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hummingbirdguy
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Posts posted by hummingbirdguy
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The "best" is relative. The best store for lowest price? overall service? fastest shipping? best return policy? widest selection? best assortment of mid-tier?
As most have stated if you want a thoughtful buying experience and solid after-purchase care go to Sweetwater. If you want a wide selection in terms of inventory and price then maybe GC. If you want something high end then maybe one of the other sites if Sweetwater doesn't have what you want.
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Thanks everyone for all your feedback! I seem to have forgotten electrics are really popular around here lol. So the thing is I actually prefer acoustics to electrics on some level, in fact one of my favorite singers changed their image to become a singer-songwriter, the first time I heard their songs (20 years ago) something in me needed to learn to play those songs and six months ago I finally picked up the guitar. Concurrently I've always enjoyed the sounds of an electric guitar when listening to music, in fact next to the voice lead guitars are probably my favorite aspect of a song (actually it ties with electric bass, but one of those will come once I'm at least mildly decent with guitar). However, what I enjoy listening to and what I am most interested in playing are two different things, which is why I'm in the conundrum. There's what I can see myself doing in the short term (strumming, some fingerpicking, vocal accompaniment for youtube videos) versus what I would ultimately like to be able to do (solos. lead, and an instrument to fill out a mix when recording with my keyboard or the other acoustic). Then there's the thought of aging: as guitars age they tend to sound better so part of me wants to get my lifelong acoustics earlier to give me more time to open and age them myself for a more personal relationship with each instrument. Considering I don't think I will ever reach a point in which a hummingbird or j45 don't sound pleasing to my ears despite what might be my favorite/most played guitar down the line I feel drawn to pick up another acoustic next. However, after reading that you all seem to agree a 335 would be the more strategic next purchase I think I may focus on them more than acoustics when I go to play what's available.
Also, thoughts on 335 models? Is it really worth going with a re-issue or sticking with standard? Does the sound of an electric even change much over the years?
5 hours ago, SteveFord said:Go for the 335.
You've already got an acoustic you like.
yes, but there are other acoustics I like too though with a different sound. I'm also considering one of the variations of an (H)D-28, but thought it was sacrilegious to mention them around here.
4 hours ago, ghost_of_fl said:I'm with Steve Ford, I would get a 335 to compliment what you already have.
Thanks!
4 hours ago, Karloff said:a 335 will ruin you. no other guitar will measure up once you own one. I play my other guitars more out of guilt than not wanting to play my 335 ...
LOL! I sure hope not, it's something about acoustics that will always resonate with me on some level
3 hours ago, Fish Crumpet said:What Karloff said. However, for true versatility a good acoustic, a Stratocaster and an ES-3x5 will equip you for anything.
That's more or less my ultimate goal. Someone on another forum basically recommended the same though it was either a Strat/Tele. It's just that my acoustic isn't the most versatile, though it's my personal favorite it seems to me a J45 or (H)D-28 or a J-200 would overall be a more versatile acoustic. Part of me was considering the value of doubling back to get what might have been the more utilitarian choice now that I have the one that makes my heart go pitter patter.
3 hours ago, Karloff said:very true ... you've gotta have a nice acoustic, a Fender & a Gibson ... bare minimum ...
Agreed! The thought of delving into electrics this early seemed a bit much I still want to learn so much on acoustic and electrics come with more elements to consider (e.g. amp, pedal, other effects, knobs, etc). With an acoustic, you pick it up and play.
2 hours ago, Whitefang said:Leaving it for repair for a couple of days ain't going to kill you. And DAMN sure less expensive than buying another guitar.
Whitefang
LOL! Knew someone was going to say that. You're right I sure can go a few days without it, but in truth I was already thinking about my next few guitars before even brining home the first and this is a perfect excuse to add another one
48 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:In between string changes I usually order a guitar or two.
Considering how many guitars you've posted around here thats pretty spot on
42 minutes ago, LPguitarman said:You already have an acoustic. Get the 335.
That seems to be the consenus
19 minutes ago, Larsongs said:I agree about trying to find both Used if possible. In mint condition.. But, in doing so I would opt for a Martin HD28E 12 String or D-28E 12 String... You already have a great 6 String..
If I had to choose only one it would definitely be an ES335 with MHS Pickups & a Bigsby.... Or Used in mint condition..
You could GAS yourself with bunches more Guitars but you really wouldn’t need them.. Those 2 (or 3 if you go Used) would do just about anything you could ever want to do..
I'm too nervous to buy used and also I'm putting it on my GC card and idk how buying used works in terms of shipping/trying/exchanging or something because I would need to hear how it sounds with a very clear understanding that if it takes going through 15 guitars well c'est la vie, but I feel like they'd ban from the store after the first few. Also, I'm still getting a grasp of six strings and now you're throwing another six my way!?
34 minutes ago, merciful-evans said:I agree.
If really you want another guitar go for it. However, you don't need another guitar.
Of course I don't...at least at this point, but it's an excuse to get another guitar.
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5 hours ago, tx-ogre said:
^^^
What SP said. I don’t own or know much about acoustics so I can’t help you out much there. I do own an ES-335 and it is unquestionably the most versatile electric guitar I own. And as SP said, if you shop around, you might be able to score both used with the budget you have. Good luck.The versatility of the 335 is the very reason it's on my list. Initially it was a Les Paul since it's a smaller body and I like the way they look. Thanks for the underscoring the versatility of the 335.
7 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:See if you can get both of those used for under 5k used.
Well I'll be buying from GC (don't shoot) since I have a card with them and that banner J-45 re-issue really really needs to be in my collection. However, it feels too similar to a HB to justify getting as a second guitar and at that price, but then again it seems like one has to jump on what they are after when it's available rather than waiting. Also being still pretty inexperienced I'm a bit hesitant to buy used especially since it'll likely be through GC so most likely won't have the option to play before buying...and I'd hate to have all the used J-45s in GC inventory at their Union Square store because I couldn't find one or make up my mind (joking). Thanks for your advice
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I've been learning guitar for coming up on 6 months now and have been thinking of getting another guitar (well several though one at a time). Today the high e string has an odd metallic almost sitar sound, a quick search indicates its likely the nut or saddle, but it'll need to go to a luthier either way. Taking it in will most likely mean leaving it there for at least a couple of days, thus leaving me with what could end up a perfect reason to get a second guitar.
I'm on a Hummingbird and was considering one of the D28 variations, an ES-335, or J45. I'm still finding my feet, but learning guitar to accompany myself singing (baritone mostly r&b (modern and older styles), some pop-fusion, acoustic covers). Max budget is about $5k, so leaning towards custom shop models like the banner '45 reissue for example.
All in all, to this newbie all 3 seem fairly versatile and could play a lot of different styles, but I'd like some advice or opinions on which might be a wiser choice for second guitar especially considering the tonal characteristics of a hummingbird. Obviously when I go to try them out my ears will be the final judge, but was interested in hearing the thoughts of those more experienced.
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19 hours ago, IconoclastTX said:
I just got mine a couple of days ago and I freaking love it!I decided to upgrade my Martin D-15 to a Gibson 1960 Hummingbird. It has a much softer tone and clearer distinct notes...I love it! I should for how much it cost me! https://www.gibson.com/.../1960.../Heritage-Cherry-Sunburst
What a beauty!! Just as soon as I stopped thinking about it, here you go showing off your 1960 reissue. You're definitely making me itch for another HB lol. Would love to hear some sound samples if you have any.
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Please forgive me if this has already been discussed.
Recently Gibson announced an overhaul of their app. The redesign now includes a learning component featuring AR learning modules and song tabs. There's also an option to schedule a virtual tech appointment to have a Gibson technician help you with a number of services - from string changes to setups and so much more. Of course the tuner present in the previous version is still there and along with ability to shop the online store and catch the latest from Gibson TV. Looks like Gibson is entering the app learning market to compete with the likes of Fender, Yousician, and many other services. I say good on them, it seems Gibson is really putting forth an effort to remain relevant by capturing - and in some cases recapturing - new and former fans.
I've used the augmented reality learning and it's pretty fun to have something more interactive than JustinGuitar's website. To be fair I'm a little further along than what's covered in the first couple of lessons in the basics course, but still working through them all, so can't comment on the more intermediate or advanced material.
Here you'll find a link to both the apple and google play store links: https://hello.gibson.com/gibson-app/
Anyone else given the any of the features or services a try?
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Youtube really has just about everything! I found a couple of videos demonstrations of Virtuoso cleaner, one of which was on a satin finish. Though the cleaner didn't seem to add high gloss comparable to an HB Standard it did add some shine (from what I could tell from a 9 year old 480p video). So to everyone that's commented thank you all for your invaluable information, when many of you indicated there would be a shine I was concerned there would be a degree of glossiness which I'm absolutely trying to avoid. In the end, the two yellow Gibson cloths - one damp and the other dry - removed the fingerprints and smudges...until I touched it again 😄! A great big thank you all for your help!
On 12/24/2020 at 7:59 PM, j45nick said:Virtuoso Cleaner is extremely powerful. The polish is what really brings out the gloss, however.
To give you an idea, when I bought my 2010 L-OO Legend (barely used) in about 2011, the boutique dealer I bought it from indicated the surface had what appeared like a lot of polishing scratches, so the price was marked down maybe $500 from the expected price. I ordered it anyway, because the price was right and I was frustrated after a year at looking at what I thought were overpriced vintage versions.
When the guitar arrived, I realized that the "polishing scratches" were actually a not-particularly-well-executed VOS finish. I went after it with Virtuoso cleaner, then polish, and ended up removing 90% of the "scratches", resulting in a finish that was not ultra- high gloss, but did not show significant scratches. That finish was pretty much what I was after.
I have cleaned several vintage Gibsons with Virtuoso, achieving almost frightening results. I had a lovely sunburst 1968 ES 335-12 with virtually no checking, and it look like maybe a lightly-used 10-year-old guitar rather than an almost 50-year-old guitar by the time I finished. The luthier who did a neck re-set on it thought I had buffed it out.
The one-owner 1947 L-7 I had got a similar treatment. That one owner had been a chain smoker for the almost 60 years he owned and played it, and the guitar was filthy beyond belief, and stunk to high heaven. I had to throw the original gig bag away, because my wife wouldn't let it in the house.
I started out with naphtha on that before switching to Virtuoso, wiping down every accessible inch of the guitar with naphtha, inside and out.
A word of warning. As they say on the label, do not use Virtuoso products on surfaces with significant lacquer checking. The cleaner dries to a fine white haze, and will penetrate cracks so that the checked surface looks like a spiderweb.
I can vouch for the fact that the effect is almost impossible to remove. I spent days with naphtha on cotton swabs trying to undo what I had done, with only moderate success. The gloss was impressive, however.
Thank you for explaining how powerful the cleaner is! After reading the bottles I was certain the polish wasn't what I was after, but held out hope the cleaner wouldn't go to waste. Does the shine from cleaning stay on for months, as the manufacturer might suggest?
Also, I get a kick out of seeing guitar transformations, did you happen to take any before and after photos?
ETA: Btw, it just dawned on me you may think my HB is a vintage model - as in it was produced decades ago, but it's a Vintage model (made in 2019) LOL ...gotta love Gibson and their naming system. The profile pic is my 'bird
On 12/25/2020 at 1:19 PM, Twang Gang said:The thing most people don't realize about polishes is that they actually remove some of the finish revealing a clean shiny layer underneath. The Gibson and other brand cotton cloths seem so soft it's hard to imagine they would do any damage, but they can leave swirl marks. Microfiber cloth is the best way to go and really just dampened to remove dirt and fingerprints. When you want a high glossy shine Virtuoso is great, but if you don't want gloss/shine just stick with a damp cloth. Then wipe dry with another clean microfiber cloth.
Thanks for the microfiber tip, since the cloths did indeed leave swirl marks that took a good bit of breathing and wiping to remove. I realized early on that polishes were not at all what I want, especially for the type of finish, though I did see a satin/matte cleaner made by Taylor that seems interesting - though it's hard not to think it's just a way to bring in a some extra bucks.
On 12/25/2020 at 3:45 PM, L00uie said:I use the music nomad detailer sparingly, a few pumps onto the cloth for the whole thing.
I have their polish, which I got for “tacky” feel on the back of the neck. 1 or 2 treatments and the tacky feel is gone.
Just checked and I have the detailer, not their polish. Do you also use it on matte finish guitars to good effect?
On 12/27/2020 at 8:14 AM, kidblast said:I hate to add yet another "Try THIS" post, but Gerlitz Smudge Off sounds like just what you are looking for.
At this point it seems I have a little bit of everything lol. Thanks for sharing though. The description says polish throughout and I can't risk it. Though the goal of removing fingerprints and smudges is exactly what I'm after. Someone above recommended Music Nomad's Detailer and I saw a cleaner specifically for matte finishes from Taylor that I'll look into.
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5 hours ago, J45fan said:
A damp soft rag works fine.
Thanks! Was hoping to use something a bit more thorough since it's technically never been cleaned, but since a damp cloth seems to be the most recommended I won't chance it with anything more aggressive...at least for the time being
4 hours ago, j45nick said:You probably don't want to use Virtuoso products on a new guitar. It will end up glossy, even though these are superb products. As has been mentioned, a damp soft rag is a good starting point.
I have used a cloth dampened with naphtha, a mild solvent which appears to be safe for nitro lacquer finishes, for cleaning sticky areas on lacquered surfaces such as Gibson guitar bodies and necks. After removing stickiness, you might have to gently wipe down surrounding areas with naphtha as well to even out the finish if you see local changes in gloss in the areas you cleaned.
Do not use a soaked rag: dampened should do it.
Wipe dry afterwards with a dry soft rag.
When I do a major cleanup on an old lacquer-finished guitar, I usually start with naphtha to remove most surface grunge before moving on to more aggressive cleaners/polishes such as Virtuoso.
By the way, make sure your hands are clean before picking up your guitar. I almost always wear a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt when I play to keep body oils off the guitar. Deodorants on your underarm may well leave residue on the guitar which can be hard to remove and might damage the finish over time.
At the same time, play the guitar, but give it some care, as you seem to be doing.
5 different types of cleaners and water alone is my best bet, go figure lol. Naptha seems to get a lot of good recommendations from those that use it and long time guitar players seem to swear by its effectiveness. I'm wondering how it will do with the thin kind of matte nitro finish (not sure if Vintage Limited finish is also VOS).
I hear you loud and clear about deodorant and the finish; a couple of days of playing shirtless and noticed a few specs on the top of the body that thankfully came out so now I always wear a shirt. Hand washing (and stretching) is a ritual before practicing though I must admit the Elixir nanoweb strings which are just 3 days shy of a month already show a decent amount of wear - not complaining since they sound pretty nice now they've opened, but they certainly aren't as pretty as a new set of strings.
3 hours ago, zombywoof said:Yup, a soft cotton rag slightly dampened with distilled water. I pretty much only have to go at a guitar with Virtuoso cleaner when it first comes into my hands. That 1920 L3 was particularly nasty.
I was hoping the Virtuoso cleaner would be gentle enough to not add shine since this will be it's first real cleaning since I brought it home and quite likely the first time it's been cleaned since it was manufactured. I have several of those yellow Gibson polishing cloths, will those work as well?
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It's been a month since the HB Vintage came home and the fingerprints and smudges are getting annoying, so figured it was time for a cleaning. To date it's mostly been wiping the strings with one of the two string cleaners and using either one of those yellow cloths from Gibson or the blue GC brand cloths they give you for free, but there are some areas on the body that feel a bit gummy (mostly areas that come into contact with the body). So far I have a few cleaning sets:
- Dunlop 65 kit (polish/cleaner combo, lemon oil, and string cleaner)
- Virtuoso (cleaner and polisher)
- MusicNomad detailer
- Kyser kit (wood polish, string cleaner, fretboard conditioner)
- Gibson guitar care kit (finishing cream, fretboard conditioner, and metal cleaner)
However, after reading an older thread about cleaning it seems most or all of those cleaners/polishers will make the guitar shiny, which is the exact opposite of what I want. I also saw several people mention letting the finish set and discourage cleaning for a period of time. Are there any recommended cleaners that will remove dirt without adding shine?
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On 12/9/2020 at 12:24 PM, Retired said:
Our son was into Austin Powers also. Yep, Austin was mostly humor, I've seen clips here and there of him but never sat down to watch him through in any of his movies. I was more into the humor of Tim Conway and guys like that. I was born in 1953 so that probably explains that Lol. What inspired me to play guitar was The Ventures and many of those songs I played when I started out at 13. Burlington Northern was Freight train. I started out with Union Pacific RR in 1976 and they closed the shops in 89'. I had a brain tumor cancer at that time so when I came back, they were close to shutting it down and I had to resign from UP and I went to Burlington Northern to finish out my career. Both were car shops repairing freight cars. Amtrak is the passenger train and has nothing to do with either Railroad. Although when I worked at UP they bought out Rock Island and merged with Southern Pacific. At BN, they merged with Santa Fee while I worked there. I retired from the BN May, 31, 2013. The retirement benefits are great and worth sticking around for. Although I don't miss working for the BN.
The age difference explains why you're unfamiliar with the reference, but for years I thought Stairway to Heaven was banned from guitar stores near and far lol. Aren't the pay and benefits the only reason people really go to work, otherwise we'd all stay home and play guitar all day. Good on your for sticking with it and kicking cancer's *ss!
On 12/10/2020 at 4:41 PM, mihcmac said:Well yesterday I accidentally hit a couple of my toes with my weedeater while not wearing shoes, a bloody mess, but got it under control. I had to elevate for a few hours and play my 339. 🙂
I may be here a lot today while trying to let a scab form on my toes...🎶 ⚡💊
](//content.invisioncic.com/p286412/emoticons/default_eusa_wall.gif "](*,)")
Yikes! Sounds like a gnarly sight. A West Indian friend told me to pack gashes and cuts with salt, turns out they heal a lot quicker and with very minimal scarring
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On 12/8/2020 at 10:01 PM, Retired said:
Try to play as close to the finger nail as possible. I read that long ago and it helps, I could play much longer and it also reduced the callouses on the fingers. No pain. I also use 9's which helps or 10's at the thickest. Much easier to do string bends.
Rick Beato touched on string thickness and how thinner strings are more comfortable play than thicker strings. After going through the various brands of 12s I have now thinner strings will be on the to do list. Thanks for the tip about playing closer to the fingernail, aside from the fourth finger it works well! This week I noticed my fingers didn't seem to hurt as much and I've been able to practice for 2-3 hours straight
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46 minutes ago, Retired said:
I have never watched Wayne's World before so can't comment. When I retired from Burlington Northern RR at 60, it was the first song I learned from Justin. I did it in parts, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. My memory isn't what it used to be so it did take me a long time to learn it. I can't say how many people still love that song but Led Zeppelin is definitely famous.
The movie stars Mike Myers, the guy from Austin Powers, so it's that kind of humor. As a child in the early 90s it was amongst my favorite movies, not least of which was due to Bohemian Rhapsody and yes, Led Zeppelin. Was BN RR a passenger or cargo line?
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23 hours ago, Retired said:
Justin Guitar is a good site. I'm on it but haven't been for a few months now. First song I learned on it was Stairway To Heaven. Sunshine song your doing is another of my favorites, Rock On.
Thanks! He's pretty thorough from the videos I've gone through so far. Justin really is the MVP for making almost all his lessons available for free. I sing as well and figured it'd be a great (and relatively easy for a beginner) song to get into playing and singing simultaneously. Is Stairway to Heaven as popular a song to play as Wayne's World would suggest lol?
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On 12/5/2020 at 9:37 PM, Retired said:
Thinking back when I was 13 learning, yes, it seemed a struggle with some chords, I haven't even thought about them for decades now. They just come natural and I never even look at my hand. It's just automatic and that will happen to you too one day, It's called practice, practice and more practice. As far a shredding on an acoustic though, You must not have ever seen David Gilmour playing an acoustic guitar huh? Lol.
Justinguitar has been a good learning tool so far and he has chord drills, with time (and practice of course) those flub free chords will come
On 12/5/2020 at 11:58 PM, Guitar God said:What a beauty!
That she is, and plays just as wonderfully!
On 12/6/2020 at 8:34 AM, Sgt. Pepper said:No my screen name is due to being a huge Beatles fan. I was in not one but two sea going services. I did 4 years in the Navy '87 - '91, and 19 years in the Coast Guard '92 - '11. I'm retired EMCS (Electricians Mate Senior Chief). I now work at the NASA Langley Research Center as a contractor and do electrical maintenance and assist running a wind tunnel on the facility that is right across street from the race track. I don't work at the big one, that one is called is 14 x20. The one I work at is called the NTF (National Transonic Facility) at most of the wind tunnel is inside the building. We can blow wind up to Mach 1.2 and we also use Liquid Nitrogen to cool down the tunnel during tests and can get down to negative 250 degreed fahrenheit. The only other wind tunnel in the world like it is in Germany.
Oh! The Beatles reference completely eluded me. That's an impressive tenure! Do you really like water or was it a coincidence attributed to your field? During my childhood I'd go to the gym on Langely a bit..I do remember the race track but never paid attention to any buildings nearby. I was in the Army ('08-14 in MI), though never lucked up with an assignment in the 757.
On 12/6/2020 at 10:24 AM, uncle fester said:Sweet guitar - enjoy the journey. Aint no sunshine's cool - good luck.
So far the journey's been quite fun. Thanks for the well wishes, once it all comes together I'll post a video in the forum.
On 12/6/2020 at 12:41 PM, MissouriPicker said:Practically every new guitar needs a setup to make it ideal for the owner. Even if it already feels good, it can likely feel better. A Hummingbird with a good setup is a dream-come-true guitar. Have fun! You’ve got a super guitar to learn on.
Yeah, I learned that the hard way that a setup is often necessary. Initially I brought home a Standard HB and the strings were mile high, needless to say the finger pain was a bit intense. Researching the matter actually led me to this forum, go figure. The Vintage had a much lower strings, though I still took it in for a proper setup the next day and it does play much better than the Standard did previously. In fact practice sessions can go 2-3 hours before finger pain comes even remotely close to an hour on the Standard.
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On 12/5/2020 at 8:19 PM, BigKahune said:
As Zombywoof said - from a guitar sales site - MF I think. I just searched the part#/model# SSHVHCN19Here's more info from The Music Zoo -
.850” Neck Profile at 1st Fret
.920” Neck Profile at 9th Fret
4 lbs, 2 oz.Great guitar you've chosen. Congrats and enjoy! 😎
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Thanks again!
On 12/5/2020 at 9:13 PM, 62burst said:uh-oh. . it's started.
Viola can come in handy when there's a Hummingbird in the room. But the less tuning thing for that instrument is curious- what would the scale length be on something like that?
From playing upright, the lower octaves were harder to hear when strings were going out. Maybe a stethoscope would've helped.
Yeah, that was what I was afraid of. I was just trying to keep it simple and fast. And it involves no drilling.
🙂
Another guitar is not in the question for the next year(ish), I'm too busy enjoying this one.
Viola was almost 20 years ago...but I do recall it was larger than a violin, which according to wikipedia is around 12.8". In a year or two I'll consider picking it up again, but keyboard and guitar have me pretty busy as is
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10 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:
When you flub a chord and put your finger in the wrong place now its a jazz chord.
So that's the secret of all the greats, who knew! Funny you should mention jazz, I'm actually debating on learning jazz guitar - there's a place not too far from me with a guy that's worked with a couple of artists I like (New York Jazz Workshop). Though personally I'm interested in bringing jazz into r&b, neo-soul, and pop I always felt that learning jazz made everything else relatively easier and requires a strong knowledge of music theory.
10 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:I live about a mile from Denbigh High School. Where I live is not to bad, but when you get closer to the Shipyard and the numbers streets. You better have your gun to shot your way out in case anything goes down. If there is shooting on the news its in NN, VB, P-town, Hampton or Norfolk.
Oh! You're uptown! My parents moved to 79th st, which was a safe street though right next to 76th which was a little dicey - at least to me at the time. My hs friends back home still tell me about the craziness that goes on downtown. I've known a couple of people that were killed down there, it's really sad to see what goes on in "bad news". Btw is your sn related to the military, a play on the Dr by the same name, or something else?
10 hours ago, ghost_of_fl said:Similar idea for jazz lead playing - whenever you hit a note that just sounds "wrong" for the key, quickly slide up or down 1/2 step. Now it sounds like you did something clever.
Between you and sgt. pepper I'll be a jazz legend in no time lol
4 hours ago, 01GT eibach said:Your Hummingbird is a stellar beautiful top-of the-line guitar. My humble suggestion is stop dilly dallying your time with thoughts of modding the guitar or worrying about minor case imperfections, and spend your time JUST PLAYING the guitar. And as for the slow vs fast thing, there is an old adage that says "if you can't play it slow, then you can't play it fast".
You're absolutely right eibach. I find that my fingers get fatigued and sore after a few hours of practice, which is lamentably long before my ears and heart tire of playing.
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9 hours ago, fortyearspickn said:
Having lived in one, a pre-war, radiator heated building will suck the humidity out of the air. We kept pans of H20 on top of some of the radiators and had to fill them every day.
That's an amazing idea fortyears! Just placed a pan on mine, let's see how much it help.
7 hours ago, 62burst said:Wow- that's a lot of guitar/ a lot of Gibson, and it's a Hummingbird Vintage, no less, for a first guitar. Congrats, for sure.
Are you coming to guitar from other stringed instruments? If not, then a good habit would be to do a quick "in tune?" check whenever you pick up the guitar, but esp. if: 1) new strings 2)brought in from the cold 3) during times of changeable weather 4) it's been sitting a while (overnight?), or 5) you've just given it a good bit of playing.
You would be surprised at the sound quality of some of the recordings/video clips that people have put up here on the forum using just their iPhones. I've accessed Voice Memos quickly in the middle of a jam, or just when I've stumbled across a song or rhythm I'd like to remember. The phone's already at arm's reach, and can be recording in <10 sec.
Also- you can bump the sound quality up with a condenser mic like the Apogee MiC 96K (see seanp33's recent thread, "Learning how to record")- just leave it in the mic stand, ready to plug into the phone at a moment's notice. And since those recordings would be on your phone, you can listen wherever, or send to the laptop. You could then treat yourself and couple that with an audio interface & some nice studio monitors. Those simple phone recordings can sound pretty decent through some good playback gear.
I'm very dedicated to my sounds; music is sacred to me...and I like nice things. Having tried to learn keyboard on a dinky Casio as a child I promised myself that I would only buy instruments that naturally produce pleasing sounds, so after listening to many youtube videos of guitarists playing many different models of Taylors, Gibsons, and Martins the only one that made my heart smile with delight was the Hummingbird (though a J45 and D28 will be next).
In school I played the viola for several years, so I understand I'll have to tune but I don't recall tuning my viola quite as much. As you and several others mentioned it may be new strings since yesterday only two strings needed tuning though the other reasons you listed are likely contributing as well.
Though using a DAW was my preferred method - mainly to familiarize myself with it for future use to make Youtube covers - an iphone may be more practical if for nothing else other than file size. I know exactly which thread you're talking about and I was impressed with the sound of the Apogee 96k, but I just picked up a set of Shure SM57s to tithe me until I can upgrade to either a set of KM 184s or maybe TLM 103s. The audio interface front is covered too (Apollo x4) with a pair of Blue headphones for listening since I don't want to bother my roommates or neighbors.
With all of that I have no choice but to practice everyday lol. By Spring I hope to be good enough to play more than the absolute most basic version of a song then I'll post my progress on here 🙂
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11 hours ago, ghost_of_fl said:
"slow & clean is always better than fast & sloppy". That phrase had helped me a lot. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself. If you consistently flub a note in a chord, you are not gaining "muscle memory".
Hi ghost_of_fl! You're right about taking it slow, in the army we would say "slow is smooth and smooth is quick". After an hour or more of practicing my fingers give up before I do and even when taking it slow my finger just doesn't want to apply enough pressure or leans over onto another string just slightly or is just a hair on the fret so notes don't ring out properly smh.
11 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:James Patrick Page was/is the master of sloppy.
hi sgt pepper, are the slums of NN to which you refer Newsome Park? I went to high school in Newport News myself
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2 hours ago, BigKahune said:
Hummingbird Vintage Limited Acoustic Guitar Specifications:
Body
- Body type: Square shoulder dreadnought
- Cutaway: No
- Top wood: Thermally aged Sitka spruce
- Back and sides: Mahogany
- Bracing pattern: Traditional hand-scalloped X
- Body finish: Thin Nitrocellulose
Neck
- Neck shape: Round
- Nut width: 1.725" (43.8 mm)
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Neck wood: Mahogany
- Scale length: 24.75"
- Number of frets: 20
- Neck finish: Not specified
Electronics
- Pickup/preamp: No
Other
- Headstock overlay: Not specified
- Tuning machines: Gotoh Relic
- Bridge: Rosewood
- Saddle and nut: Bone
- Number of strings: 6
- Special features:
- Case: Hardshell case
Thanks so much for posting this! Where did you happen to find it?
1 hour ago, E-minor7 said:Don't see any pins, but checking the Gibson site shows the main-line features tusq, then up-grades to bone in the higher ranks.
How to tell plast from tusq from bone from horn from brass from wood = The sound, , , , when you drop them 10 centimeters down on a mirror or glass-surface. Actually quite right - but the dog's ear hear it in the tone too.
Thanks e-minr7, I'll give that a try to see which it is during a string change
1 hour ago, Brucebubs said:Those Gotoh Relic are a quality tuner. I have a brand new Gibson with Gotoh tuners and they are superb .. but as others have said, tuning can be affected by overnight temperature and humidity changes, I still need to fine tune the guitar before playing.
Hi Brucebubs, I'm sure they are quality tuners I've read others online mentioning they also had issues with their relic tuners holding a tune as well and thought it was connected to that coupling that with the Standard I tried for three weeks only needing a tuning two or three times that whole time seemed like it was likely spot on since the vintage needed tuning almost everyday and I maintain it the exact same as the Standard. However, as others have mentioned before you it's likely due to temperature changes or new strings (especially since the Standard had old strings while this one has brand new strings)
47 minutes ago, zombywoof said:The specs that are being given are those which appear on the store sites such as MF. I think the OP is just having a bout of first guitar-itis and is overthinking it all. Better to strike a relaxed pose and accept that it is a kind of magic. Then again, an HB is one heck of a first guitar.
Hi zombywoof, thanks for the information. I'm not sure if you missed it, but I mentioned that all the sites did not have the exact same info, with GC's website (and a couple of smaller international sites) indicating there was a pickup which obviously it doesn't. I was simply looking for exact information is all, perhaps it's different with guitars but I'm not accustomed to manufacturers having marginally different product lines with little information about the differences between them - or worse yet conflicting information. Rest assured my HB is much loved and thoroughly enjoyed everyday I practice...that magic is what made me take the plunge for my first guitar.
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13 hours ago, E-minor7 said:
Well, they may be tusq. Mine from 2012 are very plasticky, but things change. It's a beautiful instrument and paired with the case they offer such a show. A bit strange with the tuners - mine don't have the problem, , , and I keep 2 of these fliers around.
I was afraid of that. Either way, at the moment the tones are right up my alley, but maybe down the line I'll try different pins. I'm quite happy with it at the moment to be honest, just wanted to find out the definitive specs and model for future customization options. Reading fortyearspickn's explanation that tuning issues could be due to new strings and humidity makes a lot of sense, thank you so much for all your help e-minor7!
6 hours ago, fortyearspickn said:Hbg, Welcome and Congrats. I have an HBird TV. Looks identical. But, they stopped making them a few years back - so yours is probably the successor - which was called "Vintage". And as Em7 noted - they have the baked (torrified) tops, which usually makes them look darker. The tuners, as others have said in another thread, you should leave them. They are preferred cosmetically and work fine. The gold toned ones you mentioned in your NGD thread would sort of detract looks wise. If you do decide to switch - at least be sure to tuck the old/originals in the gear box in your case in case you ever decide to sell it. You said you need to 're-tune' every day or so. Usually, with mine, the reason for that, after the stings have been on a few days to stretch - is changes in humidity. I usually have to tweak 2 or 3 strings a sixteenth of a turn every time I pick it up. I've found it a useful habit to take a minute to make sure the guitar is 100% in tune before I start. If the humidity hasn't changed - they'll all be in tune. As far as the pins - they're probably tusq. G'Luck.
Thanks so much fortyyearspickn! The transition from TV to Vintage would make sense since mine is a HB Vintage Limited Heritage Sunburst, though I'm not so sure what makes it "limited" the baked top (and darker color) was what led to a switch from a Standard to this model. As far as the tuners go I'll leave them for the time now though I'll never sell this baby what with sentimental value and such a beautiful tone to boot. The aged top HB was the first type of 'bird I heard when searching for different Gibson guitars during my initial search, a guy in Singapore made a comparison between the TV and MC (video below).
You're most likely on to something with the tuners. The strings were changed by a tech at GC and the following day it went for a setup so likely the strings just need to break in (they're elixir nanoweb 80/20s in 12s), though the process could be slowed down by the two different string cleaners I'm using before and after use maybe? As far as humidity goes I'm using a humidifier with a humidistat - which may not be the most accurate since the levels it reads tends to fluctuate rather wildly from 27%-60% though it's set to maintain the room at 55% though there's a set of humidpaks in the case where I store it when not playing. To be fair though I'm in New York in a pre-war building so there's radiator heating and it has gotten colder the last few days so that could very well be the culprit. Well the tusq sounds fine to my ear at the moment, but I'll explore some different ones when I'm better at playing.
6 hours ago, j45nick said:Welcome!
If this is your first guitar, have you changed the strings yet, or do you still have the strings it came with? Was this a new guitar, or pre-owned?
The reason I ask this is that tuning problems can be the result of improperly installed strings, rather than the tuners themselves. If it is a new guitar with factory-installed strings, they are probably installed correctly. If someone has changed the strings, an inspection of the way the strings wrap around the stringposts can tell you if this is done correctly.
You also need to be sure the ball ends of the strings are correctly seated against the bridgeplate inside the guitar, which is best verified with an inspection mirror until you get a feel for this process. After more than 50 years of changing strings, I still check the ball ends with a mirror every time I change strings, just to be sure.
The tuning problem could also be the result of strings binding in the nut, particularly if your tuning issue is related only to a couple of strings, rather than every string across the board. The tuners are the first things people think of when they have tuning issues, but they may or may not be the source of your problem.
Fortyears makes a good point about humidity changes, which have a dramatic impact on tuning stability. If your guitar is in an open environment--on a stand or hanging on a wall--every change in humidity will change the tuning. If it is not in a climate-controlled environment, there will be constant changes in tuning, particularly if you heat a house in winter, or cool it in summer.
Thanks for the detailed explanation j45nick! Looks like another vote for humidity and/or strings. I'll wait a few more days to see if the strings open and if still having issues will contact the luthier, thankfully it comes with a 30 day warranty. I explained my humidity situation to fortyearspickn and will wait a few more days to see how things progress on that front.
6 hours ago, zombywoof said:Trying to make your way through the maze of Gibson's take on this or that guitar all of which have different descriptors added to model name can make you old before your time. And there is no proper etiquette for what you should or should not do. A guitar is a tool and you make it do what you need it to although you can certainly go about it in a more senstive way.
When it comes to tuners having to fine tune a guitar every day is not all that unusual. If they are slipping, yeah it is a problem. I was writing this as J45nick was posting but he is, as usual, spot on. If the guitar goes say a bit flat or sharp it could be caused by interacting with the climate, strings binding in the nut , or even not stringing it properly. Gear ratio is simply the number of teeth on the cog and how many times you have to turn the button to make a full revolution. The higher gear ratio makes them more precise but not necessarily more stable.
As to pickups and modifcations required, with most the only thing you will need to do is intsall a jack in place of the endpin. And that is always reversible by going with a No-Jak. There was a time when certain Gibsons such as the J200 had finger braces supporting the top around the sounhole which meant you could not install a soundhole pickup without shaving down the braces. But if you are talking about the usual popsicle stick bracing which is what I think Gibson uses univerally now nothing has to be done.
When it comes to brigde pins I am in the "who cares" crowd. As long as they fiit properly I am OK with most everything. The only issue I have had with pins was an early-1970s Guild where the ends of the plastic pins had splayed so much I had to go though the soundhole to cut them off to remove the things.
In the end there are only two kinds of guitars out there. Those you like and those you do not.
Seems like Gibson is a bit of an enigma when it comes to informing the public on models and specific changes from year to year, Tony Polecastro was apparently spot on when he mentioned Gibson doesn't keep very good records lol. Thanks for clarifying gear ratios, I definitely thought higher ratios would also ensure a longer lasting tuning, hopefully the frequent tunings will slow as the strings break in so it won't be an issue for much longer. I'm actually nervous about drilling into the body even though the luthier that setup my guitar recommended a Fishman which he installed in another HB Vintage the week prior...I'll mull it over for a bit longer before going that route, In the meantime I was interested to see if there were any preferred models of soundhole pickups for the Hummingbird. For the moment, tusq bridge pins are quite alright with me since the tone sounds great as is, though as with an installed PU I'll wait a bit longer before making a decision...probably until I take it in for another visit to the luthier next year spring/summer.
6 hours ago, kelly campbell said:Some good advice here these people know their shite. Welcome to the forum and Hummingbird owner club..they are great guitars. Beautiful guitar you have there .
Thanks for the welcome Kelly! Yeah, the people here really know their stuff, I lurked on the site for a few weeks while researching before finally registering. It's funny because I recognize a few people from posts they've made months/years ago since they were very helpful. Seems like there are quite a few HB owners past and present around here, but how anyone resist such a gorgeous guitar with honey glazed sounds is beyond me haha.
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On 11/20/2020 at 6:32 PM, seanp33 said:
Hey all. Been a while since I posted here. I'm learning how to record my guitar as all my straight to phone recordings sound very amateur. Here's my first attempt of recording video on my phone and using a mic to record the audio directly to my computer.
Hope everybody is staying safe.
That was a nice song 👍🏾 Seems like you tried a different mic and camera angle on your most recent video and the audio is louder, though to be fair you did use an electric this time. Did you record straight into a daw or with the mic and an amp?
On 11/22/2020 at 2:33 PM, 62burst said:Fine playing, and cool camera angle, but I don't recognize the song (?) I have the same gear as well, and can't figure out the best way to boost the signal strength.. Of course, mic placement is important, but the sound quality shown on the below embedded video is mind blowing, compared to what I've been able to come up with. A few folks here have the same setup, (Lars, and SalfromChatham, MissouriPicker, (?) to name a few), but their sound levels let you hear much better.
When adjusting the gain higher, the mic is more prone to prone to clipping if the sound source is too close.
Check out some YouTube acoustic guitar recordings made with the Apogee MiC 96k to get an idea of mic placement, etc, but this one seems to defy all odds:
WOW! Got gain anyone? It sounds like they added some reverb (particularly noticeable towards the intro and beginning) and maybe increased the gain afterwards during mixdown. If they didn't do any post processing that Rode app has to be really good.
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3 hours ago, E-minor7 said:
Hey - a rather massive first post, but welcome.
A week or so ago I exchanged my HB Standard 2019 for a HB Vintage Limited 2019 (SSHVHCN19). From my understanding (and I could very well be wrong) this model ran from 2014-2019 and may have been discontinued. Efforts to find out more about the specifics of this model have turned up largely empty spare what's on retailer's sites, which I'm not so keen on trusting as GC (and couple of others) listed it as having a pickup when even the images on their site clearly indicates the absence of one.
There was no pick-up anywhere near this Bird from the plant.
I was wondering if anyone has any info on the specs, type of finish (is it VOS or thin nitro),
Actually both - VOS stands for vintage original specs and that means nitrocellulose lacquer.
whether the pins are bone or tusq, etc. I did find a spec sheet from Gibson, but it doesn't have quite as much info as other spec sheets for other HB models.
The original were probably white plast. Like in the days of old.
I'm trying to figure out if this is a "true vintage" model or what specifically makes this "limited" as I don't think this was a XX/100 or something. Does Gibson have an explanation of their different lines, what with modern classic, historic, original, true vintage, signature, etc, etc, etc it can get a bit confusing.
It is confusing, , , and you are about to confuse me 🙃. Vintage or True Vintage, , , differences would be the top and tuners. Post a pic.
As this is my first guitar I don't know what one "should' and "shouldn't" do to it, for example I was thinking of changing the tuners to a higher ratio Kluson tuner or something like this since the guitar has to be tuned at least every other day.
There should be no reason to switch. Assume these are the so called tulips
Also, are there any recommendations on a natural sounding pickup that doesn't require altering the body, the LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic caught my attention but it seems a soundhole pickup is my only option. Though I'll never part with her I'd still prefer not to do surgery just to modernize it, but it'd be nice to not have to pull out and hook up mics every time I practice just to record myself for later review.
Hope someone else comes in with better knowledge here. Look forward to the review, , , and a line of photos. .
Enjoy your new first ! guitar
Hi @E-minor7, thank you for taking the time to respond!
I posted a pic last week in the Gibson Lounge, though any excuse to share more pics is quite alright with me 😊. Mine has an aged top and tulip tuners, which from what I read is likely the reason for almost daily tunings; the Standard from before needed to be tuned only two or three times over the three weeks I tried it out.
Yeah, I kinda figured there were never any pickups installed it was an example of how off the mark GC's description was since it was very evident in the photos on the product page there were no electronics. Thank you for clarifying that VOS is in fact a thin nitrocellulose lacquer, though I'm still confused on the pins because some websites indicate it is tusq while others say it's bone and now you're saying it's likely plastic..sheesh talk about a mystery lol.
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A week or so ago I exchanged my HB Standard 2019 for a HB Vintage Limited 2019 (SSHVHCN19). From my understanding (and I could very well be wrong) this model ran from 2014-2019 and may have been discontinued. Efforts to find out more about the specifics of this model have turned up largely empty spare what's on retailer's sites, which I'm not so keen on trusting as GC (and couple of others) listed it as having a pickup when even the images on their site clearly indicates the absence of one. I was wondering if anyone has any info on the specs, type of finish (is it VOS or thin nitro), whether the pins are bone or tusq, etc. I did find a spec sheet from Gibson, but it doesn't have quite as much info as other spec sheets for other HB models. I'm trying to figure out if this is a "true vintage" model or what specifically makes this "limited" as I don't think this was a XX/100 or something. Does Gibson have an explanation of their different lines, what with modern classic, historic, original, true vintage, signature, etc, etc, etc it can get a bit confusing.
As this is my first guitar I don't know what one "should' and "shouldn't" do to it, for example I was thinking of changing the tuners to a higher ratio Kluson tuner or something like this since the guitar has to be tuned at least every other day. Also, are there any recommendations on a natural sounding pickup that doesn't require altering the body, the LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic caught my attention but it seems a soundhole pickup is my only option. Though I'll never part with her I'd still prefer not to do surgery just to modernize it, but it'd be nice to not have to pull out and hook up mics every time I practice just to record myself for later review.
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11 hours ago, Dub-T-123 said:
Yep it won’t be a bad thing to have a nice guitar to learn on! Keep it up and you’ll be shredding in no time
Thank you! I didn't know acoustics could shred as well, sounds extremely impressive.
5 hours ago, Retired said:Gosh, it seems like an eternity since I last learned all the chords. Good luck and they will come.
From your mouth to the gods' ears, my second finger just will not land properly on a D chord (yet) when it gets even a little fatigued smh.
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Second Guitar: ES-335 or J-45
in The Gibson Lounge
Posted
Both will be in my collection, we'll see how it turns out
Thanks for the recommendation. I've been trying to find some videos on youtube to get an idea of 12 strings to know what to expect, they sounds great (when someone else plays them)
Will look them up, thanks
I've seen a few youtubers use an electric for solo covers and they sound pretty good. As you suggest though, my rationale for getting a 335 is more to provide another tone/instrument to include as I get better and begin to record covers and later original content. Considering the I like r&b/soul from the 50s up through to today it seemed logical to get an electric of some variety. The required amp gives me pause as that's a whole different beast that I hadn't considered and at this point pedals are not even remotely on my radar.
Your thoughts on the similarities between Hummingbirds and J45 were also concerns of mine and is what lead to considering Martin, Les Paul, or 335 (then later a Jumbo). However, I know I want a J45 in my permanent collection since it's so versatile. To my ear it seems a J45 can do almost everything a 45 can do, but a Bird can't do quite as much as 45 as well - though I prefer the sound of a Bird more. Considering Gibson has a banner 45 reissue currently in production with an aged Adi top at a point when the company is turning out really good custom shops seems almost foolish to pass up especially considering these guitars go for several times that of this reissuse and who knows how long they'll be around.
From a tonewoods perspective some permutation of a D-28 would be a logical choice as well - it'd still be another acoustic that will be a permanent fixture in my collection, cuts through a mix better than a Bird, and would give me a chance to explore what Rosewood can do and how it plays with my voice. The J-200 or Dove are the only two maples Im really familiar with so that's something I'll look into some more.
It seems a lot of people haven't had the best experience at GC.
Seems a couple people think a 12 string Martin is the way to go. They sound good tbh from what I've seen around youtube. I'll try one when I go in to test some out.