I bought this model in 2012 only based on youtube reviews, as I had no way to test it anywhere near my hometown in Spain. Maybe even yours was among the reviews I watched before buying, don't remember well. I was looking for a rather budget second strat-like guitar with a bridge humbucker. All I can say is that there's no praise enough regarding this guitar. Simply put: almost unbeatable value for money (forget Epiphones, Mexican Strats and so on). Amazing pickups, looks and finish (flawless frets, etc). Killer clean and distorted tones. It complements my Strat very well, not only because of the humbucker, but also due to its darker tone and character.
+MeLexdy Yes, I've kept the original humbucker, it's good enough for me. My model has the rosewood fingerboard. It's just a matter of comfort. I've got a strat with just maple neck and according to my experience, maple is a very hard wood, not very "fingertips-friendly" when you've been playing for more than one hour or so. Then I preferred the rosewood fingerboard Godin for a softer fingerboard touch. But it's a just a question of personal taste, it's all about which wood fingerboard you feel better with. Talking about electric guitars, the supposed difference in tone according to the fingerboard wood (maple=bright vs rosewood=warm) is just a myth. (Of course acoustic guitars are another world where wood matters a lot more).
Pete Canthropus Man there is a lot of debate of whether it affects tone or not. I dont know, I kinda hear some difference but only a rosewood version is available where I live. How about tuning stability when using the tremolo?
+MeLexdy Well, I don't mean to start the tone debate here. There are many videos on youtube about that issue, so everyone can search information to make his own opinion, besides what your own ears tell you, which is ok too. I don't know, maybe even auto-suggestion has something to do with this matter. Regarding the tremolo, you can't expect an amazing performance since it's not a floyd rose, but just a modern strat type bridge (two point fulcrum, which is more stable than the vintage six screw one). Anyway, it's far from being a crappy one. It's very reliable under a moderate use in the "normal" direction, I mean, pushing the bar towards the body. By the way, the (only) 3 rear springs are quite strong, which helps for bridge stability. Of course keeping the nut properly lubricated is very hepful too. I didn't try to set the bridge so high as to use it pulling the bar backwards for strings stretching, though. Mine is almost flush to the body. If you plan to make "abuse " of the tremolo bar in both directions like Satriani or a permanent use like Jeff Beck, you most likely will be disappointed.
Dude, your video, more than any other vid on UA-cam about the Godin Session, really sold me on this guitar. I have an Electric Blue Session on order at a local music store, and it'll be in my hands any day now. Thanks for posting this. I love your sincere enthusiasm ("nice")!!!
Hello neighbor! I just found out these were assembled here in our state not too far from where I live too. I have been looking for a left handed HSS strat style that I could afford for a long time. Great review! Thanks! Live Free or Die!
Thanks so much for posting! I bought a Godin Session today, and hearing your views is helping me get familiar with it. The Godin humbucker sounds great through my 1981 Marshall JMP, by the way!
I will be doing another video using the tremolo and tuner to prove if strings are stretched and tremolo is set right and used properly, it will not go out of tune... this tremolo is the same as a Fender tremolo and works perfectly when used correctly.
@BradmanIII Until I adjusted the tremolo correctly it would go out a little, but this type of tremolo is only for little vibrato, not heavy vibrato... my Fender strat also would go out with heavy use.. just use light tremolo on it.
great job bro :) , pelase tell about your guitar , is the session better than mexican fender strat ? and does it stay in tune after using the tremolo ? thanks
@DailyBrusher I LOVE THE HUMBUCKER!!!!!!!! SUCH A GREAT GUITAR..... the thing I am going to change on it is the string trees.. Put trees on it that have rollers, it will help keep it in tune when using the tremolo... My Strat had the same issues.
i bought the godin session in feburary and i think it's one of the best guitars i have ever played! l love it, and the funny thing is i live in ottawa, right beside quebec! haha.
Dude .. thanks so much for this review. I have a rustic burst Godin Session on order :) .. I think I am gonna love it for sure. Peace, and thanks again. Cool review.
This guitar stays in tune for me completely stock. I can usually play an entire hour set without having to touch the tuning keys. I play a lot of leads with many string bends also and it stays in tune! Great guitar!
@Logite its because of the string trees and the nut.. My Fender American Strat did the same thing... the guitar is awesome, just needs a little lube and new trees.
Hi man, I just offer me one, and yes, it's a beautiful guitar that sounds really good, not a toy for beginners! My session was originally set with the bridge screwed hard on the body, after changing the strings for 009-046 I thought the action was going to soften but not A bend on the 009 was more like a 011 so I set the bridge in floating position and finally I remove a spring! i've never seen that before? Thanks for your great video! great job and sorry for my bad english ...;)
Hey man, could you help? Im looking for a Godin Freeway for a few months, but can't find it, it could arrive on two months to my country. But today i saw this guitar on my local store, so now im not sure about waiting the Freeway... what d u say? I wait for the Freeway or I go for the Session?
the trem not staying in tune is also because of spring tension... it's designed exactly like my American strat, how can this one be any different tuning wise? These tremolos are NOT designed to be used like a Floyd Rose for heavy tremolo use, Fender style tremolos are designed for a light vibrato.. thats all. Over use will cause any guitar with this style tremolo to go out of tune, even Fender American.
@BradmanIII the string trees are the main culprit... make sure your string trees are perfectly in line with the string and also take a pencil and fill the grooves with graphite.. the Fender American Strat trees are the best... also, make sure your strings are stretched.
How does wood have any affect on tone? I understand acoustics and even nasty microphonic pickups but wax potted or epoxied pickups only pick up magnetically. Could you please explain this to me?
I've wondered this my self. Lol 3 years later response :P. I think it affects the feedback into the pickup? If the pickups are in the wood, and the wood vibrates differently when played, it might effect the vibration of the pickup, and how it pickups the string?
Best review I've seen yet for this guitar. Nice playing !
I bought this model in 2012 only based on youtube reviews, as I had no way to test it anywhere near my hometown in Spain. Maybe even yours was among the reviews I watched before buying, don't remember well. I was looking for a rather budget second strat-like guitar with a bridge humbucker. All I can say is that there's no praise enough regarding this guitar. Simply put: almost unbeatable value for money (forget Epiphones, Mexican Strats and so on). Amazing pickups, looks and finish (flawless frets, etc). Killer clean and distorted tones. It complements my Strat very well, not only because of the humbucker, but also due to its darker tone and character.
+Pete Canthropus
Have you kept the stock HB ? Is yours with a maple fingerboard ?
+MeLexdy Yes, I've kept the original humbucker, it's good enough for me. My model has the rosewood fingerboard. It's just a matter of comfort. I've got a strat with just maple neck and according to my experience, maple is a very hard wood, not very "fingertips-friendly" when you've been playing for more than one hour or so. Then I preferred the rosewood fingerboard Godin for a softer fingerboard touch. But it's a just a question of personal taste, it's all about which wood fingerboard you feel better with. Talking about electric guitars, the supposed difference in tone according to the fingerboard wood (maple=bright vs rosewood=warm) is just a myth. (Of course acoustic guitars are another world where wood matters a lot more).
Pete Canthropus
Man there is a lot of debate of whether it affects tone or not.
I dont know, I kinda hear some difference but only a rosewood version is available where I live.
How about tuning stability when using the tremolo?
+MeLexdy Well, I don't mean to start the tone debate here. There are many videos on youtube about that issue, so everyone can search information to make his own opinion, besides what your own ears tell you, which is ok too. I don't know, maybe even auto-suggestion has something to do with this matter.
Regarding the tremolo, you can't expect an amazing performance since it's not a floyd rose, but just a modern strat type bridge (two point fulcrum, which is more stable than the vintage six screw one). Anyway, it's far from being a crappy one. It's very reliable under a moderate use in the "normal" direction, I mean, pushing the bar towards the body. By the way, the (only) 3 rear springs are quite strong, which helps for bridge stability. Of course keeping the nut properly lubricated is very hepful too. I didn't try to set the bridge so high as to use it pulling the bar backwards for strings stretching, though. Mine is almost flush to the body. If you plan to make "abuse " of the tremolo bar in both directions like Satriani or a permanent use like Jeff Beck, you most likely will be disappointed.
Pete Canthropus Yeap true.
Thanks mate, very helpful !
Great review, thanks from Québec, Canada !
I'm really looking forward to getting this as my next guitar, awesome A+ review man :)
Dude, your video, more than any other vid on UA-cam about the Godin Session, really sold me on this guitar. I have an Electric Blue Session on order at a local music store, and it'll be in my hands any day now. Thanks for posting this. I love your sincere enthusiasm ("nice")!!!
I love how happy he is with his new guitar :D
Good review! Thanks for it! I tried this guitar today, and I really enjoyed it, just blown away by the quality and value in the guitar.
Hello neighbor! I just found out these were assembled here in our state not too far from where I live too. I have been looking for a left handed HSS strat style that I could afford for a long time. Great review! Thanks! Live Free or Die!
Thanks so much for posting! I bought a Godin Session today, and hearing your views is helping me get familiar with it. The Godin humbucker sounds great through my 1981 Marshall JMP, by the way!
Very cool review of a great guitar ! Good job , bro . Nice playing too . Cheers from Quebec , just a few miles across your northern border .
Dude, Godin needs to get you for a demo rep ... :) Sweet demo, great playin', you sold me brah!
Awesome review man! They are incredible instruments!
I will be doing another video using the tremolo and tuner to prove if strings are stretched and tremolo is set right and used properly, it will not go out of tune... this tremolo is the same as a Fender tremolo and works perfectly when used correctly.
good to see someone so passionate about this guitar. great review and you seem like a really nice guy :)
@BradmanIII Until I adjusted the tremolo correctly it would go out a little, but this type of tremolo is only for little vibrato, not heavy vibrato... my Fender strat also would go out with heavy use.. just use light tremolo on it.
great job bro :) , pelase tell about your guitar , is the session better than mexican fender strat ? and does it stay in tune after using the tremolo ? thanks
@DailyBrusher I LOVE THE HUMBUCKER!!!!!!!! SUCH A GREAT GUITAR..... the thing I am going to change on it is the string trees.. Put trees on it that have rollers, it will help keep it in tune when using the tremolo... My Strat had the same issues.
i bought the godin session in feburary and i think it's one of the best guitars i have ever played! l love it, and the funny thing is i live in ottawa, right beside quebec! haha.
Dude .. thanks so much for this review. I have a rustic burst Godin Session on order :) .. I think I am gonna love it for sure. Peace, and thanks again. Cool review.
Best review ! Nice job ! Just got mine yesterday ;) and i love it
Great review. Cool guy. Seriously considering buying one now.
This guitar stays in tune for me completely stock. I can usually play an entire hour set without having to touch the tuning keys. I play a lot of leads with many string bends also and it stays in tune! Great guitar!
@Logite its because of the string trees and the nut.. My Fender American Strat did the same thing... the guitar is awesome, just needs a little lube and new trees.
imma subscribe. you seem like a great person, man. totally chill, and awesome review, too!
Great review,great playing thanks.
i got the black one with maple neck and i am jealous of your light burst.
@BradmanIII Mine had 10's when I bought it, I put 9's on it. I gigged with it last night for new years..no issues at all, a great guitar.
Hi man, I just offer me one, and yes, it's a beautiful guitar that sounds really good, not a toy for beginners!
My session was originally set with the bridge screwed hard on the body, after changing the strings for 009-046 I thought the action was going to soften but not A bend on the 009 was more like a 011 so I set the bridge in floating position and finally I remove a spring! i've never seen that before? Thanks for your great video! great job and sorry for my bad english ...;)
@TheBlakem its not out of tune at 7:18... I just hit the note really hard, but it's still in tune.
Very good review, and nice playing!
Great review. My mind is now made up.
Awesome review and appreciate the north east pride
Cool video. Gonna try one out!
Great demo, thanx :)
Used to have one of these and stupidly, I sold it. Looking to get a new one these days hah.
Hey man, could you help? Im looking for a Godin Freeway for a few months, but can't find it, it could arrive on two months to my country. But today i saw this guitar on my local store, so now im not sure about waiting the Freeway... what d u say? I wait for the Freeway or I go for the Session?
Wow nice sounding guitar & great demo... I'm thinking of getting one. What is the weight of this guitar?
@Logite its only out of tune because I didnt tune it with my tuner.. I did it by ear, my guitar stays in tune.
the trem not staying in tune is also because of spring tension... it's designed exactly like my American strat, how can this one be any different tuning wise? These tremolos are NOT designed to be used like a Floyd Rose for heavy tremolo use, Fender style tremolos are designed for a light vibrato.. thats all. Over use will cause any guitar with this style tremolo to go out of tune, even Fender American.
@dgorkem1 That is a Laney VC-30..a great amp!
is the humbucker split when in the in between position?
@TebAnCT Hi, The session is awesome but I would get "The Progression" that was is excellent.
@BradmanIII the string trees are the main culprit... make sure your string trees are perfectly in line with the string and also take a pencil and fill the grooves with graphite.. the Fender American Strat trees are the best... also, make sure your strings are stretched.
nice ! just bought this one today and i fuckin love it
How does wood have any affect on tone? I understand acoustics and even nasty microphonic pickups but wax potted or epoxied pickups only pick up magnetically. Could you please explain this to me?
I've wondered this my self. Lol 3 years later response :P. I think it affects the feedback into the pickup? If the pickups are in the wood, and the wood vibrates differently when played, it might effect the vibration of the pickup, and how it pickups the string?
wonderfulllll what is the amp laney ? which model thanks
Just got mine today.
Nice demo, what's the tuning stability like?
hii...great review..nice playing...are you sure its only 7 LBS?? Could you please check?
It's sick
@frisell1968 I think around 7 LBS...
@NOSFERATUalu thanks Man! :)
Just got one :D But it didn't have a tremolo :'(
What how? That is like one of the main features of the Session... Are you sure? Check the bag...
how heavy is it?
I thought it was made in canada?
The parts are. Some of the electrics are assembled in NH, probably to fulfill NAFTA requirements.
Most Godins are made in Canada but the bolt-on neck models are assembled in New Hampshire.
have you noticed most guitarists make really weird faces while playing?
you just sold me one!!!