Bad Gas for the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin

[tbp0701]

I thought I'd share, because maybe someone will appreciate this.

This looks like a killer archtop, and I've been wanting to try one:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...ith-P90-Hollowbody-Electric-Guitar?sku=500320

And with the call today and get a 15% discount in that price range, I'm sorely tempted. And the Cognac Burst version is in stock. But I have to go to work in a few minutes.

Ouch.

 

[Eric Karonen]

That's a nice looking ax, and the price seems, well, inexpensive!

 

[tbp0701]

Yeah, Acoustic Guitar did a really nice review of the version with the pickup. I guess it's made in Canada, with a French polish finish.

There's a YouTube with an overview of the 5th Avenue (sans P90).

 

[boneyguy]

I've played both versions now, with and without the pickup. They're feather light which is nice. I loved the look of the Cognac Burst w/ the P90. It was absolutely beautiful.

The finish is not a French polish which is actually done by hand using shellac as the base. The Godin site says the finish is.."reminiscent of the French polish of the 19th century." Other than a few classical guitar makers and maybe some very high end furniture makers/restorers I don't think many people are doing a real French polish on anything.

The finish and look of the 5th Avenues however is amazing. I think the price is very reasonable too.

 

[morroben]

My local shop has the pickup and nonpickup versions. I've been playing them to death every time I'm in there. I'll end up with one of them eventually, I just can't decide which one.

 

[E.D. Patton]

Very cool.

Hard to believe, at that price, that it's not made overseas.

I'm feeling your GAS, brother...

 

[jazztele]

i haven't seen the kingpin in person yet, but i did get a chance to play a fifth avenue, and i was impressed, just like i am about every time i play a godin, seagull, la patrie, etc.

they just "get it" up there, methinks. great instruments at great prices.

 

[RomanS]

The cognacburst with the P90 is high up on my GAS list - VERY high up...

 

[tdu]

Haven't played the Kingpin, but have played the 5th Avenue. Really nice guitars. Most Godin products are.

 

[Joe-Bob]

I want one, too.

 

[Jasper]

I have been looking at those too. I have owned 3 Godin products and have been very impressed. My son has an SD. I had a LG and traded it for a Gibson LP. The Godin was of higher quality. I had an A&L Ami parlour guitar and sold it in a moment of stupidty.

I have tried the 5th Avenue. If you buy the Kingpin, let us know how you like it.

 

[JayFreddy]

In that Youtube video, he says, "...with a street price of $520." Now they're $699. Could it be that all our GAS is driving up prices?! They still seem like a bargain.

I had an A&L Ami parlour guitar and sold it in a moment of stupidty...

I love my A&L Ami. Probably the best guitar I ever got for $100.

 

[tbp0701]

In that Youtube video, he says, "...with a street price of $520." Now they're $699. Could it be that all our GAS is driving up prices?! They still seem like a bargain.

I love my A&L Ami. Probably the best guitar I ever got for $100.

The one in the video is the 5th Avenue, without the pickup and electronics. I don't know if that's gone up in price.


I haven't ordered it, and I'm stuck at work (and in an ice storm, too), but I keep thinking about it.

 

[Oster]

From their literature:

Revoiced for the music of today, it would not seem unfamiliar for this instrument to be seen in the hands of artists the likes of Jeff Tweady (Wilco), Ryan Adams, or even Jack White (White Stripes). From Alt-Country, Delta Blues, Slide, Jazz to Rock, the 5th Avenue can really deliver.

Here's my Godin story. I took my old late '80s glossy black acousticaster down to the local vintage "no-depression"-style guitar store to see if they'd be interested in a trade.

The guy there gave me a sympathetic "sorry dude" kind of look as if a Godin guitar was the single most uncool thing you could think of to bring into their shop.

That was last year and it looks like Godin has something now that such a store would like.

Beautiful guitars though they may be, I'm not sure how that makes me feel.

 

[tiktok]

Godin! Great guitars with a too-skinny neck profile for my taste.

 

[Hockey Rocker]

The price on the 5th Avenue, sans pup, just dropped on MF to $441.15 and the Kingpin is down to $594.15. That sounds like a deal to me. The Cognac Burst has been calling my name for awhile and at $441.00 it's very tempting, but I'll pass. My parlor guitar arrived before Christmas in the form of a $29.00 Overstock Gretsch Americana. Cheap cure for GAS, but I keep window shopping.

 

[SamBooka]

I emailed Godin... they say they have a prototype cutaway dual pickup but no set prod date. Didnt say if the pu's are still going to be p90s.

Also said no plans for a 5th Ave. cutaway.

I have tried these several times at several stores and ... I really want to like them but..
No magic. Maybe it is the strings? More likely just me since I have been shopping for an nice sounding (acoustically) archtop for a few months now. Will go up to 1500$ (preferably used) but cant find anything over 800$ new or 3000$ used.

I havent found any feedback/forums on people who have used these for jazz (with heavy flatwounds). I tried the kingpin electrically and it was bright and twangy. Much more so than I would expect from a neck pickup. This is a great thing for rock/blues/rockabilly (I found especially rockabilly) but for the joe pass or wes stuff I play.. not so much.

My 2 cents.

 

[iowa]

I had a chance to play a Kingpin today and it is way up on my GAS list now. I didn't find it especially bright and twangy like DH82c thought. I did compare it to a Gretsch G100 (?) with the floating hb in the neck and far preferred the Godin.
Just as a side note, i plugged in to a new Deluxe VM to try them out. NOT IMPRESSED. The drive channel was noisy and I thought the effects were just OK. I then plugged into a Pro Jr. and really preferred the tone.

 

[casterway]

Godin! Great guitars with a too-skinny neck profile for my taste.

Not in my experience. I have a Godin Acousticaster, and the neck is identical to my MIM tele. I also have a Godin LG-90, with a wonderfully chunky mahogany neck.

 

[NEPATelecaster]

Not in my experience. I have a Godin Acousticaster, and the neck is identical to my MIM tele. I also have a Godin LG-90, with a wonderfully chunky mahogany neck.

I have to agree. I have 2 Seagulls and a Godin LGX, not skinny at all. Flat and Wide maybe, skinny - no way.