Godin Acousticaster Deluxe

Telecaster style Body, cedar top, mahogany body, maple neck & rosewod fingerboard. New L.R. Baggs pukup & electronics with 2 (two) 9v batteries.

Two batteries is a lot and the need to remove the control plate to change them is little annoying and need a lot of attention.

I own a couple of high level full body acoustic guitar, but I need a more versatile, feedback free guitar.
This one has his own acoustic sound, a bit different for the standard piezo sound. A lot of attack and very sensible to the nails or the pick. Better for picking, good for strumming. The sound is little hard when strumming in the high part of the fretboard. She need a light touch.

Form my needs has a fantastic sound. I play blues, country and a bit of smooth jazz. And with a female singer a lot of pop in an acoustic trio. This guitar sound amazing.

The sound if rich & full, well balanced. A little attention to the basses, when playin near the monitors.
I love all of the sound of this guitar. Is very nice and funny not only when plugged in. I use often study in the night with great satisfaction.

When played in shop, the action was a bit higher for my style.
At home a new set of strings and an adjustment to the truss road the action is like my electric guitars. A dream!
I own a Guild F4CEHG, a fantastic guitar but little hard to play for 2/3 hours of a gig. She needs heavy gauge strings to play better. This Acousticaster is equippedd wit electric guitar string (.010 / .046) ad is very easy in every neck position. I use DR strings Pure "Blues" Nickel and are perfect.
The Godin string are better than other famous brands. Don't use on this guitar the D'Addario Pure Nickel.

No flaws, all parts and finish are perfect.

I give a 9 as factory setting, a 10 after adjustemnt.

My friend & guitar teacher had an Acousticaster since 1993. Never a problem. I own this since yesterday but I'm not worried about reliability.

I've only posted some tech questions, and I've got fast and clear answers.

Playing since 1970, I own a '79 Daion 999, a Guild F4ceHg, a customized Florencia Resophonic, a Giannini classical guitar, a '79 Fender Stratocaster, and two Fender Telecaster.

Before buying this I've played a friend of mine '93 Acousticaster deluxe, so I've decided I want it.
Is a fantastic guitar and if stolen or lost I buy it again.

The only thing I think is wrong, is the way to change batteries.

good

great

great

0 - using 1991 LR Baggs preamp and transducer in 2007 - no battery compartment - must take off preamp plate and change batteries - have changed twice and wires broke off - unless you got a lot of money and want to pay someone to re-solder wires, don't buy this guitar - what an old, antiquated system and the manufacturer doesn't care, nor does the dealer who will get the repairs

Pretentious, arrogant - treats everybody like your sucker who bought this - I bought mine in Aug 05 for my birthday and what I received is a guitar manufactured in 03 - this is Feb 07 - I have owned this gutar for 1 1/2 years and it is considered for resale - 4 years old - dirty little industry secret - anything you buy , prove the date - no customer manufacturer support or dealer support - typical screw you attitude

I was actually thinking of buying another one of the same guitar - run for life - buy something else - I'll speak with my wallet and not buy again from Goding or any other line they manufacture

2003 Acousticaster Deluxe - as mentioned the difference between the deluxe and the regular model is the mahogany back (vs maple). Mine also has a maple fingerboard.

Nice two piece mahogany back and bookmatched spruce top. Maple neck with slab maple fingerboard - mine has some light flame figuring. The finish on the neck is not too thick, feels pretty good under the hand.. the body is a deep gloss, well done but high gloss is not my thing.

The battery compartment design on this thing is just plain asinine. You have to remove 4 wood screws to get to the batteries. I installed a set of threaded inserts so I don't have to worry about stripping the wood every time I change the batteries (and this thing does eat batteries if you gig and rehearse 3-5 nights per week).

Overall quality is very good for the price.

Acoustically, it sounds like you'd expect a chambered solid body guitar to sound.. sort of mid-rangey.. it's loud enough to hear without an amp, but don't plan on playing without one.

The metal tines under the bridge definately contribute to some resonance. If you mute the strings and tap on the body of the guitar, you can hear them doing their thing. The effect is sort of similar to the springs in a Strat tremelo.

Plugged in to the right thing, this guitar can sound great. Going through a light reverb (whether it's a long plate sound you're after, or a small room sound to simulate the body of an acoustic guitar), and into the house PA will fool most people who aren't looking. This guitar sounds very similar to a full sized acoustic with a piezo pickup. This guitar does NOT sound like a mic'd acoustic, an acoustic with a piezo/internal condenser blender, or an acoustic guitar from 5 feet away. It sounds like a plugged in, piezo equipped, acoustic guitar. If that's what you're after, and you want something easy to lug around, less fragile, that plays like an electric, then this may be your axe.

From the factory it looks like the frets had a light level but had not been recrowned.. to be expected in this price range. The action was pretty good, a little on the high side but acceptable.

I'm a professional luthier so I in general I'm never completely satisfied with the setup and fretwork on a store bought guitar, regardless of the price range. I expect to put a little work into any guitar to get it playing like I want it to.

After a quick level/crown/polish, a slight lowering of the saddle, a little nut adjustment, and a new set of strings, this thing is playing like a dream.

Looks good all around EXCEPT the batter compartment issue. I'm sure the finish will last unless you sweat paint thinner.. tuners seem fine, neck looks good, etc. Only potential problem I can see is on the electronic front. The slots for the sliders leave the circuit board wide open to mosture, dust, etc, I guess just don't use this axe like and you'll probably be fine.

n/a

Long time musician, teacher, and luthier.. I've been through enough gear over the years to spend the rest of my natural life writing reviews.

I wish the neck was a little wider at the nut, but I guess the whole point of this model is that is feels like an electric guitar and sounds like an acoustic. To my ears it sounds better plugged in than the A6 or the steel string Multiac (not the duet, haven't tried that one).

In all honesty I'll probably end up building a guitar inspired by this one and selling the Godin. There are some design aspects I'd like to change but overall I dig this guitar. I found it used at a decent price at a time when I needed something like it, so I picked it up.. no regrets. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat to folks looking for a nice guitar that sounds like a plugged in acoustic, and plays like an electric. Godin has some great designs (6 and 11 string fretless nylons, the multiac series, etc) and the metal tines are a great innovation - this is a cool guitar!

As stated below, this is a 22-fret electric-style neck on a bound semi-solid body guitar with an LR Baggs pickup system. The Deluxe monicker means the guitar has a mahogony back to complement the spruce front. Not positive what the other Acousticasters are made out of back there. Mine also has a maple fretboard. Purchased for around $550 and paid extra for the hardshell case.

This is the only instrument I own that does not sport a rosewood fretboard. This makes for a much brighter sound -- with a lot of swat. I believe you should play a guitar the way it sounds, and with this guitar, latin playing seems to fit real well. Since I purchased this thing, my playing has really taken on more of that Mediteranean feel. You have to mind the brightness of the sound -- the manufacturer-recommended EQ setting will typically give you way too much high and low end. But if you turn the EQ on the front of the guitar to pretty much of a flat line and tweak the bass and treble just a little bit, you can get some very expressive sounds. The pickup is sparkly and clear, and you can really hear every nuance.

I've seldom seen a guitar so well-detailed. The bindings along the body are seamlessly joined to the top and back. The finish rivals the finish on my Paul Reed Smith. Mirror-like and durable. The bright blonde front shines beautifully.

I've been playing this guitar hard every day, and the only thing I've had to do is resolder the input jack once. I play in a small home studio, and have a flourescent light that clamps onto my computer desk. On a few occasions as I've been taking the guitar off, I've inadvertenly rapped this light with the headstock. There has been absolutely no noticeable damage the the guitar. The lamp, however, is showing some wear.

I've corresponded with Godin via E-mail, and have found them very helpful. I also own a Seagull acoustic, and generally find that the company treats their dealers and customers well. One crucial factor with Godin/Seagull is that, to my knowledge, they are still selling directly to retailers rather than through manufacturer representatives. I believe this makes for a closer connection to the guitar manufacturer.

When I was looking for an acoustic-electric, I started looking at Gibson Chet Atkins models. Because Gibson is making very few of these guitars (I have been told they have only one guy making them) the price is at a premium. I'm glad there is a solid alternative that sports probably more flexibility and features that costs a lot less and is still made in North America. I've owned some good Korean- and Japanese-made guitars, but for lasting value there is nothing like American. Godin is starting to do some of their assembly work in the United States, but I loved them just as much when they were entirely made in Canada. I also own a PRS CE22, and find that with either guitar, you can get consistent sound all the way up and down the neck. You can hear the Godin Acousticaster at http://charlesrathmann.iuma.com -- anything that sounds acoustic is the Godin.

Not sure of the year, but bought it new in 1998. It has an AMAZING Cognac burst (sunburst) top with black back and sides and birdseye maple neck. The amazing LR Baggs transducer produces the acoustic sound (gain, bass, mid, and treble controls). Tele-style with no pickguard. The cognac burst i hear is rare and is something else to see in person! I've never seen a top like it before- quite striking b/c of the subtle figuring in the wood. Large frets on an electric neck add to the playability. Styas in tune even in deep bends. Case was bought extra for $55.

Well, the sound.....The sound...THE SOUND!!! Unplugged, you have a great practice or travel guitar. No amp needed for a good sound. The real kicker is the LR baggs transducer. IT does have a small piezo quack on the upper frequencies, but that adds to the acoustic sound. The controls can be used for an endless possiblity of sounds - all of which are so close to a real acoustic- that recorded, you can't tell the differnce - but it makes you wonder how someone can bend a string 2 to 3 steps on an acoustic. The downside is that you have to remove the back plate to get to the battery.

I have a Gibson Les Paul Custom - 1998. The action is VERY comparible. The godin is much lighter so its easier to control and the fretsare jumbo so it's almost effortless. The finish is amazing. I've never seen another with a cognac burst- and if you know what year they made it are if it's custom- please let me know.

Very reliable. I can play this one for a few hours. The loudness of the upper realms does get to me after a while- but some people love it for the lead. The finish on the fretboard(tung oil i think) does seem to wear slightly after hours of bends on the upper frets. The guitar is very rugged and has been through a lot for an acoustic- but amazingly is still scratch and dent free. I think the finish is the main reason for its durability.

I have never contacted the company to date- but will soon regarding a tour like the other gentleman.

I've been playing since 1994. I have the Gibson Les paul Custom and a DOD tech8G. I am currently building my own electric guitar with a pomele sapele top and transducer pickups. I do know electronics and thing the acousticaster is Ingenious. I would pay up to $700 to regain it if it were stolen, lost, or broken. I would even say that i would rate it a 9 - and the 10 is reserved for an unknown masterpiece, but the les paul takes a 9.5; so you can understand how high a 9 is. I do wish there was no plate around the controls like the a6 and a12, but it plays goo dneough for me.

This is a 22 fret 1994 model, made in LaPatrie, Canada. The overall shape is that of a telecaster. The guitar comes with 4 slide controls for the active L.R. Baggs piezo system: gain, treble, mid, and bass. All can greatly affect the tone produced. It comes with a beautifully finished mahogany body with a spruce top, a bird's eye maple neck and a relatively flat rosewood fretboard equipped with large frets. My guitar came with a custom fit hardshell case.

Unplugged, this guitar offers low volume, yet somewhat thin acoustic tone. This is not surprising given its small electric-sized body. When plugged into my solid-state Fender Princeton Chorus, the acoustic emulation is very impressive. Switch on the stereo chorus and you get shimmering acoustic sounds very reminiscent of a 12-string. Its electric touch and feel coupled with its incredible light weight make it very comfortable and easy to play. The guitar even sounds cool with the overdrive engaged. By boosting the mids and the gain level, you can get some convincing high gain sounds, though it is difficult to eliminate the trademark cripsness of the piezo bridge pickup.

The guitar came ready to play. The action felt great, the frets were smooth, the strings barely buzzed. The guitar also shows incredible craftsmanship with no blemishes or loose looking fits between parts (e.g., neck and body). Arguably a very "tight" guitar.

I've had this guitar now for 4 years and have never had any problems with it. This is surprising since I often play with it.

Well, let me tell you. I wrote a couple of reviews on Godin models on my own web page. After having read them, the North American sales rep contacted me and invited me down to the plant to give me a tour of their manufacturing facility. How's that for customer focus. Just to reassure the reader, my opinion about my Godin guitar was made prior to the plant visit. Thus, there is no significant bias in this review.