire, Godin chanced upon a window frame factory, Norman Windows, whose owner also made guitars! Norman asked Godin to help him improve on his guitars and so the two worked together at the factory to build better instruments. And thus Godin Guitars was born!
Godin later joked in an interview with Music Trades:
“Everyone else on the hunting trip came home with a deer, I came home with a guitar factory.”
Over the years, Godin Guitars has continued to innovate, refine and bring new ideas to guitar design, becoming one of the largest stringed instrument manufacturers in North America.
Godin would take inspiration from Cellos and Rhodes pianos, how sound resonates with them, and then apply this to his guitars. He’d also use thinner satin finishes for greater sound vibration, and for many years, Godin guitars have been using synth-ready technology, all the time staying one step ahead of the curve.
For the most part, Godin Guitars uses materials that are indigenous to North America, such as Silver Leaf Maple, Wild Cherry, and Canadian Laurentian basswood. Godin explained in a 2019 interview with MusicRadar:
“Laurentian is north, way north of Montréal. The trees grow slower and therefore the wood is harder. That’s the difference. If you take basswood from the middle of the USA, or California, it’s too soft. We don’t use that.”
The necks and bodies are all made at the original La Patrie location and then assembled in their Quebec and New Hampshire factories.
Check out these beautifully crafted left handed Duesenberg guitars!
Now, Godin Guitars remains a family run business with Robert’s two sons, Simon and Patrick, running the company, with Robert helping them.
As well as the Godin Brand, there are several other subsidiary brands; Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Norman, Art & Lutherie, and LaPatrie (which was rebranded in 2020 as the Godin Nylon Series).
Well-known Godin players include Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Alex Skolnick (The Alex Skolnick Trio, Testament), and John McVie (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac).
What Do I Think of Godin Guitars?
As mentioned before, I had previously dismissed Godin Guitars because of how they looked. However, since I came to learn just how much innovation has been involved in their design, I really do think they make some fantastic guitars that sound amazing!
Sure, I’m still not the biggest fan of some of the guitars’ looks, but they’re kinda growing on me, and I think many of them look fantastic.
Different Types of Godin Guitars
Godin produces numerous types of guitars; electric, acoustic, and bass.
Electric Guitars:
- Solid Body
- Montreal Premiere
- 5th Avenue
- Multiac
- A-Series
- Multi-Voice
- Oud
- 10-String
- 12-String
Acoustic Guitars:
- Steel
- Nylon
Bass Guitars:
- 4-String
- 5-String
Left Handed Godin Electric Guitars
At the time of writing, there are six left handed Godin guitars.
5th Avenue Kingpin P90 Cognac Burst Left-Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 630.936 mm (24.84″)
- NECK: Silver Leaf Maple
- BACK & SIDES: Canadian Wild Cherry
- TOP: Canadian Wild Cherry
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 406.4 mm / 16″
- FRETS: 21
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 43.688 mm (1.72″)
- BRIDGE: Graphtech Adjustable Tusq Bridge
- TUNERS: Bass side 18:1, Treble side 26:1
- NECK PICKUP: Godin Kingpin P90 Single Coil
- FINISH: Cognac Burst Semi Gloss
Check price/availability at:
A6 ULTRA Natural SG Left-Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 647.7 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Mahogany
- BODY: Two-Chambered Silver Leaf Maple with Canadian Laurentian Basswood Wings
- TOP: Solid Cedar Top
- FINGERBOARD: Richlite
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 406.4 mm (16″)
- FRETS: 22
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 43.688mm (1.72″)
- BRIDGE: Richlite
- TUNERS: Bass side 18:1, Treble side 26:2
- NECK PICKUP: Custom Godin humbucker
- FINISH: Natural Semi Gloss
Check price/availability at:
Multiac Nylon Encore Left-Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 647.7 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Mahogany
- BODY: Two-Chambered Silver Leaf Maple with Canadian Laurentian Basswood Wings
- TOP: Solid Cedar Top
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 406.4 mm (16″)
- FRETS: 22
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 48.26 mm (1.9″)
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- TUNERS: 16:1
- ELECTRONICS: 2 body sensors, Custom Godin Dual Source System, undersaddle bridge, with On-Board Preamp
- FINISH: Natural Semi Gloss
Check price/availability at:
Multiac Nylon String Left-Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 647.7 mm (25.5″)
- NECK: Mahogany
- BODY: Two-Chambered Mahogany
- TOP: Solid Spruce Top
- FINGERBOARD: Richlite
- FRETBOARD RADIUS: 406.4 mm (16″)
- FRETS: 22
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 48.26 mm (1.9″)
- BRIDGE: Richlite
- TUNERS: 16:1
- ELECTRONICS: Custom RMC electronics with 13-Pin for Roland GR synths and 13-pin devices, with On-Board Preamp
- FINISH: Natural High Gloss
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Godin Acoustic Guitars
Etude Left Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 651.764mm (25.66″)
- NECK: Mahogany
- BACK & SIDES: Canadian Wild Cherry
- TOP: Solid Cedar Top
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 609.6mm (24″)
- FRETS: 19
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 50.8mm (2″)
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- TUNERS: 14:1
- PICKUP: Godin Q1T (Optional)
- FINISH: Natural Semi Gloss
Check price/availability at:
Concert Left Handed
Made in Canada
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 651.764mm (25.66″)
- NECK: Mahogany
- BACK & SIDES: Solid Mahogany
- TOP: Solid Cedar Top
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 609.6mm (24″)
- FRETS: 19
- NUT TYPE: Graphtech
- NUT WIDTH: 50.8mm (2″)
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- TUNERS: 14:1
- PICKUP: Godin Q1T (Optional)
- FINISH: Natural High Gloss
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Godin Bass Guitars
At the time of writing, left handed Godin bass guitars are not available.
Final Thoughts
With a handful of left handed Godin guitar models available, the choice isn’t too bad, but I think it’d be great if there were at least a few others available too.
I’d love some acoustic guitars such as the Imperial Laguna Blue GT EQ, as well as solid body guitars, such as the Radiator Bourbon Burst RN. Guitars from the Montreal Premiere range are also sadly missing.
All in all, though, this is a decent selection for lefties and allows us to try some innovative guitars.
What do you think about Godin Guitars? Let us know in the comments below.
Image credits: godinguitars.com