Hollow body guitar to start - Godin or Epi?

guz · #1 02-23-2011, 11:44 PM

I'm new on jazz and i'm looking for a cheap hollow body guitar to start.
I'd like to spend around $700 max.
I read a lot about guitars on the forum, and on this price range, i thought about buying one Epi Joe Pass or the Godin 5th avenue with p-90.

What do you think about it? Any other idea?

Ps. I'm in doubt about the p-90 pickup... all the jazz guitar players that i know just play with humbucker pickups.

Thank you

Banksia · #2 02-23-2011, 11:51 PM

Hi guz and welcome to the forum. I've never had a guitar with P90(s) so I can't help you. Ibanez AF75 is another good value, low-end archtop.
Ibanez.com | Hollow Body Guitars | AF75

Baltar Hornbeek · #3 02-24-2011, 01:06 AM

Give both a try. If you can't discern a qualitative difference go with the cheaper one.

Stackabones · #4 02-24-2011, 01:09 AM

I'm an Epi man, so I'd go with the Joe Pass. I've read lots of good reviews on the Godin. P90s are sweet, smokin' jazz pups. A classic choice.

nado64 · #5 02-24-2011, 03:44 AM

5th avenue and emperor JP are different.
IMO, I prefer the Godin.

jeffstritt · #6 02-24-2011, 01:17 PM

I play a Godin XTSA which is a solid body gutiar with Humbuckers, a piezo pickup and a synth pickup. Something like that might be a great option for you, because by blending the piezo sound with the neck humbucker sound you get a great jazz tone, and it is very usefull for all other kinds of music too, good bang for the buck. A full hollowbody is kind of a one trick pony, it does the jazz thing great, but for somebody just getting into jazz, you might want something a little more versatile that way if you're directed a different way you will still have a useable guitar.

Just my opinion, take it for what it is.

mr. beaumont · #7 02-24-2011, 02:09 PM

The Godin is a very different instrument, but one I think is of higher quality. If the specs appeal to you, then go for it. Used, you might be able to find a two-pickup cutaway model in your price range. They're not flashy, but they're solid, good workingman's guitars that sound good, play good, and really don't need anything in the way of tweaks/upgrades out of the box aside from putting on your favorite strings.

For the record, I owned an Epiphone Emperor Regent which I ditched very soon after the first time I played a Godin Kingpin, and I now own a Godin.

Just one guy's take.

Jazzophobe · #8 02-24-2011, 03:05 PM

I have an Epi ES 175 Reissue and, I don't know if I caught Epiphone on a good day or what, it sounds wonderful! I've played Gibson ES 175's and I'm astounded at how close the Epi sounds to them. I also own three Heritages, a Guild, and an Ibanez PM35 (all archtops), and the Epi holds its own against them. The Godin's are fine guitars also, and I actually just played one at Elderly in Lansing, MI and it sounded super...maybe one of these days I'll end up with a 5th Avenue Kingpin...

Doctor Jeff · #9 02-24-2011, 03:20 PM

I have both and love them both. It would be hard to pick a favorite...

The Epi JP is a quintessential jazz box. Mine was made in Korea. It is a beautiful guitar which plays great and sounds wonderful. I personally don't think you can do any better until you get into the Gibson ES-175 price range, which is 5-6 times as much. I got mine used for $400.

The Godin Kingpin is a different type of guitar, kind of a hybrid jazz/rock/folk guitar. I have had mine for about a year and am just now starting to appreciate it. Recently I adjusted the action and truss rod and put on D'Addario pure nickel 11's and am very pleased with how it plays and sounds. The P90 is not a humbucker, but is quite a versatile pickup. I have found that the sound depends a lot on how you attack the strings--you can get a mellow jazz tone or a loud growly sound just by changing how you pick. (OTOH a neck position HB with the treble rolled off is pretty much going to sound like Wes Montgomery no matter how you play it.)

The quality of the Godin is outstanding, esp. fit and finish. My Epi is quite good also, but YMMV from what I've heard.

I guess I would make a case for the Godin Kingpin as your first guitar. If you find you are moving toward mellow jazz, bebop, Kenny Burrell stuff then maybe you will want to trade or get another bigger humbucker job.

Doctor Jeff · #10 02-24-2011, 07:08 PM

Here are a couple of pics of Godin Kingpin and Epi Joe Pass. I replaced the stock JP pickguard and knobs with rosewood accessories for a more sophisticated look.

To respond to some comments: I don't think the Godin is cheap at all--it is very well made. It is light and fairly small, has fairly simple appointments compared to some guitars, and has a satin finish which on first look might make it seem like a cheap foreign guitar.

I don't know if my Epi JP has poly or nitro finish, but it is very nice. Mine was made in 1999 in Korea, so I can't comment on current crop.

Interesting observation: the JP has a buttery feel to it, almost "plays itself", while you have to work at the Godin to get the sound you want. Not that that's a bad thing. I like it better the more I play it.

guz · #11 02-24-2011, 07:40 PM

Thanks a lot for the replies!
I'll take note of all!
By now, I think the Epi JP will be my choice...
In my case, i'm looking for a guitar just to play jazz... it doesn't need to be so versatile.
And something tells me that the humbucker pickups will sound better for what i want...

If I buy an Epi JP, What do you think about changing pickups, maybe for gibson 57 classics?

SamBooka · #12 02-24-2011, 08:15 PM

I have a classic 57 Plus in my ES165. I like it. I have a P90 in my ES125 and I am not sold on it yet (but it has some issues.. I had to replace the coil when I got it so it is NOT a stock P90.)

I REALLY want to be a godin fan but just cant do it.. (even though their head office is down the road from me ). I has an Epi Emp Reg which is similar to the JP and I like it for the most part. Here is the kicker..

THE JP AND GODIN ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BEASTS!! You really have to play them to understand. I like my Epi. The Godin feels cheap. Others like the Godin, the Epi's feel like poly coated Asian guitars.

Best advice I can give is: Whatever you buy, buy used. You wont take a hit on the resale value assuming you paid a fair price to being with.

pierre richard · #13 02-24-2011, 08:29 PM

Ibanez man.....

Time on the instrument..pierre

Elias Graves · #14 02-25-2011, 03:11 PM

I think either is good. Different animals, but I like my Epi as well as I like my Godin. The Epi took more work with upgrades to get it where I really like it, but it's there now.

As far as buckers go, my nod goes to either the Duncan Seth Lover model (do some research on that one...amazing story behind it) OR the New Dawn from Rose Pickups. Ken is a one man operation and he does boutique stuff without the staggering prices. His New Dawn is a take on the classic PAF and I love that darn thing. Less than $100, too.

EG

Norman931 · #15 02-25-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre richard

Ibanez man.....

Time on the instrument..pierre

I owned a couple of JPs back when they were made in Korea. They are now made in China, and the quality control has become a bit spotty. I bought their ES-175 reissue last year and had to return it because of several issues. If you can play it first to make sure there are no problems, you should be fine.
I currently own a Godin Kingpin and an Ibanez AFS75T, and would heartily recommend both of them.

Davey Lee · #16 02-26-2011, 06:16 PM

The Epi JP is the best choice I think and those pickups sound pretty good. If you are thinking of changing them though I would look at all of your options - the 57 classics are popular just though the gibson name but there are some way cooler options. I have been using TV jones pickups in my Gibson upgrades and using them in regular humbucker mounts so that the look is still the same - I can only say they are great and all of the guitars I have done for people are raved about afterwards. Changing pickups needs to be for a good reason and if you are going to do it you owe it to yourself to check out what is available.