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Title.
Looks like a sweet guitar. The couple of youtube videos I've seen make it sound nice. Is it worth ~1400 USD?
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02-28-2023 03:40 PM
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Lots of threads about this guitar, so you're in the right spot. I suggest starting here, and then using the search function to dig in deeper!
Godin 5th Avenue Jazz - Your Thoughts?
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Thanks for the response looking at the thread now.
Originally Posted by JSanta
I'm looking at a Godin Jazz which is bout 1400 dollars, and a EXL-1 Deluxe, which is just under $1000. Ive been fairly set on the Exl-1 and am still leaning that way, but I'm wondering if I should consider the Jazz as well even though it's pricier.
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That's a tricky comparison. I had a Kingpin (not a Jazz), but it's the same neck on all the 5th Avenue guitars, and have played several EXL-1's (including the Deluxe), and own a different model D'A. So I think I have enough familiarity to offer some insight. The neck profiles, scale lengths, and body sizes are different on the Jazz and the EXL-1. You should try to play both because my guess would be that if you like one you might not like the other. In terms of sound and build quality, they're difficult to compare. When they were new (neither is made anymore), the EXL-1 Deluxe was fancier and more expensive, but Godin's thing is using unconventional materials and construction methods and minimal bling to achieve good sound and playability at a lower price point. So exactly which is "better" (subjective preference aside) is tough to determine (as opposed to say, an Epi and a Gibson ES-175, which are attempts to produce very similar subjective playing experiences and spec at different price and quality points) Originally Posted by briandavidyork
As to prices, there are some quirks to this. The EXL-1 specifically was originally about $2k, but they made a shitload of them them in strange colors and a satin finish. They're actually really nice sounding and playing guitars, but the look completely bombed. D'A quickly dumped the model, and they were deeply discounted all over the place. Now, there are a whole lot of used ones (and new ones being sold as used or "b-stock") selling very cheap, but it's not a cheap guitar (if that makes sense). There are a whole bunch now on reverb under $800, and even one for $600.
The Jazz cost around $1300-1500 when new, but they haven't been made in a while, and they didn't make that many, so it's more difficult to predict their price. I see a used one on Reverb right now for $750, and sold listings for ~$750-$1400, with most around $1000. Reverb sold listings overstate selling prices, though, so I'm guessing you can count on getting one for 750-$800 if you're patient if you don't grab the one that's there now.
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Out of curiosity, what model D'Angelico do you have? Originally Posted by John A.
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I have an EX (Excel) DC semi-hollow. Originally Posted by briandavidyork
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I have a burgundy Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin. I got it for 800-odd pounds in 2014. It's a very nice guitar and its P90 pickups are powerful. It is effortful to play though - I do mean to get the action lowered a bit, which will make me play it more, since these days I usually gravitate more towards my Fender Mustang.
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I have a Jazz. I also had an EXL-1 (Excel). Both are well-built, laminated archtops with floating pickups, but beyond that, they are very different guitars. The D'Angelico is a full 17 inch, big, heavy guitar with 25 1/2 inch scale neck. The Godin is 16 inch wide, lightweight, and 24.84 short scale, similar to Gibson 175s, Les Pauls, etc.
I sold the D'A because it was too similar to my Epiphone Elitist Broadway. It played well, but it didn't sound anywhere near as good as the Epi. I have other 5th Avenues and I enjoy them all.
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Just to follow up here with my anti-climactic purchase -- I decided that I don't quite know enough about what jazz guitar I want. I ended up getting a Gretsch G5410 Tri-Five (which as far as I can tell is Rat-Rod with limited edition colors). Definitely not a jazz box, but it is my first hollow body, which I'm excited about. And it looks pretty cool too.
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I think I'm gonna spend some more time trying out proper jazz hollow bodies. Exl-1 and Godin Jazz are still at the top of my list though.
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I bought a Godin Jazz several years ago for a killer deal at an end of the year Godin/Amazon inventory reduction sale. It was less about 50% of MSRP. Pros: Beautiful and great sounding. Cons: Super flat fretboard that was hard for me to play and awkward neck joint that made the upper fret access lip service. I ended up trading it for a Gibson ES-390 and got the same 50% off MSRP in the trade value.
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It is a very lovable and very playable instrument, which has soul, if you are compatible with it. Because it is not a collectible, if you buy a new, its value drops instantly to 60-70%, so you can not sell it without loss if you do not love it.
The good side, you can buy a used one way cheaper than the new price, which is my I recommendation
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You should be able to lower the action by adjusting the bridge thumbwheels provided your neck is properly adjusted…. Which is an ‘IF’ Originally Posted by James W
the shop set ups on these guitars is IME invariably terrible so it’s possible you have too much neck relief because someone stuck heavy flatwounds on it without adjusting the truss rod. They don’t really know what they are doing most of the time, unless you get a specialist dealer like Mak’s
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Yes I'd noticed the bridge thumbwheels but, for the reasons you give, I trust a luthier much more than myself... Originally Posted by Christian Miller
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Give it a go. Thumbwheels on archtop bridges are designed to give instant action adjustments. In the old days it used to be a volume control on acoustic guitars. Raise the action, increase the volume! Originally Posted by James W
Dont let truss rods scare you. adjust by a quarter turn each time…
You could pay a luthier to do this but I think you’d be daft. Luthiers are for real work
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I had a Kingpin that sounded great after replacing the stock P90 with an humbucker in a P90 format. But I hated the flat radius, made the neck very stiff.
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Loosen the strings before turning the bridge thumwheels... they will turn easily and it will take the stress out of the operation. Originally Posted by James W
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I have to do that on my Gibsons. My Loar is easy to that at tension for some reason. I think it’s just designed to do that. No idea what it’s like on the Godins Originally Posted by m_d
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What was the brand name of the pickup? Thanks Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
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Is was from The Creamery (UK). If I rememeber correctly, Alnico V. Originally Posted by DougB
The website is not very intuitive, it's the "p90 sized fat humbucker for dogear".
https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/custom-handwound-pickups-from-the-creamery/custom-handwound-replacement-p90-pickups.html#.ZAYMrHbP1EY
It was a long time ago so I don't remeber everything and I'm not a fan of P90s for jazz, so the improvement was expected. But it sounded grat, more in the clear acoustic mini humbucker style than the fat dark full paf one.
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The ease of turning the thumbwheels is a factor of friction. The end portion of the saddle which rests on the wheel is often a little rough. Smoothing that can make a difference. Also, some wheels are rough on the sides, which can require more effort to turn them. There are spanner wrenches made for turning the thumbwheels, and bridge jacks to raise the saddle to allow the wheels to turn freely for adjustment. Loosening the strings is way too much trouble for me, and too much loosening and retuning will result in string breakage. Done even a little judiciously, adjusting the thumbwheels is harmless, and completely reversible. Every player should be able to do it, it's like turning the tuner buttons. I also adjust the truss rod at tension, but I seldom turn it further than the distance between strings, maybe 10 degrees, at a time. I never crank it much more than that. If it's not enough, I nudge it just a little further. Sometimes a turn just enough to tell that the adjustment nut moved is enough.
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That was my experience as well. I think that it is metal shredder friendly at 16". Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
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Ah, should've gone the shreder route instead of selling it! Originally Posted by lammie200
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Thanks for the info. Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
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