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Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme - Upgraded - Creamery WRHB - Hybrid Dual Voice Guitar
Estimated price for orientation: 995 $
Category: Electric Guitars
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Godin Body Material: Koa Body Type: Semi-Hollow Model Year: 2014 Model: Limited Edition A6 Ultra Items Included: Case String Configuration: 6 String Country/Region of Manufacture: Canada Dexterity: Right-Handed
It is with much hesitation I am listing this guitar, but t has not seen love from me lately as I have moved on to different musical endeavors so time to put it out there. This is a beautiful A6 ultra hybrid acoustic / electric guitar that I purchased new from Sweetwater in late 2013 / early 2014 (see last pic for the professional pic of this guitar from sweetwater). This one in particular has a great example of a flamed koa top (not veneer) that you can't get anymore. Each one was very different, some looked and played great and others not so much. This is one of the good ones. It is amazing to play a guitar that has action like a well-setup electric but gives you a great acoustic sound. To give some background, for a period of about 4 years I was on a never-ending quest to find the ultimate "hybrid" or dual-voice guitar -- a guitar that could pull off both a great acoustic and electric sound and seamlessly switch between them. I tried a Taylor T5, Ovation VXT, Epi 339 Ultra, various powerbridge setups, and more. This Godin is the answer, but to get it that way I had to make some custom changes from stock. I found that the stock electronics preamp, which gave an incredible acoustic guitar sound, is not suitable for guitar pickups with "normal" output and in addition it colored the sound to add extreme amounts of bass and mud. Maybe OK for mellow jazz, not good if you are going for a bright, driving, tele-like sound. To fix this I disconnected the humbucker from the on-board preamp and added normal electric guitar wiring (but without tone knob for simplicity -- I never was a big tone knob fan). This required drilling the top to add the volume pot and knob, which was done by a professional luthier and turned out great. The humbucker coil can be split by pulling up on the volume knob. The output is wired to one of the two 1/4" outputs and is now completely separate from the acoustic output. I replaced the stock pickup with a hand-wound boutique wide-range humbucker from The Creamery in UK. WRHBs are found in the tele thinline series. Jamie wound this pickup output to be in-between a typical neck and bridge pickup, since this guitar only has neck pickup. To me it is the perfect blend of a bridge and neck pickup, it has bite but is not ice-pick bright. As mentioned earlier I set it up to coil-tap, so pull on the volume knob and you an EXCELLENT single coil sound. I am amazed how well this pickup splits. This guitar now rocks! After a lot of experimentation, I had this guitar setup for 11s with a wound 3rd. This gives the best acoustic / electric sound and covers both worlds well. I found that D'Addario EXL115Ws give it a little more electric-leaning sound, while GHS White Bronze 11-48s give it a little more acoustic-leaning sound (while stilll working great with the humbucker). The difference in string gauge between these two sets is minimal and I went back and forth between both with this guitar, no issue. The setup is killer and very low without buzzing. Intonation is also spot on. If you are looking at a Taylor T5, I am honestly telling you this is a better option. The acoustic output is better than a Taylor (has high quality piezo pickup) and the electric pickup is better too. This guitar has been played, but not abused. There are some signs of normal wear but no dings. Some very small indentations on back of neck that are impossible to capture in pictures and you cannot feel them while playing. There is a dark spot on 18th fret right under the "d" string - you can see this in the pics if you look really hard. It was this way from the factory, it never bothered me and I doubt it will bother you - but I mention it for full disclosure. Also be aware that with my wiring mods that you can no longer blend the acoustic and electric pickups together - they are now completely separate, which is better as I explained, but they cannot be blended on board the guitar. You don't really want to blend them because any piezo pickup doesn't sound good on an electric amp and vice versa a magnetic pickup doesn't sound good through a full range PA system. Come with Godin gig bag, which is high quality and offers good protection but has some wear. I can include a brand new fender gig bag if preferred instead. Here are specs from Godin website: ------------------------------------------------------------Featuring a highly figured Koa top the Godin A6 Ultra Koa extreme is a guitar that can fill the gap in almost anyone's collection. Plugged in it is an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar or a blend of the two. Unplugged the Godin A6 Ultra is loud enough for practice or just strumming, and it plays and feels like an electric. Perfect for home use, bands, or solo performers, the Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme is an exceptional value for a North American made guitar.The Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme is a great eye-catching value, and the perfect guitar for a gigging soloist, jazz player, or a feedback-free substitute for an acoustic guitar. From first-hand experience, the Godin A6 is the perfect companion for bands that need acoustic guitar accompaniment but don't want to deal with a true acoustic on a loud stage. The Godin A6 sounds as good as most amplified acoustics, it never feeds back, and it's comfortable and easy to play all night long.The Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme features the follow construction and components:Solid Koa Extreme figured top with chambered maple backHigh gloss finishGodin humbucker neck pickup with passive volume treble and bass mini-knobs (NOTE: replaced with Wide Range Humbucker)Godin EPM under saddle bridge transducer with sliders for active treble, mid, and bass25.5" scale mahogany neck with Indian rosewood fingerboardTUSQ saddle and nutSchaller strap lock buttonsOutput jacks for electric and electric/acoustic mix (when using both they act as individual electric and acoustic jacks) (NOTE: wiring changed as per description above)Deluxe Godin padded gig bagMade in Canada
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Godin |
| Body Material: | Koa | Body Type: | Semi-Hollow |
| Model Year: | 2014 | Model: | Limited Edition A6 Ultra |
| Items Included: | Case | String Configuration: | 6 String |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: | Canada | Dexterity: | Right-Handed |
It is with much hesitation I am listing this guitar, but t has not seen love from me lately as I have moved on to different musical endeavors so time to put it out there. This is a beautiful A6 ultra hybrid acoustic / electric guitar that I purchased new from Sweetwater in late 2013 / early 2014 (see last pic for the professional pic of this guitar from sweetwater). This one in particular has a great example of a flamed koa top (not veneer) that you can't get anymore. Each one was very different, some looked and played great and others not so much. This is one of the good ones. It is amazing to play a guitar that has action like a well-setup electric but gives you a great acoustic sound. To give some background, for a period of about 4 years I was on a never-ending quest to find the ultimate "hybrid" or dual-voice guitar -- a guitar that could pull off both a great acoustic and electric sound and seamlessly switch between them. I tried a Taylor T5, Ovation VXT, Epi 339 Ultra, various powerbridge setups, and more. This Godin is the answer, but to get it that way I had to make some custom changes from stock. I found that the stock electronics preamp, which gave an incredible acoustic guitar sound, is not suitable for guitar pickups with "normal" output and in addition it colored the sound to add extreme amounts of bass and mud. Maybe OK for mellow jazz, not good if you are going for a bright, driving, tele-like sound. To fix this I disconnected the humbucker from the on-board preamp and added normal electric guitar wiring (but without tone knob for simplicity -- I never was a big tone knob fan). This required drilling the top to add the volume pot and knob, which was done by a professional luthier and turned out great. The humbucker coil can be split by pulling up on the volume knob. The output is wired to one of the two 1/4" outputs and is now completely separate from the acoustic output. I replaced the stock pickup with a hand-wound boutique wide-range humbucker from The Creamery in UK. WRHBs are found in the tele thinline series. Jamie wound this pickup output to be in-between a typical neck and bridge pickup, since this guitar only has neck pickup. To me it is the perfect blend of a bridge and neck pickup, it has bite but is not ice-pick bright. As mentioned earlier I set it up to coil-tap, so pull on the volume knob and you an EXCELLENT single coil sound. I am amazed how well this pickup splits. This guitar now rocks! After a lot of experimentation, I had this guitar setup for 11s with a wound 3rd. This gives the best acoustic / electric sound and covers both worlds well. I found that D'Addario EXL115Ws give it a little more electric-leaning sound, while GHS White Bronze 11-48s give it a little more acoustic-leaning sound (while stilll working great with the humbucker). The difference in string gauge between these two sets is minimal and I went back and forth between both with this guitar, no issue. The setup is killer and very low without buzzing. Intonation is also spot on. If you are looking at a Taylor T5, I am honestly telling you this is a better option. The acoustic output is better than a Taylor (has high quality piezo pickup) and the electric pickup is better too. This guitar has been played, but not abused. There are some signs of normal wear but no dings. Some very small indentations on back of neck that are impossible to capture in pictures and you cannot feel them while playing. There is a dark spot on 18th fret right under the "d" string - you can see this in the pics if you look really hard. It was this way from the factory, it never bothered me and I doubt it will bother you - but I mention it for full disclosure. Also be aware that with my wiring mods that you can no longer blend the acoustic and electric pickups together - they are now completely separate, which is better as I explained, but they cannot be blended on board the guitar. You don't really want to blend them because any piezo pickup doesn't sound good on an electric amp and vice versa a magnetic pickup doesn't sound good through a full range PA system. Come with Godin gig bag, which is high quality and offers good protection but has some wear. I can include a brand new fender gig bag if preferred instead. Here are specs from Godin website: ------------------------------------------------------------Featuring a highly figured Koa top the Godin A6 Ultra Koa extreme is a guitar that can fill the gap in almost anyone's collection. Plugged in it is an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar or a blend of the two. Unplugged the Godin A6 Ultra is loud enough for practice or just strumming, and it plays and feels like an electric. Perfect for home use, bands, or solo performers, the Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme is an exceptional value for a North American made guitar.The Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme is a great eye-catching value, and the perfect guitar for a gigging soloist, jazz player, or a feedback-free substitute for an acoustic guitar. From first-hand experience, the Godin A6 is the perfect companion for bands that need acoustic guitar accompaniment but don't want to deal with a true acoustic on a loud stage. The Godin A6 sounds as good as most amplified acoustics, it never feeds back, and it's comfortable and easy to play all night long.The Godin A6 Ultra Koa Extreme features the follow construction and components:Solid Koa Extreme figured top with chambered maple backHigh gloss finishGodin humbucker neck pickup with passive volume treble and bass mini-knobs (NOTE: replaced with Wide Range Humbucker)Godin EPM under saddle bridge transducer with sliders for active treble, mid, and bass25.5" scale mahogany neck with Indian rosewood fingerboardTUSQ saddle and nutSchaller strap lock buttonsOutput jacks for electric and electric/acoustic mix (when using both they act as individual electric and acoustic jacks) (NOTE: wiring changed as per description above)Deluxe Godin padded gig bagMade in Canada