Richmond Dorchester and Belmont
The newest brand in the Godin Guitar family, the award winning Richmond line are retro inspired instruments with serious tone, for players looking for a vintage vibe backed by meticulous craftsmanship, innovation and modern playability. Winter NAMM will see the addition of the Bigsby tremolo bridge on the Richmond Dorchester in a new Vintage Cream finish with black pickguard and binding, as well as the Richmond Belmont in a new Laurentian White finish with black pickguard.
Richmond Dorchester Cream/Bigsby
Godin Progression and Session
Making its official US debut at Winter NAMM, the Godin Progression is a force to be reckoned with for players looking for the next evolution of guitar in the single-coil world. It features 3x Godin GS-2 single-coil pickups with extremely consistent volume output and the unexpected power & crunch that you wouldn’t expect from a single-coil guitar. With all the “slap & spank” you’ll ever need, the Progression also features the Godin High-Definition Revoicer system (providing extra bite and dynamic response), a rock maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard, 25 ½” scale, 5-way switch and vintage tremolo bridge. The Godin Session will be making its world debut in an array of high-gloss and semi-gloss finishes.
The Session features a rock maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard, Canadian Laurentian Basswood body, 2x Godin GS-1 single-coils housed in a vintage white pickguard and a Godin humbucker in the bridge, along with a 5-way switch, 1x volume and 1x push/pull tone knob (splits the humbucker). The Canadian made Godin Session also starts at an incredible $599.00 suggested list price!
Godin Progression Vintage Burst
Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II
Following the popularity and success of introducing the Godin 5th Avenue series of archtop acoustics in 2008 and the follow-up 5th Avenue Kingpin model, Winter NAMM 2010 marks the official premiere of the 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II with 2x Godin Kingpin P90 pickups and the new cutaway body design along with a richly stunning new burgundy semi-gloss custom polished finish.
5th Avenue CW Kingpin II Burgundy
Godin Multiac ACS-SA/USB and Multiac Nylon Duet Ambiance
The ACS-SA nylon string electro/acoustic guitar has remained a constant favorite among players looking for amplified nylon string sound live and in studio. The new ACS-SA/USB features a highly figured natural flame leaftop over a silver leaf maple body, ebony fingerboard, custom onboard preamp, ¼” output, 13-pin capabilities for synth access and now comes with a USB output for direct & easy access to computers.
Another new addition to the series is the Multiac Duet Ambiance nylon string, with a 25 ½” scale and slimmer nut width than the classically inspired Grand Concert Duet Ambiance released last year. This model features a chambered mahogany body with a solid spruce top, custom Fishman Aura electronics, blendable sound imaging mic with 4 individual mic settings, as well as a dual source preamp with feedback control and under saddle transducer. Both models offer incredible nylon string sound and are designed to be played in live and loud settings with virtually no feedback.
A4 & A5 Ultra SA basses (Fretted or Fretless)
The new A4 & A5 Ultra SA semi-acoustic basses feature more sonic possibilities than ever with the addition of a Low Profile Lace Sensor pickup with side mounted volume and tone controls. Other features include Custom Godin electronics with individual saddle transducers in the bridge, Custom preamp section voiced specifically for the A4 & A5 Ultra SA, as well as ¼” output and 13-pin capabilities for computer and synth access.
Godin Redline Custom Original Art series
A very special Limited Edition series of Redline models will be shown at NAMM next month. These include four custom original instruments that are hand-painted variations of the Redline 3 guitar. Artistically designed by Montreal Artist Giulio Pampena, the four model names are the Redline 3 Roadkill HG, Redline 3 Cherry-Bomb HG, Redline 3 Carnage SG and the Redline 3 Celtic-Tatt HG. Each will be available on made to order basis as variations on the original designs and individually signed by the artist.
Acoustic news - Seagull, Norman and Simon & Patrick
New acoustic additions include the Seagull SWS Rosewood SG and select Artist series models with ebony fingerboards. Norman has the ST-68 CW and B50 with new binding, as well as the all solid wood ST-40 Folk with a slotted headstock. The Simon & Patrick line also has its first showing of the Woodland Pro series of all solid wood acoustic models including the Woodland Pro Spruce SG, Pro Folk Spruce HG, Pro Mini-Jumbo Spruce HG and the Pro Parlor Spruce HG. Also, the SR Jam 150 acoustic amp is also now available with natural wood & black color options.
For more information:
godinguitars.com
Gibson originally launched the EB-6 model with the intention of serving consumers looking for a “tic-tac” bass sound.
The Gibson EB-6 was announced in 1959 and came into the world in 1960, not with a dual-horn body but with that of an elegant ES-335. They looked stately, with a thin, semi-hollow body, f-holes, and a sunburst finish. Our pick for this Vintage Vault column is one such first-year model, in about as original condition as you’re able to find today. “Why?” you may be asking. Well, read on....
When the EB-6 was introduced, the Bass VI was still a glimmer in Leo Fender’s eye. The real competition were the Danelectro 6-string basses that seemed to have popped up out of nowhere and were suddenly being used on lots of hit records by the likes of Elvis, Patsy Cline, and other household names. Danos like the UB-2 (introduced in ’56), the Longhorn 4623 (’58), and the Shorthorn 3612 (’58) were the earliest attempts any company made at a 6-string bass in this style: not quite a standard electric bass, not quite a guitar, nor, for that matter, quite like a baritone guitar.
The only change this vintage EB-6 features is a replacement set of Kluson tuners.
Photo by Ken Lapworth
Gibson, Fender, and others during this era would in fact call these basses “baritone guitars,” to add to our confusion today. But these vintage “baritones” were all tuned one octave below a standard guitar, with scale lengths around 30", while most modern baritones are tuned B-to-B or A-to-A and have scale lengths between 26" and 30".)
At the time, those Danelectros were instrumental to what was called the “tic-tac” bass sound of Nashville records produced by Chet Atkins, or the “click-bass” tones made out west by producer Lee Hazlewood. Gibson wanted something for this market, and the EB-6 was born.
“When the EB-6 was introduced, the Bass VI was still a glimmer in Leo Fender’s eye.”
The 30.5" scale 1960 EB-6 has a single humbucking pickup, a volume knob, a tone knob, and a small, push-button “Tone Selector Switch” that engages a treble circuit for an instant tic-tac sound. (Without engaging that switch, you get a bass-heavy tone so deep that cowboy chords will sound like a muddy mess.)
The EB-6, for better or for worse, did not unseat the Danelectros, and a November 1959 price list from Gibson hints at why: The EB-6 retailed for $340, compared to Dano price tags that ranged from $85 to $150. Only a few dozen EB-6 basses were shipped in 1960, and only 67 total are known to have been built before Gibson changed the shape to the SG style in 1962.
Most players who come across an EB-6 today think it was a response to the Fender Bass VI, but the former actually beat the latter to the market by a full year.
Photo by Ken Lapworth
It’s sad that so few were built. Sure, it was a high-end model made to achieve the novelty tic-tac sound of cheaper instruments, but in its full-voiced glory, the EB-6 has a huge potential of tones. It would sound great in our contemporary guitar era where more players are exploring baritone ranges, and where so many people got back into the Bass VI after seeing the Beatles play one in the 2021 documentary, Get Back.
It’s sadder, still, how many original-era EB-6s have been parted out in the decades since. Remember earlier when I wrote that our Vintage Vaultpick was about as original as you could find? That’s because the model’s single humbucker is a PAF, its Kluson tuners are double-line, and its knobs are identical to those on Les Paul ’Bursts. So as people repaired broken ’Bursts, converted other LPs to ’Bursts, or otherwise sought to give other Gibsons a “Golden Era” sound and look ... they often stripped these forgotten EB-6 basses for parts.
This original EB-6 is up for sale now from Reverb seller Emerald City Guitars for a $16,950 asking price at the time of writing. The only thing that isn’t original about it is a replacement set of Kluson tuners, not because its originals were stolen but just to help preserve them. (They will be included in the case.)
With so few surviving 335-style EB-6 basses, Reverb doesn’t have a ton of sales data to compare prices to. Ten years ago, a lucky buyer found a nearly original 1960 EB-6 for about $7,000. But Emerald City’s $16,950 asking price is closer to more recent examples and asking prices.
Sources: Prices on Gibson Instruments, November 1, 1959, Tony Bacon’s “Danelectro’s UB-2 and the Early Days of 6-String Basses” Reverb News article, Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars, Tom Wheeler’s American Guitars: An Illustrated History, Reverb listings and Price Guide sales data.
Originally released in the 1980s, the Victory has long been a cult favorite among guitarists for its distinctive double cutaway design and excellent upper-fret access. These new models feature flexible electronics, enhanced body contours, improved weight and balance, and an Explorer headstock shape.
A Cult Classic Made Modern
The new Victory features refined body contours, improved weight and balance, and an updated headstock shape based on the popular Gibson Explorer.
Effortless Playing
With a fast-playing SlimTaper neck profile and ebony fretboard with a compound radius, the Victory delivers low action without fret buzz everywhere on the fretboard.
Flexible Electronics
The two 80s Tribute humbucker pickups are wired to push/pull master volume and tone controls for coil splitting and inner/outer coil selection when the coils are split.
For more information, please visit gibson.com.
Gibson Victory Figured Top Electric Guitar - Iguana Burst
