Gibson Hummingbird Maple / Spruce (1962)

This 1962 Gibson Hummingbird is the kind of guitar that really resonates with the staff here at TME. Oooooof. That was bad. Let's try again: it really strikes a chord ... Ugh! Stop that already, will you?

Take two. We love this Hummingbird because it's a "doesn't matter" guitar. If you're going to get caught up in details like originality of saddle slot, or the nut width, or the look of the tuner buttons, you can go ahead and pass on this one. But if you're like us, and you know the sound of a guitar you want to own within ten seconds of the first strum, read on, because none of that aforementioned stuff matters.

This guitar was owned for decades by the brother of a long-standing TME client (who goes back to the Eric Schoenberg era and still owns one of the Soloists from the first batch, with Eric's hand-written label inside the guitar!). Said client has been the caretaker of this guitar since his brother's passing and has finally decided to let it go ~ a journey in and of itself, and, if we're being honest, part of the reason we feel especially connected to this guitar. During our client's ownership, luthier Pat DiBurro replaced the bridge & bridgeplate, stabilizing the top and installing a bone saddle in place of the original adjustable ones. DiBurro also stabilized a large top crack, endured in a jam session gone a little too tipsy decades ago.

And you know what? None of that matters. We're guessing that from first strum you'll be so taken with the sound of this guitar you'll forget everything we wrote above. This is as powerful and great-sounding a Hummingbird as we have ever known. It's one of the very rare ones ~ only seen for a brief window in the early 1960's ~ featuring Maple back and sides and the longer scale length associated with Gibson's fancier "Dove" model. Huge low end, volume, and a fuller, brighter, and more complex tone than you'd typically associate with a Hummingbird. The fantastic sound and inimitable vibe given off by the Hummingbird aesthetic and just-the-right-amount of grime caked into the top finish make this the most memorable heavy strumming / rhythm recording guitar in recent shop history. Can you tell we love this guitar? We absolutely LOVE this guitar.

Priced with non-original hardshell case.

• Model: Hummingbird
• Serial Number: 91918
• Materials: Maple back & sides, Spruce top, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard & bridge (bridge is non-original)
• Finish: Original lacquer
• Neck Shape: Medium-thick 1960's C
• Hardware: Original, with 5 replaced tuner buttons
• Measurements: 25.4" Scale, 1 11/16” nut width, 2 1/8" String spacing
• Case: Non-original hardshell