1973 Gibson Hummingbird Sunburst, Very Good, Hard, $2,795.00
The iconic Gibson Hummingbird is essentially the same as the J-45 Deluxe except that the cherry sunburst finish (or, rarely, natural finish), replaces the J-45’s darker sunburst finish. Like the J-45, it has a dreadnought body with a solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. As of 1970, both had a non-adjustable rosewood belly-below bridge and double-X bracing, and a 14/20-fret rosewood finger board with a 25 ½” scale. The obvious distinctions between the Hummingbird and the J-45 were the pearl block fretboard inlay vs. pearl dot inlay, the dramatic embossed and painted hummingbird motif pick guard vs the J-45 black teardrop pick guard, and the bound fingerboard vs. the J-45’s unbound board—all visible upgrades. And of course it had the huge sound for which vintage Jumbo Gibsons have been famous for decades.
This guitar is serial number A060008 (barely legible in my picture of the back of the headstock), which with the “Made in USA” also on the headstock and the changing specs probably dates it as 1973—forty-five years of making music. As might be expected, there are a few cosmetic concerns, including finish crazing on all surfaces. There are, of course, also some dings and scratches, most of which are visible in the pictures. And finally, there is some faint buckle bruising on the back, and a bit of pick wear above and below the sound hole.
The only structural issue it had has been dealt with long ago, a very professionally repaired hairline crack at the back of the headstock, barely visible in the picture. There is some visible fret and fretboard wear in the first three positions, but no buzzing or other negative effects. The action is currently set up at a hair over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and it plays comfortably and sounds huge.
This is truly a great Gibson guitar which has been playing the hard-driving music for which it was made. And, of course, playing the music for over forty-five years has made that Gibson sound potentially even better, more resonant, and more powerful. This guitar is never going to be for a collector to put in a museum; it’s got impressive credentials, but it will never again be cosmetically perfect or all “original.” This is a player’s guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it hard, well, and often. This guitar will reward such a player with great performances, and this guitar deserves no less.
The vintage hard shell case is appropriate but probably not original. Despite the usual few dings along the edges, it is in good shape, inside and out, and the hinges and latches all work perfectly. It offers more than adequate protection and is an excellent vintage complement to this fine vintage Gibson Hummingbird guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument. Therefore, its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this excellent guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.