Now that I've had my Godin LGX for awhile, I think it's time to publish this review. I'll try to remain as objective as possible, though I've become very fondly attached to this guitar because of it's sound, precision and versatility.

I decided on the LGX after careful consideration of just about every major electric acoustic on the market. The ones considered were the Parker Fly, Parker Nitefly, Carvin AE185, and the Hamer Duo-Tone. I won't go into the details of my comparisons here, as you can find them on my webpage or one the newsgroups via DejaNews. I will say, that after comparing what each of these guitars had to offer, the decision to me was a no-brainer. In short, the LGX offers the most features and best quality for the money.

The LGX is an electric guitar with the ability to play an acoustic-sound. This is done through the miracle of modern technology. Most other guitars in the class of the LGX use a Piezo pickup combined with an onboard pre-amp to achieve this sound. The results of the Piezo pickup are often disappointing, though and will vary widely depending on the type/gauge of string that you use. The Godin LGX separates itself from the pack by using a custom-designed system by L.R. Baggs (Maker of PREMIUM acoustic guitar pickups installed in some of the finest hollow-body acoustics). L.R. Baggs has specialized in making acoustic pickups for years, so they're probably the best company that Godin could have used. From what I know about L.R. Baggs, they ONLY make pickups that sound "great". No low-end models, here.

For the LGX, L.R. Baggs takes a Schaller tune-o-matic bridge and replaces each string saddle with their own saddle-transducer. Yes, there are six wires exiting the bottom of the bridge, thus there are six separate channels on the L.R. Baggs on-board pre-amp. You can use your imagination, here. With six channels on the pre-amp, L.R. Baggs has precision control over every aspect of the acoustic sound. With a Piezo pickups, you have one signal to work with. This, again, may vary the sound depending on the gauge/type of string. Also, the Piezo pickup is susceptible to quite a bit of string/finger noise which is very annoying when trying to tailor the best acoustic sound. In my opinion, the Piezo pickup is useless for recording. The L.R. Baggs system is a transducer-system, which acts much like a tuned-pickup for each string. This greatly lessens the amount of unwanted acoustic noise from the acoustic pickup. (This is probably why the L.R. Baggs system is a favorite recording/live pickup for guitar greats like Michael Hedges.)

The LGX is much more, though, than a great-sounding, solid body acoustic guitar. The LGX is first an foremost a premium electric guitar with Godin's own Tetrad electric pickups. These pickups are unlike any other pickups as they were completely designed from scratch and carefully tuned for excellent sound. I'll talk more about this later. The LGX stands out as one of the best guitars for recording live, as it has the ability to mix/separate any of the sounds available on the guitar. Total, I count 21 different pickup combinations. The LGX has two Tetrad combo pickups and a five-way toggle switch along with a push-pull tone knob that activates an MFB Midrange EQ system. This gives the guitar much more tonal flexibility. You also have the ability to "mix" the electric and acoustic sounds, or play the acoustic sound alone. (5 pickup combinations + 5 combinations with MFB EQ + these 10 mixed with the acoustic sound + acoustic only sound = 21 different combinations. Confused yet?) The ability to tailor your sound is further enhanced by the three-band EQ and independent acoustic volume control for the acoustic pickup.

Combine all of the above with a premium carved maple top (flamed or figured) and precision build-quality, and you have probably the single best guitar value in existence.

The LGX uses excellent hardware on this guitar. Frets are medium-jumbo nickel silver, tuners are Schaller's very best non-locking tuners, the bridge is Schaller with L.R. Baggs Saddles. The tuning keys are black, while the rest of the tuner is silver, which is a nice touch. The guitar has three knobs - Volume, Tone, and Blend (a center-notch on the blend knob would have been nice). The Tone knob is push-pull and activates the MFB EQ. There is a small three-way toggle switch on below the knobs which controls the mix output Acoustic/Mix/Electric. The guitar has THREE separate outputs which make this a recording or live guitarist's dream. These outputs are Electric/Mix/Acoustic. Imagine being able to record three totally different guitar sounds at once! Imagine being able to run three separate outputs to your soundman for a live gig. Imagine being able to run three separate amps, all with different sounds without using a switch box of some sort. The three outputs are an excellent idea. Other guitars in the LGX's class have only two or even one (stereo) output. At first I thought that the three outputs would be annoying with three plugs in them, but Godin already thought of this and contoured the guitar so that the cables are separated fairly far apart, and the plugs don't get in the way. The strap buttons are strap-lock compatible, which is also a nice touch.

Godin has gone to great lengths to assure that you have the best playing guitar possible. First, the cut the body and the neck from the same piece of mahogany, then they bolt it together using no glue or finish between the neck and the body. The neck also sets deep into the body of the guitar for increased sustain. There isn't so much as a playing-card-width gap in the joint between the body and the neck. It is solid wood-on-wood construction. The result is the BEST tone possible. The neck is also cut from a single piece of mahogany - not two pieces like many other guitars. The tuners are placed to that you have a perfectly straight string pull between the bridge and the tuners. This helps out greatly with tuning stability and achieving optimum sound. The top on the LGX's top is a stunning high-grade maple top. My particular LGX came with a dark-amber/honey colored transparent finish, and a flamed maple top that is museum quality. A top like this would run you about $4000 on a Gibson, or $10,000+ on a PRS Dragon III. Of course, each top will vary and I consider myself very lucky for getting the one that I did. The top is carved and contoured and is very comfortable to lay your arm across.

The Tetrad combo pickups are rather unique, and I would have to say that I prefer them somewhat to traditional humbucking pickups for the most part. The thing I like most about the Tetrads is that the sound is more refined and "even" when compared to traditional humbuckers with their bell-like tone. When run through a good tube amp, these things SCREAM. They are really high output, but not harsh, tubby, or treble-happy like most traditional humbuckers. The LGX pickup selector allows you to use any or all of the eight coils on the Tetrad - each Tetrad has four coils. With all eight coils activated, the guitar pumps out some amazing sound through just about any FX setup you run it through. Of course, the lower pickup is adjusted for better highs and the higher pickup is set-up for warmer rhythm like a traditional twin-humbucker guitar. However, the LGX has a unique MFB EQ that acts as a midrange EQ. Godin says that it gives you strat-like tones. I wouldn't go that far... It does give change the sound up, and give you a warmer/jazzy sound, though.

The acoustic sound of the LGX is easily the best in it's class. However, you can't fully appreciate it without running it through a good acoustic amp or directly to a soundboard and through monitors. At home, I run the acoustic side of the LGX through my soundboard and ART FXR Elite (for reverb) to my power amp and Alesis Monitor One speakers. This creates a beautiful full-bodied acoustic sound that surrounds your head. I run the electric side down to either my Fender Blues Jr. or Fender Hot Rod deluxe.

By using the mix output for my acoustic sound with the "blend" knob turned all the way to acoustic I can quickly shut off the acoustic sound if I want to switch to the drive channels on the tube amp with a simple click of the three-way toggle switch (or I could just put a footswitch in the loop). The mixed sound of the acoustic and electric part of the guitar creates a seemingly infinite palette of sounds and will keep you busy writing music for a long time. Guaranteed.

The LGX plays just like it looks - Great! The scale is a standard 25.5" scale and the guitar takes almost no time getting used to. The neck is super precision and the radius 16". This makes for incredibly easy fingering of notes. Right out of the box, my LGX was set-up with a very nice set of strings and presented no buzzing or action problems. Their QC is obviously first rate on the LGX. This is the first guitar that I've even bought that I've actually used the factory stings. It's these little touches that make you happier with your purchase of over $1000 hard-earned dollars.

List price on the LGX is $1425. The custom Godin, plush hardshell tolex case is $174. (Total list price on the guitar and case is $1599.) This leaves the LGX open for some pretty nice discounts - or maybe not. Of my query of "street prices", I've found that the "going" price is anywhere from $1100-$1300. (It's possible to get one for less, but the store won't be making much money.) Before you ask, I'll tell you that mine was just barely over $1000 with tax and hardshell case. However, I personally know the owner of the store and I feel that he gave me the best deal possible while still "staying in business".

I am an owner of a LOT of nice guitars. This one is the nicest and most versatile, period. I can't say enough about this guitar without being accused of being on the Godin payroll. (Hey! I should be! I did get a nifty T-shirt awhile back, though.) My thoughts on this guitar are echoed by Godin LGX owners across the net. This guitar is truly a relatively "undiscovered" guitar. The number of LGX owners is pale in comparison to the number of expensive Gibson, Parker, and PRS owners. The LGX is kind of in a class of it's own. To me, this guitar is worth it's weight in gold. After owning this guitar for awhile, I don't think that the LGX's list price is bad price to pay for a guitar of this quality when compared to other similar guitars. It's worth more if you consider the high-quality top to be the "deciding factor" on the price of a guitar. This is my "desert island" guitar.

In reading the LaSiDo newsletter and talking with some people who work for Godin, I have found out the following history.

1. The LGX was introduced as two models - the LGX and the LGX SA (Synth access with built-in Roland G2k pickup) As of introduction, both models shipped with Ebony fretboard. The LGX SA gets gold hardware. The LGX is released in three transparent colors - Amber, Mahogany, and Blue. The LGX comes with either a flamed or figured maple top - basically "luck of the draw". The top is not an "option". Maple top is grade AAA or better.
2. Ebony Fretboard was removed from the LGX and replaced with rosewood for better toneThe LGX SA kept the Ebony fretboard because it offers better synth-tracking.
3. The LGX was introduced in limited quantities with Seymour Duncan pickups. (Now available as an option)
4. The LGX hollow-body prototype is shown at the NAMM show.
5. The LGXT is introduced with a Schaller Tremelo at the NAMM show
6. The LGXT is released with the L.R. Baggs X-bridge and built-in Synth access. List price is $1495 sans case.
7. The LGX hollow-body is put on hold indefinitely.
8. The LGX-III is introduced. Three Seymour Duncan "Duckbuckers" and an L.R. Baggs X-Bridge. No synth. Two outputs, strat-style tone controls w/ 5-way switch.