Gibson Hummingbird Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962)
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Item # 12864
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Gibson Hummingbird Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 78262, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is an all original and almost incredibly clean early example of a Gibson Hummingbird from 1962, easily the nicest of these we have ever seen. This fancy decorated cherry sunburst acoustic was one of the company's most distinctive 1960s flat top creations. It was introduced in late 1960 as Gibson's first square-shoulder Dreadnought, nearly three decades after the company's venerable round-shoulder Gibson Jumbos first appeared. This new model was positioned above those in Gibson's line, just below the super flashy 17" J-200. With a nod to Martin's popular Dreadnought shape this new Gibson was timed right for the folk-era acoustic boom; it quickly became a popular model and the even fancier square-shouldered Dove was added to the line in 1962.
This Hummingbird is a fairly early production model from early 1962, when 503 of these fairly expensive flat tops were shipped from Kalamazoo. The boxy body shape may have been inspired by Martin but the look is Gibson all the way. The multi-bound top is finished in a beautiful subtly shaded darker cherry sunburst. The mahogany neck, sides and back have a deep shaded cherry stain. A distinctive "hummingbird in flight" pattern is engraved on the large tortoise celluloid pickguard and filled with yellow toner creating a unique look.
The mahogany neck has a 25 1/4 scale, longer than most Gibson flat tops, with a bound double parallelogram inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The unbound headstock is ornamented with the classic "crown" motif in pearl under the "Gibson" logo. The rosewood bridge has the adjustable ceramic saddle construction Gibson made increasingly ubiquitous at the time as a hedge against warranty repairs.
This model listed at $250 on Gibson's September 1961 price list, plus $50 for the yellow-lined hardshell case. The original buyer of this one got it (at a slight bargain) on layaway for $287 starting in November 1962; the original sales paperwork and hangtag are amazingly still included. Judging from how clean the guitar remains he either took unusually good care of the instrument or simply never played it that much!
The square-shouldered Hummingbird was a groundbreaking design for Gibson, opening up a new chapter in the company's flat-top history. While a large guitar, it was not as wide-range sounding as many earlier Gibson flat tops but offers a comparatively tight midrange-rich sound that makes for an ideal recording guitar for rock bands, a role they still are prized for today. The Rolling Stones in particular became associated with the model, Keith Richards having been duly immortalized with one on the inside cover of the HIGH TIDE AND GREEN GRASS best-of collection issued in March 1966. This early Hummingbird is ideal for that role, as well as songwriting and recording in general, and can also light up any stage. This is a simply superbly well preserved example, a really lovely guitar to play, hear or even just admire.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 13/16 in. (40.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this early 'bird remains in superbly excellent shape, the best preserved original Hummingbird we have seen from the finest era for these square shoulder Gibsons. The all-original finish shows hardly any fade or checking and just some small dings, dents and scuffing overall but no really serious wear. The most notable are some scratches and dings to the back, into but not through the finish mostly just below the neck heel. The back of the neck has some light typical fading to the cherry stain from the hand contact but little wear.
The guitar remains all original inside and out; even the bridge plate shows very little string ballend wear. The adjustable bridge with the now-prized ceramic saddle is intact including all the bolts and hardware as are the gold Kluson tulip-button tuners. This Hummingbird is a superb player with the midrangey sound these are known for; this one has more power than many and is very even. Really not only is this the cleanest it is also the best sounding 1960s 'bird we have heard. (And everybody's heard about the bird)! It resides in the original yellow-lined HSC, with the hangtag and 1962 sale papers included. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This is an all original and almost incredibly clean early example of a Gibson Hummingbird from 1962, easily the nicest of these we have ever seen. This fancy decorated cherry sunburst acoustic was one of the company's most distinctive 1960s flat top creations. It was introduced in late 1960 as Gibson's first square-shoulder Dreadnought, nearly three decades after the company's venerable round-shoulder Gibson Jumbos first appeared. This new model was positioned above those in Gibson's line, just below the super flashy 17" J-200. With a nod to Martin's popular Dreadnought shape this new Gibson was timed right for the folk-era acoustic boom; it quickly became a popular model and the even fancier square-shouldered Dove was added to the line in 1962.
This Hummingbird is a fairly early production model from early 1962, when 503 of these fairly expensive flat tops were shipped from Kalamazoo. The boxy body shape may have been inspired by Martin but the look is Gibson all the way. The multi-bound top is finished in a beautiful subtly shaded darker cherry sunburst. The mahogany neck, sides and back have a deep shaded cherry stain. A distinctive "hummingbird in flight" pattern is engraved on the large tortoise celluloid pickguard and filled with yellow toner creating a unique look.
The mahogany neck has a 25 1/4 scale, longer than most Gibson flat tops, with a bound double parallelogram inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The unbound headstock is ornamented with the classic "crown" motif in pearl under the "Gibson" logo. The rosewood bridge has the adjustable ceramic saddle construction Gibson made increasingly ubiquitous at the time as a hedge against warranty repairs.
This model listed at $250 on Gibson's September 1961 price list, plus $50 for the yellow-lined hardshell case. The original buyer of this one got it (at a slight bargain) on layaway for $287 starting in November 1962; the original sales paperwork and hangtag are amazingly still included. Judging from how clean the guitar remains he either took unusually good care of the instrument or simply never played it that much!
The square-shouldered Hummingbird was a groundbreaking design for Gibson, opening up a new chapter in the company's flat-top history. While a large guitar, it was not as wide-range sounding as many earlier Gibson flat tops but offers a comparatively tight midrange-rich sound that makes for an ideal recording guitar for rock bands, a role they still are prized for today. The Rolling Stones in particular became associated with the model, Keith Richards having been duly immortalized with one on the inside cover of the HIGH TIDE AND GREEN GRASS best-of collection issued in March 1966. This early Hummingbird is ideal for that role, as well as songwriting and recording in general, and can also light up any stage. This is a simply superbly well preserved example, a really lovely guitar to play, hear or even just admire.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 13/16 in. (40.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this early 'bird remains in superbly excellent shape, the best preserved original Hummingbird we have seen from the finest era for these square shoulder Gibsons. The all-original finish shows hardly any fade or checking and just some small dings, dents and scuffing overall but no really serious wear. The most notable are some scratches and dings to the back, into but not through the finish mostly just below the neck heel. The back of the neck has some light typical fading to the cherry stain from the hand contact but little wear.
The guitar remains all original inside and out; even the bridge plate shows very little string ballend wear. The adjustable bridge with the now-prized ceramic saddle is intact including all the bolts and hardware as are the gold Kluson tulip-button tuners. This Hummingbird is a superb player with the midrangey sound these are known for; this one has more power than many and is very even. Really not only is this the cleanest it is also the best sounding 1960s 'bird we have heard. (And everybody's heard about the bird)! It resides in the original yellow-lined HSC, with the hangtag and 1962 sale papers included. Overall Excellent + Condition.