Godin 5th Ave Kingpin P90 VB

Godin 5th Ave Kingpin P90 VB review

The Godin 5th Ave Kingpin P90 VB is a Canadian-made hollow-body guitar with a straightforward signal path: one bridge-mounted Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickup, a three-way switch, and separate volume and tone controls. Its Vintage Burst high-gloss finish and black pickguard give it a traditional appearance, while its Canadian wild cherry body and top define the core of the construction.

Listed at 1035, the guitar has been available since July 2025. The supplied specifications give its scale as both 631 mm and 632 mm, with 632 mm also stated as 24.84 inches. That small discrepancy is worth noting when comparing specifications, but the listed inch measurement places it in the shorter-scale range for an electric guitar. The instrument has 21 medium frets, a 44 mm nut width, and a 406 mm fingerboard radius.

Construction and playability

The body and top are made from Canadian wild cherry. The set neck is maple, identified in the detailed specifications as silver-leaf maple, and the fingerboard is rosewood with white dot inlays. A Graph Tech nut is fitted at the headstock. The hardware is chrome, and the guitar has no tremolo system.

One owner describes the instrument as attractive and comfortable to play, and reports that the fret ends were polished, the intonation was accurate, and the factory setup was ready to use. That is a useful real-world account of the guitar as received, though an individual setup can vary. Another player noticed a small finish defect that appeared after several weeks. The reported repair was handled as a goodwill service by the retailer's workshop. That account does not establish a general finish problem, but it is a reminder to inspect the finish after purchase and contact the seller if an issue appears.

The guitar ships with.012 to.052 strings, including wound lower strings. A player using DR Pure Blues strings found them suitable for slide playing. String choice and setup will affect feel and response, so players who prefer lighter strings may want to assess whether a different gauge better suits their playing. The guitar is sold without a case or gig bag, so buyers should account for separate protection if they need to transport it regularly.

P90 sound and controls

The single P90 sits in the bridge position. The three-way switch and individual tone and volume controls provide the available onboard adjustments. There is no neck pickup, so this is a more focused configuration than a two-pickup hollow-body guitar. Players looking for the distinct neck-pickup option will not find it here.

Owner feedback describes the sound as full and resonant, with one player comparing its character to a fully acoustic guitar. That same player praised the P90 and reported getting a range of sounds through Tonex amp models. These are subjective impressions rather than measured results, but they point to a guitar that its owner found adaptable in a band setting. A blues-band player also reported that audience members often commented on both the instrument's appearance and sound.

The adjustable TOM-style Tusq bridge has roller saddles and is paired with a trapeze tailpiece. This hardware layout gives the strings a fixed bridge and tailpiece arrangement, rather than a vibrato system. The machine heads have an 18:1 gear ratio, with a 26:1 ratio for the treble strings, according to the supplied specifications.

Who should consider it

The 5th Ave Kingpin P90 VB makes sense for players who want a hollow-body guitar with a single bridge P90, a shorter scale, and a traditional look. Its controls are easy to understand, and its construction uses Canadian wild cherry for both the body and top. The owner reports suggest it can work well for blues and slide playing, although each player's preferred strings, amplification, and setup will shape the result.

Its limitations are just as clear. There is no tremolo, no second pickup, and no included case or gig bag. The 44 mm nut width and supplied.012 strings may also feel different from a narrower-neck guitar strung with a lighter set. Try the neck and string tension if possible, especially if you are accustomed to a different scale or string gauge.

Overall, the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin P90 VB offers a simple, distinctive hollow-body format with a Canadian-made build and a bridge-mounted P90 as its defining feature. The positive owner feedback on setup, appearance, and sound makes it worth considering for players who want that specific combination, while the single-pickup layout and lack of included transport protection should factor into the buying decision.