Am I the only one that doesn't like the Godin 5th Avenue?

**Littlemark** · 03-12-2019, 02:32 PM

Am I the only one who does not like the Godin, 5th Ave guitars. I see nothing but love for them on this forum but to me they sound like cardboard boxes with strings on them. Just awful.
I think they are fine if you are looking for an entry level archtop. But, I could not imagine ever owning one if I wanted to enjoy hearing what I play.

Please note, I do like Godin as a company and am glad a Canadian company is doing well, and getting people to play archtops.

**mr. beaumont** · 03-12-2019, 02:37 PM

What are you comparing them to?

**Jim Soloway** · 03-12-2019, 02:41 PM

I think this sounds pretty good actually.

**jorgemg1984** · 03-12-2019, 02:55 PM

I didn't like the flat radius, otherwise a good guitar.

**Gobi34** · 03-12-2019, 02:57 PM

Good job Jim
a slight imbalance in the mids ?

**vernon** · 03-12-2019, 03:04 PM

I tried playing one at CME a few years ago and the frets seemed rough and unfinished to me.

**Tal_175** · 03-12-2019, 03:30 PM

They use cherry for back and sides. I used to have a cheap Simon & Patrick acoustic guitar (same company) that also used cherry for back and sides. It did have a bit of a cardboardy sound. When I tried a 5th avenue at a store, acoustically it also had that exact same sound. I think it's the sound of cherry, there is a definite cardboard quality to it IMO. But 5th avenue sounded pretty OK through the amp. However if I owned one, I would've perhaps eventually start hearing that sound of cherry wood through the amp as well. That would annoy me just because now I associate the sound of cherry with cheap guitars.

**Gobi34** · 03-12-2019, 03:44 PM

Quand nous chanterons le temps des cerises
Sifflera bien mieux le merle moqueur ...

**Tal_175** · 03-12-2019, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Gobi34

Quand nous chanterons le temps des cerises
Sifflera bien mieux le merle moqueur ...

Google translate:
When we sing cherry time
Will hiss the blackbird better ...

**Gobi34** · 03-12-2019, 03:55 PM

nothing personal,
Le temps des cerises is a French song related to the 1871 revolution attempt

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-12-2019, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Gobi34

nothing personal,
Le temps des cerises is a French song related to the 1871 revolution attempt

I git it -- cherry wood.

Now Mahogany/mahagonny...

**Gobi34** · 03-12-2019, 04:22 PM

When it comes to lyrics, I would not trust Google
my personal translation would be
"will whistle the mocking blackbird better"

**Jim Soloway** · 03-12-2019, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Gobi34

Good job Jim
a slight imbalance in the mids ?

Now that I hear it on a decent pair of speakers it's more like an overwhelming bass. I should probably try re-mixing it and see what it sounds like.

**Littlemark** · 03-12-2019, 06:39 PM

I suppose I'm comparing it to ES 150s or the loar vs300 I have. Single pickup archtops really. But even compared to the new epi archtops they still lack lustre.

**Littlemark** · 03-12-2019, 06:43 PM

Are you implying I'm starting a failed revolution

**coryB** · 03-12-2019, 07:02 PM

I haven't tried the Loar VS300, but I had an LH309VS and the sound was severely lacking compared to my Godin 5th Avenue to my ears.

But, you like what you like and if the sound of a particular guitar doesn't please you, don't buy it.

FWIW, I sold the Loar but still have the Godin.

**WillMbCdn5** · 03-12-2019, 07:48 PM

I had an acoustic 5th Ave. Compared to the other laminates in that kinda price range I thought it sound the best .It was my first archtop and I was on a strict budget. I replace the pick guard as it was to thin and flimsy and bent to easily when I used it as an anchor which I do a lot. I replaced the bridge and saddle with a full contact rosewood and fitted it to the top which hugely improved the tone to my ears. I added a Shadow AZ48 floating pickup rather than get one with a pickup already installed as I didn't like the factory pickup as it sounded thin to me. I dressed/cleaned and polished up the fret ends they were annoying and rough out of the box. I think I squeezed everything I could get out of it and enjoyed it for a while but at the end of the day it lacked the nuance and complexity of tone and dynamic I was hoping for.

Will

**John A.** · 03-13-2019, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Littlemark

I suppose I'm comparing it to ES 150s or the loar vs300 I have. Single pickup archtops really. But even compared to the new epi archtops they still lack lustre.

I haven't played either one of those, so I can't comment on that comparison. I have a Kingpin -- acoustically, I like it because it fills a very particular need. The actual quality of the sound is pretty good (especially compared to most laminate electric archtops I've tried), but it is not as loud as a legit acoustic guitar. So I can practice with it unplugged and get (to me, anyway) an OK sound without bothering my family too much. So what you call its cardboard sound is more of a feature than a bug to me. Plugged in, I think it's a completely legit electric guitar. It's its own thing/flavor, and maybe not to everyone's taste, but I think it holds its own. When I play out with it, I get a lot of compliments from other musicians about its sound. I have other guitars, and it would not work for me if it were my only guitar, but I get a lot out of it. But we all have our own needs and tastes when it come to gear, and one person's trash is another's treasure.

John

**mr. beaumont** · 03-13-2019, 10:42 AM

Yeah, I think if you compare it to a solid wood (or even solid topped) archtop, the sound isn't as good unplugged. But honestly, for what it is, a small laminated box--I think it sound a heck of a lot better unplugged than the other laminated guitars in it's price range (Epiphones, Ibanez, etc.)

As far as "lustre" goes, that's all the Epiphone "Masterbuilt" line has, in my opinion. I much prefer Epiphone's electric archtops (broadway, Joe Pass, etc.)

Plugged in, it's a P-90, and a pretty good one, imho. You either like that or not.

If we're comparing apples to apples, the single pickup Kingpin is most like an ES-125, and fares quite well in that comparison.

But hey, we all like different things. World keeps spinning.

**Chazmo** · 03-13-2019, 03:18 PM

All 5th Avenues are amongst the most comfortable guitars to play, for me anyway, and they can sound great. Like any guitar, and more than most, 5th Avenues benefit from a really good setup.

**Dedalus** · 03-13-2019, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Yeah, I think if you compare it to a solid wood (or even solid topped) archtop, the sound isn't as good unplugged. But honestly, for what it is, a small laminated box--I think it sound a heck of a lot better unplugged than the other laminated guitars in it's price range (Epiphones, Ibanez, etc.)

As far as "lustre" goes, that's all the Epiphone "Masterbuilt" line has, in my opinion. I much prefer Epiphone's electric archtops (broadway, Joe Pass, etc.)

Plugged in, it's a P-90, and a pretty good one, imho. You either like that or not.

If we're comparing apples to apples, the single pickup Kingpin is most like an ES-125, and fares quite well in that comparison.

But hey, we all like different things. World keeps spinning.

Jeff nailed it, IMHO.
I can't play like Jim, or Jeff, but the guitar in my avatar certainly works for me.

And I should add, I've always found the Kingpin II surprisingly lively for a laminated box with two pickups drilled into it. I got mine from Jay (Jehu on this forum) so it may be that he'd done some work to it before I received it, but the fretboard feels great, there's a liveliness to the unplugged sound as I mentioned, and it excels at a plugged-in sound in its price range, IMO. Of course, that's a different discussion re. the P90s...

**Herbie** · 03-13-2019, 07:03 PM

I too had lately an opportunity to try out the famous Kingpin. Second hand, very cheap. Very veeery beautiful! Gorgeous!

But when I changed the stock bridge to a brass TOM bridge I noticed that the original brigde – and the holder too – was plastic. No wonder that it sounded, uh, plasticky!

The brass bridge didn’t bring it alive for me. I didn’t have enough patience to buy and try ebony bridge and holder, I was too disappointed and I sold it for same price I bought it.

I hope everyone else have had better luck!

**gmek** · 03-13-2019, 08:31 PM

I had one for a while, and thought it was a great guitar but the lack of cutaway and p90s ultimately didn't work out for me.

I thought it was a great playing guitar and that it sounded good too, just not the sound I wanted. Happier playing an Ibanez archtop (happier still playing a tele).

For a brief moment I had a Godin Glissentar. A fretless 11 string instrument that was a mix between a guitar and an oud. Now that thing was cool! The ebony neck and nylon strings felt amazing. But, I decided I didn't want to dedicate myself to that (and it was sitting unplayed too often) and let it go.

All that to say that even though I don't have a Godin now I think they're a really great company and make really great guitars.

**cosmic gumbo** · 03-14-2019, 04:48 AM

I'm surprised when I see how many pros use them as a working guitar. It makes me assume they are a basic dependable tool that gets the job done....as an electric jazz guitar.

**mr quick** · 03-14-2019, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I think this sounds pretty good actually.

Great playing there, Jim. I could never make a Godin sound this lively.

edit: That's not meant as a Godin dig - I just can't make 'em work in my hands.