NRGD: 1970 Gibson Hummingbird - Page 2

Brucebubs · #16 03-02-2021, 03:49 PM

Great story, great save and great guitar.

vintage40s · #17 03-02-2021, 07:45 PM

Looks just like the Hummingbird that I bought new in 1963. A perfect light sunburst. I miss the screw-adjustable saddle. Wish I had never traded that guitar toward a new 1969 D-35.

mikef · #18 03-02-2021, 07:56 PM

What a great story...congrats!

Tube Sound · #19 03-02-2021, 08:14 PM

Wonderful you never gave up on it. A rebuild that was meant to be. Turned out beautiful. I have a ‘68 with the pg screws to prove it. Mine is covered in gorgeous finish checking and I love it. I fall in the camp of one of the greatest singer songwriter guitars ever. Thanks for sharing the story and pics.

hubcapsc · #20 03-02-2021, 08:19 PM

It doesn't get much cooler than that

...

-Mike

zombywoof · #21 03-03-2021, 07:55 AM

Congrats! If you get your hands on a good one built from late-1968 on hold onto to it. Lots of changes in specs which continued almost yearly though 1971.

zombywoof · #22 03-03-2021, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br1ck

Gibsons of that vintage can be duds, many of them, but a good one is a thing unto itself. A unique tone only they will have. Yes, the bridge is a big part of the sound. My 65 Epiphone Texan isn't going anywhere. A singer's paradise.

The only Kalamazoo-built Gibsons I have owned with the ADJ saddle bridge have been a 1961 and 1963 B45-12. So while I cannot speak to the six string guitars with the 12 stringers it does increase the amount of attack you hear.

Gibson went with the ADJ saddle bridge because they felt it would do everything for a flattop it did for an archtop while adding a convenience to their flattop line. But they faced the problem of how to support the heavy bridge and stabilize the tops. As a trade off, Gibson initially decided to continue with the lighter built instruments they had been turning out since 1955 but went with an oversized bridge plate. In late-1968 Gibson started going with a bulkier bracing which got even heavier in 1969 but they continued to stick with the same bridge plates. While I do not think in terms of good or bad this is why it is tough to find a Gibson built from at least 1969 on which sounds like one built in 1967.

catdaddy · #23 03-03-2021, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

The only Kalamazoo-built Gibsons I have owned with the ADJ saddle bridge have been a 1961 and 1963 B45-12. So while I cannot speak to the six string guitars with the 12 stringers it does increase the amount of attack you hear.

Gibson went with the ADJ saddle bridge because they felt it would do everything for a flattop it did for an archtop while adding a convenience to their flattop line. But they faced the problem of how to support the heavy bridge and stabilize the tops. As a trade off, Gibson initially decided to continue with the lighter built instruments they had been turning out since 1955 but went with an oversized bridge plate. In late-1968 Gibson started going with a bulkier bracing which got even heavier in 1969 but they continued to stick with the same bridge plates. While I do not think in terms of good or bad this is why it is tough to find a Gibson built from at least 1969 on which sounds like one built in 1967.

Very interesting! I should mention that my Hummingbird has been modified several times over the years, not the least of which was the initial repair that was done in Pittsburgh. New braces were made as was a new bridge plate. Later, Ross actually replaced the bridge and shaved the braces circa 1989, and with those later changes the guitar's tone and volume significantly improved. Perhaps in the long run this guitar's early, devastating accident in the airplane baggage compartment was a blessing, as it became modified into something other than the typical instrument from that era of Gibson acoustics.

Dru Edwards · #24 03-04-2021, 03:15 PM

Cat, congrats! I like the warn finish on the lower bout ... classic. Enjoy.

DungBeatle · #25 03-04-2021, 03:47 PM

Beautiful! Do you have some before pictures?
~Bob

catdaddy · #26 03-04-2021, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Cat, congrats! I like the warn finish on the lower bout ... classic. Enjoy.

Thanks Dru! Yeah, that's hard earned "mojo" courtesy of my sweaty arm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DungBeatle

Beautiful! Do you have some before pictures?
~Bob

Unfortunately, I have no photos of the guitar prior to its being damaged in 1970. I have a few from the mid-80s before Ross did his first work on the guitar. This is probably the best of those photos. It took another 20 years of playing to get the mojo to develop.

gmel555 · #27 03-04-2021, 10:54 PM

Nice story, very cool guitar. Looks -and I bet sounds- greats. Congrats, and "yes" if it were me it would be even better than a NGD!

Emil · #28 03-04-2021, 11:35 PM

Thats one beautiful guitar buddy!

Parlorman · #29 03-05-2021, 07:05 AM

That's lovely.

SkipII · #30 03-05-2021, 08:09 AM

Congrats on having someone who can bring her back to life. Quite a story of redemption and restoration.

By the way, there is a series on Netflix called "The Repair Shop." Full of stories like that where true artisan craftmasters bring back family heirlooms that were given up for dead. Very inspiring.