Godin BG-V

versatile

can do most anything

The second I picked it up and plucked a few strings I knew I was going to buy it. It feels great and looks just as good. I have done only minimal adjustments.

Hard on the lower back. It could serve a dual purpose as a Viking weapon. Also, I love this about it.

I bought this bass used at Guitar Center for $300. What an incredible steal. The jaded sales-man behind the counter did a second take on it and admitted that "this is an awesome bass". I think he wished that he had bought it.

Its active and it has lots of controls
and two pickups

It has an awesome sound!
with just a quick fiddle of the knobs you can change it from rock, country, jazz, folk or pop

The action was great, although the bass was VERY heavy
It has a great semi-gloss finish and rosewood fretboard
Its really nice all the way round

Well, the only thing that really went wrong was that the Master Volume came loose
Other than that, it was fine
Although i only had it on loan for about 5 months, it was really great in that time

Its a really fantastic bass.
Great for everything
I would recommend it
but the only downside is that it weighs a lot

This bass was made in 1999 I'm guessing from the serial number, but purchased new in 2002. It is identical to the basses reviewed below, right down to the translucent blue lacquer finish. Modern variation on Precision body shape, 34-inch scale bass. Neck is three pieces of maple with ebony inserts under the rosewood fretboard, which has tiny position markers. Center section of neck is almost perfectly flat, while the outer two pieces are radiused, resulting in an odd neck profile a bit like a Rickenbacker. 16-inch fretboard radius feels very flat, particularly compared to any Fender. Center section of body is very dense maple and flat, while the outer two pieces are lighter maple and countoured. Nut appears to be bone. Schaller tuners, bridge, and strap buttons, two different model EMG soapbar pickups. Current models have SD Basslines active pickups. A very nice feature is the instrument's sensible control layout: active bass and treble knobs are stacked (with a detent for flat), the next knob pans from bridge to neck pickup (again with a detent for balanced) and finally there's a master volume. Very easy to use on stage. I did a lot of shopping around before choosing this bass and it was the only one that had all the features I wanted. Not as many bells and whistles as an Alembic or Lakland or even a Music Man, but it was what I wanted. I would not change a thing

I needed a fairly versatile sound, as I play in one pop-rock band, one heavier indie-emo band, and finally do some trip-hop/dub/acid jazz stuff on my own. With two pickups and a good active EQ system this bass does have a good range of tones. There's no discernable hum or buzz from the electronics, and the pots are smooth and quiet. It's not as bright as I had feared from an all-maple bass and in fact is pretty warm sounding. From the extremes of treble cranked and all bridge pickup to treble backed off and all front pickup, I think most people can find a sound they like. It does not sound much like a P-bass or J-bass no matter what you do, and I've found the EMG pickups tend to have this very neutral, uncolored sound: maybe not full of "personality" like a Rickenbacker but a very accurate, even tone.

Factory/dealer setup was good but not quite right. The neck had no relief at all, which caused some fret buzz here and there. Intonation was a little off on a couple of strings, and the action was low on a couple of strings as well. Ten minutes to back off on the truss rod and play with the terrific Schaller bridge and everything was fine. The finish is excellent: very smooth and even. One small spot on the lower horn had no clear-coat on it. A dab of clear nail polish fixed it well enough. Fretwork was impeccable.

Seems very well-built. Big chunks of maple and German hardware = a durable instrument.

Started on guitar at age 11, played bass from 16 to 30 in a succession of increasingly successful bands culminating in a record deal and the inevitable "screw this: I hate the music business" awareness. Quit playing for six years and jut started again a year ago with revised expectations. I've owned an Aria Pro II, a Rick 4001, a Guild Pilot, a Danelectro Rumor, and a Mexican P-bass. Played on long-term basis a USA Jazz bass, a USA Steinberger, and a G&L SB-2. The Godin is a blend of Pilot and Rick: my two favorite instruments. This is the best bass I've owned. it is hort of flash and exotica compared to the Wals, Zons, and Spectors of the world but for functionality it is everything I need. The price was amazing, too.

I have been using my Godin BG V for a year and a
half now and for it's price I would put it up
against other bolt on basses that cost twice as
much. a beautiful 22 fret 3piece maple neck with
a rosewood fingerboard, the frets are crowned
perfectly ( as can be) electronics great in
studio with my particular type of amplifier

This bass sounds awesome. equiped with emg soap
bars and an active preamp, I am able to get great
tones with the onboard tone controlls. from rock
to jazz to slap-funk this bass gets an a+ for
versatility

set up from factory is a slappers dream, I
haven't had any problems ever
the body is crafted from two different types of
maple which is very striking under the
transparent blue finish
these guys really know what they are doing!!!

when I play rock, I tend to play with my hand near
the bridge for tight finger respones, on previous
instruments I have had problems with rust on
bridge parts and the bridge pickup, not a problem
so far here. this bass just keeps on going
I did opt to replace the strap buttons with the
locking type

with the quality of this bass, I believe it will
be a long while before it needs anything, but it
will last long enough to need to be
refretted......someday

been in music for 18 years (even though I'm only
27. ) this bass blends well with SWR amplifiers.
I will definately be purchasing another one for a
backup

I will soon be seen with this bass all over the
country touring with my band PARAPHENALIA JONES
this year

A Canadian made, 34" scale 5 string bass guitar. This one was made in 1998. 24 medium sized frets, well seated and finished. Very small offset fingerboard dots give the bass a very clean look. There are side markers on the neck as well. The bass is a "translucent blue" finish over maple. The neck is maple with ebony inserts, and a rosewood fingerboard. The body is a traditional style, but more "pointy" than a Precision. The neck is a comfortable width, and is very slap-able. It is a "flatter" neck than a Precision. The bass has a active/active EMG soap bar pickup system. The pickups are in a P/J configuration. Stacked bass/treble, volume and blend controls. The tuners are small Schallers, the bridge is a big cast block. All hardware is chrome, the control knobs are black. The bass came with a case, and adjusting allen keys.

I really like the sound of the bass. It was my first active bass, and my first with EMGs. I can get a good slap tone off the bridge, or a mellow full tone from the neck pickup, and then blend the two for something in between. The sound is "modern", without being brittle. I did have a little noise in the end travel of the volume pot, but that was cured quickly by the dealer. I have found the bass sits well with rock bands, and country bands, and in church the low end was wonderful. I'm still working to get what I want out of it in the studio, it seems darker than I'd expect and than I'd like. And it makes more mistakes than I'd hoped... but I guess I can't really fault it for that!

The bass was set up just fine for me. I'm fussy about frets, and they were filed smooth and flush. It was because of the great feel of this bass I bought it, and I did nothing to the set up. One gripe would be as much a design issue as a finish problem. I find the body to be to square on the sides. I'd like the edges rounded from the front to back instead of being such sharp angles. I haven't had any problems with it eating strings. I've had some basses that didn't like to be played aggressively and would break strings, but so far this has not been the case.

The bass has been great. A year later there are no marks on the body, despite lots of use. The tuners all turn smoothly and the bass has stayed true to the initial set up. I have done no adjustments. I immediately replaced the factory strap buttons with locking units, and they stay well seated. Personally, I think basses should all come with strap locks I have taken it to a gig with no back up. It has never failed me. I do keep extra batteries though!

I have played this bass so much in the last year that my other fretted bass has been jealous! I currently own an old Precision, and a couple of fretlesses. I have been so happy with this bass I find it hard to find something to be critical about. My favourite feature is the sound. The bass likes to be played aggressively, and the EMG's get a great growl going when you get up the neck. If it was stolen, I'd look for another. I chose this bass after a few months of shopping for a 5 or 6 string because it felt so wonderful right off the shelf. The neck profile was snooth and fast, and those critical frets were all great. Oh, that and the beautiful blue colour. I wish it had a little better case. It's a typical black hardshell, but the locks are pretty cheap, and it doesn't close perfectly, easily. Not much to complain about!