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Definitely! I used to have a Gibson Johnny Smith which has a 24 3/4" scale...so you can do all the crazy J.Smith voicings. Man, did that feel toyish compared to a Favino!
http://www.godinguitars.com/godin5thavenuep.htm
http://www.godinguitars.com/godin5thavenuekingpinp.htm
I actually would like the acoustic one, the electric has a P-90 in it. I hear they play very well.
Here is a guitar show video about it with Godin himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-xpmjgZFSY
I'll try various guitars tomorrow, including the Eastman.
I'm really leaning towards that one... but it's more money than I have now or want to spend... let's see if she can steal my heart... and bank savings...
My retirement project - retirement in about 3 years - is to be competent at both DADGAD fingerstyle and Django jazz. So, I've got a bunch of Bensusan stuff, and Al Petteway's DVDs, and Denis Chang's DVD set. I plan to buy Michael Horowitz's Unaccompanied Django as well.
I'm also going to build a Selmer-style using Michael Collins' book. That starts over Christmas.
I've been playing some Godin 5th Avenues here in Abbotsford, B.C. I think I might be one of the first to try both the acoustic and the Godin Kingpin which is the amplified one. It's got a P90 on it.
I'm planning on buying the Kingpin as soon as I have the money. I've compared it to the Epi and a few others as well, and the Godin plays right up to any of them. Here in Canada, it's $689 for the Kingpin. If you convert that to American, it's a lot cheaper yet. I call it a steal at that price!
Ian Mc.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=528022
Obviously, there's not going to be much to them acoustically, but they look to be pretty feedback-resistant, and those bar pickups will probably give you a nice Charlie Christian-esque sound. Plus, they're pretty damn cool looking.
Too cool!
A top with a "set" pickup will be less prone than one with a floater. The Eastman John Pisanos have a single set pickup and 16" body. I have one and it is fine amplified. It has a decent acoustic archtop sound also, but is not as loud acoustically, or as resonant, as the full-size Eastmans with floaters I have played.
Mike
The 5th Aves a re excellent. Not just good. They are not a copy of anything but an amalgamation of styles and features of older archtops.
Design, materials, and workmanship are top notch. They are light, fun, play very well and as a bounus, cheap. With case around $600 US.
Upgrades are easy and also cheap. First replace the bridge with one from Stewart MacDonald.. around $20, Next get some heavier strings. 13's would do it.. some folks have gone to 14's but I'd try the 13's first.
As the rest of the hardware is serviceable, I'd leave it alone.
With the new bridge and some 13's the top comes alive, as good as it is stock, it gets much better. Considering that it is a laminated top, very surprising tone and volume. Is it an Eastman, no.
As much as I have tried to like Eastman's I have palyed but ione that got me close to a purchase.., a bottom of the line no electrics, no cutaway and absolutely no figure in the maple. The dealer wouild not budge off suggested list.
The Kingpin was ok. also well made and easy to play. I would have chosen a deifferent pickup but, good stock.
I would consider a 5th ave and a floating Armstrong or Benedetto or other end of the fingerboard pickup before I would buy a Kingpin.
Soon there will be a new version in a 2 pickup model with a cutaway at around $1000 US street price.
I have suggested to the Western US Godin rep that the upgrade the 5th ave.. not with pickups and cutaways but with a solid spruce top, whether carved or pressed
I have also seen these 5th Aves fitted with a Bigsby...yowzah !!
After exploring a variety of modestly priced archtops I concluded that the 5th Ave was the best value and most fun .
The Ibanez 105 series are a bit too "precious", the Joe Pass needs series pickup and hardware upgrades and looks as if it were dipped in the poly vat. Same for the Broadway, though not as "slick" looking.
Another consoderation is the new version of "the Loar" the 600 series. Unlike the earlier 500 series the new one has all solid woods and claims to have a hand carved top. They have the look of the earlier L-5 models and decent looking sunbursts and another plus, and adult sized 1 3/4 nut width. These are around $`1000 street price. I have not played one. I played the earlier 500 series and they are serious dogs., every one in the litter.
Also the 5th ave case is a real treat. Space age foam plastic thing.. kinda cool.. not at all retro. I saw the local rep put a guitar in one of these new cases and toss it 20 feet with no damage. Impressive. $85. And rumor has it that a couple of famous guitar makers including some 1833 co has asked Godin if they could make cases for them.
Coincidentally I am going ioff to my favorite music store ( about 50 Godins and 100 Seagulls in stock) and have another run at the 5th Aves