Rediscovering my Kingpin

mr. beaumont · #1 12-05-2011, 12:17 PM

With playing time at a premium since baby's arrived, I've been playing a lot more acoustic guitar lately (well, even before baby, since I picked up my Taylor a few months ago--but now, why waste time grabbing an amp and cables...get to the playing!)

Something made me decide to put some bronze strings on my Kingpin yesterday...so while mom and baby were napping, I strung it up...and I fell in love all over again.

I got to try it plugged in later and was surprised that it still sounded great through an amp (albeit a little quieter than before)

Just thought I'd share...for folks who like the vintage vibe, I still think the Kingpin represents one of the best values on the market...sure, it's not all pretty and glossy, but it plays great and sounds great. I think I had forgotten that for a few months...now it's like having a new guitar again!

Elias Graves · #2 12-05-2011, 12:30 PM

Agreed. Terrific guitars for short money. I do like the voice of the Godin P90. Seems most P90 variants nowdays are all about high output. Those tend to get very brash and honky, but the Kingpin's P90 always reminds me of an early Gibson. Quite smooth.

EG

Kojo27 · #3 12-05-2011, 12:40 PM

Cool, Mr. B. Are the Kingpins solid-topped? Seems I remember reading that they're made of wild cherry, or some unusual-but-good tone wood. This is my kind of guitar. I've gone Loar-crazy, and have always used bronze on them. The LH-650s, which come with the floating pickup -- even these have bronze from the factory. Nuttin' wrong with it at all.

kj

mr. beaumont · #4 12-05-2011, 01:07 PM

The Godins are not solid topped...the cherry is laminate, and I think all the ply in the lam is cherry...not really sure if that makes any difference...

Think of the Loar as a poor man's L5, and the Kingpin as a poor man's ES-125

Elias Graves · #5 12-05-2011, 01:34 PM

Having played a number of old 125s, I'd have to say if I were buying sight unseen, I'd take the Godin. While a good many 125s are really nice, I've seen some dogs, too.
Seems like every 5th Avenue I've played is darn near a photocopy of the last one. Very consistent guitars.

EG

clem_gael · #6 12-05-2011, 02:29 PM

'gonna try my Kingpin with bronze string too!

Is it a good idea to put Phosphore instead?

mr. beaumont · #7 12-05-2011, 03:10 PM

I used Elixer PB's, light gauge (.12's)

I previously had on .12 gauge flats, so the change in tension was minimal...neck stayed put.

I did it expecting to be just playing the guitar unplugged for a few months while baby gets on a schedule other than eating every two hours! But a quick try through an amp proved that the sound was still good amplified as well...bonus!

It definitely made the unplugged sound better...a little more thump in the bass, and a definite zing on the top end...it's no Vntage L5, but for practicing at home it sounds great, in a small bodied couch friendly package...

Geert · #8 12-05-2011, 03:18 PM

That kid is going to love you playing guitar when he or she grows up.
When mine were born I picked up playing guitar again after a hiatus of some years. They seemed to like it when I did and they still do now they are older.

Contrats on the newborn!

btw: never liked the Godin

G

Kojo27 · #9 12-05-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Think of the Loar as a poor man's L5, and the Kingpin as a poor man's ES-125

You like the ES-125s? Ah, me, too. And there's one for sale locally (nobody's gonna buy it - there's no jazz here!), a 50s-something, and it's in the best condition of any I've seen - just amazing that it could be so nice. The guy has had it for twenty years, a collector, has kept 11s on it, and it is a HONEY.

How much? Would you believe $1500? Yep. If I can scrape together the dough by March of 2012, I can get it. Then I be rich man-poor man -- 'cause I ain't selling my Loars, ever. : )

mr. beaumont · #10 12-05-2011, 03:37 PM

That's the thing about the 125's! The nice ones are nice...and that price keeps going up every year!

But being that they were student grade guitars, there's some beat to hell ones out there...I looked for a year for a 125 that was in good shape and about a grand, but didn't find it. Then I saw the Kingpin, and started GASsing hardcore...

2 weeks after I bought my Kingpin, I found one locally...but by then I liked the Godin and didn't look back.

I'm a sucker for 125's and 150's. I'd happily sleep on the couch for a while if the right 150 (with a CC pup) popped up at the right price!

Kojo27 · #11 12-05-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

That's the thing about the 125's! The nice ones are nice...and that price keeps going up every year!

But being that they were student grade guitars, there's some beat to hell ones out there...I looked for a year for a 125 that was in good shape and about a grand, but didn't find it. Then I saw the Kingpin, and started GASsing hardcore...

2 weeks after I bought my Kingpin, I found one locally...but by then I liked the Godin and didn't look back.

I'm a sucker for 125's and 150's. I'd happily sleep on the couch for a while if the right 150 (with a CC pup) popped up at the right price!

Whoa - are you saying $1500 is unreasonably expensive for this 125? You wouldn't pay that much? I honestly don't know! I'm pretty new to jazz (God I tire of saying that) -- but I had the impression that the 125s were very sought-after. What does van Iterson play (sp?) - thought that was a 125!

Really - they were "student grade" guitars? Wow! This one I'm talking about is like holding 5 lbs of heaven in your hands, even though it is plywood. It's a "spalted" maple, very thin and light - maybe they're all that way. On eBay, the beat-to-hell ones you mention STILL go for $1000 or $1250 -- rarely less.

Heck, I didn't know there was a 150, Mr. B -- I'll go looking now. : )

btw, what's this "GAS" thing?

Elias Graves · #12 12-05-2011, 05:22 PM

There are two 125s in a shop here locally for $1k each. Both are players, but in good condition.

EG

=DK= · #13 12-05-2011, 05:34 PM

Godin 5th Avenue Jazz

Isn't that pretty? I especially like the flame maple natural one! How's the feedback on these? I'm worried about buying one because the top is so thin and the body is so deep! This one comes with a floater, too.

Doctor Jeff · #14 12-05-2011, 06:29 PM

Yes, the Kingpin is a great-sounding and versatile guitar.

The nice thing about the pickup is that it is so responsive to playing style. You can go from mellow to growly just by varying the attack. It also sounds nice acoustic, although not too loud, and is much more fun to fingerpick than the average jazzbox.

I put D'Addario pure nickel .011 strings on it, which I think gives it a nice warm vintage tone.

The only thing I would change is the satin finish. While the wood grain looks nice, I just can't quite get away from my expectation of a glossy surface on a jazz guitar.

=DK= · #15 12-05-2011, 10:20 PM

I should clarify that when I say "feedback" I mean the hyper-resonance that plagues archtop owners, not feedback as in reviews, reception, etc.

FrankLearns · #16 12-05-2011, 11:18 PM

I also rediscovered the kingpin after putting bronze strings on them. But then it did not amplify properly anymore (laws of physics). The compromise was GHS white bronze. They do not sound as good as genuine bronze strings but still good enough. I feel that suits the guitar bet. It just does not have that big, fat warm jazztone that blooms best with flatwound strings.