Godin introduced the Richmond electric guitar line in 2008. The Richmond models had retro styling and featured two models at launch - the Belmont and Dorchester, with the Empire model released in 2010. The Richmond brand was named after the town in Quebec where these guitars were manufactured. The Richmond brand was discontinued in 2013.
Richmond BelmontThe Richmond Belmont was introduced in 2008 and made until 2013. The Belmont packed a full gamut of classic rock muscle into its vaguely SG styled solid mahogany body. This 24 ¾” scale axe is powered by two single coil Lipstick pickups by Seymour Duncan, along with a Seymour Duncan ’59 humbucker in the bridge. All of which is controlled by a 5-way selector switch and separate volume and tone knobs. The Belmont’s bolt-on mahogany neck features the worn in feel of an Ergocut rosewood fingerboard for a comfortable playing experience. | |
Richmond DorchesterThe Richmond Dorchester was introduced in 2008 and made until 2013. The Dorchester has retro Mosrite inspired style with a 25 ½” scale, two classic sounding Lace Alumitone humbucker pickups, housed in a double cutaway chambered body with a silver leaf maple center and poplar wings. The pickups are controlled by separate volume and tone knobs, along with a 4-way switch that allows you to select between various sounds, including the first position which enables the neck & bridge to be in-series, giving the player a fatter tone and more output. | |
Richmond EmpireThe Richmond Empire was introduced around 2010 and made until 2013. The Richmond Empire has a retro 70s style similar to the Ovation Viper. The Empire features a 24 3/4 ” scale, a low noise single-coil pickup and a Custom Godin humbucker in the bridge or two Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups (Mahogany model only). Pickups are housed in a single cutaway solid body with a silver leaf maple center and poplar wings or the solid mahogany body of the Empire mahogany HG. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | black finish, red finish, white finish | gloss finish | Canada | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length | |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | black finish, cream finish, natural finish, red finish | gloss finish, sunburst finish | Canada | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | black finish, cream finish, mahogany finish, natural finish, white finish | gloss finish, satin finish | Canada | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length |
Model | Controls shape | Number of control knobs | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | top hat controls | 2 control knobs | 5-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | top hat controls | 2 control knobs | 4-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | top hat controls | 2 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control | 1 volume control |
Model | Pickups brand and model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | Seymour Duncan 1959 pickup(s), Seymour Duncan Lipstick single coil pickup(s) | 2 single coil pickups and 1 humbucker pickup |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | Lace Alumitone pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | Godin pickup(s) | 1 single coil and 1 humbucker pickup, 2 single coil pickups |
Model | Body material | Body shape features | Pickguard material | Hollow body |
---|---|---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | mahogany body | double cutaway | black pickguard, white pickguard | - |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | maple body, poplar body | double cutaway | black pickguard, white pickguard | semi-hollow body |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | maple body, poplar body | single cutaway | black pickguard, white pickguard | - |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece |
---|---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | roller bridge | chrome hardware | Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece, stop tailpiece |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | roller bridge | chrome hardware | Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece, stop tailpiece |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | wraparound bridge | chrome hardware | - |
Model | Fingerboard material |
---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | rosewood fingerboard |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | rosewood fingerboard |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | rosewood fingerboard |
Model | Neck joint | Neck width | Number of frets | Tuner layout | Neck material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richmond Belmont 2008 to 2013 | bolt on neck | 1.69 inches wide at nut | 22 fret | three-each-side | - |
Richmond Dorchester 2008 to 2013 | bolt on neck | 1.69 inches wide at nut | 22 fret | three-each-side | maple neck |
Richmond Empire 2010 to 2013 | bolt on neck | 1.69 inches wide at nut | 22 fret | three-each-side | mahogany neck |