Godin Session

Godin Session, Handbuilt in Canada

Three years ago, guitar builder Godin from Canada presented the new Session series, part of the Godin Performance line, at the NAMM show early 2010. The Godin Session series is supposed to offer a versatile guitar, suitable for every (session) guitarists who has to be able, or wants to play different styles of music.

What makes a Godin particular special is the fact that the Godin's, even from the "cheaper" series, like the Godin Session series, all are handbuilt in Canada, for prices where you normally expect an Asian factory built guitar. Nothing bad about an Asian factory built guitar here, but handbuilt is handbuilt. For a budget price around 600 USD, a Godin Session guitar can well compete with the factory built guitars from the grand US brands.

godin session headstock

Godin Session, versatile in colors and finishes

Godin brings the Session in all favorite colors, from the popular "bursts", the blackburst, the vintage burst and the lightburst to the electric blue and the electric red Godin Session. Also versatility comes in the finishes; satin gloss and high gloss. All Godin Sessions are build from Canadian Laurentian basswood. Normally this wood would deliver a relatively light guitar, but surprisingly, the weight of the Godin Session is almost 4 kg. I didn't expect that.
Depending on the finish, the neck of the Godin Session is made of Rosewood (dark) or maple (light).
As much as I dislike "bulky" headstocks, the Godin Session headstock I really like; elegant and light, Godin did it right.

The shape of the Godin Session makes you compare it with the original Fender Stratocaster. At closer look, the Godin Session isn't just a Stratocaster clone; the edges and the cutaway - endings are less rounded. The ergonomics of the Godin Session makes the higher frets easy playable. The Godin Session's has it's own face. As the Godin Session is handbuilt in Canada, the overall quality should be excellent.

godin session 

Godin Session, versatile in sound; humbucker and single coils

What really makes the Godin Session versatile though, is the combination of the two Godin single coils at the neck and middle position, and the Les Paul style Godin humbucker located next to the bridge. The Godin Session has the usual typical controls; a five way pickup switch, and volume and tone controls.
The tone control is a push and pull type switch, making it possible to split the humbucker to get the typical single coil sound at the bridge. Still, it won't provide the same sound as a real single coil at the bridge position. As always, the more versatile a guitar in terms of combinations in humbuckers and single coils, some concessions have to be taken for granted.

The tremolo provided is one of Godin's own, non "floating" systems. Unlike a Floyd Rose style tremolo, the Godin tremolo on the Session should keep the tune much better.

godin session

Godin Session

In my opinion, the Godin Session is the perfect example of a guitar suitable for lot's of guitar players. The Strat - like shape, the versatility in sound due to the combination of single coils and a humbucker, the choice in colors and finishes, and most of all, a premium brand guitar, handbuilt in Canada, very decent priced, makes this guitar well worth looking at.
Within the 600 USD price-range, lot's of attractive guitars  are available, like the famous Fender Mexican guitars, but are they more versatile and of better quality than the handbuilt Godin Session?

godin session