La Patrie Guitars are now Godin Guitars

**rsclosson** · 01-26-2021, 09:04 AM

Godin Guitars Launches the Godin Nylon Series | Premier Guitar

I don't know the significance of this but it is interesting

**Tal_175** · 01-26-2021, 09:56 AM

La Patrie was always a sub-brand of the company. Seagull, Art and Lutherie, Simon & Patrick are all sub-brands of Godin guitars.

**John A.** · 01-26-2021, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by rsclosson

Godin Guitars Launches the Godin Nylon Series | Premier Guitar

I don't know the significance of this but it is interesting

That's a shame. Now they'll have to find a new name for their kid's model. Enfants de La Patrie won't really make sense anymore.

John

**mr. beaumont** · 01-26-2021, 10:15 AM

I'm guessing Godin is finally figuring out that the Godin name itself carries the most weight, and having numerous "sub brands" doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Hey, maybe my pre-Godin Etude is worth big bucks now

**rsclosson** · 01-26-2021, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Hey, maybe my pre-Godin Etude is worth big bucks now

I wonder if we’re going to start hearing the obligatory “My vintage La Patrie is better than the new Godins.”

**Hammertone** · 01-26-2021, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

La Patrie was always a sub-brand of the company. Seagull, Art and Lutherie, Simon & Patrick are all sub-brands of Godin guitars.

and Norman.

**Tal_175** · 01-26-2021, 02:39 PM

All these sub-brands and Godin models are marketed as handcrafted in Canada yet they are priced like Asian made guitars. Prices are pretty much on a par with Epiphone with the exception of a couple of more expensive Godin models like Montreal Premiere.

I wonder how they manage to keep the costs of many of these sub-brands as low as Asian manufactured guitars. Any scoop on that?

**Litterick** · 01-26-2021, 02:43 PM

Le Parti Québécois will be livid.

**mr. beaumont** · 01-26-2021, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

All these sub-brands and Godin models are marketed as handcrafted in Canada yet they are priced like Asian made guitars. Prices are pretty much on a par with Epiphone with the exception of a couple of more expensive Godin models like Montreal Premiere.

I wonder how they manage to keep as costs of many of these sub-brands as low as Asian manufactured guitars. Any scoop on that?

Lots of alternative woods and materials, minimum of glossy finishes and "bling." Very "plain" instruments, but high quality, solidly built stuff.

I also think "handmade" is a bit of a stretch, more like "hand gone over after being built on an assembly line," but Godin has kind of mastered that end of it--very consistent quality stuff, and they turn out a LOT of guitars.

**DS71** · 01-26-2021, 05:26 PM

Still playing my classical on an old Kamouraska(Was the brand name before La Patrie).

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 01-26-2021, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Litterick

Le Parti Québécois will be livid.

I never know what is going to happen there next: Husband on leash breached Quebec'''s Covid curfew - BBC News

**rsclosson** · 01-26-2021, 06:51 PM

I’m seriously considering a Motif. Played one once and was amazed.

**Doctor Jeff** · 01-26-2021, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Lots of alternative woods and materials, minimum of glossy finishes and "bling." Very "plain" instruments, but high quality, solidly built stuff.

I also think "handmade" is a bit of a stretch, more like "hand gone over after being built on an assembly line," but Godin has kind of mastered that end of it--very consistent quality stuff, and they turn out a LOT of guitars.

I think it shows you can make quality guitars at a reasonable price in North America, as long as they don’t have too much bling and prestige, i.e., collectibility, attached to them.

**Hammertone** · 01-26-2021, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

All these sub-brands and Godin models are marketed as handcrafted in Canada yet they are priced like Asian made guitars. Prices are pretty much on a par with Epiphone with the exception of a couple of more expensive Godin models like Montreal Premiere.
I wonder how they manage to keep the costs of many of these sub-brands as low as Asian manufactured guitars. Any scoop on that?

There is some interesting factory tour video out there. Godin uses a lot of automated fabrication and finishing processes, and their hand-labour processes rely heavily on jigs that speed the process up as well as support consistency. Shiny finishes and lots of bling are huge parts of manufacturing cost, and they don't have a lot of that. They use a lot of locally-sourced wood as well as composites that I think also keep costs down. I don't like their products for the most part, but I do like how they appear to run their business.