Godin Acousticaster Bass

The other reviews pretty much sum up the features. Slimline A/E 4-string bass, piezo pup, Baggs preamp w/3-band EQ. Mine's fretless, strung with flats. Not to be confused with the A4 and A5, this is the older model that has a P-shape. (Also, the real name is the Acoustibass-- the Acousticaster is a Tele-shaped 6-string A/E guitar).

I play primarily classic rock, blues, and such. I use this for everything except tunes that need to be played with a pick (though the Godin sounds great played with a felt pick). For rehearsal and small gigs I use an old Ampeg B50-B through an Ampeg 4x10 cab. My main stage rig is a Hartke C4000 with a Genz Benz 210T and an Epi Kappa-loaded 115 Thiele cab. I typically EQ the amp for my fretted Yamaha 5-string, then compensate for the Godin with a Sansamp Bass DI. Not at all noisy. The preamp is pretty hot, but the Sansamp helps rein it in. Very warm, woody tone. As far as variety, well, I wouldn't call it a one-trick pony, but obviously there are some things that a fretted roundwould-strung bass will do better.

I bought the bass used on ebay from someone who had taken excrutiatingly good care of it. Can't find anything to complain about here. My last fretless had a definite dead spot under the G string, but none to speak of with the Godin. It's just a well-made, good-playing, good-sounding musical instrument (and in my humble opinion it's just danged elegant in the looks department).

I gig with it regularly. No complaints.

N/A, though I have heard that customer support is lacking.

I've played bass for going on 30 years and this is one I'll take to the grave, along with my '78 MM Stingray. I already owned an excellent Godin Acousticaster 6-string guitar when I found this bass on ebay, so I had no qualms about buying it without playing it first. I'd replace it in a heartbeat. I'm in the market for a used A5 fretless, but I really don't like the newer A-series shape as much as the Acoustibass's P-shape-- unfortunately they didn't make the original Acoustibass in 5-string.

Dammit.

Mid-90s model made in Canada. Natural finish, double cutaway chambered Honduran mahogany with bound 1/4" spruce top, maple neck, fretless ebony fingerboard, Gotoh tuners (earlier versions had larger Grover tuners), micarta nut, rosewood thumbrest, rosewood bridge, L.R. Baggs piezo electric pickup system, 18 volt active preamp, control sliders for volume, treble, and bass. There are tuned metal rods underneath the bridge that resonate to simulate the sound of an upright bass. The neck is fairly wide, with wide string spacing, but it is also fairly thin. Feels a bit more cumbersome than a Fender Precision neck.

This bass really sounds good with flatwounds. It doesn't have the same, singing tone of a fretless with magnetic pickups, but it does have a very woody, and acoustic sound. The treble is kind of harsh, which is why I didn't like the sound of roundwound strings. The preamp is quiet, with the exception of the sliders, which need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Overall, the sound is warm and dark, without the emphasis on the upper mids that you hear on other fretless electric basses. You have to play pretty close to the bridge to get any kind of "punch" from this bass.

Bought it used, so I set is up myself. The neck is pretty sensitive to the change in string tension. As the strings get old, the action gets noticeably higher. Luckily, the truss rod is easily accessible at the heel of the neck and it's easy to get the action nice an low again. Finish on the body was excellent and the Ebony fingerboard is a dream. My bass has a nut that is a bit too deep for the A-string, but I got it used, so I can't really blame Godin for that.

Had to fill the screwhole for the strap button behind the bridge with white glue to get it to screw in properly. Again, this bass was used, so...

n/a

This is a great bass if you want the sound of an upgright, but don't want to lug one around, and deal with the headaches of owning one. It doesn't sound like a true electric bass, but you can't find the array of sounds this bass makes in any other model.

1993, made in Canada Fretless, 4 strings Solid Spruce Top Controls : Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble Piezo Pickup only, L.R.Baggs pickup and Active Electronics. Maple Body, hollowed out with a braced Spruce top, Maple neck with Ebony fingerboard, bridge and thumb bar. Satin finish on neck, Gloss white on body. Precision bass body shape, bound top. Pinless acoustic guitar style bridge. Gotoh tuners. Thin Jazz bass style neck, 34" scale. Hard shell case was included

Sound is versitile with 3 ban EQ. Suits the styles of music I use it for well (Modern church worship choruses mainly, some rock, jazz, and blues also). This bass makes me sound good. Using a Fender M-80 bass amp most of the time, but have used it through other amps as well. Very quiet, some added hiss with the treble control maxed. Sound is modern fretless, and I usually run with slight bass boost, mids maxed, and treble flat. Lots of variety, but it excells at the fretless Mwaaaa sound. I've never used this bass in a studio, only for live events. I like the thumb bar and the ability to adjust the bass tone by the hand position, etc.

Very well made, action is low and sweet. This has been consistent on both the fretless Godin basses I've had. Pickup Adjustment - N/A The first bass had a flat and rough spot on the back of the neck, about where the 14th fret would be if it had frets. This did not bother me at all, it was mainly a visual fault. The second bass (replacement for the first after the bridge came unglued) was near perfect in fit, finish, and construction. The electronics sounded "wrong" when I first received the replacement bass. Sent the Baggs EQ back for repair/replace and they seem to be better now. Was told that nothing was done - everything checked out good. Battery consumption is higher now (about 6 months for 2 - 9v's), and the sound of the returned EQ was better.

This bass does survive live playing, and the hardware is doing just fine after seven years. I baby my instruments a bit, and this bass is constructed similar to an acoustic/electric guitar and may not last as well as a solid body for someone who is rough on equipment. The finish has lasted seven years of twice a week (minimum) playing with very little wear. No wear through the finish yet, and the most noticable handling wear is on the body along the thumb bar. Neck finish is still very nice. The strap buttons (strap locks) loosen once in a while. Dependable, I never adjust anything, very stable. I would (do) use it on a gig without backup (but I bring spare batteries and a screwdriver!).

Godin was very slow to respond to a problem in early 1993. My first Godin bass had the bridge come unglued in January 1993, and it was sent back for repair. This took 15 weeks (and 3 unanswered letters to the company), which I consider unacceptable service. They decided to send a replacement bass, who's Baggs EQ sounded much different from the original. This was sent back to Baggs. Even though the dealer told me nothing was done (said he was told everything checked out good by Baggs), batteries last 1/2 as long now (6 months a set). When re-installed the EQ sounded better than before. Comparisons were made with a DOD 7 band stomp box EQ, which sopunded better than the Baggs on-board unit before being sent back. After Baggs returned the unit the sound was about equal to the pickup direct into the stomp box EQ. Everything has been trouble free since mid 1993. The dealer was as helpful as they could be, contacted the area sales rep, etc., but they were at the mercy of the manufacturers. Repair for the first bass was a total replacement. The 1993 bass has been relatively trouble free (except at first with the electronics). 2 yr warranty at time of purchase.

I returned to bass playing in 1990 after a 12 year break. Since then I've played on my church worship team and in a few hobby bands. This bass gets played twice a week, an estimated 200+ hours a year - or about twice as much as any of my other basses get played. Wish I'd known how unresponsive LaSiDo was in 1993 - I would have paid someone to fix my first Godin bass rather than send it back and wait 15 weeks for a replacement. If stolen or destroyed I would definitely replace it. This is a great bass for the kind of music I play. I love the range of sound and the emotion that fretless bass can convey. The low E string can be flabby with some brands of strings. The neck tends to fall toward the floor when on the strap, but this is barely noticable while playing. I compared this bass to a Fender Am Std fretless Jazz. I like the singing quality of the Godin's sound better. This bass isn't for everyone, but it has served me quite well. I'd like to see a bass like this with standard magnetic pickups added, and with a bit of relief on the sharp edge where my right forearm rests while playing. I'd also like to see a better battery compartment - it seems wrong to remove screws and take out the on-board EQ twice a year, and I am concerned that the screw holes will one day be stripped. I like this bass a lot, and it gets used more than any other I own (or have owned). Godin really did a nice job on the neck and the overall construction of the instrument. I would recommend a Godin to anyone who wants to get into fretless bass playing.