Gradey Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Just purchased an Epiphone Hummingbird Artist 2014 faded cherry sunburst. Built in August 2014. What top do you think it has? Spruce, Laminate, Mahogany or other? Also how do you tell if it is a 2014 Limited Edition or not? For some reason I think it was made in China? I know it says spruce top but stickers and stamps IMHO are not 100% reliable. Had a custom shop Casino without the Bigaby that they came with in that run. They had the necks already stamped but ran out of Bigsby's. Waste not want not. Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 "Select" spruce (as it says on the pickguard sticker) means laminate. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 "Select" spruce (as it says on the pickguard sticker) means laminate. Red 333 I see that makes sense. On the websites the LTD has the laminate spruce top in 4 finishes and the regular Artist comes with a laminated mahogany top and body in 2 finishes. The Blueburst has a laminated maple top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGgypsyboy Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Beautiful Hummingbird! I also dig the early Black Sabbath foldout in the background! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 Beautiful Hummingbird! I also dig the early Black Sabbath foldout in the background! Thanks. I got it online and when it arrived the action was way high. I complained and got a 25.00 credit. I had to sand the bridge down and adjust the truss rod. Plays beautiful now and sounds great. A keeper. Good eye. Saw Sabbath in 71' at the Civic Arena. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Congrats on the new guitar! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffmac Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Everything but the neck is laminate the wine red and the blueburst are flame maple they are nice looking guitars. Enjoy the new guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strumbert Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 When first introduced, these had solid tops. I have a 2009 MF catalog witha review of both the EJ-200 Artist and the Hummingbird Artist, and I.D's both as having solid tops. I owned 3 EJ's at one time, and all had / have solid tops. I kick myself now for not hitting the button on the Hummingbird, it had a lot of great reviews. Still have my 1st EJ, and it ain't going anywhere else while I still have a pulse. 😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 Everything but the neck is laminate the wine red and the blueburst are flame maple they are nice looking guitars. Enjoy the new guitar Everything I have read states the very same thing. What I can't wrap my head around is why they would laminate. Seems, like me, a pita. Laminate is to hide the not so good looking wood underneath usually. Second and most interesting is the grain. Under the correct light it looks book matched and has a line straight down the middle of the body. If Epiphone put that line in the laminate on purpose I would faint. I do nitro paint jobs on solid body guitars like Strats and Teles. I have seen laminates on some mims. Finally some of my favorite guitars are laminate, like the Gibson and Epiphone ES models and such. Thoughts and corrections welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burchster Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Looks to be Indonesian made from the looks of the scarf joint at the headstock. Most Epi acoustics are coming from there instead of China now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 Looks to be Indonesian made from the looks of the scarf joint at the headstock. Most Epi acoustics are coming from there instead of China now. Could be Indonesian made. For some reason I was thinking that China did the short scale guitars, must have been something I ate or read. The only thing I can figure out top wise is that the laminate is a photograph of a spruce top guitar but that's a long shot. I do love this guitar and am just curious about its origins. I did have to shave the bridge and the nut was hanging up a bit on the first two strings. After that it's all gold and best 145 bucks I have ever spent on a new instrument (not a second or a refurb). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 The only thing I can figure out top wise is that the laminate is a photograph of a spruce top guitar but that's a long shot. FotoFlaming a 199 guitar would cost 399. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 FotoFlaming a 199 guitar would cost 399. rct Dig it. That's why I think it is a solid top guitar. Spruce for sure because of the grain pattern, light, soft and stringy, like a Christmas tree. Mahogany is the complete opposite, dark, tight and hard, like granny's prized hutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffmac Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 go to the website yours is indeed laminate spruce, the red wine finish and the blue burst are the only ones with flame maple yours is clearly not red wine or blue burst. When in doubt refer to the EPIPHONE website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 go to the website yours is indeed laminate spruce, the red wine finish and the blue burst are the only ones with flame maple yours is clearly not red wine or blue burst. When in doubt refer to the EPIPHONE website. Read the thread. I outlined that earlier in terms of color and version. There are two sites for the two versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strumbert Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 I wouldn't put a lot of stock on the Epiphone website. At one time they listed the neck material on the DR-500P as mahogany, and the top on the EJ-200 Artist as "Select Maple". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 The factory floor is a million miles from the front office, stores and advertisers at Epiphone. Many of us have seen this I'm sure. I know mine is book matched and is 2 pieces of spruce. they all are in this color. color and the grains are all different. It is either solid spruce or they employ the laminate master of all times there. In a factory you can't use what you don't have so you improvise. Fender (6 piece bodies) being the worst ofFender. Ok just having a little fun with Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pszy22 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I have the earlier version of the Hummingbird Artist and it does indeed have a solid top. It's a wonderful guitar, plays and sounds great. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. I think the earlier solid top versions were priced about $100 more brand new than the current version. That's an interesting wooden box in your photo, did you make that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pszy22 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I just saw these are on sale at one of the large online sellers as an Early Black Friday special for $149. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gradey Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 I have the earlier version of the Hummingbird Artist and it does indeed have a solid top. It's a wonderful guitar, plays and sounds great. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. I think the earlier solid top versions were priced about $100 more brand new than the current version. That's an interesting wooden box in your photo, did you make that? I received a guitar in that box in the mail. Makes a great display case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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