Godin Guitars
When Fat Sound Guitars opened in 1993 I admit that the entry level segment of the industry wasn't my area of expertise. Not knowing nearly as much about this area of the market we initially went with the usual, well known suspects from Washburn, Fender, Takamine, Yamaha, etc.....which are certainly very easy to sell; especially to folks who don't know a heck of a lot about guitars. At that time we simply didn't know that a better alternative was available.
After carrying these lower priced, Asian built guitars for a few years we discovered that the neck angles were often a bit steep directly from the factory due to the epoxy method of construction that the Asian acoustic guitar manufacturing firms use to install the necks in to the bodies of the guitars. This epoxy joinery method, which facilitates speedy production, combined with some overall geometry issues create all kinds of problems with these guitars; some of which are apparent even when the guitars are new as long as you know what to look for while others revealed themselves as the guitars aged.
Not only does this often lead to high action (string height) which makes these guitars difficult to play or a low angle of string break over the saddle (also not good as it reduces the down pressure on the soundboard or "top" resulting in a lifeless tone), it also means that the neck angle cannot be properly repaired. These are the kinds of issues that cause potential guitarists to give up without ever realizing that the problem is not with their ability or potential, but with the guitars themseleves.
Even if you buy an Asian built acoustic with a neck angle that is correct from the factory, when it does go bad over time due to the tension placed on the neck by the strings tuned to pitch and the normal effects of aging it can never be repaired properly since an epoxied in neck can not be removed for a proper neck reset and the guitar will essentially become a piece of unplayable firewood.
Looking for a better alternative we discovered that Godin Guitars, a small firm located in Canada, was building a wide variety of well-built, great sounding and excellent playing acoustic guitars under various names including Norman, Simon & Patrick and Art & Lutherie. We've sold these guitars for 14 years now and have had tremedous success with them and nearly zero problems. They make our customers happy, help ensure they stick with the instrument and make our lives easier as well since we have almost no warranty issues to deal with
Godin built guitars have necks that are joined to the body via an internal bolt which is the same method used by the most expensive brands we carry including Taylor Acoustics as well as the ultra-high-end Collings Guitars out of Austin, TX. This bolt is completely hidden from view, but allows the neck to be installed and removed as many times as is necessary during the build process until the neck angle is flawless which allows for low string action *and* a high angle of string break over the saddle; it also means the neck angle can easily be kept in top form as the guitar ages. It's a slower method of building a guitar, but Godin is more concerned with quality and playability and less concerned with high volume production.....and so are we.
The Godin brands of acoustic guitars are reasonably priced, correctly built, have very low string height for easy playability a high angle of string break over the saddle for the best tone possible and, as a result, simply sound and play better than anything else in their price range.
These are the only brands to consider for an entry level player if you don't want the guitar to be a discouraging factor. Believe me, if there was a better built or equally well built brand at a lower price point I'd carry them.
Art & Lutherie AMI 3/4 Size in Blue Varnish |
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| MSRP: $329.00 | FAT PRICE: $249.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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Never judge a book by its cover! The Ami's are modeled after the dimensions of a parlor guitar of the early 1900's. Small in stature but surprisingly large where it counts most... Tone and projection. Specifications
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Art & Lutherie AMI 3/4 Size in Burgundy Varnish |
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| MSRP: $329.00 | FAT PRICE: $249.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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Never judge a book by its cover! The Ami's are modeled after the dimensions of a parlor guitar of the early 1900's. Small in stature but surprisingly large where it counts most... Tone and projection. Specifications
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| Email Fat Sound Guitars |
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Art & Lutherie Almond Dreadnaught |
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| MSRP: $349.00 | FAT PRICE: $269.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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A fantastic playing, huge sounding guitar for a very reasonable price. Specifications
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Norman Protege B18 Burgundy Dreadnaught |
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| MSRP: $419.00 | FAT PRICE: $299.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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A fantastic, solid wood top guitar for just under $300.00 that is extremely easy to play, plays perfectly in tune and is our highest recomendation for just starting out on acoustic guitar. Features a semi-gloss, custom burgundy finish that is the result of an 11 stage, hand rubbed, furniture grade application of Varnish.
Specifications
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Simon & Patrick Songsmith Folk Sunburst |
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| MSRP: $419.00 | FAT PRICE: $299.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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A rich, deep and woody sound in a small and comfortable body, the Folk sized guitar doesn't have quite the volume or low end of the larger Dreadnaught guitars, but is perfect for smaller, more intimate settings or when a smaller body just feels better. With its warm and mellow tone, the Songsmith Folk is an honest and true acoustic guitar. With a Custom Polished finish and a select pressure tested solid top, its sound (as with all S&P models) will only get better the more the guitar is played overtime Specifications
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Art & Lutherie Burgundy Gloss Top Dreadnaught |
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| MSRP: $449.00 | FAT PRICE: $339.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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The Solid Spruce, Burgundy Burst, High Gloss top dresses this guitar up very nicely! Specifications
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Art & Lutherie Cedar Antique Burst Gloss Top |
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| MSRP: $449.00 | FAT PRICE: $339.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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A beautifully appointent, rich and deep sounding guitar at an extremely reasonable price point.
Specifications
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Simon & Patrick Woodland Cutaway Gloss-Top with B Band Electronics |
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| MSRP: $909.00 | FAT PRICE: $499.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: This piece is a deeply discounted New Old Stock guitar that looks 100% brand new, comes with full factory warranty, but has been used to demo the B Band electronics | ||
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A great, affordable, full size Dreadnought style guitar for performance or recording. The cutaway body style allows for easy upper fret access and the B Band electronics package enables the player to achieve the tone of their guitar at any volume required. The gloss finished top lends an upper end appearance to the guitar. The Woodland CW Spruce is definitely a popular model with players wanting the accented clarity that comes with a select pressure tested solid spruce top. This enables them to cut through the mix while using the cutaway to solo all the way up the fingerboard. Specifications
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Norman ST-40 |
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| MSRP: $549.00 | FAT PRICE: $399.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: A best seller | ||
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The warm and smooth tone of the Studio series ST40 comes from the combination of its mahogany back & sides and solid cedar top. The semi-gloss Custom Polished finish allows the wood to breathe and vibrate freely which promotes a higher level of acoustic tone, the more the guitar is played overtime. SpecificationsBack & Sides : 3-way Lamination of Mahogany |
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Vintage Burst 12 String Cedar Dreadnaught |
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| MSRP: $739.00 | FAT PRICE: $559.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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The textured warm shimmer of the Vintage Burst 12 Cedar HG is enough to make any player fall in love at first strum. The select pressure tested solid tops on all S&P models are graded for stiffness and for optimal level of resonance. Optional B-Band A3.2 electronics are available on all models. SpecificationsBack & Sides: Red Wild Cherry |
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