I just got my new Kingpin and plugged it into my Bose L1 Model ii. I play alot of acoustic duo or single type of shows and have played a Taylor 410 CE since 2003. Before that I owned a Takamine acoustic. So coming from an acoustic background I was looking for something a little different yet not electric. This guitar has a sound that isn't quite electric nor is it acoustic its a little of both. I think it strums with the percussiveness of an acoustic but the neck is much faster and easier to play than an acoustic. You have Tone and Volume. I find that backing down the volume adjust the amount of acoustic sound you get compared to electric if you open up the volume. Any way you slice it it sound amazing but if you are an acoustic player be prepared that this is a slightly different animal but one that has a sound all its own and its construction is flawless and beautiful! Buy one before the price shoots up.

I bought the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin about two months ago used from a dealer online. At the time i was a little skeptical considering that this guitar hasn't been in production for very long. I was most definitely wrong. I have trouble deciding which guitar I like to play more, this or my customized Telecaster. The action is probably the best I've ever felt on an acoustic guitar. The only thing i dont like about this guitar is that it's really bassy. Then again, I play with a Fender HRDx through a Marshall 1960 cab, so it's obvious that there's a lot of treble in my sound. Regardless, this guitar is amazing. I'd recommend it to anyone with the money to buy it.

This is really an excellent guitar for not too much money. It is quite beautiful, and I love the finish which appears to be like a hand-rubbed oil appearance. The cherry's grain shows through quite nicely and is a nice change-of-pace from the mahogony and rosewood so ubiquitous in the marketplace. Mine has the 'cognac burst' finish, which is very nicely executed on this guitar, and the entire guitar 'vibe' is served up nicely by matched cream-colored binding, pearloid pickguard and gloss black headstock.

The component selection and quality is top-line. Tuners are solid and work well, and are cosmetically a great choice for this guitar. The tailpiece as well is solid and beatifully chromed. And the Graphtec Tusc bridge is easily adjusted and is intonated for this guitar. Controls (tone & volume) adjust full-range and are smooth and noise-free.

Factory setup was a bit high for my playing style, but using the adjustable bridge I was able to dial in a perfect string height in a matter of moments- a truly great feature of an archtop! And no fret buzz even after lowering.

Best of all, it sounds FABULOUS! The P90 style 'Kingpin' pickup produces a very natural sound, and the tone control allows a really broad range of tone shaping. I've been playing it through a Roland AC60 acoustic amplifier with just a bit of chorus and reverb with awesome results! The guitar is also very comfortable to play due to the relatively thin body and 'normal' shape.

I don't rate higher, only because I'm trying to be objective in evaluating this guitar in the context of ALL guitars, but for the money, it's definitely a '10' all the way. It has LOADS of old-time vibe with great sounds at a killer price! You won't be disappointed.

I compared few Kingpins in a shop and choose one, it is black. It was ready for use, but I did spend some time to find optimal set up for electric (with a band) and acoustic(for practicing ) playing. I used some lubrication in the nut and saddle and the intonation is fine and it stays in tune. The godin recommended strings work well.

I like the the responsiviness of the mic and the sound, both electric and acoustic. The neck and playing feel too. As a whole it was worth waiting.

I have played two gigs with this guitar, first was 5x45 min. the other almost the same lenght. Did not use the spare guitar at all, which was ready. It is a trio with bass and drums, and we played many kinds of music, from wedding waltzes to Scuttlebuttin´ blues. I used no effects but little reverb from the amplifier. The guitar made this test easily and I enjoyed playing it. I will continue using it. It is a refreshing experience after playing mainly solidbodies a long time. I have also learned new things about the instrument while getting aquinted with this hollowbody.

The guitar arrived perfectly set up. The finish is excellent except in the f-holes which could be a bit smoother. Superb neck, great fretwork. The bridge is not "plastic" but a Graphtech TUSQ; supposedly, it mimics an ebony bridge. The guitar sounds great both plugged and unplugged. But what is absolutely mind boggling is the price!