I bought an XTSA Koa Top about three years ago and love it. One thing I want to emphasize is that you can output all the voices on separate channels. One setup I use is the electric through a GR55 for the synth, COSM effects, amp and guitar modeling, the acoustic sound through a direct box, then each outputted to two Bose Compacts (directly behind me) running two separate channels out to the board. I get a rich layering of the two sounds onstage and the soundman has FOH control for each one. You could also run the synth alone out to a third output if you wanted to. Sometimes I'll swap out the GR55 for a regular guitar effects unit and that's great, too. However you do it, the XTSA is a real bargain for the acoustic/electric feature alone. I suppose alot of you already know that a studio trick of power chord guitarists is to overdub an acoustic guitar track blended into the electric tracks to give the sound a bit of fiber. This gets that sound live. Another nice trick is when you're playing the standard "acoustic on verse, power chords on chorus" and the record has that volume swell power chord zooming into the chorus in the break? You just strum a big chord with the acoustic sound, let it ring and bring in the electric with the volume knob. Nails it. Hope this is helpful. Oh, and I did have to wait over two months to get mine after I placed the order sight unseen with a major music retailer. Well worth the wait.
I bought an xtsa a few weeks ago, not going to both with the synthesizer just use it as an electric guitar but also having fun with mixing the acoustic guitar, I'd just like to say this guitar is fantastic Quality and I've owned a lot of high end guitars and still do, Thank you Richard, also Robert Godin
Does it feel more like an electric or acoustic to play? I'm keen to be able to get acoustic sounds, and I've ordered a GR55 for synth sounds, but I don't want to compromise the electric playability, eg bending and high notes. Be interested to know how you like it after 3 years, if you still do 😊
Great video on a very understated guitar brand. I have two Godin XTSA guitars and have to say that having had Fenders, Gibsons, etc., they are by far the best made guitars and great value for money. The quality control by Godin is exceptional. I've put heavier gauge strings of both mine too as they work better with the Roland GR systems.
Great video for 2019. Bought my Xtsa Koa top in 2015. Not many videos back then other than some hot rod players showing GR55 patches. This guitar has been so much fun for me over the years. You have to admit it takes a bit to figure all the ideas of this instrument. But when you master it makes people smile and that's what music is all about. And when plugged into a GR55 which I own as well, the tracking with the Godin is so much better than unit that comes with the roland to stick on another guitar. I'm 63 now and going to keep me smiling for years into retirement. It doesn't play well with my JCM 800 head and 4x12 with greenbacks. But sounds fabulous with my Grandmiester 40 and 2x12 cab with v30's. And your comments on string gauge made me laugh. Ive played 10 to 46/regular for years. Tracking made easy! TC Dave from Canada
I’ve got an early version (US made, with a hard case). You’ve really demonstrated its possibilities - but people need to know what a great guitar it would be just as an electric! Ebony fretboard ( on mine at least), Seymour Duncan pickups , 12” radius, and not heavy. I was playing it in my covers band, and it relegated my Strat and Tele to backup!
Great video, but I'd have appreciated a glance down the signal flow, to include the device connected (GR-55?). I wonder how a guitar like this would sound using flatwound strings, including how that would affect the tracking.
Thank you for this, Richard. I considered an XTSA but thought it more guitar than I needed for what I like to play which is mostly on Sundays in church. I recently purchased a Godin A6 Ultra just like the one you reviewed a while back and am really pleased with it. I think what you said about using acoustic strings on the XTSA, though, applies just as much for the A6 Ultra. Even with a wound G string, the nickel-wound strings it comes with sound a little thin on the acoustic setting
Ross Gill yes you can use acoustic strings as the greatest step in the acoustic direction. You can also buy hybrid strings these days which are nickel and bronze wound so you get the acoustic sound but the magnetic pickup also works with them
I went to a little shop in Kitchener, Ontario called 'The Guitar Corner' to see what strings they might suggest. The fellow there said I wasn't the first to come with the same questions about the same guitar. He recommended D'Addario Nickel Bronze (12 - 53) so I bought a set to try. What an improvement.
(second comment here) That "acoustic" sound blew me away. I checked other reviews of the xtSA, and on the other hand I tried the sounds on my LGX-SA. I noticed comments (on VGuitar, I think) preferring its sounds. But I have just ordered the xtSA in addition.
That acoustic modeling is really great. I currently own a Line 6 JTV-59 Variax, and I love it, so I’m a little bit familiar with modeling guitars. Does the Godin have a virtual capo like the Variax?
Really good demo. I've just ordered a GR55 so this looks interesting. I recently tried an Emarald Virtuo at the guitar show and, after weeks of looking forward to trying it, found it was too much like an acoustic to play so solos above the 12th fret are harder, especially when bending notes. Is the Xtsa more like an electric to play but with acoustic sounds or does it feel more like an acoustic?
Also, would you be able to bespoke the guitar to have coil splitting on the humbuckers? Or amend a strat to have built in acoustic and synth functionality? I wonder if I should visit, you're just over an hour away?
I have one of these and had the GR-55 as well. Welp, I found out the Roland GR-20 tracks better and guess what? I got one and It really does...this guitar tracks really well with the GR-20 and there’s hardly any ghost notes..
I have an LGX-SA and an LGXT and I had to get rid of the GR55 as the tracking was so bad with both guitars, synth experiment over. That said, as you highlighted even forgetting the synth they are amazing guitars and the built in piezo makes it 2 guitars in one, tge acoustic should ideally be d.i'd to the PA for more fullness. Love Godin since my cherished Freeway from way back in 2004 and great video 👍 hope the teeth got sorted.
Anyone aware if you can use the 13 pin to translate to midi in order to use with logic instruments? Was gifted this guitar and would love to use the extra features but don’t want to spend money on a synth
Hey man, thanks for sharing this demo, especially when you’ve had mouth work done!.. I realize this vid is kinda old now, but but I’m looking at this guitar with real interest!.. But what are you using at your feet for your synth?
The new fender acoustic they have been pushing sounds terrible . It sounds like a cheap Spanish nylon string with a cheap pup It doesn’t matter who plays one it doesn’t work . But this is really interesting and I could see the point of using this in a studio and sounds amazing .
I would like to ask you what you do to avoid unwanted sounds, harmonics, etc. You can't hear them. I have some problems with some sounds of classical instruments, e.g. orchestral ones - despite my caution, something always sounds to spoil the fun.
Great Richard - really enjoyed that and looked like you did too?! yeah I was playing about at the back of the queue when they were handing out the good teeth, suffered aggressive dental work in the 60's and have a love for sugar so you have my sympathies.
Very interesting - shame they don't do a lefty in this. I'd also like to have seen what sort of gadget / pedal you were twiddling with on the floor! :)
@@mitchplaysriffs thats what i thought but the guitar has a 13 pin midi cable so i think it needs a roland gr module to convert the midi signal the roland gr modules have standard midi cable out so i think thats the only way to be able to use standard midi. Or maybe i am missing something i would prefer a guitar with a standard midi jack
@@mitchplaysriffs Actually, the 13-pin cable carries the individual AUDIO signals of the individual strings. It's up to the receiving device (like a GR-55) to process these individual signals. If you think of "just midi into an interface", mind that 13-pin connection. Not too many options left!
Hi Richard I bought the Rosewood limited edition with the Seymour Duncan pick ups from you based on your recommendation. Thank you! I love this guitar and my GR 55 so much!The only complaint I have is I spend too much time trying to recreate synth parts from famous songs and not enough time practicing!
it's out of tune the high e is flat cant you even hear it before you made the video and uploaded it too many pickups on that guitar will cause problems
@@Stratamania every demo i have watched of this guitar it's out of tune are having too many pickups can be a nightmare due to the magnets pulling the string tension and knocking it out of tune i am sure he heard that it was out of tune doing the acoustic sound and did not attempt to fix it.
Ger Huisman not sure if you watched the video to the end but I highlighted the fact that the guitar is currently fitted with nickel strings 10 to 46. An unwound g. By fitting 11 gauge strings and a wound g you radically transform the acoustic sound . The system uses a piezo so it IS an electro sound. The only difference is the thin strings. If you fit a set of 10 gauge strings on your electro it will sound very similar I assure you !
Grest overview of the Godin. Thank you.
I bought an XTSA Koa Top about three years ago and love it. One thing I want to emphasize is that you can output all the voices on separate channels. One setup I use is the electric through a GR55 for the synth, COSM effects, amp and guitar modeling, the acoustic sound through a direct box, then each outputted to two Bose Compacts (directly behind me) running two separate channels out to the board. I get a rich layering of the two sounds onstage and the soundman has FOH control for each one. You could also run the synth alone out to a third output if you wanted to. Sometimes I'll swap out the GR55 for a regular guitar effects unit and that's great, too. However you do it, the XTSA is a real bargain for the acoustic/electric feature alone. I suppose alot of you already know that a studio trick of power chord guitarists is to overdub an acoustic guitar track blended into the electric tracks to give the sound a bit of fiber. This gets that sound live. Another nice trick is when you're playing the standard "acoustic on verse, power chords on chorus" and the record has that volume swell power chord zooming into the chorus in the break? You just strum a big chord with the acoustic sound, let it ring and bring in the electric with the volume knob. Nails it. Hope this is helpful. Oh, and I did have to wait over two months to get mine after I placed the order sight unseen with a major music retailer. Well worth the wait.
Thanks! This answers the question I had.
Very informative thx.
I bought an xtsa a few weeks ago, not going to both with the synthesizer just use it as an electric guitar but also having fun with mixing the acoustic guitar, I'd just like to say this guitar is fantastic Quality and I've owned a lot of high end guitars and still do, Thank you Richard, also Robert Godin
Does it feel more like an electric or acoustic to play? I'm keen to be able to get acoustic sounds, and I've ordered a GR55 for synth sounds, but I don't want to compromise the electric playability, eg bending and high notes. Be interested to know how you like it after 3 years, if you still do 😊
Sounds great ! The electric / acoustic mix is so dynamic .
Great video on a very understated guitar brand. I have two Godin XTSA guitars and have to say that having had Fenders, Gibsons, etc., they are by far the best made guitars and great value for money. The quality control by Godin is exceptional. I've put heavier gauge strings of both mine too as they work better with the Roland GR systems.
I agree I had one of those but fret size wasn't compatible with my long fingers
Great video for 2019. Bought my Xtsa Koa top in 2015. Not many videos back then other than some hot rod players showing GR55 patches. This guitar has been so much fun for me over the years. You have to admit it takes a bit to figure all the ideas of this instrument. But when you master it makes people smile and that's what music is all about. And when plugged into a GR55 which I own as well, the tracking with the Godin is so much better than unit that comes with the roland to stick on another guitar. I'm 63 now and going to keep me smiling for years into retirement. It doesn't play well with my JCM 800 head and 4x12 with greenbacks. But sounds fabulous with my Grandmiester 40 and 2x12 cab with v30's. And your comments on string gauge made me laugh. Ive played 10 to 46/regular for years. Tracking made easy! TC Dave from Canada
Terrific review - thanks!
I’ve got an early version (US made, with a hard case). You’ve really demonstrated its possibilities - but people need to know what a great guitar it would be just as an electric! Ebony fretboard ( on mine at least), Seymour Duncan pickups , 12” radius, and not heavy. I was playing it in my covers band, and it relegated my Strat and Tele to backup!
Great video, but I'd have appreciated a glance down the signal flow, to include the device connected (GR-55?).
I wonder how a guitar like this would sound using flatwound strings, including how that would affect the tracking.
Thank you for this, Richard. I considered an XTSA but thought it more guitar than I needed for what I like to play which is mostly on Sundays in church. I recently purchased a Godin A6 Ultra just like the one you reviewed a while back and am really pleased with it. I think what you said about using acoustic strings on the XTSA, though, applies just as much for the A6 Ultra. Even with a wound G string, the nickel-wound strings it comes with sound a little thin on the acoustic setting
Ross Gill yes you can use acoustic strings as the greatest step in the acoustic direction. You can also buy hybrid strings these days which are nickel and bronze wound so you get the acoustic sound but the magnetic pickup also works with them
I went to a little shop in Kitchener, Ontario called 'The Guitar Corner' to see what strings they might suggest. The fellow there said I wasn't the first to come with the same questions about the same guitar. He recommended D'Addario Nickel Bronze (12 - 53) so I bought a set to try. What an improvement.
Richard- what you need is a looper for playing the jazz horn piece, then go to either the horn or the electric for the lead. great vid, btw.
Could've sworn you were going to break out into 'Shine on you crazy diamond' when you were holding those chords!!! interesting machine there!
(second comment here) That "acoustic" sound blew me away. I checked other reviews of the xtSA, and on the other hand I tried the sounds on my LGX-SA. I noticed comments (on VGuitar, I think) preferring its sounds. But I have just ordered the xtSA in addition.
That acoustic modeling is really great. I currently own a Line 6 JTV-59 Variax, and I love it, so I’m a little bit familiar with modeling guitars. Does the Godin have a virtual capo like the Variax?
Really good demo. I've just ordered a GR55 so this looks interesting. I recently tried an Emarald Virtuo at the guitar show and, after weeks of looking forward to trying it, found it was too much like an acoustic to play so solos above the 12th fret are harder, especially when bending notes. Is the Xtsa more like an electric to play but with acoustic sounds or does it feel more like an acoustic?
My hope is that the 13 pin output doesn’t become obsolete in the future. It’s not like a phone where we get a new one every few years.
Also, would you be able to bespoke the guitar to have coil splitting on the humbuckers? Or amend a strat to have built in acoustic and synth functionality? I wonder if I should visit, you're just over an hour away?
Beautiful guitar
Thanks a lot, what's the colour of your guitar, please? is it the lightburst?
Best VID review on this guitar and its versatility. I would have liked about another minute on the electric guitar pickups though.
£1,100 ish? That's ridiculously good value. You really should play more for us Richard !
I have one of these and had the GR-55 as well. Welp, I found out the Roland GR-20 tracks better and guess what? I got one and It really does...this guitar tracks really well with the GR-20 and there’s hardly any ghost notes..
great demo! what guitar synth do you use? roland gr 55s? or do you use a roland gr 55s just to get a midi signal and use another synth?
I have an LGX-SA and an LGXT and I had to get rid of the GR55 as the tracking was so bad with both guitars, synth experiment over. That said, as you highlighted even forgetting the synth they are amazing guitars and the built in piezo makes it 2 guitars in one, tge acoustic should ideally be d.i'd to the PA for more fullness. Love Godin since my cherished Freeway from way back in 2004 and great video 👍 hope the teeth got sorted.
cheers rich nice one mate .
Why type of Roland Synth are you using ?
I have the black version behind your head coming in the mail tomorrow. It will be a while before I can get the GR-55 though.
Would you pick this or a Taylor T5Z? I have the choice of either for a great price locally and can't decide.
I’m really liking the shtuff going on around 8 minutes in. Jeeze I could play with myself all damned night.
Yeah sounds good.☺
Anyone aware if you can use the 13 pin to translate to midi in order to use with logic instruments?
Was gifted this guitar and would love to use the extra features but don’t want to spend money on a synth
Interesting guitar. Did you even do the Estman competition by the way?? Might have missed it! Really want an Eastman :)
Hey man, thanks for sharing this demo, especially when you’ve had mouth work done!.. I realize this vid is kinda old now, but but I’m looking at this guitar with real interest!.. But what are you using at your feet for your synth?
i think it is a rolang gr 55 ?!
The new fender acoustic they have been pushing sounds terrible . It sounds like a cheap Spanish nylon string with a cheap pup It doesn’t matter who plays one it doesn’t work . But this is really interesting and I could see the point of using this in a studio and sounds amazing .
I hope my basic overview helped give you at least a basic understanding of the power of this guitar which I think is amazing
Where and what did you plug it into?
This guitar is for all genres
I would like to ask you what you do to avoid unwanted sounds, harmonics, etc. You can't hear them. I have some problems with some sounds of classical instruments, e.g. orchestral ones - despite my caution, something always sounds to spoil the fun.
Great Richard - really enjoyed that and looked like you did too?!
yeah I was playing about at the back of the queue when they were handing out the good teeth, suffered aggressive dental work in the 60's and have a love for sugar so you have my sympathies.
I hope it's all cracked up to be cause I pre ordered mine. It should be in about July 23rd.
Very interesting - shame they don't do a lefty in this. I'd also like to have seen what sort of gadget / pedal you were twiddling with on the floor! :)
Which Roland GR synth are you using? GR33 or 55?
Do you need to use a Roland, can I just midi into an interface and use my daw for processing?
@@mitchplaysriffs thats what i thought but the guitar has a 13 pin midi cable so i think it needs a roland gr module to convert the midi signal the roland gr modules have standard midi cable out so i think thats the only way to be able to use standard midi. Or maybe i am missing something i would prefer a guitar with a standard midi jack
@@mitchplaysriffs Actually, the 13-pin cable carries the individual AUDIO signals of the individual strings. It's up to the receiving device (like a GR-55) to process these individual signals. If you think of "just midi into an interface", mind that 13-pin connection. Not too many options left!
Hi Richard I bought the Rosewood limited edition with the Seymour Duncan pick ups from you based on your recommendation. Thank you! I love this guitar and my GR 55 so much!The only complaint I have is I spend too much time trying to recreate synth parts from famous songs and not enough time practicing!
So how poorly is poorly?
Ben Fentem just a bruise on its forehead!
it's out of tune the high e is flat cant you even hear it before you made the video and uploaded it too many pickups on that guitar will cause problems
I like the sound but if you need to pound out some lead guitar work don't think this is the guitar for you.
There is no reason why not, he just has not shown those types of tones and playing.
@@Stratamania every demo i have watched of this guitar it's out of tune are having too many pickups can be a nightmare due to the magnets pulling the string tension and knocking it out of tune i am sure he heard that it was out of tune doing the acoustic sound and did not attempt to fix it.
Too much chat.
An acoustic guitar gives an a acoustic sound. An eletric guitar never sounds acoustic
Ger Huisman not sure if you watched the video to the end but I highlighted the fact that the guitar is currently fitted with nickel strings 10 to 46. An unwound g. By fitting 11 gauge strings and a wound g you radically transform the acoustic sound . The system uses a piezo so it IS an electro sound. The only difference is the thin strings. If you fit a set of 10 gauge strings on your electro it will sound very similar I assure you !
Richards Guitars sorry Richard you are right