Godin 5th Avenue

[ducktrapper]

They look very nice and get good reviews. Seems like used ones can be found for around $500.00. Anyone own one of these? I'm getting tired of waiting for Larrivee to build something similar. 

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Godin/5th-Avenue-Kingpin-P90-Hollow-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP

[unclrob]

I've worked on a few amd find them really nice players with a usable tone.



keep smilin and keep dancin   

[ducktrapper]

I've worked on a few amd find them really nice players with a usable tone.



keep smilin and keep dancin   

That's what they say. I'm intrigued. My wife thinks I have enough guitars but I'd like one of these with P-90's. Better save up my pesos. 

[unclrob]

LOVE,LOVE P90's.



keep smilin and keep dancin   

[ducktrapper]

I have this copy of a 335 with humbuckers. It's very nice but yeah the P-90's are calling me.

[Queequeg]

Try before you buy.
I ordered online when they were first introduced and it is the only guitar that I ever returned. It had zero sustain. I must have got a dud. They couldn't possibly all be like that one.

[ducktrapper]

Try before you buy.
I ordered online when they were first introduced and it is the only guitar that I ever returned. It had zero sustain. I must have got a dud. They couldn't possibly all be like that one.

I try to do that. There's a Guitar Center in Appleton. Maybe they have one. I'd prefer used though.   

I'm not sure how two photos were attached. 

[William2]

I've seen this guitar and was interested in it, but they don't make lefty instruments. Form playing at home, I just find the sound of an acoustic flat top so much prettier than an arch top instrument. About 4 years ago, I bought an Eastman 805CE. It had a solid hand carved arch top. It was incredibly beautiful as it had all the volume and tone control buttons hidden under the pick guard. And it had incredible volume and sustain without amplification. I don't think I played my other 3 Eastman's for about a year after I got this instrument. Finally, I decided I'd sell my other Eastman flat tops. After pulling them out and giving them one last play, I realized how much more beautiful their unamplified sound was than an archtop instrument. I did end up selling all the Eastman's and getting 2 Waterloo guitars. And eventually replacing the Waterloo's with 2 Martin's. And finally replacing the 2 Martin's with my 2 Larrivee guitars. I realized that while I love the sound of a plugged-in jazz box, I wasn't a jazz guitarist and never plugged in because I played only at home and the 805 didn't need amplification in my house. And lastly, when I did plug the instrument in, I couldn't replicate the tone of my favorite jazz hero's. Looking their amps, they cost much more than the Eastman 805. Now I just listen to jazz and play a variety of styles on a flat top.

[ducktrapper]

I've seen this guitar and was interested in it, but they don't make lefty instruments. Form playing at home, I just find the sound of an acoustic flat top so much prettier than an arch top instrument. About 4 years ago, I bought an Eastman 805CE. It had a solid hand carved arch top. It was incredibly beautiful as it had all the volume and tone control buttons hidden under the pick guard. And it had incredible volume and sustain without amplification. I don't think I played my other 3 Eastman's for about a year after I got this instrument. Finally, I decided I'd sell my other Eastman flat tops. After pulling them out and giving them one last play, I realized how much more beautiful their unamplified sound was than an archtop instrument. I did end up selling all the Eastman's and getting 2 Waterloo guitars. And eventually replacing the Waterloo's with 2 Martin's. And finally replacing the 2 Martin's with my 2 Larrivee guitars. I realized that while I love the sound of a plugged-in jazz box, I wasn't a jazz guitarist and never plugged in because I played only at home and the 805 didn't need amplification in my house. And lastly, when I did plug the instrument in, I couldn't replicate the tone of my favorite jazz hero's. Looking their amps, they cost much more than the Eastman 805. Now I just listen to jazz and play a variety of styles on a flat top.

The nearest music store has a few Eastmans and they are very nice. However, I won't buy a Chinese guitar. The other attraction of the Godin is that it's made in North America. I wouldn't use it to play jazz since I don't really try to play jazz. The P-90's say rock on, to me.   

[William2]

My main problem with Eastman is that they are in my opinion overbuilt. They weigh too much. And they lack a characteristic sound that some companies like Martin, Taylor, and Larrivee have. My last Eastman a D-10L I purchased a few months ago to experience an Adirondack top. I've decided I prefer Sitka or Moon spruce to Adirondack and so this one is up for sale also. The guitar itself is very well built and very powerful. However, the Martin DSS-17 easily matched this Eastman in power, and it had a Sitka top and weighed 4 lbs. while the Eastman weighs 4 lbs. 12 oz. The last thing I'll say about Chinese guitars is that they are slow to sell compared to American made instruments. My two Martins both sold in about a month at close to what I was asking, and this Eastman is still out there 3 months. Oh yeah, this is my last Eastman LOL.

[ducktrapper]

My main problem with Eastman is that they are in my opinion overbuilt. They weigh too much. And they lack a characteristic sound that some companies like Martin, Taylor, and Larrivee have. My last Eastman a D-10L I purchased a few months ago to experience an Adirondack top. I've decided I prefer Sitka or Moon spruce to Adirondack and so this one is up for sale also. The guitar itself is very well built and very powerful. However, the Martin DSS-17 easily matched this Eastman in power, and it had a Sitka top and weighed 4 lbs. while the Eastman weighs 4 lbs. 12 oz. The last thing I'll say about Chinese guitars is that they are slow to sell compared to American made instruments. My two Martins both sold in about a month at close to what I was asking, and this Eastman is still out there 3 months. Oh yeah, this is my last Eastman LOL.

Like any guitar, they have to be judged individually. I prefer a lighter build myself.

[unclrob]

You could always install Fralin P92's in the Univox there P90's in a humbucker size pu.





keep smilin and keep dancin   

[ducktrapper]

You could always install Fralin P92's in the Univox there P90's in a humbucker size pu.





keep smilin and keep dancin   

Yeah but I really like the Univox. Everybody who plays it is sort of blown away.

[Silence Dogood]

The nearest music store has a few Eastmans and they are very nice. However, I won't buy a Chinese guitar. The other attraction of the Godin is that it's made in North America. I wouldn't use it to play jazz since I don't really try to play jazz. The P-90's say rock on, to me.   

I'm pretty much the same when it comes to China guitars, though I will consider buying one used since then it doesn't really matter who made it, at least not in my mind. 

[eded]

I'm pretty much the same when it comes to China guitars, though I will consider buying one used since then it doesn't really matter who made it, at least not in my mind. 

Years ago when I was still playing bigger guitars I had a Blueridge clone of a Gibson J-45.  At a guitar group (RMMGA) weekend, several of us played it against a bunch of real Gibsons.  It (at a minimum) held its own with all the modern Gibsons.  The older Gibsons it was no comparison.  They ate the Blueridge (and the modern Gibsons) alive.

A local shop at the time quit carrying Blueridge, Epiphone Masterbuilt, and a couple other Chinese makes.  They said they sounded great, but the people who cared wanted Martin or Gibson on the headstock and were willing to pay for it.

As far as Godin goes (and all the other LaSiDo brands Like Seagull. Simon and Patrick, Art & Luthier), they are very good to really great guitars depending on the level.  IMO, except for some of the Godin electrics (and higher end Seagulls), they are mid-grade guitars.  Of course, I've heard fantastic music played on a lot of mid-grade guitars, too.

Ed

[ducktrapper]

Years ago when I was still playing bigger guitars I had a Blueridge clone of a Gibson J-45.  At a guitar group (RMMGA) weekend, several of us played it against a bunch of real Gibsons.  It (at a minimum) held its own with all the modern Gibsons.  The older Gibsons it was no comparison.  They ate the Blueridge (and the modern Gibsons) alive.

A local shop at the time quit carrying Blueridge, Epiphone Masterbuilt, and a couple other Chinese makes.  They said they sounded great, but the people who cared wanted Martin or Gibson on the headstock and were willing to pay for it.

As far as Godin goes (and all the other LaSiDo brands Like Seagull. Simon and Patrick, Art & Luthier), they are very good to really great guitars depending on the level.  IMO, except for some of the Godin electrics (and higher end Seagulls), they are mid-grade guitars.  Of course, I've heard fantastic music played on a lot of mid-grade guitars, too.

Ed

True but in the end, it's the singer not the song. I'm fine with less expensive guitars. In 1976, when I bought my first Larrivee, that's what it was. However, at the time, less expensive didn't mean less of a guitar.   

[eded]

True but in the end, it's the singer not the song.   

100%

[Sandstorm]

The Godin appear to be really well made guitars and very reasonably priced.  I liked that Havana brown cutaway model with the bigsby myself.  If I were considering the Godin or an Eastman of sorts, certainly Godin.  Godin at least is doing original models with identity, Eastman just does what Chinese do, copy other time tested models.

I rented an Epiphone E335 some time back because I wanted to see how I got a long with the size and feel of it but really wanted a Gibson.  The Epiphone was nice...it's hard not to consider for that price...but the bridge rattled, pickups were not great...didn't come with a case...so you could easily spend close to the cost of the guitar just to upgrade it to a very nice axe and you'd never get your money back if you ever sold or traded it.  Of course no one invests in upgrades with the intention to sell in the future, but I've rolled so much gear over the years I wouldn't think a Chinese epiphone would have a fighting chance to stay with me once the novelty of a new guitar wears off.
 Personally, I would still yearn for the Gibson equivalent so why beat around the bush.  Sometimes trying to save money just ends up costing more.  The Epiphone also had a glaring finish imperfection, almost as if someone's arm bumped onto the body while it was hanging up to dry after being sprayed with paint.  Perhaps that's where they get the "inspired by Gibson" from lol.  I'd prefer to "Murphy lab" my own instrument, thanks. 

[bsman]

I bought a used Kingpin II P90 on a lark last year - a local music store had it at a reasonable price and since I love P90s I figured I would give it a chance.  I have no complaints.  It's not terribly loud unplugged, but perfect for the couch and plugged in it will go wherever I want - sweet and clear or down and dirty.  With its wide fretboard (16" radius) it's a real joy to play, too.

[ducktrapper]

I bought a used Kingpin II P90 on a lark last year - a local music store had it at a reasonable price and since I love P90s I figured I would give it a chance.  I have no complaints.  It's not terribly loud unplugged, but perfect for the couch and plugged in it will go wherever I want - sweet and clear or down and dirty.  With its wide fretboard (16" radius) it's a real joy to play, too.

Looks very nice.