Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

[Prozrenie]

I gave up on my desire to pick up a Fender "Roland Ready" MIM strat (discontinued but still on shelves) to do synth work, as I realized that they are not well regarded. (I was going to swap out the MIM pups for Duncans before realizing that the whole thing was a be****ted effort.)

Godin seem to be the go-to people for 13-pin synth access.

The LGX series are all solid guitars, with Seymour Duncans in them and a piezo pickup also for "acoustic style sounds". The bridge pickup is supposedly unique to Duncan, a modified "Custom Custom" that Seymour cooked up himself for this axe; some say it is a Custom 5. The neck has an SH 2 Jazz.

There's some freewheeling string on the Pickup board wherein the Duncans get dumped on by a three-starred member (I don't know how much weight to assign), and one other thread where a guy hates the jazz pup, but I have to say, many impressions around the net are that the LGXT and LGX-SA are some of the best guitars around.

Any thoughts from this group, especially anyone that's played one of these? BTW I wonder if the nod to jazz might be a marketing effort to draw in the older crowd who perhaps can often afford $1700 for a guitar. (Oh, I see that the Duncan people anticipated that angle: "Don't let the name fool you; it's not only great for jazz, but also country, blues, funk, classic rock and heavy rock." LOL! )

 

[SouthpawGuy]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I had a lefty LGX-SA about ten years ago. I found it to be very easy to play but ultimately trade it against a Strat. It didn't sound like a typical two humbucker guitar. I loved the neck pickup on it and hated the bridge pickup, very bright and shrill with no warmth. That may have been a combination of the bolt on construction and the ebony fingerboard, the neck pickup sounded fine, I could never dial in the bridge pickup.

Three of the positions on the five way switch were useless to me, they didn't balance tonally or volume wise with the humbuckers by themselves. The synth access was something I never really tried and the piezo would have been half decent if I'd had an acoustic amp or pa to plug it into.

I had the guitar for about three years and really tried to like it more than I did but in the end just traded it.

 

[Prozrenie]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

Wow! Thanks for the sharing! I've already got a Am. Strat that I should play more!

I'm looking for synth-playing axe without the creepy GK hookups that Roland offers. Godin seems to be the king of that.

This is very interesting: "I loved the neck pickup on it and hated the bridge pickup, very bright and shrill with no warmth. That may have been a combination of the bolt on construction and the ebony fingerboard, the neck pickup sounded fine, I could never dial in the bridge pickup." I think it is exactly the opposite of what fellow argued on the Pickups board; said he hated the sound of the neck (Duncan Jazz 2) but the bridge was okay for him. Hmmmmm...

Anyway, I know I could do it for cheaper, and my real purpose is I want the synth without drama. One option would be to buy a cheaper Godin synth guitar and make the seller switch out the magnetic pups for me, but cheaper is not really what I'm mostly look for. I'm trying to decide what I think about the acoustic possibilities. If I am playing synth and Duncans and acoustic in the same gig, that is three lines going out! OR NO I SEE. The accoustic output carries the electic signal too unless overidden

 

[Prozrenie]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

Why not just buy a guitar you like and then install a graphtech midi system?

Okay, would you explain precisely which purchases that involves?

I get the guitar, as you say. Then exactly what do I have to buy? If there is a recommendation as to which guitar is best, great, especially since I prefer not to have glued-on trash like GK pickups on my guitars, but whatever. Please include links where feasible. Thanks much.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I have a LGXSA , now since 2003/4 RMC Hexaphonic . I love it , it flat out screams .

I run ti directly to a Carvin 60 watt tube with the SD PUs , rips

I run it through a Yamaha 112 50 watt SS for the acoustic electric - killer

Synthesizer sounds through a 500 watt stereo P . A . base amp head to any number of state of the art speaker systems from large to small room sizes . This blows away a lot of minds cause sometimes I run everything through it - electric guitar magnetic sounds via my Digitech GNX4

to the P A . , the acoustic piezo's too and the synth sounds all through state of the art speakers with components like JBL - Altec Lansing - Philips .

I also low tech it through a mono 95 watt SS Polytone Mini Brute

with a 3 channel input . I get an extra low HZ ( w/phantom ) XLR input from my Digitech GNX4 hooked in with this .

This is the lightest weighted quality sound I can truck around for a solo or duet or trio and have it all in one tight little bundle . Even though this is a mono set up it's more than decent man .

All my systems kick @$$ seriously sound quality wise no $hit .

The LGXSA gets single coil sounds too that please me and more over those who listen to my playing .

It's got the Rock-A-Billy seal of approval from Chan Romero ( the Polytone system and LGXSA hooked up to it via my Digitech GNX4 ) he say's it's got that " sound " from the fifties locked in tight , and who am I to disagree with a living legend like Chan Romero .

The Humbuckers are saaaaaaweeeeeeet I don't have one complaint about them . Rock-A-Anythang - Blues - Jazz - you name it - Cosmic to CW , it's got it all waiting for you to turn it loose ..

I got mine for $1700.00 w/OHSC and a

brand spankin new Roland GR33 guitar synthesizer module in the deal and stereo line in cables , tax included too !

For the money , it's not gonna be beat , quality wise with PRS - Parker - and the like - it competes beautifully .

A no brainier man , a real no brainier .

My guitar

is sexy !


Easy Blood :

Hurricane Ramon

 

[Mincer]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I use a Brian Moore C55 for synth work. I like the Godins, but the necks are a little too chunky for me, and the guitars themselves are heavy. So I went with Brian Moore.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

i really wanted one of the godin's when i got into synth guitar but just couldnt scrap together that much money, so i found a NOS brian moore for a very happenin price that i played as my #1 for years .... nothing bad to say about the godins ... well built, sound great (especially w/ duncans) ... tracked very well ... had the excellent onboard eq for the piezo (always wished my brian moore had that, but then i got a dtar mamabear and solved that problem even better than onboard EQ would )

as fo rrouting, i got lavacables to build me a custom stereo to dual mono cable so the electric signal went to one signal chain and its own amp and the piezo went to another signal chain and its own amp .... the synth went on its own 13 pin cable to the gr33 and off to another channel of the same amp the piezo went to ... a lot of stuff, but sounded great

good luck
t4d

 

[Hurricane]

My Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access) & DIY

My Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access) & DIY

Okay, would you explain precisely which purchases that involves?

I get the guitar, as you say. Then exactly what do I have to buy? If there is a recommendation as to which guitar is best, great, especially since I prefer not to have glued-on trash like GK pickups on my guitars, but whatever. Please include links where feasible. Thanks much.

=========================================================

Prozrenie :

When you add it up a graphtec Floyd Rose midi bridge and the accompanying electronics your talking $500.00 on a real good day and more than likely about $700.00 bucks . The RMC system is about the same money and we are not talking the cost of the " right " guitar to put this on ................

Warmoth Ebony neck :

$295.00<====<<- for best possible synthesizer tracking .

Warmoth bodys anywhere from $250.00 and up .

I'm not even going into the pick ups and electronics .


Add it up and - - - ¡ ¿ well ? ! - - - -

I did and that's why I got my Godin LGXSA .

I still really want to make my own , I think it's the only way I will get exactly what I really want too .

What I have pictured is a 3 SD pick up combo with individual splitters and a phase switch on one or two . A Floyd Rose type whammy - USB and Hex outs , stereo out 1/4 for electric and acoustic sound . And a Kaoss mini synthesizer set into the body .......

Now that's what I'm talkin bout man I wanna take you higher !

Easy :

Hurricane Ramon

 

[Mincer]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

My Magnetics go to a Boss GT-Pro effects/amp modeler...the piezo goes to a Boss VF-1 effects unit...they meet the synth in a Mackie mixer- the aux send gets sent to my looper. It all goes to a set of JBL Eon speakers.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

Hurricane, your post is misleading.

The links i posted above yours are for products that come to a total of under $400 and can convert any normal guitar into a midi-capable one. There is no need to by the floyd rose, etc, you can just change the saddles on whatever bridge your guitar has.

If you already have a guitar that you like, doing this is far cheaper than buying a Godin.

=============

Misleading ? I made it clear on cost being high to make a midi guitar from scratch .

Conversions are cool I have seen some cool ones but even though it's still gonna be some cash right ?

There are brand new Godins out there with synth access for about $900.00 new .

The tracking issues on necks is critical , I have seen and heard these issues with Strats with maple and rose necks . Ebony seems to be the choice of midi guitar makers and that is a issue to be address if your going to play on stage and in studios doing sessions .

My LGXSA's ebony neck is rock stable and I have no issues with triggering false notes , I can not say that about the Strats I tried ( with GK3 and piezos saddles types ) and heard the difference .

Midi guitar has taken a lot of bad shots because of tracking issues . These issues I read and followed for years till I found midi guitar had reached that " plateau " of passing up tracking issues as a thing of the past . That's when I made the decision on getting a midi guitar and then I took a few more years to get to the point of getting one .

There are piezo saddle set ups that do a quasi like midi ( not full on with individual string controls ) that are cheaper too but they are no where in the league of the Godin - PRS and Carvins that are out there now . These do not employ a hexophonic jack and are demonstratively cheaper and also demonstratively limited too . You can use a 1/4 plug into these less expensive syth type modules , but it's not full tilt boogie midi .

Maybe that's what you were referring to with piezo only replacements with the respective pre amp that is not truly polyphonic ? Correct me if I am incorrect in my assumption .

My reasoning is that the total cost for what you posted is not $400.00 total when you get everything needed and required for a full on midi set up like what I have in mine . Itemize the costs of everything needed to make it and see .

Easy and Peace Blood :

Hurricane Ramon

 

[boardwlk17]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I've. Played a Quilt top godin LGXSA with seymour duncan pickups for over 10 yrs it was my main stage guitar we played hard rock/heavy metal,blues,r&b i played througe a bradshaw rack with marshalls and mesa boogies and now a AxeFxll i have been using Seymour duncan pickups for over 30yrs. That guitar and the pickups are smokin HOT! What i want is a LGXSA with a FLOYD ROSE TREM

 

[Hurricane]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I've. Played a Quilt top godin LGXSA with seymour duncan pickups for over 10 yrs it was my main stage guitar we played hard rock/heavy metal,blues,r&b i played througe a bradshaw rack with marshalls and mesa boogies and now a AxeFxll i have been using Seymour duncan pickups for over 30yrs. That guitar and the pickups are smokin HOT! What i want is a LGXSA with a FLOYD ROSE TREM

===========================

That is exactly what I want too !

I like the thick " chunky " sound of the mahogany body that the LGXSA has .

I had thought of getting a LGXT and converting it to a FR with the midi that FR came out with about two years now .

I have yet to try a LGXT though , maybe it would cut it maybe not , this guitar has the two silver maple leaf's atteched to the body , compared to the LGXSA's solid one piece mahogany body .

I think it would sound different , but not 100% sure of it .

Easy man and yeah these guitars are something else , I love mine

. Do you use the midi side at all , I do .



Hurricane Ramon

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I've owned several Godins and fixed some for friends. They are all pretty well made guitars, though usually ugly as sin. They aren't super dooper "OMG" well made, but they are good.

As for price, all I can say is BUY USED. They can be pricey new, but, like G&Ls, they lose tons of value upon resale.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

I've owned several Godins and fixed some for friends. They are all pretty well made guitars, though usually ugly as sin. They aren't super dooper "OMG" well made, but they are good.

As for price, all I can say is BUY USED. They can be pricey new, but, like G&Ls, they lose tons of value upon resale.

========================================

I was really lucky , I got mine new with a new Roland GR33 guitar synthesizer module kicked in the deal for $1700.00 hard case included . the Roland new listed @ $499.00 and they could be had for $400.00 online new .

New by themselves they are listed @ approx. $2200.00 and online @ $1700.00 so I know I got a steal of a deal .

I would say mine is drop dead gorgeous but I am inclined toward them since I own one . The quilting on mine is bad a$$ .


Easy man :

HR

 

[pckpat]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

Hi first post-and I know I am necro-replying, but.... I have a LGX-SA as well. I had ordered a Roland GR-55 when they came out,from my buddy's store in the next city over-so, when I found out that my local little guitar shop had a Godin synth-ready in for consignment, I started asking questions. Ended up getting it for $600 pre-reconditioning, (which is basically just a setup and new strings,in most cases).
It has a very nice flame top(although the color is a little out-dated, being a mauve-like kind of burst) and the tracking is great with the ebony F/B. After owning it about five years, and sadly neglecting it for over a year while I brushed up on my keys and some other guitars, I took it down to restring and play-and the button came right of one tuner. So I just found a same-sized set of tuners in my parts drawers, and will be putting them on tonight.
Anyway, just thought I'd chime in,late as it is...I joined here quite a while ago, but first actual post.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

i love my Godin Solidac, older model with a Piezo trem bridge... in general they make nice guitars and i know they have tried to be a leader in the Guitar Synth world... i don't use a Synth but for $1000 they had a model called XTSA that had Piezo and Synth.... i want one just for the guitar it is

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/godin-xtsa-flame-electric-guitar?condition=used

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Impressions of the Godin LGX-SA or LGXT? (synth access)

http://www.godinguitars.com/godinxtsap.htm