Hummingbird selection

[petejmurray]

Hey guys I'm trying to decide between a 2014 quilted Maple Hummingbird or a 2016 Standard Hummingbird. Both are brand-new still in there box. (shop owner never opened the 2014 on as couldn't sell it). Do you think the 2016 upgrades are worth it? The pick up isn't a big issue for me. Its the rounded/rolled fret board and set up that i wonder if its worth it? My father passed away a couple of weeks ago and loved the red finish of the quilted guitar but, we always picked quality over looks. If theres no real difference ill pick the quilted one in his memory. However not going to pick it if the upgrades are a noticeable difference

[E-minor7]

Hi again - When reading your post in the other thread I thought you meant a torrefried 2016 Hummingbird, not the Std. version, which can be very good also.

Anyway - what you must consider is that the quilt is a maple guitar (back'n'sides) where normal Birds has mahogany ditto.

This is highly important and you probably already know it.

The quilted Hummingbird which can be seen as a short-scale Dove - may not sound dovish,

but will have the maple voice and thus stick away from the original (also short-scaled) Bird-sound.

So you are about to enter serious grounds here and must establish knowledge 'bout both before choosing.

Here the big individual challenge rises : Who are the acoustic you when it comes down to the core.

That existential that Q can take 10-15-20 years to answer and by then the more subtle task begins. Which sub-flavours do I prefer ?

The only way forward is forward - a grrreat journey is waiting.

[petejmurray]

Hi again - When reading your post in the other thread I thought you meant a torrefried 2016 Humingbird, not the Std. version, which can be very good also.

Anyway - what you must consider is that the quilt is a maple guitar (back'n'sides) where normal Birds has mahogany ditto.

This is highly important and you probably already know it.

The quilted Hummingbird which can be seen as a short-scale Dove - may not sound dovish,

but will have the maple voice and thus stick away from the original (also short-scaled) Bird-sound.

So you are about to enter serious grounds here and must establish knowledge 'bout both before choosing.

Here the big individual challenge rises : Who are the acoustic you when it comes down to the core.

That existential that Q can take 10-15-20 years to answer and by then the more subtle task begins. Which sub-flavours do I prefer ?

The only way forward is forward - a grrreat journey is waiting.

 

 

Cheers mate really appreciate it

[62burst]

Have you seen these guitars in the shop you'd mentioned? If so, would it not be possible to play them both & decide which you prefer?

 

As BBG suggested in the "official" Hummingbird thread, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a 'Bird with the 60's red burst that has the more iconic mahogany back and sides. Ultimately, if you're like many here, eventually you'll want to have both the maple and the mahogany at home for a closer listen. At least for a little while.

 

 

Condolences on the passing of your father.

 

 

This video from a shop with the Chinese domain extension, FlyMusic.cn, shows how you really have to listen to pick up the difference between the maple and the mahogany. Maybe other playing styles might demonstrate those differences better. Demo begins at t=2min, 57sec:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH7-iJ2msS8

[Jesse_Dylan]

As BBG suggested in the "official" Hummingbird thread, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a 'Bird with the 60's red burst that has the more iconic mahogany back and sides. Ultimately, if you're like many here, eventually you'll want to have both the maple and the mahogany at home for a closer listen. At least for a little while.

Actually, I have not really seen any. The Heritage Cherry Sunburst varies, but none are cherry sunburst. And the quilt is actually Bright Cherry Sunburst, which is something else entirely. And the Vintage is, surprise, a Vintage Cherry Sunburst. Yet none of these are the classic Cherry Sunburst.

 

Let me also offer condolences on your father's passing.

 

You also already know what I think of all this from our PMs. It is a hard decision. I have never played a Hummingbird that wasn't fantastic, whether standard, Vintage, or Quilt. Maple is really special on a Hummingbird. Of course, it is quite different from mahogany. And even mahogany vs. mahogany, the Standard is quite different from the Vintage. But, again, they are all wonderful.