Godin SDxt

I believe it to be an 02 model, as i bought it in early january of 03...godins are made in Can, assembles in US, 22frets,HSH, you know the rest from this page.

I play an assortment,this guitar can handle most anything. For someone looking for a very unique and specific sound that is easily identified, this is not for you, anyone looking for a jack of all trades, a beginger guitar, or a backup, this is for you.

the guitar was perfect when i picked it up.....

this can take a beating, mine has been dropped from heights exceeding 4 ft (accidentily of course)and suffered the minorist of dings...the strap buttons slip occasionally, i need strap locks for live...never gig with no backup

I have been playing over a year, own this, 2 pedals, a crate amp, this guitar is amazing, and can do anything which is perfect for the begginer seeking a quality guitar that is not only handmade close to home, but a guitar that will last for a long time and than can take a beating and handle any type of playing....I wish it had seperate tone and vol knobs for the hum's, and more switching options...

just like the other ones on this page: h/s/s pickups, floating bridge, etc. Mine is a bit older, the pickups don't have the GH1 or something number on them, but just read Godin. I think they're the same pickups but not sure. The neck is fine, kind of like all the Godins, tend to be small necks. I give it a "7" because it doesn't have "tons of features", no locking tuners, for example. more about that later.

I play blues rock more or less, heavier stuff too and lighter as well. I have a simple Peavey amp with channel switching, delay and chorus. I mess around with lots of styles. up to now, i enjoyed the sound alot. With distortion it's very satisfying. The clean sound is clear and strong; the middle "strat out of phase position" are clear, but it's different from a strat. maybe it's because i've put 10's on the guitar which is sort of new for me, i feel that the sound is very "in your face"; a strat is more "shy" in these position with maybe more depth. still, these sounds are very good. I can generaly say that this guitar is realy fun and works with you. again, with distortion - killer. clean - more like a PRS, but hey, you can't have it all. if you want humbuckers in the neck and bridge, the combined sound with the single coil will be harder.

I got this guitar used and made some adjustments. I played new SDxt's in the shop and felt that they had tunning problems. After experimenting i realized that in order to have this guitar stay in tune the floating bridge must be blocked, or at least have something to rest on in the back. I've put a small piece of wood and bought 2 more springs to put in the back. Next thing i do is not using the trees that hold the strings behind the nut. They can cause tunning problems 'cos the strings can get cought there a little. with a strat, you'd get a very sitar like soung if you do it, with this one i didn't notice. sometimes i use the trees but these two steps have improved the guitar and it stays in tune well. i couldn't stand it otherwise. Maybe a floating tremolo works only if you have a lock at the nut, but this one hasn't.

The action is great, the intonation isn't a problem. i simply play the guitar with pleasure, what can i say. any tunning or intonation problems would drive me nuts and i wouldn't enjoy playing the instrument.

however,

i felt that the guitar in a way is hard to play; maybe it takes time to get used to, but something in the body design isn't all that super. time will tell. i think i'm adjusting, but maybe it's killing some of my freedom and technique. That's why i'm not sure whether this will be my 1 guitar. i give it a 6 in the meantime; a guitar that puts your technique in danger is something to stay away from. if i see that it's fine i will let ya'll know and we'll change the mark here ok?

To me, this guitar seems to be built like a tank. everything looks string and will last. It seems to be very dependable. On a gig i would never play without a backup - any guitar can break a string.

Wrote them an email asking why do they're guitars get out of tune, got an answer the next day, but a lame one as far as i'm concerned. telling me that a guitar with a floating trem will always get out of tume if played with the trmolo alot (i never said i did use the tremolo) and suggesting me to use pencil for the nut is a poor answer. Tell me to block the bloody bridge and that's it; without this, the guitar is useless.

I've been playing for 18 years, had american strats, japannease strats, Ibanez, gibson...

If you like the way this guitar feels when you play it then it's akiller guitar. i enjoy playing it alot, sure, i paid close to nothing for it, but still, this guitar is alive. intonation is great, sound is strong, clear and steady. untill now, i got nothing but pleasure with this guitar. I compared a new guitar like this to a second hand japanease ibanez and it blew it away. This guitar is a great guitar. for enything up to gibsons, fenders and prs etc- it's probably the best guitar to buy. solid, killer sounding, what can i say. just needs those adjustments i mentioned and you're on your way to Rock and Roll hall of fame. A f*#&in' great guitar.

This guitar cam out in 2001 I just picke mind up 2003. As GODIN's add sez the parts are made in Canada (specifically te neck in Quebec) and put together in New Hampshire. A beautiful cross border product. 22 frets, solid body Hard maple thru the middle and poplar on the sides.
One volume and tone knob with a 5 way toggle switch. H/S/H with Godin passive pick ups. The neck is Hard Canadian Maple with a rosewood fingerboard. The finish is the simpler transparent gloss, the colour is the Trans Purple (almost a hot Fuscha) you can see the grain in the wood but no where like the quilted tops. The body style is Les Paulish with the nice cut into the back of body like a Strat so the guitar rests more comfortablely against your body. Standard floating tremolo bridge/whammy bar with 3 springs holding it in place. Non locking GODIN tuners that are a flat silver/gray colour. Neck scale is 25 1/2 inches just liek a strat. Comes with a GODIN gig bag & 2 Allen keys.

I play mainly worship and praise BUT I like to rock from time to time and this guitar can do it all! With the H/S/H P/U set up you can get a variety of sounds out of this thing. You wanna rock? No problem you wanna strum this puppy like an acoustic? No problem. Play some jazz? No problem. This is like owning a Les Paul and Fender Srtat all rolled into one well made instrument. I'm running it thru a Korg A3 and my amp is a 20 yr old PEAVEY DEUCE. I can't get a bad sound out of this thing! The p/u's are quiet EVEN the single coil and you occasionally hear the smallest of clicking sounds when changing positions with the toggle switch. The bridge pick up simply kicks a**.
I was a little worried when I first started playing it at home when it was pretty quiet. But as soon as I turned my amp up to where I normally play live (2 - 3 The Peavey Duece is known for it's volume, check out the reviews on this amp)You get a rich full rock sound that is stupendous and bright for lead and rock rythmn's. The 4th and 2nd position on the toggle switch are best for clean sounds in my opinion. The rythmn p/u is deep almost to deep for my taste for rythmn anyways but you get a killer thick sound using the rythmn p/u for lead. I like the volume knob that it's not some cheap pot that goes from no volume to full with just a touch. You actually can get a nice sliding volume sound with no crackle. I don't really ever mess with the tone knob. I have it on full and make adjustments thru the KORG A3. I like the fact the whammy bar slides in and out you don't have to screw it in. You'll simply be amazed at the different tones and sounds you get out of this guitar. I fall more in love with it everytime I play it.

The action was OK for someone who already is a lead guitar player they'd say it was great. I always tweak the action as I like the action to be as low as can go without any annoying buzz. The pick ups were set up nicely I tried tweaking them up a bit but ended up putting them back where they were. You can look with a magnfying glass and you won't find any flaws on this guitar and I looked at quite a few of thes GODIN's. The workmanship and care that they've put into making them is impressive. The finish is great and I'm going to do my best to keep in perfect condition. The neck is incredible you read on how they shape them at GODIN's website. The neck fits so comfortably in your hands way nicer than any Les Paul and that what I was originally looking into buying. Epiphone actually who can afford a Gibson anymore?

This guitar is light so it'll be no problem in having it hanging on your shoulder for hours on end. I plan on using for live and I don't forsee any problems. The only thing I am considering changing is to change the nut to a graphite nut so that the strings will slide easier when using the tremolo and help it stay in tune. It's the only thing that I've read and experienced myself that can be annoying. If you don't use the whammy bar, no worries this puppy stays in tune. I'm no Eddie Van Halen but I do like to have the whammy there no some nice effects and colouring. The strap buttons are solid. I'm married with 2 little girls I have no choice but to gig without a back up! Maybe one day. That's one reason I chose this guitar because of its dependability and it's versatilty. Well made it'll be able to take abuse even though it's my baby and won't be seeing any (if I can help it)

I emailed them to check on a few things before I bought the guitar and I had an answer in 2 days. One of the questions was how do you pronounce the name?? I've heard different ways. Well for the record it's french and the proper way to pronounce it is: GO-DAIN (like rain)
The warranty is for 2 years. So by looking at the quality of the workmanship I doubt I'll be cashing that in.

I've been playing guitar since I was 15. I'm now 40 and for the last 20 years I've been playing acoustic. (Lavivee D-03) I've finally come back to my first love and that's playing electric. Once a rocker always a rocker! The 80's rule. If this puppy was stolen I'd cry and buy a new one as soon as the store opened. Once I get better at playing lead I'm definitely check out there syth guitars. There's nothing I hate on this guitar as I mentioned the only thing I'll change is the nut to a graphite one. Maybe later I'l put in a Seymour Duncan p/u at the bridge but no rush as the picks rock as they are. My favorite feature is the lightness and comfortable fit gainst your body. It makes it so easy to play. I was playing a Squire before and was looking into getting a Epiphone Les Paul and tried out a few but my best friend kept telling me to try the GODIN so I finally tried one out and couldn't put it down. You were right Dave they're great!
I choose the GODIN because of the price $350 bucks what a deal the playability, the variety of sounds I can get and the workmanship. I won't have to buy another guitar to "up grade" so to speak. The only reason to get another guitar now is for a back up for just because.
Guitar players do that. Look at Rick Neilson from Cheap Trick.
Seriously before you buy anything outthere whether it be from the Fender style (Squire , tele, Ibanez etc) or Gibson style ( Epiphone, Hamer, BC Rich etc) Save yourself a heap load of cash and check out a GODIN. You WON'T be sorry, believe me.

H/S/H configuration wired like a strat--Godin Manufactured. 12" radius on the neck--rosewood fingerboard. Floating Trem. Transparent Red (looks purple up close) finish with blond pickguard & pickups. Straplock buttons.

I've had this for 5 months now. For this price range, it does almost everything. The humbuckers are definitely high gain. With the volume on full, you can hear a little bit of breakup on the clean channels of certain amplifiers (solid state included). I don't particularily like to ride the volume control, but it's a bit of a necessity for this guitar. In spite of its departure from your typical strat, the SDxt still maintains a bit of a strat-vibe. The neck and bridge humbuckers focus on the high-midrange to high frequencies--they're not your typical creamy low to low-midrange Les Paul humbuckers. There's a vibe to these pickups that I'm not too crazy about when played clean--they sound much better on high gain settings. There's also hum in the 2 and 4 positions because the pickups are wired like a strat's. I'm thinking about getting the wiring changed to allow a coil spit with the middle single coil in the 2 and 4 positions (more of a traditional strat sound).

Neck humbucker--lots of attitude and very responsive in high gain settings. Good for lead.

Bridge humbucker--great for crunch and rhythm, but you might want to replace the bridge pickup if you want a warm, singing lead tone.

Middle single coil--sounds great, but who uses the 3rd position anyway?

2 and 4 positions--not your typical strat sounds. Less glassy, and fuller sounding. Certainly works in most applications.

Overall, great sound options. Can't really complain at all!

Near flawless setup. You DO need to use the gauge of strings that came with the guitar. Any gauge heavier or lighter than that will affect the position of the floating trem. I'm not a big fan of floating trems either, but this one works surprisingly well, and rarely goes out of tune. If you dig the 46-10's, then you may want to keep the floating trem--it's not a bad option at all.

Any guitar with a trem, I would never gig without a backup. But I wouldn't expect this guitar to let me down at a gig at all. Definitely built to last. At this price (and others much higher) Godin makes a top quality product that sets a standard for other companies to follow. It's nice to see more companies producing quality instruments at prices working stiffs like me can afford.

A Godin at $350 CAD new? I've pratically stolen the thing! If you can find a better instrument at this price, then let me know, and I'll "steal" that one too!

The Godin SDxt, assembled in the USA from parts hand-crafted in Canada, has a unique hum-single-hum pickup (Godin's made by Seymour Duncan) configuration that "delivers a truckload of sonic possibilities." It's has a 25?" scale (just like a Strat) amazing rock maple neck that is fast, thin, and to die for! This is what made me pick it up and take it home! The Les Paul/Tele/Strat-like solid body is three pieces: a center block made of Silverleaf maple for a solid foundation for the neck and hardware and poplar wings on each side help to keep the weight comfortable. The floating trem, bridge, saddles, Godin tuners, 1 volume/1 tone knobs, strap-lock ready pins, and output jack are all quality components...no cutting costs here! I think the 5-way switch isn't the best quality, but mine still works so no complaints yet. I bought mine in July 2002...8 months ago. It came with a Godin hemp-like gig bag with thick padding that does it's job well. It's Trans Red, with a black pickguard, and rosewood fingerboard. This guitar has everything you need!

The great thing about this guitar's sound is that it has so many different sounds! With the pickup configuration and tone control, there's bound to be a sound you like and it's hard to find one that you can't produce. This guitar has been played through small and big amps and by friends/players, my guitar teacher, and the local, experienced guitar technician. Everyone thinks that there is a great variety of sounds and that the sounds produced are that of a higher-priced instrument. Pickups have been complemented on...high output and nice, clear sound. My only complaint is that you can't get the Strat "twang-sound" out of the humbuckers...not that I expected it to. This is the only reason that I felt the need buy an additional guitar...a Strat. Now I've got all the sounds I need!

Factory set-up was great! Low action, good pickup heights, although there was a little bit too much bow in the neck. I thought the neck was straight and played for this entire time and didn't notice though. Just to make sure everything was as it should be, I took it to the guitar tech during my Strat set-up and with a little turn of the truss rod, the neck is perfect...what a difference in playing! Get your guitar professionally set up...it's worth it! Frets were perfect and I can't say enough about the neck and rosewood fingerboard! The wood is amazing to look at and even better to put your hands on. I've looked at new American Strats ($1200+) and I can't find one with a neck that is similar in quality and workmanship. The 4 bolt neck-body joint is superb...super tight, no noise and movement at all! I have gone over this guitar with a magnifying glass and the only flaw I can find is one small section of the floating tremolo cavity's edge that was not finished. It's about the size of a strand of hair...so I guess it loses a mark. Other than that, this guitar was absolutely perfect when I bought it...probably in more "new" condition than alot of new guitars.

Definitely reliable and durable! I've trucked my guitar around in the gig bag for 8 months and the only problem I've experienced is that it becomes out of tune by the time you take it out to play again. I'm pretty careful with my guitar...it sits on a stand in my living room ready to play and I don't toss it around at all at home or when I'm out. The finish is thick and I can't foresee any bumping or banging being able to go through it. The hardware seems like it will last forever...except the 5-way switch...but I have had no problems of any kind yet. The neck is smoother than ever because of daily use and now a change in colour is starting to happen in positions where I play a lot, adding some character and evidence that I actually use this guitar. Other than that, its looks as good as the day I bought it.

I have contacted Godin by email several times for additional information and just all-round questions about my guitar and other products that they offer and they have always responded politely and promptly. Very accessible help if you need it.

I've only been playing guitar for a year, but piano (9 years) and violin (2 years) have helped me learn quickly. This was my first electric guitar...I already had a Simon & Patrick acoustic (under the same umbrella company as Godin) and because of it's quality, the Godin website, and the helpful, informative, and positive reviews here, I took the plunge and bought my SDxt...probably the best purchase I've ever made. Since then, I've played Fenders, Gibsons, Epiphones, Yamahas, Squiers, etc...and I haven't found a guitar that is better in workmanship. This guitar is definitely worth 2-3 times it's retail price. The currrent sales trend seems to be that you pay for a name brand and not necessarily quality. Godin wasn't well-known when I bought my SDxt, but people are starting to take notice now, here in Victoria. Go try one before they cost what they're worth! The other reviewers below helped me to find this great guitar and I hope I have helped you!

2002 made, 22 frets, 1 volume, 1 tone, h/s/h(very good), quilt light burst maple top

Incredible good, How can i say? It's very "my dream sound", neck pick-up give a very thick warm and sweet sound, bridge pick-up give a high and sharp curve. Sorry that i can't give a clearly answer but it's just how i feel.

low action and very small frets. Very good shinny finish(and very buatiful) Everything hold up alright for me.

It's very solid guitar but I have to say that this instrument is too good for me. Why!. Because it's very beautiful guitar and i'm just a normal clumsy boy.

I've never have any single ploblem with this guitar but when I've send e-mail to them, I can get an e-mail reply from them within 30 minutes.

This is very good and high quility instrument, I can't wait to model other of their product. If it loss this guitar, I will curtainly get a new one ASAP.

2002 Godin SDxt in Black Pearl, made in Canada and assembled in the USA. 25.5" scale, maple neck and fretboard, maple and poplar body, 5 way selector, H/S/H Godin pickups, floating trem, Godin spec tuners. Lots of features, and included a nice little cheap gig bag. I'd recommend upgrading to a case or better bag.

The sound is great of this axe. It's sort of a jack of all trades axe, with sounds that range from Gibson humbuckers, to glassy Strat and Tele clean sounds using the 5-way switch. Really nice and versatile. The pickups are nice, but not very high output, but the do the job nicely for an axe in this price range. I play it through a Fender Blues Jr. The middle S/C pup is a little noisy, and has a nice bright sound. With some drive, the bridge pups can crunch nice as well.

The SDxt needed a proper set up, and I had the tech do it at the store. They're were no flaws at all,everything was tight and fit good. I had the tech put 5 springs in the trem to stabilize it for tuning, but didnt help much. This axe goes out of tune too easy, even without using the trem. I don't know why, I have a Strat with the same 5 springs in the trem, and it never slips out of tune, even with heavy bending. The neck is nice and fast, but a little thin but thats ok.

Seems that this axe will last, the finish is top rate. I might look at swapping the pups at some point, and probably switching the tuners and trem to something more stable.

I called and emailed Godin several times, and always was treated well, and the people there were always friendly and helpful.

Overall, the SDxt is a great little guitar. For about $400 Canadian it's hard to beat, and rates with axes in high price ranges.

This Guitar is superb.I heard so many great things about the sdxt before I bought it that I just had to try one out.I went to long and Mquade and tried it and loved it then I talked to the sales representative he told that the sdxt is literally like a 1500$ dollar guitar for the price for 520$.Obviously he wanted me to buy the guitar but this guy explained to me that they are all handcrafted and they are built with high quality wood and top of the line electronics by seymour duncan.Even though I may have been a victim of a Godin spokesperson I have to admit I am more than Impressed with the sdxt.It has a great feel and great sound with alot of punch and nice bottom end.It sustains for miles it is built very well.I still have to get it set up a little but other than that everything is very close to perfection.You can pull a whole wop of tones from this beauty it is so versatile.The gig bag it comes with is also very high quality.(Most other guitars dont even come with gig bags.) It does not stay in tune for as long as i would like though.

The sounds that the sdxt can make are extremly smooth.This guitar is unique because the neck and bridge pickups combine a humbucker sound with a single coil sound.So you get a nice mixture which make for a really cool tone.I play my sdxt straight into a line 6 vetta combo and together the possibilities are endless.This guitar is great for lead because of the sustain and nice extra little bit of top end from the single coil but it also word great for rythm playing too.Power chords sound powerful and full but open chords are superb with a good distortion.You know ho some guitars sound mushed and soggy when playing open chords through a heavy distortion,well the sdxt sounds fantasic,clear and every note ringing with equal value.I finally found what I was looking for. So nice.

The action is great I still have to lower it a bit though.The finish on this guitar is also amazing it looks and feels so smooth and has a human touch unlike any other guitar its price range.

Ive had it for a while and no problems at all.The electrics and other parts on this thing are meant to last.

never dealt with godin.never had to.

Ive been playing for 9 years and I have played better guitars.But considering those guitars cost 2500$+ and I am a college student I can not afford them.It is nice to see a company that is building Very high quality insturments that does not employ cost cutting measures that affect the end product. To often these days you have these AMERICAN corperations selling insturments that are just not worth the price you pay.Because profit becomes the main goal.Godin seems to have their prices at a very fair price.Finally, a Real bang for your buck deal from a canadian company.

I bought this guitar because it has top quality features and components.It's made in Canada not in China or Korea.This guitar company is building some incredible instruments and the prices are irresistable for this model although some of the high enders are out of line price wise. It has a 25.5 scale (same as fender) rosewood fingerboard on a solid rock maple neck that is set in,very nicely I might add.The body has a quilted maple top with a high gloss finish.There is 1 vol. and 1 tone knob which I like because it simple to dial in.The switch is a 5-way because you need this for the h/s/h combination of pickups.The pickups are Godin designed and made by Sey/Dunc .The plug in slot is made from metal and not plastic.The frets are mediums I think and the tuners are no stock Godin tuners that seem to hold the tuning well.I'm giving it a 9 because I think the selector switch could be made better quality and I would like the option of having real Sey/Dunc's in the axe.

This is a very versatile guitar because of the pickup combo and the choice of neck woods and scale.I can get Skynyrd on the bridge pic,newer Clapton on the middle s/c and Chet Atkins creamy smooth on the neck pic.The harmonics are exc. and the tone and volume controls are not sleepers.This axe plays extremely fast and is a pleasure to experiment with varous settings.I'm playing it through a Marshall JCM 900 100 DUAL Combo with a crybaby and can it sing.The sustain is rich and creamy or solid and raunchy whatever you want.The notes are clear ,precise and not muddied at all.The sound is very solid and has turned my amp into another surprise for me ,I didn't think it had that type of fidelity .I don't care about the current Marshall bashing going on ,they make excellent amps.It gets a ten here because this axe gives 110% and will keep up with the lower end Fenders,Gibsons and PRS's.Gets a 9 because I would like real Sey/Dunc pics in it .

From the factory it was set a litle low as were the pickups but so was my Fender Stat.The top finish is awesome and has not a flaw it almost looks surreal because of the sunburst finish on the quilted maple.I think they spent some time buffing the finish because it looks way better then my amer.del.Strat did out of the box.This thing is a treat to play and is worth 4-5 times more.If it had a Fender name this would a custom shop $2000+ job.The salesman said he visit the factory and couldn't beleive the hand work that went into these.as opposed to others that are trying to get machines to every thing.I like the idea of playing something that someone else put some handy work and craftsmanship into.Definetly a 10.

I'm just wincing at the thought of a cracked neck joint on this baby.I already got buckle scratches on the back and nicked the head stock on a medal doorway.I don't know if the trem will hold out, not as solid as the Strat and the 5-way switch is sticking and is kind of sluggish .

Hasn't got to that point yet ,so we'll see.

I've been playing forever, some bandwork ,some recording and just jamming with th e buds .I own a Strat,a LG,an Ibanez Gax 70 and a Seagull C6 and this one fits in nicely with them all.This is the last picture in the tone puzzle guitar wise .I can't afford Gibson or PRS and this one takes me very close not all the way but close enough.I'd buy one again but might hold out for the real Seymours.This guitar is way better than any of the Squiers ,Epiphones,Korean PRS's and most of the Ibanez's .It plays exceptionally well and 99% of the parts are top notch

Made in 2002 in Quebec and assembled in the U.S.
It is made of maple (maple neck, body, and fingerboard - it can also be bought with a rose wood finger board) This git has godin pickups: humbuckers at the neck and bridge, plus a single coil inbetween. all of this is controlled with a 5 position pickup selecter that give a wide variety of sounds. The finish I got is black, other finishes cost more. The plain generic tuners work well. It came with a gig bag.

It's good for ROCK! Punkish high gain ROCK! I play with a Marshall 100w jcm900. It has a very bright sound. the Git can go from a crunchy metal machine to a jazz sound or strat sound. It's very versatile. At the price I can't complain.

the git was setup and then inspected ( the name of the inspector is on the back )so it was intonated perfectly when I got it. There is nothing wrong with the git at all.

The git will withstand live playing, and more. I live in canada and frequently go through serious climate changes when I take my frozen axe out of my car and into a venue, but the dense maple construction allows it to warm up without going out of tune.

I haven't had to talk to the company yet and hope I never will.

I have been playing for years and have owned quite a few gits in this price range, none of them have measured up to this one. I would definitely buy it again. I could live without the Floating bridge because i never use it, but that's just me.
This is a good git for the money (It is equal to some more well known brands that are double or tripple the dollars)

Made in Canada/USA 2002. Godin SDXT Black Pearl. Specs are as follows:
Rock Maple, bolt on neck, 22 frets
Rosewood Fingerboard
12" fingerboard radius
25 1/2" Scale
1 11/16" nut width
Contoured Silverleaf Maple body
Godin-Design pickups (GHB1 - bridge, GHS1 - middle, GHN1 - neck), humbuckers on the neck and bridge, single pickup in middle
Floating Trem
5-Way, Volume & Tone
Sealed Tuners
Les Paul in style

I don't know if I really have a "style". I picked up the guitar after a 20 year layoff, playing for fun. I use a Dean Stack-in-the-box with clean, distortion, and overdrive. The guitar has a wide range of sound, but I prefer the neck and middle switch setting with a clean sound. All I can say about the sound is - W O W !. Excellent in all repects. Godin website says, "...the hum-single-hum pickup configuration delivers a truckload of sonic possibilities. The classic, high gain. Humbucker sounds are superb and the single coil adds that 'glassy' definition to the sound not usually available in a humbucker-only equipped guitar." True, so true!

The guitar came ready to go out of the box. Best factory set-up I have seen. I adjusted the strings to 1/16" at the treb and 3/16" on the bass at 12th fret as well as the pickups to 6/16" and 8/16". Suits me to a tee - no buzz and low. Finish and fit are 100% flawless.

I expect the guitar to have a long life. Well made. Not sure about the gigging and backup - doesn't apply to me.

Godin has very friendly staff but a nominal website. No manuals, no diagrams, no set-up info. I wish they had info online like Fender or Ibanez, and chat/forums like Dean.

I am so particular about sound and finish; I may spend weeks anguishing over a potential purchase before I buy. All I can say is buy a Godin - you WILL NOT be disappointed. The SD would be a great beginner guitar. BIG TIP - prices from Canadian dealers are anywhere from 20-40% less than the USA dealers. Look around and you'll find a deal!

2002 Godin SDXT. Maple neck, rosewood board. Hum - sing -hum pickups. Whammy bar. Bolt on neck. Came with gigbag and some allen keys. I find the pickup configuration to be very versatile.

I'm using this with a Marshall Silver Jubilee series and Laney LC 50 combo amp. I was quite surprised when I brought it home to find myself more impressed with it than I was in the store. The humbuckers are full, powerful and somewhat 'glassy' sounding. The single coil is sounds fine. The notch positions sound great. There is no coil splitting, but I think the guitar offers plenty of versatility as is.

The only downside to the sound for me is, it's a little mushy and indistinct when using distortion. Perhaps the pickups are too powerful, or there is something lacking in high frequency fidelity. I'm hesitant to change the pickups though, because I'm so happy with them otherwise.

The Godin people deserve high praise here. The workmanship is flawless. Also the quality of materials seem very high.

For me, I don't like the floating bridge, there time consuming to tune, and have more downside to them than upside.

The neck on this guitar feels great, not too narrow, and again the workmanship is right there.

Seems fine to me.

na

I bought this guitar as a spare guitar to my Parker nitefly and USA Jackson. I find myself playing this just as much as my other guitars.

It kind of reminds me of a good strat. Not because it sounds exactly like one, but because it's snappy and alive.

For me the look of the guitar took a little getting used to, but when you get your hands on it that kind of melts away. The only improvements for me would be for the bridge to be heavier and fixed. Also a little more cutting power when using distortion ( not output, but just having the fundamental note coming through clearer), and a little more padding in the gigbag.

What an outstanding buy this is.

You've read the rets, mine is the same but with a black finnish and pickguard plus a maple neck (curly maple that is! It is just beautiful: I have th chills just thinking about it)

I play mainly rock in a garage band that have been together for almost 20 years, on and off. We play AC/DC, Led Zep, G'n'R, Van halen, Doobie Bros, Poison, Kiss...you see the trend. I play through a cheap but good all around Ibanez 50 watts and a Zoom505II effect pedal "board". It's not noisy ever. The sounds are diversivied yet with personnality. The bridge HB is birght as needed and the neck one is creamy and rich. Great when I play Sweet Child of Mine. SOunds better than my Ibanez which I paid 300$ more 11 years ago and on which I have installed and Seymore DUncan pickup. I think, I'll try that pickup on the Godin bt i just bought it last week so I'll wait a bit and estimate its true potential better.

The guitar setup was -almost- perfect. Only the pickguard needed a bit of fiddling with it. I changed the strings right away because I like 'em a little thicker than waht all guitars come with. But as I tested it in the store, it was setup perfrectly. The way they bolt the neck on the body is really amazing and helps to make access easy to the top frets.

I do not know. I bought it staurday afternoon, changed the strings and played live with it the same night because I like the look of it so much: all black and neck made of maple looks great with my leather pants!! So far then it's a ten

Like I said, it's better than my Ibanez and other guitars I've had. I never paid a lot a money for guitars but played some American Strats and Kramer that cost 3-4 times that money and they are not much beter. In fact, I would probbaly only haveto change one or 2 pickups (the bridge and single coil) and this baby could just not be touched by those 2 that the other guitar player in my band owns). I believe he is getting a bit jealous! Seriously, like I said I bought it Staurday afternoon and played for 90% of the show on it. I only had to use the Ibanez for the songs where I needed the 24 frets. This one is only 21 and I would have loved just the extra 22nd, it would then have been a perrrrrrrrrfect 10.

New 2002 SDXT bought in Aug. Blue flame model, very sexy. See other reviews for full description.

Sound is fantastic for the price. Bridge pick up has alot of bite with decent bottom end, though at times a bit too harsh. Neck pickup is actually quite a surprise,very warm and creamy, nice balance. Middle pickup is average, but works well in 2 and 4 position. I use a Tech 21 trademark 60 with various effects.I am in process of finding replacements for pickups though, as they are great value, are overall not adequate. The bridge while awesome for the price is a little too harsh sounding and doesn't change too much dynamically when rolling back volume. This is ok though I bought the guitar because of the quality and feel. For the price I paid its awesome, after spending a little more for good pups this will be an excellent axe,IMHO equally as good if not better than alot of name brand guitars costing 2 and 3 times more. My rating is for what you get for the buck. Most other guitars in this price range sound awefull.

This is why I bought this guitar. Actually this is my 3rd Godin and I've also owned a Seagull acoustic (same company). All have been great guitars. This finish on this guitar is killer. My main guitar is a G&L ASAT classic semi hollow and was a custom order that cost a few bucks. Its very well built and the finish is amazing. Well this Godin is right up there. There are no flaws in the finsih at all, the laquer is very deep and makes this blue flame just shine. Like others I did have to adjust string height, intonation etc. Also I blocked trem in down postition so it is set up like a trdtional strat trm. I hate floating trems.

Very solid, can easily depend on, but always have replacement.

I've been playing on and off all my life but more seriously last 10 years. I am a worship leader and play a varity of music. I have a couple acoutics, G&L ASAT, Godin LG with 2 HB',5 string bass and other gear. I like quality stuff and am finding in Godins great quality everyone can afford. I work PT at a guitar shop and have access to alot of new and used guitars at wholesale prices, including Fenders, but after some looking around I drove to the Godin dealer in the next town a bought the SDXT. I just wish I could get a pearloid pickgaurd for it, I think with blueflame it would be very pretty. If something happened to it I would buy another in a second. If your reading these reviews trying to decide if you should buy one, go ahead, you won't be disapointed, I read here first and then ordered the one I have.

The usual, 2002 Godin SDxt, this one was a paint job I think Long & Mcquade must have done (transparent purple) because Godin doesn't seem to list it on their website. Plenty of sonic possibilities with the 3 pickups, though the 2 and 4 positions on the switch don't quite compare to the rest. The floating trem that actually holds tune quite well which surprised me, my only complaint is I'm not a huge fan of the whammy bar not being screwed in. But for the price I paid, amazing.

This is where this guitar shocks me. The neck hum gives a throaty, powerful tone, the single coil is glassy but not noisy, and the bridge hum gves a great twangy tone. The mixed positions are passable, but I find myself not using htem very often, but that's only because the others will do the job better. I've run this guitar through several amps, be it a Fender Frontman 15 for home playing, a Line 6 Spider, or a Fender Princeton. It consistently sounded good and kept everyone asking "you paid how much?".

Mine was set up by the store so I'm not sure just how it would be out of the factory. Still, the action was nice and low, the pickups weren't in the way, and everything was in mint conditon (and still is, I really mother my guitars).

I haven't dropped or abused it since I'm very careful with guitars, so I really can't rate, but everything seems solid and it hasn't given me problems yet.

Haven't had a chance, since I deal directly with my music store, so once again no rating.

This is an amazing guitar. Whether you want an entry-level, versatile guitar or a good backup/alternate tuning guitar, you can't go wrong with a Godin. Mine was the cheapest available at the store at $350 Canadian (about $240 US) while the most expensive SDxt with a really nice blue flame top was $480 canadian (about $325 US). This company makes very high quality instruments that sound awesome and play awesome. If this were a Fender I'd expect it to cost some $700-800 (Canadian, of course). This guitar can hold its own against any mid-level axe out there, at the price of an entry-level.

lightburst quilt top finish and maple neck, see other reviews for the scoop on pickups and whatnot.

i love all music and need a variety of sounds, bingo this fits the bill. i took my time and tried every thing from les pauls to brian moores , in other words every guitar i could find in the store that had real pickups and solid workmanship. i could not justify extra money on the pricier guitars i tried, i ended up deciding between a godin lg sp90 and the sdxt. the sdxt had a few more options with sounds. this guitar sounds great. its not a paul but its not a strat either, its a blend. i use a yamaha dg100 and it chunks like no tommorrow! its very rich and full sounding, my best advice to anyone is to TRY one of these , you won't believe the guitar you get for the money you spend!my only dislike is i prefer locking tuners and graphite nuts on any guitar with a floating trem. and i put some foam in the spring cavity to deaden the springs when i riff with some gain. this guitar is mucho resonant and the pickups will amplify the springs doing thier "reverb" thing . and i don't personnaly like that tendacy in strat like trems.

no flaws! i do setups and whatnot on my guitars and know quite a bit about quality in construction and design. Godin is unsurpassed in this!the neck is awesome! this was made by people who care. every detail is imaculate.

i know i will have no issues with this . it even comes straplock equipped. my other guitar player with an american strat deluxe that cost 3 times as much has already been in the shop to get the strap pins plugged and reinstalled. that shouldn't need to be done on a new guitar. it is a nice strat for sure but i don't wish i had his guitar over mine! i love my godin..really.the price makes me feel like i ripped off the store. i will be getting another Godin or two.

good support , emails are answered in a timely fashion. they are busy making awesome guitars so don't worry if there is a delay in email response. i never checked my warranty card yet but i don't think i will ever need it, the store i bought it is pretty good and i know the resident luthier at the store.i had good response when i had questions on a used Godin i used to own.( traded out of stupidity..mine)

i have 20 plus years in playing, i use several guitars ..yamaha pacifica 311s with a bridge seymour duncan hotrail, and an american kramer with seymour duncans and this goes through my yamaha dg100 amp. my only wish is locking tuners and a deluxe case. but i got such an amazing guitar for the money i would be crazy to expect Godin to unclude these for the same price. i do hope Godin sets up a custom shop in the future..that would be sweet. i cannot express the awesome build and design quality of the sdxt. sorry for the 10's in this review. if this was a strat or a less paul i would rate it slightly different but it is itself, not a clone. and i think its excellent at getting all the sounds i need without switching guitars . bravo Godin!

You all know this by now but anyway , here we go: 22 frets , made in New Hampshire from parts crafted in Quebec, 5-way selector, nice metal knobs, h-s-h, Godin pickups, rock maple neck and body , etc..
just what I was looking for.

I don t like the single coil pickup to much( never really liked any sc anyway...) :) but the two humbuckers are really great , especially for stock pickups. The bridge humbucker is perfect for everything distorted and I love the neck pickup for clean playing ( It has a very full and loud sound ). The single coil pu is a bit noisy but who cares, hehe.

I had to reset the action a bit but besides that eveything was perfect. Excellent finish , It feels like a very high quality instrument and it is. oh yeah, one last thing, I had to lower de single coil pu because it was getting in my way when playing.

looks really really solid and well made. the strap buttons keep the guitar from falling :)wich is good hehehe. It would definitely withstand live playing.

dunno

Excellent value, perfect sound , great action, good looking guitar. If it were stolen I would get another one right away. That s pretty much it :).

This 2002 Godin sdxt is a great jack of all trades guitar.Cost $450, made in Canada, assembled in USA. The only thing it lacks is an acoustic bridge pickup - available in the solidac, but the solidac does not have the same neck, and does not have the maple neck option, which is crutial.The humbucker-single coil-humbucker pickup configuration gives a multitude of tonal combinations, but they should have put coil splitter switches for the humbuckers.

For what it was designed, guitar sounds great.The modifications I already discussed would make it absolute perfection.I have been playing guitar since 1959, touring, recording, teaching what eventually became Classic Rock and Roll.I use Fender and Peavey all tube amps, no effects or pedals.Reverb and natural tube distortion only.

Spent 2 hours adjusting it to .009 gauge strings ( comes with .010 ), which is to be expected. It is now the best playing guitar I have ever played - totally effortless. Plays like butter.Beautiful blue flame finish.

Seems to be a workhorse. Except for my Taylor, it is all I play. Stays in tune, even with a lot of whammy bar and sting bending.

Answer my e-mails quickly. They cannot add acoustic bridge pickup and coil splitters at factory, though.

Best guitar you can get for the money. Wish it had my modifications as an option.Dealer did not have hardshell case, but it fits in my strat case.Plays better than any of my Fenders or Gibsons, even my 1965 Mosrite, which was the undisputed champ.Gets great Strat sound, and Les Paul sound, too.

2001 Godin SDxt. Solid body maple single cut, sort of a cross between a LP and Strat. Made in US from parts supplied from Canada. Mine has the blue flame top which is very nice. H/S/H set-up with five way selector switch. Schaller hardware which seems very durable, non-locking tuners are excellent. Strap-locks are solid. Schaller trem which is very sensitive. 25.5 scale on a maple neck. Comes with a Godin gig bag but I ordered a HSC for safety. Gig with it on a weekly basis and it has held up very well. Bought this guitar just for prcatice sessions but am finding out that I use it more and more in live venues.

I play Jazz with a combo and side with a Big Band. So, I play alot of single note riffs with the Jazz group and back-up chording with the Big Band. I use my Victoria or Evans amps with the Jazz group and am usually mic'ed with the Big Band although I do have a Traynor 80Q that cuts through the mix quite well. I have four axes that I use on a continual basis: Gibson L5, Gibson Birdland, Gibson LP Custom and this Godin. When set right this guitar offers a great mix of sounds. Doesn't have the depth of the L5 or Birdland but keeps up with the overall sound of the LP and then some.

Factory set-up was high. I lowered and readjusted everything and now it's fine. Finish is first rate and the quility is exceptional for a guitar in this price range. With the exception of the action, I could not find one flaw in anything. I do have one problem with the control set-up. I have rather large hands and the placement of the volume and tone knobs sometimes get in the way of my picking action. I wish they have moved them two inches to the rear.

Very solid guitar. Hardware and finish is first-rate. Strap buttons are locking variety and are solid. I have used it on numerous occasions in live settings but usually carry at least one other axe not because of fear of faliure but because of the need for different sounds.

Never had to deal with Godin about a problem although I did call them once with an interest in one of their other guitars. I was able to talk to one of their production people and he was very informative about their production process and materials used.

I have been playing for over twenty years. As I had mentioned earlier, I purchased this guitar for practice sessions leaving the high priced stuff at home. As it turns out, I am using this axe more and more in live settings. It's no L5 or Birdland but I reallly feel that for the money this instrument offers great sound and value.

Here's a little cut and paste from the Godin website that tells of the features, Rock Maple neck
Maple Fingerboard
12" fingerboard radius
25 1/2" Scale
1 11/16" nut width
Contoured Silverleaf Maple body
Godin-Design pickups (GHB1 - bridge, GHS1 - middle, GHN1 - neck)
Floating Trem
5-Way, Volume & Tone
Blue Flame 'Leaf Top' finish

I got mine in April of 2002 brand new. It's made in Canada and the U.S. I think all the guitars are assembled in New Hampshire and the parts are made in various shops in Quebec and the New Hampshire one. So basically it's North American made. It has 22 frets and a humbucker/single/humbucker set-up with a 5 way switch. All the pick-ups are made by Godin. The body is unique in that the middle block is Silverleaf maple and the wings are poplar to keep weight down. Like everyone says it looks like a cross between a Tele and Strat. The finish is the beautiful Blue Flame on mine. It came with the worlds worst gig bag, two allen wrenches, and a whammy bar that hasn't seen much use. Also is straplock compatible.

I used to play exclusively punk but I took guitar lessons this semester at college and am starting to branch out. However, i still play mostly punk. This guitar does punk just fine. The bridge humbucker rocks and that is almost exclusively what I use when I am playing in my punk band. I have a Marshall JCM 900 combo and the tone I get that combination is very similar to most of the punk bands that I listen to (almost the exact same sound as Lagwagon). It sounds great overdriven. I use the neck humbucker for all clean stuff such as jazz or whatnot and it sounds great. You're not just playing a guitar when you're playing this but you're making music. it really just sings beautifully. It has a very bright, saturated sound. The single coil in the middle I'm still uncertain about. Of course it is noisier than the humbuckers but I don't think it is overly noisy. As I said before I usually play punk so I don't use this much and this is my first guitar with a single coil so I'm not sure how to get the best sounds but it tends to produce a more glassy popping type sound when played hard than you're Strat-like twangy snap. When played with more control it is nice but still has that glassy tone that I'm not sure how much I like. Basically I don't use it that much. With the 5 different types of configurations you can get a wide variety of sounds. I like the 2 or 4 positions for bluesier type stuff. The tone knob doesn't do much for me but I've only been playing for a year so haven't developed a good ear for the subtle differences like most of the tone freaks on this website. Overall, great tone and sound for the money. I'll give it a 9 just because it's not a $3000 custom made guitar so there has to be room for improvement (my pet peeve is people on this website who give everything great marks).

This is really where the guitar stands out. here is about a $400-500 guitar where the action, fit and finish where nearly perfect. The finish is like something you'd find on a G&L ASAT or PRS Custom. it's just beautiful. The second I had the neck in my hand I knew the difference between that and my Epi Les Paul. It has a contoured back so it fits nicely against the body, unlike the LP. The guitar just wants to be played for hours. The action was perfect, no buzzing but great playability. I'm not a guitar tech or anything but I've only found one flaw in the set-up and it is extremely minor. One of the screws for the pick guard is too thin (well, the hole is too big) so it sticks out a little bit. But I really don't care and haven't bothered to fix it. This is a good as it gets for the money.

Only had it for two months but it seems rock solid. Has a bolt on neck which is nice. The input jack is metal unlike the LP which had a plastic covering for that which broke when i dropped that. Won't have that problem with this one.

Haven't dealt with them but I like what the company is all about and can't forsee any problems

I've been playing for 1 year and started with an Epi SG, then went to the Les Paul which I like for awhile and now have this along with the Seagull. If it were stolen I would buy it again in a heartbeat because I really don't think that you can get a better guitar for around $400-$500. The differences between the LP and SDxt are quite substantial and they cost about the same. The SDxt is considerabley better built and you can get the LP chuncky overdriven tone with it but also a wider variety of sounds as well. And personally I think that it's neck pickup is way better. I looked at getting a LG or SD (both Godins) but thought that this was the best deal. I was only looking for Godins on advice from my guitar teacher and really fell in love with the company. They make great, versatile guitars. I feel that you're certifiably insane if you get a Mexistrat or a Korean made Epi instead of this guitar. The craftsmanship and are noticeably better to a novice like myself. In the future if I ever upgrade I'll probably for for a Godin LGX-SA, if I want a hollowbody I'll get a Flat Five, and it I want something just for Jazz I'll get a Multiac Jazz. I think Godin makes the best guitars out there. I was going to put a 9 for this but with the 10 it said "fantastic value" and that's exactly what this is.

Solid body made in US from Canadian parts. 5-way selector switch with volumne and tone controls. PU's are of Godin design. Floating trem. Maple and poplar body with rock maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Well designed non-locking tuners. Design is somewhere between a strat and Les Paul but is unique. Came with a nice gigbag and allen tools. Case is not included.

I had read a few reviews on this guitar and deceided to give it a try. I was able to find a new one on ebay. I play rock and blues through a Peavey 5150 with a Peavey 5150 half stack(Greenbacks). I'll tell you!!, this guitar sound great! I was really surprised at the sustain. The stock PU's are really good. Again, I was surprised. My main axe is a PRS Custom costing hundreds more that this one and it's hard to tell the difference. There is really nothing I don't like about it and in fact am now looking into one of Godin's higher priced models

I needed to work on the action and in turn the intonation. Pickups were at the right height. I had heard that Godin's workmanship was very good. I went over this guitar with a fine tooth comb and could not find one flaw. No glue, now paint smears, frets dressed nicely, and the finish was flawless. Neck feels very good and is straight and the nut is just right. I couldn't ask for more from any guitar but getting this type of quality for this price, it's unbelievable!

Very sturdy. Good strap buttons. Very good finish and hardware. Would easily stand up to live playing. My PRS comes first and then this one but I would use without backup.

Have not had to use it but they answered my email and this is something!!. I believe the warranty is one year.

I am very happy with this axe. I own a PRS Custom and an American Strat. If it were stolen or lost I would replace it right away. Well. I guess for once the hype is correct, this is one great guitar for the price. It really compares, and some cases exceedes, other guitars I have tried that cost hundreds more. Great Value!!

Godin SDxt made in 2001. Canadian manufactured parts put assembled in New England. Solid body lightburst quilt (Very Nice!). Body style all of it's own but you could say its a cross between a Les Paul and Stratocaster. Pickups are Godin designed H/S/H. One volumne and one tone control. 5-way selector switch. Maple and poplar body with rock maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. Sacle is 25.5. Godin non-locking tuners and floating tremelo. The guitar comes with a Godin gig bag and tools.

I play light rock, blues and jazz. I play through a Fender blackface super reverb and use use a Digitech RP-300 for additional effects. With my setup, this guitar can make just about any sound I want. Can be bright but still holds low end. It has great sustain. The wood combination that Godin used is interesting, placing a maple block to hold the neck and pickups while joining poplar wings to the maple. Has a good full sound but not as good as my Heritage 575 for jazz. Two different creatures!

Factory setup was good although I reset the action and intonation. It was just off a bit on both counts. The bookmatching was very good. I was really impressed with the overall quality of this guitar. I own a variety of guitars and the workmanship of this guitar is right up there with instruments costing hundreds more. I looked very closely and could not find one flaw with the hardware or assembly. Woods are top notch. Pickups are Godin designed are just a step behind a Duncan or Rio Grande. Just for fun I might try a Benedetto A6 or Duncan Jazz on the neck.

I seems very reliable. It should be able to withstand years of live playing. Finish is very good and the strap buttons are solid. I never gig without a backup because of string breakage but with that exception, I would easily feel good going out alone with this guitar.

Have not had to deal with Godin. If something major occured I would call them (like the body splitting in half!) otherwise I repair, adjust or replace parts myself. I have had occasion to call them and they were very helpful. They have an excellent reputation for quality workmanship and customer service. My guitar tech had to have a part shipped to him(Godin LXT) and they were more than helpfull and in fact called him back to make sure everything worked OK.

I have been playing for over twenty years. Currently working as a studio musician and also do corporates with my trio. My primary guitars are a Heritage 575, Heritage 150 and a Gibson 135. I have an assortment of amps including Fenders, Evans and Poyltones. I wanted to obtain a great sounding solid body that I could haul to the studio and offsite gigs and not be worried about it getting beat-up or stolen. Well, guess what, now I'm worried about this one too!! I did look at variety of other guitars in this price range: Dean EVO's, Fender Standards, Hamer's and others and none, in my opinion, had the overall quailty and sound of this guitar. Beautiful finish and great sound for very little money. I would highly recommend this guitar.

This review is for a new Godin SDxt. Beautiful blue flame with rosewood fingerboard. Styling is a cross between a Les Paul and Strat. Single cutaway. Canadian parts assembled in the US. The solid body has a contoured maple block (silverleaf) for the electronics with poplar wings. This difers from the regular SD. The SD is all silverleaf maple which makes the SD heavier. Pickups are H/S/H with a 5-way selector switch. One volume and one tone control. Floating trem. Pickups are of Godin design. Has a 25.5" scale and a 12" fingerboard radius with a 1 11/16 nut width. Neck is rock maple. Tuners are non-locking Godin design which look alot like Schaller's. The scale is another difference from the SD. The SD has a 24.75" scale. Note: Typical Gibson is 24.75" and Fender is 25.5". Come with a Godin gig bag and allen wrenches. One difference from Godin's website is that the blue flame now comes with a black pickguard not the off-white one that they display. I guess they haven't changed the image on the site.

Just as advertised, this guitar has a variety of sounds with the H/S/H configuration. I play it through a Travnor CV40 (Tube) and have two Matchless units in my studio both running Celestion Blue's. I have also tried it through Polytone and Evans tube amps. The one thing that really stands out is the sustain and resonance. I hit an A chord straight through the Traynor and was so impressed that we almost timed it! Just like the Enigerizer Bunny it kept going...going...going. Fantastic! I don't know how Godin put the woods (Maple+Poplar) together but it really works. Two visiting guitarists who played it were not totally impressed with the stock pickups and suggested a variety of options with Duncan's but I will take a wait and see attitude. I personally play Jazz/Standards and use both a Gibson 135 and 175 and it takes a little geting used to the Godin's sound but am very impressed so far. For the money, I don't think you can beat it.

I purchased the guitar from one of Canada's premier dealers, Murch Music and the owner Glenn Murch shipped it in perfert condition. I really have to tell you, this guitar looks and feels like it should have cost hundreds more. The blue flame top looks AAAA and the joinery work on both the neck and body are exceptional. Pickup height was good and action was low. I was told that Godin took real pride in their work and now I beleive it. How they sell this guitar at such a low price is beyond me. I looked at a variety of solid bodies in the $1,500 to $2,800 price range and with the exception of the pickups and trem, the Godin more than held its own.

My only problem with this guitar is that it is so beautiful I don't want to take it anywhere! I'll take the Gibson's out but not this one!(LOL). Strap buttons and hardware look sturdy and I am sure, If I were going to take it out, it would hold up just fine in a live playing enviroment.

Have not had to deal with Godin on this guitar but did email them recently wanting some information on the new Jazz Multitrac and they responded very quickly. I would highly recommend Murch Music in Canada for his customer service and product line. He sells and services some of the world's best names in Jazz boxes. I understand he also very involved in Jazz festivals in Canada and the US.

I have been playing for over thirty years and have owned too many guitars to remember all of them. I currently have a Gibson 135,175, and 335. I needed a good solid body for myself and visiting artists so I started my research with the major brands. To make a long story short, it came down to a vintage Les Paul, a Anderson and this Godin. After hearing and playing the Paul and Anderson I just couldn't justify the extra money for them. Both were wonderful guitars but for a quarter of the price the Godin really held her own. I will probably replace the pickups at some point and maybe add real Schallers and a Wilkinson Trem but overall I highly recommend this guitar. If it were lost or stolen I would replace it ASAP. I fact I am now looking at some of the other models in the Godin line. The Godin SDxt is a real value with wonderful workmanship and a vast array of sounds.

I'm sure you know it by now, if you are reading this...
This particular one was CongacBurst with a rosewood fretboard. The pickup configuration on the SDxt is H/S/H, 5-way. The pickups are Godin made.

This is the part why I decided to write this review. I was very suprised how rich this guitar sounded, even through a digital multieffect processor I tried it on which I know to muddy the original sound a hair (name deliberately omitted). It has the Strat's twang, the Gibson's growl and even the resonance of an acoustic, I didn't expect, just dial in the right filters on your rig to cut out things you don't need. I was able to produce believable sounds out of the SDxt from the 50's to the 90's, distorted as well as clean. This guitar is quite versatile (H-S-H) and was obviously meant to be a Jack-Of-All-Trades, as the manufacturer puts it. It has a resonance that I have not heard in other guitars (not even on recordings yet). So why not 10/10? I noticed when I tried to get some zeng out of it, that the deep tones sometimes overpower the resonance slightly.

The guitar in the shop was setup pretty well. I changed the strings to a complementary set of Elixirs when I got home (man, are those great, thanks guys!) and I raised the bridge humbucker slightly when I got home, but the intonation was correct. When I examined closely at home I was amazed how precise the fitting was compared to other guitars I had (see below). The finishing was flawless and the rosewood fingerboard seems higher quality than that of my other guitars (somehow darker and smoother). It is a piece of art.

One thing though. When they were hanging from the wall, I did not pay too much attention to these guitars, because from a distance they appear to have a cheap, plasticy finish. Boy, do I need glasses. Do yourself a favour and go up close.

I use the guitar for studio work, so I take good care of it. It looks just too damn good to take it on the road. The bridge and knobs appear high quality and the pickguard was covered with extra protective plastic (which I wrestled off when I got home - get ready to take off the knobs *and* their nuts for this excersise). I had it for only about a month, so can't really comment more on the durability, but the strap buttons and tuners also look sturdy.

Didn't have to deal with them yet.

I've been playing/buying guitars on and off for 15+ years. The best guitars I had/have are a Fender Strat and an Ibanez RG570IP. If this guitar was stolen, the first guitar I would buy would most definitely another Godin, but perhaps I would be more brave on spending more on the same, but Synth/equipped version (for experimentation), or try the LGX3 with its Duckbuckers. I might even try a Radiator. I love how easily this guitar plays (the action is great with .42-.9 strings) and the rich the sound it produces. Originally I was after another Strat with noiseless pickups - I tried an American Deluxe but this one was a steal for this price (about 1/3rd)!
What do I wish it had? A twin (in my studio)! Ok, maybe a humbucker splitter switch for the bridge pickup, for even more twang and versatility...? 24 frets? ...now that would have been a 10/10. (Although, I wish there was a 9.5/10 on this selector because 9/10 seems a bit too harsh!)