Godin Freeway Classic Electric Guitar (Rosewood, with Gig Bag)

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
HSH pickup configuration. Silver Leaf Maple body center with Poplar wings.

The Freeway Classic is the first double-cutaway design by Godin in several years. In spite of the tremendous success of the single-cutaway design featured throughout the Godin line, there has always been a contingent of hard-core, double-cutaway enthusiasts encouraging them to do something for them. With that in mind Godin went to work on the Freeway Classic. The basic formula is classic Godin, versatile, blues/rock gigging machine with "boutique guitar" build-quality at a blue-collar price.

Godin's rock maple necks are known throughout the guitar industry for outstanding feel and boundless sustain. The 25.5 in. scale neck on the Freeway features Godin's ergo-cut shape and medium jumbo frets. Neck stability is insured by a double-action truss system capable of adding and removing relief in the neck. The body consists of a center block of Silver-Leaf Maple with light Poplar wings. Silver-Leaf Maple is an excellent tone wood with a weight and density similar to Mahogany. The warm tone of the Silver-Leaf provides a perfect compliment to the Rock Maple neck. To ensure that they get the most from this potent combination, each neck and body are joined with a perfect wood-to-wood connection -- free of paint or glue -- that delivers maximum neck/body energy transfer. The sound of the Silver-Leaf Maple comes at a price -- it's heavy! To balance the guitar and achieve a comfortable weight the silver leaf core is flanked with light Poplar wings. This ultimately produces a comfortably light read more guitar with "heavy guitar" resonance.

The Godin humbucker-single-humbucker pickup configuration makes the most of excellent acoustic response of the Freeway. A double 5-way switch along with volume and tone controls supports the pickups.
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Body: Silver Leaf Maple center with Poplar wings

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Neck: Maple

Scale: 25.5

Electronics: Godin humbucker-single-humbucker, tremolo bridge, double 5-way switch, volume & tone controls

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 514-457-7977
Email: info@godinguitars.com
Web: https://godinguitars.com/faq

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (16 ratings)
Submitted September 29, 2006 by a customer from xtra.co.nz

"Love at first sight, lust at the first note."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
IF, if I ever have enough money and above all space, a good Telecaster might complete the collection. I suspect a Les Paul wouldn't really suit my playing, much as I love the sound. My Freeway beats any Strat I could afford, and will improve my playing more than any other guitar I own or could afford.

Sound
Lovely warm tone, even from average pickups. Very Stratocaster sound, but much more expensive sound than equivalent MIM Strat model. Very long sustain, and the deep tone continues all the way up the neck with the lower strings, which is unusual for the price point. Neck HB smooth & warm, SC glassy and "quacky" on 2 & 4, bridge HB great with medium high gain. Great for blues, average for metal. Please note I have very sensitive ears, and I have only marked this down because it doesn't have expensive high output PUs, but even with standard Godin PUs, it sounds very close to my ideal guitar.

Features
Tremelo is excellent, gig bag is the best in the business. Controls are Asian quality, i.e. below par but they work. High qua;ity Canadian maple and poplar construction, with very good American assembly.

Ease of Use
Incredibly versatile tonal range, from Strat to Tele, to Gibson SG at bridge HB. Very. very playable neck. Works great with good tube amp. PU selector is out of the way unlike Strat, body shape is very comfortable - very important for me due to muscle pain issues. Fairly read more light weight, very good balance.

Quality
No fret buzzing, finish is dazzling leaf maple in warm brown tiger stripe. Some possible issues with pots, but good warranty. Very solid feel. Balance and weight are superb.

Value
Looks, feels and sounds beter than any guitar up to double the price. An incredible steal. Cheaper than a MIM Strat (bought on special), but way better in every way, except maybe classic Fender look and name. I only had the price, but if rich would have paid twicethe amount.

Manufacturer Support
Great company, forward thinking and customer oriented. I've only heard good things.

The Wow Factor
A maple neck would have been icing on the cake, but all my guitars are rosewood. Simply lovely wood finish, sleek 'n' sexy shape, but really, the sound is everything. I weanted a Strat, but this is better. I just had to hear it once, then feel its body and neck, to know it belonged to me, now and forever. Plus it was the last one left in the country.

Musical Background:
Learning hobbyist, tone junkie.

Musical Style:
Jazz, Blues, Standards.
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14 of 16 people (88%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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