Hummingbird 100 year anniversary edition

[ML1B1D]

Hello All! Hope everything is well.

I posted my very 1st post back in May this year to the Introduce yourself forum. I was asking for some advice regarding what to choose - a Hummingbird and Dove so that would have some sort of gauge and decide which bird to go for. Amazingly, I had 1 response that didn't answer my question. Thanks to person who at least responded anyways.

Well folks, I have decided and finally bought a Hummingbird off eBay USA. It's a 100 anniversary edition hummy! And I'm as happy as a boy with a fish on the line! However, I have been noticing that some hummies have 2 pearly dots on either side of the famous belly up bridge. My hummy doesn't have these pearly dots.

My niggling question is (I'm hoping for a deluge in response), what is the difference? Is it only for decorative purposes? does it affect the sound/tonality of the famous hummy sound

I've done a bit of research in YouTube where it showed these pearly dots on a 100 anniversary edition. The serial num in YouTube and mine are not far off in between. Do tell please.

 

ps I did search the for any 100 year edition. Due to unsuccessful fruition, resulted this posting.

 

Play guitar \m/

[Hairy Dave]

I didn't think there was a 100 Year Anniversary Edition. I've only heard of the 1960 50 Year Anniversary Edition? I could be wrong though!

 

EDIT: Just googled it and apparently there were some 100 Year Anniversary models released in 94. One of those maybe?

[EuroAussie]

I read a number of times that the production went up so much during 94' for this anniversary that quality control dropped and more than a few duds came out. Id be a little weary and certainly not buy unplayed..

[BigKahune]

.

Congrats on your new H'bird. .

 

The particular edition you have had no inlays on the bridge. Originally, the inlays hid screw heads that secured the bridge with bolts. Here's a thread on the subject - http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/96881-97-gibson-j45/

 

Here's a 94 with the 100 year label, no bridge inlays -

[frenchie1281734003]

I read a number of times that the production went up so much during 94' for this anniversary that quality control dropped and more than a few duds came out. Id be a little weary and certainly not buy unplayed..

 

I`ve heard that too, but my experience with them, has lead me to think 94 may have been one of the good years! My go to guitar is a 94 J-100 Xtra, and I recently had to sell a fabulous 94 J-200 "Special" (I wouldn`t have done If I hadn`t urgently needed funds). I have no doubt that there must be a few duds, but overrall I`ve been more impressed with 94 than some i`ve tried from 93 or 95.

 

Steve.

[RobertoCarlosMX]

Hello Newbie,

 

If I understand Hummingbirds were introduced in 1960. The Hummingbird was the first Gibson square shoulder thats why I don't understand why yours is a 100 year anniversary. 100 year anniversary of Gibson?

 

Please post a pic fo your guitar...

 

Here a pic of my Hummingbird...

 

 

Best regards,

[E-minor7]

Pardon for not reacting to the May-Q as it lies 'in my department', so to speak.

The H-bird/Dove topic is always interesting and under all circumstances you deserve a welcome.

1 response isn't much, maybe the thread-title was to vague. But some threads don't fly at all - just experienced that with my truss-rod chamber idea.

 

Anyway - the 100 Anniversary models are a bit different. It's before Gibson really got their act together about recreating and tightning up.

I played a 100th A. Square Southern Jumbo* from the period a few years back. Basically a Bird with neutral guard and it was pretty impressing with lots of sound'n'projection.

Good bass too.

 

Another thing - have you checked the scale length - it might be longer than the common 24,75.

 

Hep -

[onewilyfool]

Your previous post probably got lost in the "introduce yourself" section. Gibson acoustics where this thread is the place to get your questions answered. '94 was the 100th anniversary of GIBSON, not the Hummingbird. I have a '94 L-20, a few fit and fiinish "challenges" but doesn't affect the sound....I've heard stuff about the '94's too, but have played a few and found them to sound great, so, hope your does too!

[BigKahune]

... '94 was the 100th anniversary of GIBSON, not the Hummingbird. ....

 

I missed the confusion this. Yep, Wily has it. Gibson put out several models with 100th Anniversary (Centennial) editions. Here's what the inside label looks like -

 

[J-1854Me]

Some confusion persists on the 100th Anniversary Gibsons for a few reasons.

 

One of them is that *most* Gibsons produced during that year were adorned with the 100th Anniversary label, as shown above. (That label appears of some 1995 serialed guitars too though...)

 

So, "regular old" production guitars built in 1994 got that label, but aren't per se a "special model" that was issued to mark the Anniversary year.

 

There was a series of 12 acoustic guitars built that year, one model for each month, 100 of each model, and those were guitars generally thought of as the "Centennial collection". They included a J-100, an EmmyLou J-200 Rose, the CF-100E, the J-185, the Hummingbird maple, an LC model and others.

 

Here's a label from that set:

 

So you can find a "Centennial" Hummingbird, for example, and a regular production Centennial year Hummingbird.

 

The Centennial version was built with maple back and sides, as found in some of the 1962 Hummingbird; the regular version was built using mahogany for back and sides.

 

For other Centennial models, the differences from 'standard' production ranged from none to significant.

 

Fred

[E-minor7]

Some confusion persists on the 100th Anniversary Gibsons for a few reasons.

 

Centennial models, the differences from 'standard' production ranged from none to significant.

 

Fred

Thanks for clearing this a bit up. The square SJ i played had some weird pick-scratches, like grayish bows from cat claws in the lacquer.

Never seen anything like it and they weren't particularly mojo-cool.

 

Made me wonder if it was nitrocellulose at all.

 

[onewilyfool]

By the way, you collectors and historians on the forum, do you think that 100 year label adds any value to the guitar, say in the future??? I mean, 100 years is quite a milestone for a guitar company!!!

[zombywoof]

By the way, you collectors and historians on the forum, do you think that 100 year label adds any value to the guitar, say in the future??? I mean, 100 years is quite a milestone for a guitar company!!!

 

 

Nope, well maybe in another 100 years.

[ML1B1D]

.

Congrats on your new H'bird. .

 

The particular edition you have had no inlays on the bridge. Originally, the inlays hid screw heads that secured the bridge with bolts. Here's a thread on the subject - http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/96881-97-gibson-j45/

 

Here's a 94 with the 100 year label, no bridge inlays -

 

Many thanks BigKahune.

A very good family friend from Long Beach, CA have bought it on my behalf. He and his family are coming (3rd time) for a holiday. And he's bringing my bird over next Friday!

Can't wait 😜 it comes with a brown OHSC

[ML1B1D]

Hello Newbie,

 

If I understand Hummingbirds were introduced in 1960. The Hummingbird was the first Gibson square shoulder thats why I don't understand why yours is a 100 year anniversary. 100 year anniversary of Gibson?

 

Please post a pic fo your guitar...

 

Here a pic of my Hummingbird...

 

 

Best regards,

 

Hi RobertoCarlosMX

Apologies for the confusion. I will post some pics when she arrives.

Beautiful bird you have there!

[ML1B1D]

Pardon for not reacting to the May-Q as it lies 'in my department', so to speak.

The H-bird/Dove topic is always interesting and under all circumstances you deserve a welcome.

1 response isn't much, maybe the thread-title was to vague. But some threads don't fly at all - just experienced that with my truss-rod chamber idea.

 

Anyway - the 100 Anniversary models are a bit different. It's before Gibson really got their act together about recreating and tightning up.

I played a 100th A. Square Southern Jumbo* from the period a few years back. Basically a Bird with neutral guard and it was pretty impressing with lots of sound'n'projection.

Good bass too.

 

Another thing - have you checked the scale length - it might be longer than the common 24,75.

 

Hep -

 

Hello Hep,

No problem at all mate. And thanks for the welcome. Will post to let you know how she sings when she lands.

A longer than common scale, is that a good thing or a bad thing? How do you measure it?

[ML1B1D]

Some confusion persists on the 100th Anniversary Gibsons for a few reasons.

 

One of them is that *most* Gibsons produced during that year were adorned with the 100th Anniversary label, as shown above. (That label appears of some 1995 serialed guitars too though...)

 

So, "regular old" production guitars built in 1994 got that label, but aren't per se a "special model" that was issued to mark the Anniversary year.

 

There was a series of 12 acoustic guitars built that year, one model for each month, 100 of each model, and those were guitars generally thought of as the "Centennial collection". They included a J-100, an EmmyLou J-200 Rose, the CF-100E, the J-185, the Hummingbird maple, an LC model and others.

 

Here's a label from that set:

 

So you can find a "Centennial" Hummingbird, for example, and a regular production Centennial year Hummingbird.

 

The Centennial version was built with maple back and sides, as found in some of the 1962 Hummingbird; the regular version was built using mahogany for back and sides.

 

For other Centennial models, the differences from 'standard' production ranged from none to significant.

 

Fred

 

Thanks Fred for the info.

My one is a regular(all solid hog) as it doesn't appear to have the nnn of 100 on the label

Nonetheless, I can't wait to get my hands on her!

[J-1854Me]

Thanks Fred for the info.

My one is a regular(all solid hog) as it doesn't appear to have the nnn of 100 on the label

Nonetheless, I can't wait to get my hands on her!

 

No worries -- the only two maple Centennial HBirds I played with both pretty timid in terms of tone, so -- like any Gibson -- there's no guarantees as to sound.

 

Hope yours is a good 'un!

 

Fred

[aliasphobias]

Hello and welcome! Congratulations on the 'bird. I have a '93 Hummingbird and it has the longer 25.5" scale. I think they were (all?) 25.5" until '97 when they switched to the (original) 24.75" scale. The 'birds from the '60's were also a mixture of long and short scale, if I am not mistaken.

The longer scale is not a bad thing in my opinion. I have found the Hummingbird to be a little bit on the "quiet" side and I think the longer scale helps to brighten or liven it up, along with a little higher action. When I get yearning for the sweet, softer sound I simply tune down a half step. If I had a stack I would own both, alas I do not. I look forward to your impressions of the '94 Centennial 'bird. Enjoy.

P.S. I have a '94 Centennial J100xtra and it is an exceptional instrument in every way!

[ML1B1D]

Hello Newbie,

 

If I understand Hummingbirds were introduced in 1960. The Hummingbird was the first Gibson square shoulder thats why I don't understand why yours is a 100 year anniversary. 100 year anniversary of Gibson?

 

Please post a pic fo your guitar...

 

Here a pic of my Hummingbird...

 

 

Best regards,

 

 

Here's mine and has arrived at my friend's house in Long Beach. Ready to fly next week!

 

 

[ML1B1D]

Some confusion persists on the 100th Anniversary Gibsons for a few reasons.

 

One of them is that *most* Gibsons produced during that year were adorned with the 100th Anniversary label, as shown above. (That label appears of some 1995 serialed guitars too though...)

 

So, "regular old" production guitars built in 1994 got that label, but aren't per se a "special model" that was issued to mark the Anniversary year.

 

There was a series of 12 acoustic guitars built that year, one model for each month, 100 of each model, and those were guitars generally thought of as the "Centennial collection". They included a J-100, an EmmyLou J-200 Rose, the CF-100E, the J-185, the Hummingbird maple, an LC model and others.

 

Here's a label from that set:

 

So you can find a "Centennial" Hummingbird, for example, and a regular production Centennial year Hummingbird.

 

The Centennial version was built with maple back and sides, as found in some of the 1962 Hummingbird; the regular version was built using mahogany for back and sides.

 

For other Centennial models, the differences from 'standard' production ranged from none to significant.

 

Fred

 

Hi Fred,

This is the label inside my bird. I guess it's a regular bird and a non-Centennial bird