Godwin Guitar Organ

In the mid to late 70's, the instrument makers at the Godwin Company took the guts of an electronic organ and fitted them in, what looks like, a jazz guitar body. Vox and Musiconics also manufactured guitars like this. Of all the organ guitars the Godwin is the most unique, the most complex, and the hardest to come across. Unlike the other organ guitars this one has all the functions you would find on an electronic organ including percussion, volume for the different intervals ("Drawbars" if you will), vibrato, and sustain. Apparently it sounds close to a Hammond B3 ! This one was on Ebay with a starting bid of US $8000. 

clipped from cgi.ebay.co.uk clipped from cgi.ebay.co.uk clipped from cgi.ebay.co.uk

Comments

[D Lewis]

Hi: re: the Guitar-organ. Teh Journalist Teisco Del Ray (real name Dan F ... - damn memory) had a similar instrument. He collects cheap and unusual guitars. I worked for Guitar Player and Guitar World, and I think he's at Rolling Stone now. I don't know him, but I certainly remember reading articles about his strange beast in the late 80s, early 90s. If you can track him down, he would possibly be able to help.

Great site, by the way.

[AFarley]

I know someone who has one of these and wants to sell it. He said John Lennon played it once, and recorded a version of a hard days night on it. John was looking for one, and he had a go on my friend's. I think he said Paul McCartney would not sell his because he was only offered £80,000.

[Tim C]

I worked for Sisme, Italy, who manufactured the Godwin range of equipment in the mid 70's.
I remember spending hours playing the "Gorgan."
The frets were split into 6 sections and were the note contacts. The frets and strings had to be kept really clean. Any sweat would cause a noisey contact and it would sound like crap...