Gibson Hummingbird

[BB]

Had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a sweet new Gibson Hummingbird the other day.

First off, most of the newer Gibson acoustics I've played have left much to be desired in terms of tone and playability. I should preface that statement to include the majority of hte ones I've tried have been at Guitar Center where old stings and no set up's are the rule.

I stopped in to a nice store that carries some great higher end guitars and I was floored by the Hummingbird. The playability was excellent but what really had my mojo in a tither was the tone. Beautiful! Chords were rich, lush and balanced. Playing lead lines was a revelation. The darn thing sounded like I was in a recording studio! Amazing volume, sustain and bloom to the notes. If I was in the market for a new acoustic, ( and more importantly, had some disposable income ) I would have taken it home.

I also played a beautiful little Tanglewood parlor sized guitar. Not sure of the model number....it has a slotted headstock, hard V neck, beautiful wood binding with mother of pearl bling all over it. Not only did it look fantastic, it played very well and sounded splendid.

[Cunningham26]

When i was getting my acousic it came down to an epi masterbilt with mahogany back and sides, or the epi hbird. i went with the latter, because the masterbilt had no mids, just really deep bass and really tinny hi's.

the hbird didn't have the best sounds initially, but switching up to some martin strings helped, and im going to get a bone saddle and nut to improve it a bit more soon.

[zombywoof]

The Hummingbird was originally designed to be a clone of a Martin dread with a Gibson logo. Ted McCarty brought a Martin into the factory, dropped it on Chief Engineer's Larry Aller's desk and told him to copy it. The first result was the Epiphone Frontier. The second was the HB. That is why they sound so different from their slope shoulder kin.

As far as substitutes, I take what the words on the old banner guitars said as the Gospel - "Only a Gibson is Good Enough." Then again, I play a 1956 SJ and 1960 J-200 so I guess you could say I am a bit biased.

[Jeri]

Never tried a Hummingbird and didn't realise they were all square shouldered.. My 2 acoustics are both gibsons and both square shouldered..

I really need to spend more time geeking and less strumming as I have little or know idea of the history or manufacture of mine... Love the way they play/sound/look tho

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Jeri

Never tried a Hummingbird and didn't realise they were all square shouldered.. My 2 acoustics are both gibsons and both square shouldered..

The Hummingbird was Gibsons first dread. In 1969, when the Norlin conglomerate took over Gibson, all slope shoulder Gibson jumbos (with the exception of the J-200) became square shoulder dreads. They also got heavier tops and bracing.

[hollowman]

I've played a few new ones, they are nice, but haven't found one that plays or sounds like my '74, I just love the neck on that guitar and the tone is nice and balanced. It pairs up great with my buddies HD-28. Unfortunately I need to get the frets replaced and have been putting it off for some time now...

[dB]

Originally Posted by Jeri

Never tried a Hummingbird and didn't realise they were all square shouldered.. My 2 acoustics are both gibsons and both square shouldered..

I really need to spend more time geeking and less strumming as I have little or know idea of the history or manufacture of mine... Love the way they play/sound/look tho

You need to pick up this,

http://www.amazon.com/Gibsons-Fabulo...7628932&sr=1-2

when it comes out, if you can't find a copy of the previous edition; I refuse responsibility for the ensuing GAS.

[Brewdude]

I've got an '03 'bird. Love it.

Funny thing I was shopping for an older one, say mid-late 60's. That's what I remember when I got the urge to get one. The feel of the neck was all it was about, plus the tone of course. Felt natural to me.

So, about '03 I finally decided to do something about this (long time, eh?).

Found a '68 tobacco sunburst 'bird. Great player, minimal checking. $1700 out the door. Let it slip through my fingers while I was agonizing over the cost vs other financial obligations.

Lesson learned. It would have been a fine addition and daily player. Sure wish I could go back and change the decision. But there you are!

Months later, played a new 'bird and was beguiled by the sound and playability. Price wasn't much more than the '68 so I said yup.

Never regretted it.

[Colt W. Knight]

I think Gibson makes some outstanding acoustics, but they also make a lot over priced fluff.