(SOLD) Gibson Hummingbird Honeyburst 2012
Gibson Hummingbird, honeyburst, made in USA 2012. The Hummingbird launched in 1960 and was Gibson's first square-shoulder Dreadnought, and has found favour with everyone from Keith Richards to Thom Yorke to Justin Bieber. It's a gorgeous looking guitar, with some classic details like the split block inlays, moustache headstock, engraved guard and seven ply binding livening up those classic curves. The honeyburst finish is a warm gooey delight, and if you hold it up close, you can see the remarkably tight grain lines of the incredible AAA grade sitka spruce top. There's no faking great wood: this was made with some really special pieces, and that is always going make for a superb acoustic. The neck is a moderate rounded shape, it sits nicely in the hands and is a little beefier than a typical Martin style neck without being a tree-trunk. The body feels a little smaller than a J-45 or J-200 style shape, so it's pretty comfy to sit with. The tone is warm and deep: tuneful lows with plenty of roundness, balanced open midrange with a responsive dynamic voice and an understated, classy top end that comes out chirpily when you add some velocity to your attack. It sounds nice when you're playing it, but it sounds even better if you're sitting a meter or two away so you really get the benefit of the guitar's excellent balance and warmth. This has a simple little LR Baggs pickup system installed, which didn't require and drilling, so it's ready to sing for it's supper if you were so inclined. The Australian street price on the equivalent new Hummingbird has hit an eye-watering $7300-8000AUD recently, so represents a very sound buy in my humble opinion. Plus... look at it, right?
Model: Gibson Hummingbird
Made: 2012, Boseman Montana USA
Serial: 13102052
Finish: honeyburst top, natural light brown back and sides, gloss nitro
Body: solid AAA sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, square shoulder dreadnought shape
Neck: mahogany, Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius
Weight: 2.170kg
Mods: pickup installed (no drilling, endpin replaced)
Pickup: LR Baggs Element System
Accessories: original Gibson case and docs
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a minor dimple on the treble side corner of the end and some minor scuffs around some of the posts on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, very minor dimples only. The back has light surface scratches on the top shoulder and middle of the body, rub wear in the elbow area and some light scuffs on the bottom horn and back edge. The sides have minor scuffs on the top shoulder, minor dimples and scuffs in the elbow area, dimples in the bottom corner and some rub wear on the bottom shoulder. The front has some play wear on the guard and shoulders, rub wear on the bass side between the soundhole and the bridge, dimples behind the bridge and in the bottom corner. The guard can tend to lift a little at the corners, as is common with these thick Gibson guards, but it's easy enough to just push it back down.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 Elixir strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only