Quentin Godet, best known for his work in ten56. and Kadinja, has become a force to be reckoned with in today’s heavy music landscape,  a guitarist whose blend of technicality, melody, and aggression has made him a rising voice of his generation. When we sat down for an exclusive one-on-one, it became clear that his partnership with Vola Guitars not only shaped his tone, but it reshaped the tools he uses to create. That relationship began suddenly and organically: a chance hands-on encounter with an early Vola model during a Guitare Xtreme Magazine session in late 2018 sparked a fast-moving conversation with Vola’s team and an invitation to NAMM 2019. From the moment he arrived, Quentin felt an unexpected familiarity, describing it as “like I’d known everyone for years — it clicked right away.” That meeting led to the creation of a USA-built QGM prototype he still refers to as “the purest version of the idea,” a guitar that established the blueprint for everything that would come next. Designed as a tight, modern super-S with articulation at its core, the USA Custom Shop OZ 7 QGM became the foundation because, in Quentin’s words, “That guitar told us exactly what the series needed to feel like.”

With that prototype serving as the compass, Vola and Quentin set out to turn a single vision into a full family of instruments. The first production expression of that vision emerged as the OZ 7 QGM J1 — a model Quentin immediately gravitated toward as the anchor of the series. Built with an alder body, roasted maple neck, Fire Ice pickups, expanded switching options, and top-tier Gotoh hardware, the J1 was designed to excel in multiple arenas. “The J1 is the one I can bring anywhere — different tunings, different bands, it always works,” he explains. Across tours, writing sessions, and studio commitments, its wiring gave him “everything from the tight Kadinja split coil sound to the heavier ten56. stuff without changing guitars.” The 25.5” scale and extended range made it feel instantly familiar while remaining endlessly adaptable, turning the J1 into the seven-string that follows him into nearly every musical situation.

Over the years it has become more clear that Godet is as multifaceted as he is well-traveled, and that directly translated into the direction of his next build. As the series expanded, Quentin and Vola began to explore the emotional and musical differences that came with his layered expertise. That exploration led to the OZ QGM J2, which translates the J1’s DNA into a six-string instrument with its own identity and purpose. The shift opened creative doors for Quentin, who says, “There’s just something about a six-string — my hands relax, and ideas come out differently.” That subtle shift in feel and tension made the J2 his choice for melodic passages, clean tones, and more expressive playing. While it retains the ergonomics, switching, and tonal flexibility of the J1, the J2 emphasizes the midrange character and immediacy that only a six-string can deliver. To Quentin, it’s “the sound that sings the most,” a guitar that guides different ideas simply by the way it responds under his hands. On top of that, the undeniably gorgeous Root Beer Sparkle finish takes it to a new level of classy.

But no series built around Quentin’s playing would be complete without a tool specifically designed for the heaviest, lowest, and most unforgiving parts of his musical world. That need gave birth to the OZ 7 QGM J3 — the most aggressive and focused instrument in the lineup. For Quentin, this has become the instrument he reaches for when absolute stability is non-negotiable. “The J3 is the one I grab when I need zero flub — everything has to be controlled,” he says. Its 27” scale length, redesigned headstock, and high-output custom Bare Knuckle Pickups were all chosen to maintain clarity and articulation under massive gain and low tunings. Yet even with all that power, it remains balanced enough that, as Quentin often points out, “I can plug it into something super clean, like a Twin, and it still sounds good — that’s when you know a guitar is balanced.” The J3 proves that a guitar built for heaviness can still be versatile, musical, and dynamic. Hear it in action HERE.

Taken together, the signature QGM lineup reflects Quentin’s own approach to versatility, problem-solving, and musical identity. The J1 stands as the all-purpose, go-anywhere seven-string. The J2 offers a more expressive six-string voice for melodic work and creative exploration. And the J3 provides the precision and tightness required for the heaviest, lowest-tuned aspects of his sound. As Quentin puts it, “I didn’t want three versions of the same guitar — I wanted three different voices.” His broader musicianship — from stepping in on bass for Dali, to recording early ten56. bass parts, to providing his session capabilities — reinforces that philosophy, showing a player who chooses the tool that best serves the moment. The QGM series is the natural result of that mindset: a family of instruments shaped directly by the way Quentin writes, records, and performs, each one a meaningful part of his story. 

The team at Vola is honored to have been a part of Quentin's musical career, and look forward to our next collaborative effort... which may be here sooner than you think.