Hello there, and welcome back to yet another guitar string review article. As you may have noticed, I have been publishing some gear review articles recently, mostly guitar pedals and related guitar gear.
Table of Contents
In the meantime, I have had the chance to test some guitar strings and wanted to also share my experiences with you!
This time, we will look at a set of guitar strings that most people are unaware of.
Last time we checked out, possibly one of the most tested and tried guitar strings, Fender Super 250 strings. But this time, we will check out the other end of the spectrum and look at the Godin E10 High Definition strings.
As I always do, I will introduce this lovely guitar brand, Godin, to you, provide original product photos as well as a brief Godin E10 strings test video.
TL;DR
Godin is probably one of my favourite guitar brands ever! During my service in the industry, I was blown away by the consistent quality and extreme high-value offering of their made in Canada guitars!
I believe most people are not even aware of the brand, let alone the fact that they are also manufacturing a lot of guitar accessories, including guitar strings!
Godin E10 High Definition Strings offer solid quality, smooth feel, and a surprisingly articulate tone for a standard nickel-plated steel set. They performed well in E-flat tuning and delivered a tight low end with nice clarity on top.
While nothing groundbreaking, they were genuinely enjoyable to play and well-made for their price. The biggest downside? Availability.
These strings are hard to find and appear to be discontinued in many stores—despite still being listed on Godin’s website. If you can get your hands on a set, they’re worth a try, but don’t expect to restock them easily.
cigilovic.com can not blindly suggest you to get one set for yourself as it’s very difficult to supply. In case, you like these strings a lot, you will end up wtih a supply problem! 🙂
However, I really liked the time I spent restringing my lovely Ibanez AR300 with this set of strings and played for a very long time, enjoying this fresh set of Godin E10 strings. This is a good sign and you may want to keep this strings in your stash (if you can!).
As we always do, let’s start with a brief introduction to one of my favourite musical instrument companies, Godin!
About Godin Guitars
Godin Guitars is a prominent Canadian guitar manufacturer renowned for its innovative designs and commitment to craftsmanship. Established in 1972 by Robert Godin in La Patrie, Quebec, the company has grown to become one of North America’s leading guitar producers, with its headquarters in Montreal.
The company has over 600 employees and produces over 200000 guitars per year and their products are distributed in over 65 countries! Best Tools For Guitars at Stewmac.com
At first glance, Godin Guitars may not come as a huge guitar manufacturer. However, the company not only exists as Godin but also encompasses several distinct brands, each catering to different segments of the guitar market.
Godin: Offers mid- to high-end electric and hybrid guitars, known for integrating advanced electronics like MIDI compatibility.
Seagull: Focuses on acoustic guitars, emphasising sustainable materials and innovative designs.
Simon & Patrick: Produces mid-range steel-string acoustics with a blend of tradition and modernity.
Norman: Provides a range of acoustic guitars suitable for various skill levels.
Art & Lutherie: Targets entry-level players with budget-friendly acoustic options.
La Patrie: Specialises in classical guitars, reflecting the company’s origins.
Additionally, Godin manufactures the TRIC guitar cases, known for their lightweight yet robust protection.
Godin Guitars is distinguished by its vertical integration, controlling every aspect of production—from sourcing North American tonewoods to final assembly. This approach ensures high quality and allows for continuous innovation.
Notably, the company has pioneered the integration of MIDI technology in guitars, enabling seamless connectivity with synthesisers and digital interfaces.
Their commitment to craftsmanship is evident in the extensive handwork involved in each instrument, surpassing that of many competitors. The company also collaborates with research institutions like McGill University‘s CIRMMT to explore new technologies in music media.
Godin‘s instruments are available worldwide, with a significant presence in over 65 countries. The company has streamlined its distribution through “Godin Direct,” allowing for efficient and consistent delivery to international markets. Check out the best guitar pickup company, Seymour Duncan here!
As you may know from my early guitar review articles, I had the chance to test and play dozens of Godin guitars back in the day during my service in the musical instruments industry. We would have Godin Session guitars every week for months. I was so blown away by the consistency, build quality and unique tones and ergonomy of their guitars!
Godin E-10 High Definition Strings
Godin might be best known for their uniquely crafted guitars built in Canada, but they also make a lesser-known line of guitar strings, like the High Definition string series for both acoustic, electric and classical guitars (including their unique take on the Oud instrument).
We will be focusing on the Godin High Definition electric sets in this article, and particularly Godin E10 High Definition strings for electric guitar that feature a traditional 10-46 gauge.
As I mentioned in various blog posts here, I often check out one of my favourites, a kind of local online store, Alza.sk, for many products I regularly need. Even though it is not a music store, they sometimes supply musical instruments and accessories and list them.
And sometimes they even list some rarities such as Godin strings! 🙂 While placing an order, I wanted to give these a try and added one to my cart. After I purchased it, I had a quick look online and realised that these strings were not that popular here in the EU. Most of the online music stores don’t even have them in stock.
For instance, Thomann, Bax Music, Klangfarbe, Muziker and many other known stores don’t have these in stock! Even though Godin Guitars has a great network of distribution around the world, I don’t think they are that present enough in the EU. Ads - Check out these ads to support this web page
Godin E10 strings belong to the High Definition series, which includes a series of electric strings with a variety of different gauges. The “E” indicates that the string set is for electric guitars. There is also another line starting with the letter “A” for acoustic guitars.
Godin E10 High Definition strings feature a very traditional gauge, 10-46, with nickel-plated steel with hex core. Unlike all Godin products, these strings are not made in Canada but in the USA.
Godin’s string line reflects the company’s design philosophy which is clean, functional and precise products at all times. Before we jump to the review section, let’s have a quick look at the tech specs.
Godin E10 High Definition Strings Tech Specs
| Godin E10 High Definition | Tech Specs |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Godin E10 High Definition |
| String Type | Electric Guitar Strings |
| Gauge | Regular (.010–.046) |
| Individual String Gauges | 10 - 13 - 17 - 26 - 36 - 46 |
| Material | Nickel-Plated Steel |
| Core Type | Hex Core |
| Winding Type | Roundwound |
| Tone Profile | Balanced, harmonically rich, high clarity |
| Feel | Firm, smooth with slight tension |
| String End Type | Ball End |
| Tension | Standard/Medium |
| Compatibility | Electric guitars of all types |
| Coating | None (non-coated) |
| Playing Style Suitability | Studio, clean, blues, jazz, ambient, classic rock |
| Made In | USA |
| Packaged | Plastic corrosion-resistant pouch |
| Average Lifespan | 2–3 weeks of regular use |
| Price Range | ~7–10 EUR per set |
Before I provide you with my opinion, I’d like to share a quick demo video that I made with Godin E10 High Definition strings here.
I used my Ibanez AR300, Marshall Studio Vintage SV20H, st. Rock REACT:IR II, Digitech DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 well as my RME Babyface PRO FS audio interface and Genelec 8020DPM monitors. I only used Wave Alchemy Magic7 as my reverb plugin. Music Plugin Deals at Pluginboutique.com
I just played some of my riffs, themes and improvised while testing these strings for the video. Note that the tuning is E-flat.
Godin E10 High Definition Strings Review & Sound Demo (no talking)
Godin E10 High Definition Strings Review
I’m sure none of my readers are aware that Godin Guitars also manufactures strings! That’s my guess, but I still wanted to feature this brand. As you may know from my early blog posts, Godin was one of the top guitar brands that blew me away while I was testing guitars in an online music store! The overall value of their guitars was so underestimated that few people were aware of the quality and the consistency.
However, even though I got exposed to this brand early on very frequently, I never saw their guitar strings. Like most of the locations in the world, the guitar strings market is pretty saturated with big players such as D’Addario dominating it.
Right after I got my order, I noticed that the package was covered with dust, a clear sign of the waiting time in someone’s stock. And also, E10 strings were removed from the online store with a discontinued sign. I don’t think these strings are discontinued, as they are actively listed on the official Godin Guitars website. However, I don’t think finding these strings around in an online store would be an easy task.
I paid around 7 EUR for the set, and I must say it’s an OK price for a set of strings made in the USA. As mentioned above, Godin E10 High Definition strings are nickel-plated steel strings with a hex core. So, this is a pretty standard build which you can come across with almost any guitar string manufacturer out there on the market.
The strings are colour coded, which I really appreciate! You can see the colour codes on the back of the package in English and French. Right out of the box, I had to check the status of the strings as the package seemed to have been stored somewhere in a warehouse.
This was also a good testing opportunity based on my assumption. Fortunately, there were no issues with the strings. Also, the windings were smooth and tight with zero visible defects.
In terms of longevity, I would say Godin High Definition strings are pretty much like any similar set of strings within the same price segment. I spotted some colour change even on the first day, as with any nickel-plated strings. However, I liked how the strings felt and played for a couple of weeks, playing time as well as idle time combined.
Tonewise, Godin’s High Definition label isn’t just marketing fluff—these strings genuinely deliver a detailed tone that brings out the subtleties in clean and lightly driven tones. There’s a pleasant tightness in the low end and some shimmer in the highs without getting brittle.
I tested these strings with the Ibanez AR300 guitar which has a Gibson LP scale. After I restrung my guitar with Godin E10 strings, I also adjusted the tailpiece to lower the overall tension a little bit. With the flat tuning combined, this resulted in a very sweet playing experience!
Verdict
Godin E10 High Definition strings were a joy to play, but there were no surprises. That included the good and bad surprises. I don’t think Godin E10 strings are anything spectacular. But based on my experience and testing a set of strings highly likely forgotten in a warehouse in some supplier’s stock, I must say I’m impressed with the right out of the box experience.
The overall quality was pretty much top-notch for this price tag. The tension was also a sweet spot for playing with E-flat tuning. I think the most obvious proof that I enjoyed these strings is the video I made!
Recording videos is fun, but also stressful, as it’s not a natural process for most amateur guitar players (like me!). But after I watched it a few times, I just realised that I was enjoying these strings a lot!
As I mentioned, the problem with Godin E10 High Definition strings is that these are just a regular set of strings, very similar to any other brands I have tried within the same price range. On top of that, these strings are extremely difficult to supply.
Considering the fact that these are not priced extremely low or high, I think Godin will have a hard time having people recognise this part of the company. I’d like to recommend these strings to you, but how?
You can only get these strings from a Reverb.com seller here. I searched for these strings on and on, but that was the only source! I believe if Godin managed to match the price with lower-priced segments in the electric guitar strings category AND supply these regularly to the EU and the rest of the world, these strings could be a strong competitor for known brands.
Otherwise, it’s difficult for me to recommend them as you are highly unlikely to be able to supply these anytime you want. The bigger problem is that if you ever purchased these strings and then really liked them! Then you would go mad and try to find them online all the time! 🙂
Where to Buy Godin E10 High Definition Strings?
As I mentioned, this is the most difficult part of the review! Even though I can’t direct you to multiple places to supply these strings, I still wanted to publish and make you guys aware that Godin produces guitar strings as well! 🙂
I could only find these strings on a Reverb.com shop; other than that, there’s no online music store having them in stock. I think this is something Godin needs to improve for sure.
Check out Godin E10 High Definition strings on Reverb here
I also believe this is true for their guitar lines as well! I’d like to see their entire catalogue of products on Thomann throughout the year and be able to purchase and test. They have wonderful guitars, all unique, innovative, high-quality and one of the highest value I have ever seen in the industry. But where to get them?
Check out availability of Godin Guitars on Thomann here
Thanks for visiting my blog and supporting me so far! I will hopefully see you in the next review here!
Osman Cenan Çiğil – cigilovic.com
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