La Patrie Collection

(This review is for the La Patrie Collection QI EQ Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar - just purchased 3 weeks ago in Canada - April 2009. Pertinent background: I am a classical student of 2+ years now at the grade 3 level, and am 30+ years old).

Includes standard classical guitar features with electronics.

The bass is deeper and richer than the La Patrie Concert Classical Guitar which I owned previous to this model.

With the aid of an experienced guitar guru, I sampled many brands at Long and McQuade and Guitarworks, and the sound and quality seem to be comparable with other Classical guitars in the $1000+ range.

Issue: the electronics need adjustment. The E-bass string does not provide the volume level equal to the other 5 strings - apparently a pedestrian adjustment that Long and McQuade will perform.

See comment re. the pickup requiring adjustment above. Otherwise, solidly put together.

My previous La Patrie guitar wore well over 2+ years - the quality appears similar and the guitar seems well put together.

No experience directly with La Patrie. But Long and McQuade is excellent to deal with. In addition, they provide a 30 day "no questions asked" return policy for full refund (not for store credit). And a one year in-store (not return to manufacturer) repair policy.

I really like the whole package: quality, aesthetically pleasing, great sound; and reasonable price. Recommend. You will want to hold on to this guitar for a long time.

Nice 800 year old cedar top with tight straight grain,Indian rosewood back and sides with high gloss laquer finish.The rosette is a decal and tuners are inferior (i'm sure to keep cost down) but the sound of this guitar is its strength

The guitar really doesnt compare in any way to my expensive handmade classical guitars unplugged but once its plugged into my Traynor AM100 acoustic amp this guitar sounds incredible

flawless in everyway

never had a problem

never needed it

I own a $10,000 10 string 2 $5000 6 string classicals and this beats them all for playabilty and sound(amped).I cant say enough about this guitar the feel of the neck is so comfortable and the wonderful sound.I love cranking it up and play Villa-lobos etudes,Asturias etc.
This is the first guitar I pick up everyday and if anything happened to it i would run out and buy another.Ive been playing classical guitar for over 30 years and have never owned a guitar that is as enjoyable to play.

I bought this guitar new at Nantel's music shop (Quebec, Canada) for the price of 585$ (Taxes included). It has natural (MANY coats of good quality laquer finish) satin finish and the neck is natural wood finish (kind of rougher than the rest of the guitar). The top is good quality solid cedar (which smells really nice) and the back solid rosewood as for the neck it's made of nice honguras mahoganny. The fingerboard and bridge are rosewood. It has a typical classical guitar structure except the neck which is a little bit thinner for comfort and playability purposes but it also has a truss rod to support the neck! This guitar is made by Godin (LA patrie, Quebec) and is really a special instrument to own. It has its own personality.

The sound of this guitar is also very particular and smooth. I didn't hear any guitar in it's price range with such a rich and versatile sound. Bass is rich and trebble is high but mellow. When you own a La patrie collection, you own a fine rustic instrument which I advise you to keep even if you buy other more expensive high end guitars. It's actually a nice piece of work.

The guitar was properly set up at the factory and it was double checked by the guy who sold it at Nantel. I personaly didn't see any structural defects with guitar: shifted sound hole or anything else. The action is fine and the finish is perfect.

Reability and Durability are more than excellent. As for using it on a gig, I can't really judge that because I'm more a purist accoustic kind of guy.

I never tried to repair it because I never had problems with this guitar (tuners hold well...). It has a two years warranty.

If this guitar was stolen I would surely buy another one because you won't know how particular it is until you try one. This guitar imposes its own personality.

Cedar top... was never sure if theback & sides were solid or laminate. The sides at least were probably laminate. Decent workmanship. Very good for the price. It's made in Canada by a really cool company instead of in some Chinese sweatshop, and yet it competes in that price range. That is a plus.

A bit dull to be honest. I tried a few different strings and high tension opened things up a bit. Not enough dynamic range for classical guitar. Actually, I liked it for playing fingerstyle blues.

Very good on action and playability. This was my first classical guitar and it s a joy to play. Good intonation. Nice looking guitar as well.

No problems. The braces were big and thick - not necessarily a good thing for sound, but the guitar wasn't going to fall apart.

No problems, but I find La Patrie's website lacking. I couldn't figure out for sure if the back was laminate or solid. The informaion changed while I owned the guitar.

I play mostly steel string but have begun to take some classical guitar lessons. My instructor was less than impressed with the tone on this guitar, and now that I've listened to other classical guitars I understand why. This instrument lacks the dynamic range and tone needed to play classical music. On the other hand, most guitars in this price range don't have what it takes either. It is very well built with a comfortable neck for a steel string player. I wouldn't rule this out as a beginner's classical guitar. I sold mine for $350 with the case and replaced it with a beat-up Alvarez/Yairi CY116 that I found for 200 bucks. The La Patrie gave me about 7-8 months of good play and got me going on classical guitar.

I bought this guitar in March 2004. Solid cedar top, solid rosewood back and laminated sides. I paid 520.00 dollars for it at Long & McQuade. Pretty standard classical guitar except it has a thinner neck.

I find this guitar is tough to judge when it comes to sound. All La Patries are hybrid nylon string guitars. I have been playing for over 20 years and in my opinion they do not sound like a typical classical guitar. I'm not saying they sound bad, just different. My Collection is a little weak in the trebles but has very nice bass response. Projection is poor compared to my Almansa 457. I personally would not recommend this guitar for the serious classical guitar student. For a steel string player and think it would be a good crossover guitar.

This is where this guitar really shines. The fit and finish on this guitar is amazing for a 500.00 dollar guitar. Beautiful bookmatched cedar top and rosewood back. The laquer finish is perfect. No flaws anywhere. The tuning machines on my guitar were total crap. Almost impossible to keep in tune. I put on a 60.00 dollar set of schallers and solved the problem.

I have'nt had any problems so far with this guitar. It seems solidly built. I would not gig with it because of the projection problem as stated above. I might put a Fishman Pro Blend in it for playing in small clubs.

Have not dealt with them.

I currently own 3 other classical guitars, an Almansa 457, Almansa 434, and a Pavan 30. I don't use this guitar for standard classical music. For the part time nylon crossover player this is a good choice. If your just starting out in classical guitar I would recommend the Almansa 434 over this guitar. You can buy it for 459.00 dollars at Long & McQuade. Its more spanish sounding and projects way more than the Collection.

I bought this guitar in March 2004. Solid cedar top, solid rosewood back and laminated sides. I paid 520.00 dollars for it at Long & McQuade. Pretty standard classical guitar except it has a thinner neck.

I find this guitar is tough to judge when it comes to sound. All La Patries are hybrid nylon string guitars. I have been playing for over 20 years and in my opinion they do not sound like a typical classical guitar. I'm not saying they sound bad, just different. My Collection is a little weak in the trebles but has very nice bass response. Projection is poor compared to my Almansa 457. I personally would not recommend this guitar for the serious classical guitar student. For a steel string player and think it would be a good crossover guitar.

This is where this guitar really shines. The fit and finish on this guitar is amazing for a 500.00 dollar guitar. Beautiful bookmatched cedar top and rosewood back. The laquer finish is perfect. No flaws anywhere. The tuning machines on my guitar were total crap. Almost impossible to keep in tune. I put on a 60.00 dollar set of schallers and solved the problem.

I have'nt had any problems so far with this guitar. It seems solidly built. I would not gig with it because of the projection problem as stated above. I might put a Fishman Pro Blend in it for playing in small clubs.

Have not dealt with them.

I currently own 3 other classical guitars, an Almansa 457, Almansa 434, and a Pavan 30. I don't use this guitar for standard classical music. For the part time nylon crossover player this is a good choice. If your just starting out in classical guitar I would recommend the Almansa 434 over this guitar. You can buy it for 459.00 dollars at Long & McQuade. Its more spanish sounding and projects way more than the Collection.

Purchased new in 2004 for $500 including a hard shell case which is a perfect fit for the guitar. Cedar top, rosewood sides and back. High gloss finish which is perfect. Mosaic rossette which is actually quite attractive, butterfly pattern.
No electronics
I am trying to relearn to play after not playing for many years. I had the action lowered which improved the playability significantly. This is probably a fault with my lack of skill rather than a fault with the guitar.
One tuner is stiff but no other complaints either in the fit or finish

Rich full sound. "Round" bass with clear bright trebles. Since purchasing this guitar I have had the time to try a number of other classical guitars in the local shops and the only guitars that I have found that sound as good or better than my La Patrie were a 1971 Nayaki (I had never heard of this guitar before and the shop owner didn't know much about it other than it was japanese) and a Takamine H-5 which I have to admit sounded better than my La Patrie

Action was set up higher than I liked (see above)

Seems to be holding up very well. I don't use picks or bang on it, this is a classical guitar not a drum set or a waa waa machine

No contact with the company and no reason to contact them

I am trying to relearn after a long absence, so I consider myself a beginner in the world of guitar. I trusted the recommendation of the shop I bought it from and I think they did right by me.
If it were stolen, I would buy another one which is a lot more than I can say about the other guitar I own which is a larrivee parlor guitar (definitely a bad buy).
I would still like to have the Takamine H-5 but i don't plan on selling the LaPatrie

Purchased in 2004, paid $450 new, I am attempting to relearn to play after almost a 50 year absence, so the first thing I did way take it to my local repair shop and had them adjust the action, it was set up a little high for me coming from the factory. No neck problems like others have mentioned.
Incidentally it has a cedar top and rosewood sides, solid per the factory.

Rich warm sound with clear trebles. I amaze myself with the sounds I am able to produce with this guitar. My experience is limited but the only guitar that I have tried that was as good or better than my Collection was a Takamine H-5 which sells for three times the price

Finish is excellent, as I mentioned the action was set up higher than I liked but was easily adjusted. One of the tuner is a little stiff. No other compaints

Don't know yet, but so far so good.

First guitar in many years
So far a lot to like and nothing to hatew

Ceder/Indian Rwood is what they told me. Contrary to what others have said, I'm pretty sure it does have the indian sides and not just the back. No electronics... of course! Beautiful laquered finish, although not exactly as "eye-catching" as I would have liked.

I have an incredible cello that was built in Canada that won numerous awards and plays like a dream. I think the same could be said about this guitar, sans the awards.

For the price, no other guitar that I tried even came close! I bought this to use only as a "beater" guitar, while my Vasques German Rubio remains my main concert classical/flamenco guitar. But I'm going around the world through the year traveling, and I knew the french polish on my Rubio would'nt hold up to the sunny days on the beach, so I needed a more durable guitar that also had excellent sound. I couldn't believe how good this little guitar from La Patrie sounds! Even better then some thousand+ guitars that I momentarilly played! Not overly bright, but not so mellow that is becomes muffled like some of the Yamahas. Its an excellent mix in between for $500. Its still nothing compared to my $3000 Fleta, but it certainly beats out all other competetors in its price bracket, and I tried dozens of guitars.

The neck style is what perhaps truly attracted me to this guitar. It has a very thin, almost fleta-styled neck, which makes facilitation and manuvering extremely easy. Action is excellent as well.

I hope it lasts the blazing sun of Portugal and Thailand!

Played for 12 years, professionally for 3. This is a truly great guitar for less than $1000. No complaints, bought it immediately that day after going to 3 different guitar shops and playing about 30 different guitars. No other guitar came close. If your looking to the next level though (over $1000), check out the Rubio Studio 1B, which is just over a thousand. That would be the step up from this guitar, a 2nd guitar down the road. But this is a fantastic guitar for beginners and intermediates.

Made in 2004 in La Patrie, Canada of course. Top is 800+ year old cedar with a redwood back. They use a "special" lacquer finish which is suppose to not hinder the sound over the years....
The neck is thinner that most classical guitars with is a good feature for me. You can find the rest on their website..: http://www.lasido.com/lapatriee.htm

Very nice sound. More mellower than most. rich and full.

Very well made. Nothing loose or mis-fitted. Same string height from 1st fret to the 12th.

Brand new! Just had it over a month.

been playing off and on since the 70's. I have a takamine steel string as well. I did a lot of research via the Internet news groups and local guitar stores. This has been a perfect guitar for me... no complaints. Absolutely beautiful but simple. I would purchase another one if this was lost or stolen.