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Download Example 1
Neck Pickup, with High-Definition Revoicer first OFF, then ON
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Download Example 2
Toggling through all 5 pickup settings, starting with Neck Pickup thru to Bridge Pickup, with High-Definition Revoicer ON
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Download Example 3
Neck and Middle Pickups, with High-Definition Revoicer OFF
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Download Example 4
Bridge Pickup, with High-Definition Revoicer OFF |
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Download Example 5
Neck Pickup, with High-Definition Revoicer first OFF, then ON |
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Download Example 6
Middle Pickup, with High-Definition Revoicer first OFF, then ON |
| Clips recorded through Paul Reed Smith 30 amp, Shure SM57 Microphone, Avid Pro Tools
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Godin has always been a friend to working
musicians—a company that regularly
combines value, quality, and features in its
guitars. Recently, the company unveiled
its ICON series, a four-model group that
includes numerous pickup configurations—
including Seymour Duncan and Lollar
options. ICON guitars have the distinction
of being the first set-neck instruments in
Godin’s electric line. For this review, we
had the pleasure of checking out the Lollar
P-90-equipped ICON Type 3.
Mahogany Marvel
The ICON Type 3 features a chambered
solid mahogany body with a carved
mahogany top and a 22-fret set mahogany
neck with a 16"-radius ebony fretboard
and a 24 ¾" scale. The Type 3 sports a
Graph Tech ResoMax bridge with graphite
saddles and a Graph Tech Tusq nut, and
its three P-90s pickups are selected with
a 5-way switch and signed on the back by
Jason Lollar.
The ICON Type 3, like the other guitars in
the series, feature Godin’s High Definition
Revoicer (H.D.R.) system, which allows you
to go from passive to active circuitry with
the push of a button to change the tonal
characteristic of each pickup.
Our review model came with a flawless
Burgundy finish (Type 3s are also available
in Natural and Black) that complimented
the smooth, curvaceous body. The neck
joint on this guitar is exceptionally clean
and unmarred by any finish buildup. Godin
achieves this bit of mojo by finishing the body
and neck separately and applying a single,
thin coat of finish once they are joined.
Room to Range
I had a rehearsal the same day I received
the Type 3, so it was a perfect opportunity
to try it out. I was especially curious about
how the H.D.R. electronics would sound
and operate. So I plugged into a Mesa/
Boogie Dual Rectifier with a Trace Elliot
4x12 cabinet and set up the rig for some
clean, funky, syncopated rhythm playing.
With the ICON Type 3, I found that the
neck pickup with the H.D.R. on provided
the full sound I needed, with extra brightness
to cut through the band mix.
Because the H.D.R. gives you the freedom
to go between active and passive, its five
pickup positions yield 10 different tonal
options. H.D.R. is not a booster, but it
definitely gives the tone a more responsive,
punchier quality. It also adds more
presence and brilliance, and really brings
out the percussive side of syncopated
riffs. And for passages that called for a
more acoustic sound, I used the middle or
bridge pickups with the H.D.R. engaged to
get a clearer, brighter tone.
The tone knobs on some guitars have a limited
range, but the ICON Type 3’s tone knob
has an exceptionally wide range and sounds
better than I’ve heard on many more expensive
guitars. I found that if I was playing with
the H.D.R. on and the guitar sounded too
bright, I could roll back the tone slightly for
a nice balance of clarity and fullness.