Industry Musical instruments Area served Worldwide Headquarters Canada Number of employees 1,000 | Founder Robert Godin Key people Robert Godin Founded 1972 Type of business Private | |
 | ||
Products Electric and acoustic guitars, ukuleles, guitar amps Subsidiaries Seagull Guitars
Simon & Patrick Guitars
Norman Guitars
Art & Lutherie Guitars
La Patrie Guitars
TRIC Profiles | ||
Godin Guitars (pronounced God-in) is a Canadian manufacturer that specializes in stringed instruments, including guitars, electric basses , ukuleles, and ouds. The company is owned by founder Robert Godin.
History
Godin started building Robert Godin's guitars in 1972 in La Patrie, Quebec. The head office is located in Montreal, and they build instruments in six factories in four locations—three in Quebec and one in New Hampshire.
Godin Guitars makes instruments under several different labels. Norman makes entry- to mid-level acoustic guitars. Art & Lutherie makes entry-level budget guitars. The Simon and Patrick brand make mid- to high-range steel-string acoustics. La Patrie manufactures classical guitars. Seagull makes solid wood entry- to mid-range acoustic guitars. Guitars under the Godin brand are primarily mid-range to top-of the-line electrics that are made of high quality wood from the northeastern part of North America. They have many models that feature synth pickups (MIDI-equipped) and some with piezo pickup-equipped bridges. Godin has synthesizer pickups as a standard feature in their high end models, and many of their electric models use piezo-acoustic pickups integrated with the bridge assembly.
Godin's guitars have won several awards, including Guitar Player Magazine's Editors Pick for the LG, Exit 22, and Freeway Classic.