Godin A4

[sloop_john_b]

So, I have decided to jettison my upright bass and pick up a bass guitar that can approximate one. The damn thing takes up too much space and I barely ever play it. Plus I find it really hard to get a good recorded sound out of it.

The Godin A4 looks like it may be up my alley. I already own the mandolin from this series, the A8, and everything about it has been top-notch since day one: the fit, finish, setup, playability – not easy to get a mandolin to have LOW action like this up the neck – and the TONE!

Plus, the idea of having a synth pickup onboard is pretty cool too.

Just wanted to get some other opinions from owners or those who have played ‘em.

[jingle_jangle]

Never owned or played one, but I'm really looking forward to your impressions, JB. Maybe some sound clips, too.

My favorite general-purpose bassist Gary (who's been playing for 41 years in professional jazz combos) plays an old Kay that was ridden hard and put away wet when he bought it 25 years ago. It has terminal patina.

He plays through a Mark Bass amp and a small Bose speaker cabinet with a jazz vocal trio in small clubs, and EQ is generally terrible, with some notes popping out and others inaudible.

Except in his head, where I'm sure it's always sunny...

I lent him a couple of Ricks for a party at our house earlier this year, since he was curious how they would "stack up" against the '80s Fender Precision that he brings to parties. He tried a 4005 and was floored by...the sustain! (Thought I was gonna say something else, hey?) Then I lent him my fretless 4001 with the HS, and he was able to dial in a tone that really got him enthused, with both sustain and no flat spots through my Behringer practice bass amp with nylon-wrapped Rotosound flatwounds.

This should be very enlightening!

[sloop_john_b]

Funny enough, i was just corresponding with a guy who plays these over on the TalkBass forum, and he swears that the fretted ones get more of a double bass type sound then the fretless ones! Gotta see if any local shops have these in stock - I think I may need to demo before buying sight unseen.

[jingle_jangle]

They seem to be in high demand/back order and even marked up at some places.

I'd try an A/B on the fretless/fretted if possible. There are still advantages to the fretless to anyone not playing straight rock or pop.

[sloop_john_b]

No doubt Paul, but this bass would be used by me to approximate the sound of the double bass used on tunes by Nat King Cole tune or Louis Prima, for a heavy-hitting retail clientele, and generally, the big clients prefer to have the bass in their jingles in tune. I am not a good fretless player.

[jingle_jangle]

Ah, so you'd rather play fretted, with a double-bass tone. I mis-read your original post.

Anyways, I'm enthusiastic for whatever works for you. Just share your findings...

[johnhall]

It wouldn't be so convenient for live performance but this bass-midi converter really works well:

http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=164

Add it to any sampler and you can emulate just about any type of bass sound you can imagine.

Pretty cheap too.

[sloop_john_b]

John have you tried it? Looks pretty cool...

[johnhall]

Yes, I tried it at the NAMM show and was very impressed. Tracking reponse was excellent. Sells for about $99 and there's a guitar version too, although I didn't try that one.

[Rubsoul]

Hey John,
We have 4 Godin's at our house. You can't go wrong with the quality of the build.
Got (2) Acousticaster's (Hollow Tele w/LR Baggs PU's, light weight , electric neck feel, acoustic sound)
Kingpin- Old 1940/50's Gibson f hole hollowbody with a P-90
LGX Solidbody- (2) Seymor Duncan's and a LR Baggs. Hardtail will sustain forever... great blend knob for both electric/acoustic sound, or just run the PU's to separate acoustic & electric amps. (The Cadillac!)
Been eying old 90's Godin Basses (Hollow with LR Baggs). If I snag one, I'll let ya know.
John

[jdogric12]

So, I have decided to jettison my upright bass

[blueflamerick]

John, what kind of upright bass? Is it for sale?

[sloop_john_b]

John, what kind of upright bass? Is it for sale?

Yes Erik, it's a Carlo Robelli in a rather fetching Jetglo and I"m looking to get $500.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/msg/2702494304.html

[jdogric12]

Do it Erik!!! JB can even bring it down when he visits DC and you can get it from me or I could bring it down.

[sloop_john_b]

It is a neat bass for sure, if you're just looking to get your feet wet. I believe I used it on one of J-Dog's songs as well so perhaps he can attest to the fact that it works.