Godin 5th Avenue Update

I promised yesterday that I would pass any information I get from Godin regarding the finish and the likelihood that the wood would darken over time due to UV rays on to you and I'm here to follow through.

The answer is no, there will be no darkening because of the poly finish on the guitar.

So that's that. It looks like I'll be after the sunburst model instead of the natural then.

It brings up an interesting question though: is the price the reason there is not a traditional lacquer finish on the guitar? I've heard from several sources in the business that lacquer does cost more to apply mainly due to the work involved in buffing and the amount of reapplications (and then curing time which usually is not a short process) so it is a possibility I guess. But if I were attempting to create an old fashioned guitar I would look into how much it would cost to finish it the way the old ones were finished if for nothing else, historical accuracy.

That and a dark red guitar that's color came from the wood reacting to UV light would be pretty sweet.

So perhaps the model was finished in poly to save money and if so, that's fine. Myself, as a potential buyer, I appreciate that. I just think it would have been cool to have it finished at least in a non UV protective finish. Also, I would have thought it was something that they would be proud of because of the way they talk about their finishes. This is taken directly from http://www.godinguitars.com/godin5thavenuep.htm:

"Also, the rustic beauty of its Custom Polished Finish creates a gorgeous satin sheen reminiscent of the French polish of the 19th century."

It seems like they were definitely aiming for the look, they just did not follow through which is what leads me to think it was a money thing.

Be sure to visit the link I provided and watch the videos. They are incredibly interesting and I think they make for a great example of what would be beneficial for ALL guitar manufacturers to do. I know I'd love to go through a brand's entire catalog video by video almost like I am getting my very own demo of the model. It would help with selection, and it would lead to more customer satisfaction especially in this day and age when so many guitars are bought on the internet, some without even being heard through sound samples or videos.

I just thought you might find this interesting and hopefully this doesn't quench any fires you may have to check these guitars out. I know as far as the poly/lacquer fight goes, I swing both ways with little difficulty so I'll be on the lookout for these guitars.

Thanks for stopping in!

-Pappy