Godin 5th Ave Kingpin II VB

Godin 5th Ave Kingpin II VB review

The Godin 5th Ave Kingpin II VB is a cutaway hollowbody with a direct, traditional setup: a Canadian wild cherry body and top, a maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and two Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups. Its listed price is 1,129, and it has been available since July 2025. The supplied player feedback describes a guitar that arrived ready to plug in and perform, with polished fretwork, a smooth feel, and a strong impression of build quality.

That feedback is especially enthusiastic about the pickups. One player calls their voicing exceptional and compares it favorably with vintage Gibson hollowbodies. That is a personal assessment, not a measured comparison, but it points to the main appeal of this model: a hollowbody format combined with a pair of P90s, rather than a more restrained single-pickup arrangement. Buyers who specifically want that combination have a clear reason to consider the Kingpin II.

Construction and playing details

The body and top are both made from Canadian wild cherry. The set maple neck meets a rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays, a 406 mm (16-inch) radius, and 21 medium frets. The 631 mm (24.84-inch) scale is shorter than a typical 25.5-inch guitar scale, while the nut measures 44 mm (1.72 inches) across. A Graph Tech nut is specified.

The supplied impressions describe the instrument as smooth to play and praise the fret finish. That is useful context for the specifications: the medium frets and shorter scale are part of the physical setup, while the review feedback reports that the finished guitar feels comfortable and gig-ready. The factory string set is.012,.016,.024 wound,.032,.042, and.052. String feel and setup preferences vary, so players who favor lighter strings may want to factor in a setup adjustment after purchase.

The Vintage Burst finish gives the guitar its named appearance, with chrome hardware completing the specification. The overall presentation was described by a player as polished and high quality. No weight, body depth, or detailed setup measurements were supplied, so those points cannot be assessed here.

Controls, pickups, and hardware

Two Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups sit at the neck and bridge positions. The controls are straightforward: one volume knob, one tone knob, and a three-way pickup selector. That layout keeps the available adjustments easy to understand, with pickup selection providing the primary change in sound. The player feedback singles out the P90 voicing as a highlight, particularly for fans of hollowbody guitars with this pickup type.

The bridge is a Graph Tech adjustable Tune-o-matic-style Tusq design with roller saddles, paired with a trapeze tailpiece. There is no tremolo system. The tuning machines have an 18:1 gear ratio, with a 26:1 ratio for the treble strings. These are concrete hardware details, but the available feedback does not offer a long-term report on tuning stability or bridge adjustment. Players should treat those as points to check during their own setup and playing time.

What the player feedback says

The strongest field report is unusually positive: the guitar was described as ready to take to a gig straight out of the box, with smooth playability, clean fretwork, and a sound that impressed its owner. A separate German-language comment also praised the workmanship and tone, calling it a great jazz guitar and expressing confidence in Godin based on past experience. Together, these comments support a picture of a well-received instrument, though they remain individual impressions rather than a broad reliability survey.

For jazz players, the hollowbody construction and neck-position P90 offer a relevant starting point, while the three-way switch leaves the bridge pickup available for a sharper contrast. The supplied comments praise the guitar's jazz use, but do not provide audio samples or detailed assessments across genres. Its range beyond those reported preferences is therefore best judged in person.

Verdict

The Godin 5th Ave Kingpin II VB has a focused specification and persuasive early user feedback. Its Canadian wild cherry body and top, set maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24.84-inch scale, and two Kingpin P90 pickups make its design easy to understand. The reported smooth feel, tidy fretwork, and impressive pickup voicing strengthen the case for it as a serious playing instrument at its listed price of 1,129.

There are practical omissions to keep in mind: neither a case nor a gig bag is included, and the available feedback does not establish how the guitar behaves over extended use. Still, for a player seeking a hollowbody with twin P90s and a simple control layout, the Kingpin II VB deserves a close look. Its most compelling endorsement is specific and consistent: owners praise the construction and sound, with one player ready to take it straight to a gig.