Small amp for Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin?

**jscjr64** · 12-30-2010, 02:10 AM

I was the very fortunate recipient of a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin for Christmas. I've never owned an electric guitar of any kind before (my other instrument is an acoustic flat-top), so I know next to nothing about amplification. My applications are limited to practice and the occasional jam session with a couple of friends, so I (think) I could be well-served by something small and relatively inexpensive. Any suggestions along these lines would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

**fep** · 12-30-2010, 02:19 AM

I think the first thing you should do is consider if you'll ever be playing with a drummer. If so, you'll need a bit more power.

If you have a big budget... I sure like fender tube amps. Like a princeton reverb or a deluxe reverb (both or which have enough power to play with a drummer).

On a smaller budget... perhaps a roland cube, there's a variety of power levels for the cube from a micro cube (not powerful enough to play with a drummer). To a 15 watt, 20 watt, 30 watt, 40 watt etc. versions - not sure where the cut-off is for enough volume to play with a drummer, maybe all of them have enough volume.

**RoyaleT** · 12-30-2010, 07:02 AM

I play a Semi-hollow Dot and Aria FA71 archtop through a Roland 20X about 80% of the time at home and a Fender Princeton Chorus 2x10 50 watt the rest of the time & almost always with friends. Neither cost too much. You can find tons of used Choruses for under $200. Both are SS, though. A friend just bought a small Bugera tube amp for $150 for his Epi 175 and it sounds real nice, too.

**kris** · 12-30-2010, 08:34 AM

Aer Alpha

**Bflat** · 12-30-2010, 08:42 AM

hi, I have the Kingpin with too. It sounds really nice with my Fender Blues Junior and roland cube 60. I was really surprised though when I played through my Micro Cube Rx with my upright bass playing friend as a duo and we recorded some of the tunes. I really liked the tone. It also uses batteries which is super convenient when you don't have access to outlets.

happy shopping!

**Elias Graves** · 12-30-2010, 10:06 AM

Are you looking for tube or not?
On the tube side, I play mine through a little Fender Champ 600 for practice. It'll keep up with a couple of flat tops but that's about it. I upgraded tubes and speaker to get it to sound better though.
It sounds good through a Fender Pro Jr and Blues Jr as well. The Pro Jr lacks reverb and master volume and it'll keep up with a light handed drummer. The Blues Jr, with master volume and reverb, will play a club gig with a rock drummer. It will get quite loud.
The Vox Valvetronix and Roland Cubes are good options as well. Those will offer a variety of amp models and effects. The Fender Superchamps do that, too.
A Princeton or Deluxe Reverb are higher, but very nice.

Congrats on the new Kingpin. Cool guitar!

EG

**rabbit** · 12-30-2010, 10:58 AM

Take a look here; the Mustang I is only $100.

Fender® Mustang™ Amplifier Series

EDIT:

Congratulations on your new axe!

**Silentwiz** · 12-30-2010, 12:21 PM

On the cheaper side:

Roland Cube 30x (or maybe one of the higher wattage models) and the Lunchbox or Club

In the middle:

Polytone (notably used); AER; Henriksen

Top of the heap:

Acoustic Image

**docbop** · 12-30-2010, 12:35 PM

You didn't give a budget and that is very important because there is so much out there. I've been thinking of getting a small amp for practice and small gigs and looking at the Roland Cube 40XL. Not too big, but a speaker big enough for full bottom and lots of effects and modeling built-in. Plus price is very good.

I did try a ZT Acoustic Lunchbox and had to return it. If you get a ZT I would go with the original and not the Acoustic model. Then if you want to spend more then the Jazzamp or AI head with RE cabinet.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-30-2010, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by kris

Aer Alpha

AER are great amps, but pricey, at least in North America. A new Alpha would be close to $900. (Example link)

**Silentwiz** · 12-30-2010, 03:58 PM

Based on my research, at that price level, there are some really nice AI models available AI CodaR, etc...

Baltar Hornbeek · 12-30-2010, 04:00 PM

Since you're mostly practicing ... hands down> Roland Cube 40 > it's got a built in looper

**mr. beaumont** · 12-30-2010, 10:33 PM

My Kingpin really likes a smallish tube amp (12-15 watts)--I think it's the P90's.

Blues junior on a budget, Princeton if you can spend a little more.

But although I'm reccomending tubes, you can't go wrong with the cube series.

Baltar Hornbeek · 12-31-2010, 12:18 AM

Yeah, I plugged a kingpin into a fender tube amp....it was indeed, heavenly.

**Dark Star** · 12-31-2010, 02:48 PM

First, what color is the guitar? If it is a Blonde then there is no question, you need one of these:
EPIPHONE ELECTAR

**Stackabones** · 12-31-2010, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Star

First, what color is the guitar? If it is a Blonde then there is no question, you need one of these:
EPIPHONE ELECTAR

HAWT!!!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-31-2010, 03:21 PM

My pants just got tight.

**jazzguyfromnc** · 12-31-2010, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Star

EPIPHONE ELECTAR

That is one of the coolest looking amps EVER. More info on it please!

As mentioned before, AER makes an incredible amp for its size. Other great smallish amps are Evans, Henriksen, and Acoustic Image (the Corus model). These are a bit pricey but sound amazing.

The Cube 60 was mentioned above as well. I own this amp and gig with it quite a lot, and would recommend it highly.

**jscjr64** · 12-31-2010, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Star

First, what color is the guitar? If it is a Blonde then there is no question, you need one of these:
EPIPHONE ELECTAR

Alas, it's black (the only choice for me) but that is one cool looking piece of kit.

**Dark Star** · 01-01-2011, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by jazzguyfromnc

That is one of the coolest looking amps EVER. More info on it please!

It is an Epiphone Electar Zephyr from the 1940s & it is probably around twenty or thirty watts w/two 6L6s, & 12" speaker (one of those "field coil" types), & an open back. I used to own one & it was very similar sounding to a Fender Tweed Deluxe. The inside was covered w/green flocking which did make it sound different, I believe. It also had some other oddball tubes that cost me a fortune to replace until I found a lifetime's supply of them at a local Boeing surplus store for a buck apiece.
I traded it away for some other gear I thought I needed & wish I hadn't.
I'm not sure what amp would be best suited for a black 5th Ave but it needs to look cool!

I love those guitars.

**amusiathread** · 01-01-2011, 01:46 PM

Ultrasound DS4. Great tone, full-range, pretty portable, under $500.

**kris** · 01-01-2011, 01:52 PM

May be head amp and small cabinet/Redstone/ will bo good?

**GodinFan** · 01-01-2011, 04:52 PM

My ZT Lunchbox works great with my Kingpin.

**dmort** · 01-04-2011, 12:50 PM

Fender Frontman 2x12: not too pricey, sounds great, headroom. This is a good amp. I also love VOX amps. the new hybrid ac15 and ac30 amps are really good values and not back breakers.

**jscjr64** · 01-04-2011, 11:26 PM

Many thanks to everyone who has chipped in with information, opinions and recommendations. I'm going to troupe down to the closest Guitar Center in the next month or two and try out a couple of options -- based on reading and window shopping I'd be leaning toward the Roland Cubes, as no one seems to have anything but positive things to say about them and the price range is right in my wheelhouse. (I can imagine the conversation with my spouse if I suggest buying an amp that costs as much or more than the guitar she just bought me a week ago, but I do have a birthday coming up in the spring!)

Thanks again, and I'll check back in with a follow-up when appropriate.