menon Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 I am kind of down to these two choices, hummingbird or SJ 100. My parameters? -must be mahogany( have a rosewood guitar) -mostly strumming , a little flat picking , no fancy fingerpicking -i do not use a pick -not a pro by any means but do play/sing acoustic /harmony stuff with some other guys. -This will probably be the last acoustic guitar i will buy. --play mostly unplugged. any advice. cheers.
EuroAussie Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 Strumming, a bit of flatpicking sounds like Bird' territory .... but then, what about a J-45 ?
ParlourMan Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 I'm going to say SJ100 and I'll tell you why, birds will always be in production so long as raw materials are available, the SJ100 with the almost universally unpopular bridge has arrived but it wont linger, so it will be shifted in much smaller numbers, which all fits well in for future resale, if you want to buy one, chances are at least 100 others do too. So assuming you like the looks and sound of this option I'd got for the one that will serve you best now and offer a good return on the resale (albeit a smaller market than the bird).
Versatile Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 Personal opinion... Gibsons are great..!! How about trying out Martin, L'Arrivee, Guild, Santa Cruz etc Who also make great mahogany acoustics... V
frenchie1281734003 Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 I played a very nice 90s Hummingbird that they had in Frailers (Runcorn) about nine months ago. they also had two 94 J-100 Xtras (Mahogany) in as well. As I already own a fabulous 94 J-100 Xtra myself, I thought I`d give these all a try. One of the J-100`s wasn`t as nice as the other or mine, both in terms of feel or tone, however this guitar had quite old strings on. The other J-100 and the Hummingbird, both sounded very similar to mine. If I had to choose however I would go with the J-100, as I feel it just has the edge on a good Hummingbird, and although a larger guitar it is more comfortable to play, because the deep waist sits nicely on your knee, with the bulk of the body out of the way. I am pretty sure the mid 90s J-100 Xtra guitar is the same as the new 1941 SJ-100 reissue in terms of construction, and only differs in cometics, although some of them lack a pickup. I think the J-100 is a very underrated guitar, and would agree with what Parlourman said. I absolutely love mine, particularly for strumming. Good luck in what you choose to do.
ponty Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 I am kind of down to these two choices, hummingbird or SJ 100. My parameters? -must be mahogany( have a rosewood guitar) -mostly strumming , a little flat picking , no fancy fingerpicking -i do not use a pick -not a pro by any means but do play/sing acoustic /harmony stuff with some other guys. -This will probably be the last acoustic guitar i will buy. --play mostly unplugged. any advice. cheers. must be mahogany( have a rosewood guitar) GOOD CHOICE not a pro by any means but do play/sing acoustic /harmony stuff with some other guys. - LIKE MANY OFF US This will probably be the last acoustic guitar i will buy. -YEAH..RIGHT! I dont own either of these guitars. I have not played the SJ-100 in its new form. Every Hummingbird I have played has been great. A true icon. So, between the two, HB.
MissouriPicker Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 I favor "the bird." Great strummer, flat picker and fingerpicker......BUT, the Gibson super jumbos are all great strummers, flat pickers and fingerpickers. If you can find a mahogany J100 that you feel is very playable, then I'd definitely consider it. Either guitar is a winner. Have fun with the hunt.
fortyearspickn Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 Personal opinion... Gibsons are great..!! How about trying out Martin, L'Arrivee, Guild, Santa Cruz etc Who also make great mahogany acoustics... V I've got an H'bird TV and a maple SJ200 I would think the Sj100'would a bit louder and the HB would be more versatile for your last guitar acquisition. OP said he narrowed selection down to H'Bird or SJ100. Implication is he's eliminated other brands. If you want to encourage folks here to consider those brands, suggest you start your own, new thread. As another option, you could just post your rationale here, given the fact this is a Gibson Forum. Sort of difficult comparing each of the OP's final two choices to all Martin, Guild, etc hogs. I think the OP already has done that legwork.
aliasphobias Posted April 15, 2013 Posted April 15, 2013 The Gibson guitar that was made for vocal accompaniment, Hummingbird! There are a lot of different 'birds out there short scale, long scale, tvs, standards, new, used, vintage. It shouldn't be hard to find one that "calls your name". Good luck on the "last" hunt!?
Dave F Posted April 16, 2013 Posted April 16, 2013 I recently added an HB standard to my herd and I love it. I have not played or seen a J100. Good luck.
menon Posted April 16, 2013 Author Posted April 16, 2013 Phew!! Thanks for feedback/ advice.Too many to respond to each , but overall i am getting a general direction. Let me just complicate the issue a little bit!! I am non USA based and am in Minneapolis, mid may , for just 4/5 days. Have been in correspondence with most guitar shops there, and could find one only hummingbird(at guitar centre) and no SJ 100( since they are newly re released). So question, should i decide between hummingbird and SJ 100 and order online say from sweetwater or Go to shops on ground,forget about my hummingbird /sj 100 wishlist and see /touch/ feel guitars available pick whichever i like best . I guess i am asking opinions on online purchase. ( PS have posted elsewhere in forums on this online thingy..sorry for cross posting)
Motherofpearl Posted April 18, 2013 Posted April 18, 2013 Both great guitars and great at all styles of play. I sold my J100xtra just recently but if I was buying another jumbo it would be mahogany! I sold my sj200s when I got that one Hummingbirds are great too all depends if you want a dread or jumbo! Personally if you have a dread already go with a jumbo.
ochomatic Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 I am kind of down to these two choices, hummingbird or SJ 100. My parameters? -must be mahogany( have a rosewood guitar) -mostly strumming , a little flat picking , no fancy fingerpicking -i do not use a pick -not a pro by any means but do play/sing acoustic /harmony stuff with some other guys. -This will probably be the last acoustic guitar i will buy. --play mostly unplugged. any advice. cheers.
ochomatic Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 I went with SJ 100. I considered the Hummingbird and the 200. The 200 was great but I already have a nice Taylor with Maple back and sides. I liked the mahogany on the 100 and the bird. The 100 was just beautiful and played great. i played several birds and some were better than others. i can always get one later but maybe not on the reissue of the 41. I got it last weekend and played it in church Sunday. Beautiful. Ive always wanted a Gibson acoustic and finally pulled the trigger.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.