Gibson Hummingbird 1963

The Gibson Hummingbird was Gibsons first square-shouldered Dreadnaught flattop, loaded with bling, and built to go head to head with the much more conservative Martin D-18. Only the J-200 cost more in '63 in Gibson's line of flattops.

The top is solid sitka spruce finished in natural, and bound with multiple w/b/w binding. In '63, the X-bracing was still very light compared to a few years later when things got beefed up. The pickguard has multiple points and is engraved with a hummingbird, butterfly and flowers. The sides and back are mahogany, and the back is bound in multiple w/b/w binding. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard inlaid with double parallelogram position markers. The headstock is inlaid with the 'Gibson' logo and fleur-de-lis. The truss rod cover is must-ply black/white. The tuners are gold Kluson DeLuxe.

The body measures 15 15/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length measures 25 1/2" and the neck is 1 11/16" across at the nut.

This guitar appears to have been a road warrior in its past ... it's a players guitar, for sure. There is considerable play wear on the top and deep divots in the first-position on the fingerboard. There is a crack glued and cleated at the edge of the sound hole under the pickguard. The bridge is an ebony replacement, with the 'belly' oriented towards the bottom like a Martin. Consequently, there is repair at the original footprint of the bridge. There is some belt wear on the back, and finish crazing throughout. A strap button was added at the heel. The neck appears to have never been off, since the finish is not broken at the seam. The saddle is low, but so is the action, currently set at 4 & 6/64". There is some Scotch tape around the end pin area, and a small screw hole in the back, for some odd reason.

There is a saying in the guitar community that the most worn guitars are the most played because they just sound so good. The sound of this guitar supports that thought, because it's one of best-sounding dreads we've played. Big, open, warm and woody, with real good projection. Played with a flat pick it will rattle your bones!

Check the sound clip.

Comes with a new 'Gibson' form-fitting hard case.