Godin or Peerless?

**Llewellen** · 06-20-2016, 05:52 PM

I'm zeroing in on my next guitar purchase - a full size archtop. After endless googling, viewing all available youtube videos and reading what reviews there are, the top two contenders in my mind at the moment that are in my price range are the Godin 5th Avenue Jazz and the Peerless Manhattan.

I have no chance to hold and play these guitars. I live in a very small community on Vancouver Island and even the best music shops in the closest big city (Vancouver) do not stock them.

If I could say only one name to try to describe the kind of tone and musical style I admire and seek to emulate it would be Joe Pass. This youtube demo of the Peerless by Dwight Love is also quite illustrative:

Comments, suggestions, criticisms gratefully received. Thanks.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-20-2016, 05:59 PM

I think the Godin Jazz is a lovely guitar, but I'd also say you answered your own question.

I don't think I've ever heard anybody dissatisfied with one of the Peerless models here.

**Jim Soloway** · 06-20-2016, 06:25 PM

I'm in Nanaimo. I have a Godin Kingpin 5th Avenue ii that you're welcome to come play. I have a custom Heritage that you're also welcome to try.

**Llewellen** · 06-20-2016, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I'm in Nanaimo. I have a Godin Kingpin 5th Avenue ii that you're welcome to come play. I have a custom Heritage that you're also welcome to try.

Thanks. I appreciate it. The next time I plan to be in the Nanaimo vicinity, I'll contact you in advance to set something up. Private mail through this site?

**Jim Soloway** · 06-20-2016, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Llewellen

Thanks. I appreciate it. The next time I plan to be in the Nanaimo vicinity, I'll contact you in advance to set something up. Private mail through this site?

Sure. Where are you?

**rename** · 06-20-2016, 09:15 PM

If you are up for a trip, Guitars Plus in Victoria has a Godin 5th Ave Jazz in stock at the moment.

**RonD** · 06-20-2016, 09:27 PM

While I don't own a Godin archtop, I teach at a shop that carries the full line.
Very nice guitars.
But... I own and play a Peerless Monarch 16.
I have done a bunch of A/B testing.
To my ears, the Peerless has tons more Jazz vibe.
YMMV

**Llewellen** · 06-20-2016, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Sure. Where are you?

Duncan but I don't drive so I'll have to wait until a friend is going that way sometime. I'll contact you.

**Llewellen** · 06-20-2016, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by rename

If you are up for a trip, Guitars Plus in Victoria has a Godin 5th Ave Jazz in stock at the moment.

Thanks for the tip. I have a friend heading down to the Victoria L&M store to pickup a keyboard so I can probably hitch a ride and try out the Godin. I'm surprised that Guitars Plus has one in stock.

**rename** · 06-20-2016, 10:27 PM

He carries a good selection of Godin. I like the Jazz but am not a fan of the 16" radius fretboard. Otherwise I'd be fighting gas right now. Lol.

**Llewellen** · 06-21-2016, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by RonD

While I don't own a Godin archtop, I teach at a shop that carries the full line.
Very nice guitars.
But... I own and play a Peerless Monarch 16.
I have done a bunch of A/B testing.
To my ears, the Peerless has tons more Jazz vibe.
YMMV

The Monarch is solid woods, right? Is that what accounts for the difference you hear?

**RonD** · 06-21-2016, 01:37 AM

It's laminates. It has a warmth (yeah, I know...) that I don't get with the Godins. Again, it's the sound that drew me to buy it. It work, for me.

Originally Posted by Llewellen

The Monarch is solid woods, right? Is that what accounts for the difference you hear?

**nado64** · 06-21-2016, 03:24 AM

I tried the monarch and the 5th avenue many years ago.
In my modest opinion, the monarch sounded better but, its pickup needs to be replaced and I didn't like the radius of the fretboard. The 5th avenue sounded really good and it's a very confortable guitar.

**Thumpalumpacus** · 06-21-2016, 03:43 AM

Never played a Peerless, but I have played several 5th Ave KPs, and they were each wonderful guitars.

**lammie200** · 06-21-2016, 09:43 AM

One of the nice features about the Godins is the raised fretboard. Really allows the top to vibrate. That said, I went with a Monarch and am happy with it. Very high quality for the price, solid woods, easy playing and modern f-holes. Sort of a Jimmy D design-like guitar.

**jazz.fred** · 06-21-2016, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by RonD

It's laminates. It has a warmth (yeah, I know...) that I don't get with the Godins. Again, it's the sound that drew me to buy it. It work, for me.

Peerless Monarch is NOT laminated. It is solid wood.

**hot ford coupe** · 06-21-2016, 10:15 AM

I tried a Peerless and I was very surprised at how it sounded. I've played the Godin before also and if it were me, I'd go with the Peerless.

**RonD** · 06-21-2016, 10:42 AM

My mistake. I thought that was the difference between the Monarch and the Cremona. All I know is, I love the sound!

Originally Posted by jazz.fred

Peerless Monarch is NOT laminated. It is solid wood.

**Llewellen** · 06-21-2016, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by lammie200

One of the nice features about the Godins is the raised fretboard. Really allows the top to vibrate. That said, I went with a Monarch and am happy with it. Very high quality for the price, solid woods, easy playing and modern f-holes. Sort of a Jimmy D design-like guitar.

Godin was obviously concerned about letting the top resonate - raised fretboard, floating pickup, floating pickguard. BUT then they went and drilled the top to mount the volume and tone pots. Why not mount them on the pickguard (like the Peerless Manhattan has done with its single volume control)?

**Jim Soloway** · 06-21-2016, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Llewellen

Godin was obviously concerned about letting the top resonate - raised fretboard, floating pickup, floating pickguard. BUT then they went and drilled the top to mount the volume and tone pots. Why not mount them on the pickguard (like the Peerless Manhattan has done with its single volume control)?

I hate pickguard mounted controls. They require enough space under the guard for the pots to clear the top and that puts the guard right into my right hand playing zone. As a result I usually end up removing the pick guard form most archtops. The guard on my Godin is set closer to the body so that it doesn't get in the way of my right hand making it the one guitar on which I've willingly left the guard in place.

**lammie200** · 06-21-2016, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I hate pickguard mounted controls. They require enough space under the guard for the pots to clear the top and that puts the guard right into my right hand playing zone...

It seems like I have seen more than one guitar with a damaged top because a pickguard mounted pot smashed into the top causing a dent, a crack, etc.

**Llewellen** · 06-21-2016, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by lammie200

It seems like I have seen more than one guitar with a damaged top because a pickguard mounted pot smashed into the top causing a dent, a crack, etc.

What about Schatten thumbwheels?

**lammie200** · 06-21-2016, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Llewellen

What about Schatten thumbwheels?

Better solution for sure.

**Llewellen** · 06-21-2016, 09:47 PM

Thanks to everyone who replied so far with comments and suggestions. What I think I'm reading from the comments, literally and in tone, is the Godin Jazz is a very nice guitar, perhaps "damned by faint praise", but there is a slight leaning in favour of the Peerless.

Which probably means that either would be a good choice at their price level and it really, as always, comes down to how they feel in your hands and sound to your ears.

If I had to make the choice and put down the money today, I would choose the Peerless. But I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger so I'm still listening to advice and comments from all sources.

**Jim Soloway** · 06-21-2016, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Llewellen

Thanks to everyone who replied so far with comments and suggestions. What I think I'm reading from the comments, literally and in tone, is the Godin Jazz is a very nice guitar, perhaps "damned by faint praise", but there is a slight leaning in favour of the Peerless.

Which probably means that either would be a good choice at their price level and it really, as always, comes down to how they feel in your hands and sound to your ears.

If I had to make the choice and put down the money today, I would choose the Peerless. But I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger so I'm still listening to advice and comments from all sources.

I've owned both a Peerless (a 16" Cremona) and I currently own a Godin (Kingpin 5th Avenue ii). There's no question that the Peerless is a more elegantly crafted guitar but I'm not sure I'd describe it as a better instrument. Both companies make a lot of concessions to efficient modern construction methods. Godin makes no effort to hide their industrial roots whereas Peerless does take some measures to cosmetically hide those roots but that doesn't mean that the Peerless either plays better or sounds better. The Godin has its own sound and it's probably not the right sound for everyone but for some people it works very, very well. The guitar has an incredibly light weight construction and it has a VERY lively voice. I've been playing mine all day doing some test recordings with it and it's been a really fun day.