My new 5th Avenue

bshpmark · #1 10-30-2008, 01:11 PM

Well, I made the mistake again of going to Maple Street Guitars here in Atlanta to see the Godin 5th Avenue archtop. It just screamed, "Buy me!" So I did. It is a sweet guitar. It is not a large archtop and does not have the bass like a Martin. But it sounds very nice.

Willguitarnewb · #2 10-30-2008, 01:26 PM

Congratulations! That is a very nice looking one. I love the cognac burst color. I have read about these and seen all the demo videos on the web, just have not went to the store and played one yet. Probably out of fear I'll do what you did...bring one home.

I read one review that said it felt like a toy guitar. It sure looks well crafted and solid. How does it feel in your hands?

Thanks,
Will

bshpmark · #3 10-30-2008, 01:35 PM

Feels great in my hand. Extremely lightweight. The Tri-core case is also very lightweight. I belt the whole shebang only weighs about 4 or 5 pounds. I think some have said it is like a toy probably because you do not have the volume and bass response like a dreadnaught. However, I have been strumming it pretty hard and it has decent volume. Mine came with D'Addario EJ16 strings but I am going to string it with either EJ17's or some Pearse mediums. I read one place where after the strings were changed to medium it really made the guitar come alive. I wish I could play fingerstyle because I think this would make a great fingerstyle guitar. Mine came with the action adjusted very low which I like.

Back to how it feels. It feels much like my Martin 000-15S to me. The shorter scale of this makes it very easy to play.

The store also had the 5th Avenue Kingpin which has the pickup in it. But I don't have an amp so I just got the one without the pickup.

And the color is awesome on this. I cannot find anything wrong on it as far as quality of the build is concerned. The only think that I think could be better are the dots on the side of the neck. They just look like little brown cpots of paint. But then, the color goes with the rest og the guitar.

rforman15 · #4 10-30-2008, 04:13 PM

Nice. Congratulations. Enjoy it.

badguy1971 · #5 10-30-2008, 07:34 PM

Congratulations!!!!!
That is a VERY COOL guitar!!!!

rforman15 · #6 10-30-2008, 07:45 PM

maybe play a little Miles Davis on that?

Eugenius · #7 10-31-2008, 07:50 AM

Man that is one fine looking guitar!

I've heard that these are very tough to come by and quite rare, not sure how accurate that is.

Have fun with it!

D. Dubya · #8 10-31-2008, 08:25 AM

AAAAaaaaahhh!!!!!!! I've been wanting one of these SO BAD!!!!!!! I hope you enjoy it... and I hope I can enjoy one soon too.

photomat · #9 10-31-2008, 08:57 AM

Congratulations! Enjoy!

AndrewG · #10 10-31-2008, 11:31 AM

I have read that to get the most from a small archtop like this is to ditch roundwound strings and fit flatwounds for an authentic, jazzy tone. Unfortunately flats sound dead to me unless amplified so I'd be inclined to go with something like PB's in 13 gauge.
That's a very pretty guitar and sorely tempting; trouble is I just know I wouldn't keep it beyond the honeymoon period!

bshpmark · #11 10-31-2008, 01:03 PM

I just took off the EJ16's and put on a set of Pearse Mediums. Really helped the volume. Nice and strong now. Better bass as well.

yowech · #12 10-31-2008, 01:08 PM

Congratulations! Look forward to buy one in the near future!

Pvee · #13 10-31-2008, 02:20 PM

Broadway Sound in Knoxville had them for sale at CAAS. in July.

http://www.broadwaysound.net/products.html

drive-south · #14 10-31-2008, 05:24 PM

I played a few in a store in NorthHampton, MA. If I was to buy one it would have the pickup. I was considering possibly buying one, but I came across an old Guild A50 in a local store and bought it for about the price of the Godin. It's a 1961 A50 made in Hoboken, NJ. It has the old (Gibson-style) headstock and a cool sunburst finish with lots of mojo. I plan to attach a Dearmond pickup to it with controls/jack on the pickguard.

The Godins are cool archtops. A cut above the laminated Harmonys and Kays you find at flea markets, but not really loud enough to play acoustically in a combo without amplification.

You might want to check out "Flat-top" strings from D'Addario. These are flat-wound bronze strings. You get the best of both worlds,

franchelB · #15 11-01-2008, 11:18 AM

I know I already have too many guitars, but if Godin decides to start producing the 5th Avenue with some kind of floating neck pickup, I will just have to start saving up money, and buy me one!