Godin 5th Avenue

[FernandoDuarte]

Hello guys!
I've just seen the Godin 5th Avenue (in pics, not sure if arrived here on Brazil yet) and got interested in it... But I have no experience in Archtop guitars... As it doesn't has pickups, I'm thinking in get one and use as "acoustic guitar", upgrading it with those Fishman bridges...

Anybody here have playad this particular guitar?? Or know if I can get what I want or not? My main doubts are about the volume of it acoustically and the tone... My idea is: it has a nice visual, would match well to blues/southern rock...

Thank you all for attention! :D

[AndyR]

That's a very nice looking guitar Fernando (found pictures of a black one - my favourite - a natural, and some sort of sunburst which seemd a bit too "pretty" for my tastes).

- I'll blame you if I end up getting one and my wife needs an "explanation" :lol:

I was surprised at how affordable they are (in the UK)... I always thought Godin = more expensive.

Looks to me like it could be a killer "blues on the back porch" instrument - so I'm also interested to know if anyone's tried one (preferably before our back porch falls down!! :roll:)

[ToneMonkey]

That's lovely, but the pick guard would have to go in the bin.

I'm looking for a new acoustic (although as I'm also looking for a new house, it may be a while before I can afford one) and I'd certainly give that a bash.

[WezV]

that black one is damn sexy... i hope they play like cr@p or i might want one

[AndyR]

i hope they play like cr@p or i might want one

My thoughts entirely!!
I even had to order some BKPs I wanted, just to make sure I have no cash for "further investigation"

[FernandoDuarte]

I'm not going to help again, one acoustic and one to mess putting a P90 in the bridge (don't like the Kingpin with single P90 in neck)...

Don't know there in UK, in USA it's about $510... here in Brazil is going in the only seller I found it for about US$1450 and it's """"cheap"""" becouse it's a virtual import company, in the stores would go higher, so planning get somebody to bring it to me from there, people travelling abroad can buy US$500 and don't pay tax... above it you pay...

It's a good idea use it as acoustic???

[FernandoDuarte]

I even had to order some BKPs I wanted, just to make sure I have no cash for "further investigation"

 :lol:

[WezV]

that cherry they have used for the pressed tops looks quite nice under the sunburst... in a slightly non-conventional way.  the only thing i dont like is the headstock, they should really be impractically large on an archtop

[FernandoDuarte]

that cherry they have used for the pressed tops looks quite nice under the sunburst... in a slightly non-conventional way.  the only thing i dont like is the headstock, they should really be impractically large on an archtop

Well, I really like the headstock, but even in this shape they could make it look more "vintage"...

The woods: in a video on Youtube Mr Godin said he changed the woods because the old archtop sounded "bad", so he changed woods for "more projection & volume in the low/mids than traditional archtop acoustic guitars"... But I believe Wild Cherry should be way less expensive than a traditional Spruce and Maple, and it's a molded instead of carved top, don't know if the molded afect the tone, but the woods isn't only for "change the tone"

Do you agree?

[WezV]

molded definately affects the tone... and cherry is definately cheaper... thats why the guitar is the price it is rather than an archtop hand carved from solid maple and spruce

till doesnt mean it will be bad though, i would certainly give it a go - cherry can sound quite nice as an alternative 'tonewood'

[FernandoDuarte]

Didn't like this tone...
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=4BouRYdDKjA

Not exactly what I'm searching for, but in this other (Mr Robin introducing the guitar, just on1:25 have a small sound of it) sounded way cooler...
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=6-xpmjgZFSY

Was thinking in something like this:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=r8yL1ufcZhY&feature=related

Should be something like strings or may I save much money and buy a vintage one?? :D

[WezV]

you dont need to much money for a vintage one from harmony  or silvertone but you usually need to reset the neck!! 

That first clip definately sounded unrefined but it might develop nicely - its got the warmth you would expect and i wouldnt be unhappy at that price.. but for you its costing more

[FernandoDuarte]

but for you its costing more

The traditional english way of politeness :D
Could not say the same without swearing :lol:

[AndyR]

Fernando - I saw one of these on my travels today.

It was the natural finish, which didn't look too inspiring to me. They're a bit smaller than I was expecting, and looking from the side, the fretboard and scratchplate are a lot higher off the body than I would have thought (never concentrated too closely on archtops before though).

I wanted to try it, but it was up on a wall looking important, and the shop was full of people bashing things out. So I stood by it and strummed the strings gently. Now the strings looked a bit old, but it didn't sound very resonant. If anything it seemed a bit boxy. It also didn't seem very loud - but I am used to playing a big flat-top!

I feel a bit guilty now that I didn't get them to take it down and give me a seat - if it had been the black one I might have tried to find someone to ask.

EDIT: I've only just watched your clips - I think the one I saw would have sounded like the first clip.

[FernandoDuarte]

Good to hear it, bloke!
I was like 99% off it, now seems that I will search another road, as it isn't looking like what I'm searching...

As I've said in the "what are you GASing" threat, I'm planning to go to Totnes school of guitarmaking, will try to do one there... as usual, I could not think in it 100% traditional, planning change de back/side woods for Rosewood, for a more flat top sound, but as I don't know anything about archtop, going to try to chat with people that know about!

PS: Thank you for get the time to look at it  :D