Godin Multiac Steel Spectrum Cognac Burst

The Godin Multiac Spectrum is the newest steel-string member of their esteemed acoustic-electric series. It's equipped with the latest custom electronics, a Seymour Duncan lipstick pickup and a 13 pin synth access, giving it three distinct voices and a multitude of tone shaping capabilities. Whatever the job may be, the Multiac Spectrum can help you get it done in style.

The Godin Multiac Spectrum is a great guitar for live performances and recording and features:

• Solid spruce top
• Chambered mahogany body
• Mahogany Neck with 16" radius with Richlite® fingerboard
• 25.5" scale with 1.71" width at the nut
• Seymour Duncan lipstick pickup with separate volume and tone controls
• Custom RMC electronics
• 13-pin Synth Access
• 3 Band active EQ
• 1/4" output jack
• Schaller strap lock buttons
• Includes deluxe Godin padded gig bag
• List Price: $1895

The Multiac Spectrum is a sophisticated looking guitar with a vintage look teardrop shaped sunburst, nicely detailed binding, and mahogany back. Even the access panels for the electronics are wood veneer instead of the usual plastic. Like all Multiac guitars the playability is first rate, and for what is essentially an acoustic guitar, the action is very comfortable. This is a guitar you can gig with all evening long, and players used to electric guitars will not find the Multiac a chore or fatiguing.

To see how it sounded we tested the Spectrum through our master of clean tone, the Fender Bassman. Unlike the lower priced A6 line, the Spectrum uses a spruce top, and has much larger chambered body with bracing, so the sound is noticeably more brilliant and articulate. The bridge pickup has a very natural acoustic tone with sparkling high end, and smooth midrange content. Compared to a "real" acoustic it might be more like folk or concert guitar than a dreadnaught.

The Seymour Duncan lipstick pickup by itself is a nice jazz sound. It's warm but not too wobbly and it enhances the low end attack. The real fun begins when you start blending in the bridge pickup. It adds a crisp edge to the highs and the acoustic atmosphere helps to open up the bass response. Overall, the pickup combination is well balanced and the controls make it possible to navigate completely different genres with a single slider. While we did not test the synth on this guitar, we have tried it on other Godin models like the XTSA. The tracking is superb and it is an essential tool for today's solo artists or anyone who wants to add an extra dimension to their music. As with other Godin synth models, you can blend the natural guitar tone with the synth sounds to create a multi-layered musical soundscape.

In the end, the Godin Multiac Spectrum is certainly the top of its grade. It sings like an acoustic, plays like an electric and has the technology for a modern musician. Whether you are playing to a coffee shop, a stadium, or in Pro-Tools, the Multiac Spectrum can give you the best of many worlds.