How to Set Up a Godin Guitar
Godin guitars have only been around for 20 years, according to the Godin website. But in that short time the company has fostered a good reputation for providing quality guitars rivaling those of the well-established Fender and Gibson lines. Godin offers many models for professional tone and playability. With prices ranging from about $475 to nearly $2000, these expensive guitars are best suited for a guitarist looking for a boutique, high-end electric axe. However, even the higher-end quality of a Godin guitar can be dampened by improper guitar set-up. When you first get your Godin guitar, it is important to follow some basic steps for tweaking the stock guitar to get the most out of the instrument.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips screwdriver
- 0.50 inch Allen wrench
- Electric chromatic tuner
- Guitar cable
- Electric guitar amplifier
Instructions
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1
Peel off the thin layer of plastic stretched over the guitar's Seymour Duncan pickups. This is designed to prevent scratching during storage and shipping, but should not be left on the guitar once you're ready to start playing.
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2
Loosen the guitar's strings; this assures you will not add excess tension and snap the strings during bridge adjustment.
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3
Adjust the bridge. Use a Philips screwdriver to adjust the bridge height to a mid-ranged height, in-between the highest and lowest positions. Some bridges have individual "saddles" for each string that must be adjust using a 0.05 inch Allen wrench. Turn clockwise to raise the saddles and counter-clockwise to lower them. Adjust the guitar so that the saddles are all at an even middle-point, between the highest and lowest possible positions. Readjustment is easy to achieve later on when you begin to develop a bridge preference, but early on you'll get more out of the guitar if the bridge is at a neutral, even position.
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4
Tighten the strings and tune the guitar using an electric chromatic tuner.
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5
Place all the tone knobs in the very center position. This is ideal during the initial guitar setup, since you have not yet fully explored the Godin's tone options and you understandably do not have a tonal preference yet.
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6
Turn down the volume knob all the way before plugging in the guitar.
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7
Plug in your guitar prior to turning on your amp. This important part of initial set up will prevent unwanted pops or hisses that are at the very least annoying and at the worst harmful to your amp.
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8
Turn on the amp and adjust the guitar's volume to a level well-suited for the space you're playing in. The guitar is now fully ready to play.
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