rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 I am in a position to buy a Gibson Hummingbird and I have my eyes set on the new original model. https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACCFR6729/Hummingbird-Original/Heritage-Cherry-Sunburst I have also been offered a used Gibson Hummingbird True Vintage from 2017 in mint condition (priced cheaper by about 500 bucks) My understanding is the main difference is the thermally aged tops but I am having real difficulty deciding which one to get. Would love to get people's feedback which model they would pick and why.. I will be able to play the HB Original in the shops tomorrow and get a feel for it however the HB TV will be sent from abroad. Another issue I have is with the HB TV is that the serial number does not show up on Guitar Serial Project. Thanks for reading! Quote
Lars68 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 I would get the True Vintage and don't look back, especially if it saves you $500! Nothing wrong with the other Hummingbird, but the TV is a step up spec-wise. Personally, I also prefer the darker color scheme of the TVs. Good luck! Lars 1 Quote
Jalex Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 I think I would go with the one I could play in person and buy that assuming you like it. Quote
fortyearspickn Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 You rarely get a chance to play two guitars either of which you are 100% interested in purchasing , side by side. Any other type of comparison - if one is in another country, or you can't get to it until the following weekend, trying to compare it with your recollection of how the first one sounded and felt. So, since you say you would be happy with either - you should consider the nuts and bolts: Warranty, $500 savings, Return Policy, and verification of the True Vintage designation. If those things are a wash - I'd not think twice and get the TV. They're not making them anymore. Full Disclosure: I've had one for 6 years or so and it sounds far superior to the couple I've tried at Guitar Center years back. As Em7 said - consider it from a standpoint - not so much "Which one should I buy?" but, a couple of years from now - "Which one would I regret NOT having bought?" Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 6 minutes ago, fortyearspickn said: and verification of the True Vintage designation. Thanks guys. All very useful information and definite food for thought.. I am leaning towards the TV due to the upgraded specs and colour etc. My only concern is that the seller is based in a country with high humidity and this has changed the tone of the guitar. Anyone know if this is possible? The seller has however given me a very detailed processed of how he keeps his guitars in a room under 60% humidity and keeps humidity packs inside the case which are changed regularly. I will be heading to the Guitar shop tomorrow and try out the original and let you know how it goes and likely make a decision from there. One quick question though.. how do I verify the True Vintage designation? Quote
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 Just now, rocky_raccoon said: Thanks guys. All very useful information and definite food for thought.. I am leaning towards the TV due to the upgraded specs and colour etc. My only concern is that the seller is based in a country with high humidity and this has changed the tone of the guitar. Anyone know if this is possible? The seller has however given me a very detailed processed of how he keeps his guitars in a room under 60% humidity and keeps humidity packs inside the case which are changed regularly. I will be heading to the Guitar shop tomorrow and try out the original and let you know how it goes and likely make a decision from there. One quick question though.. how do I verify the True Vintage designation? It should say on the label. Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 1 minute ago, Sgt. Pepper said: It should say on the label. Looking at the pictures. it just says VINTAGE on the orange label inside Quote
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 2 minutes ago, rocky_raccoon said: Looking at the pictures. it just says VINTAGE on the orange label inside There may be a True Vintage and a Vintage. The experts will chime in. Quote
fortyearspickn Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 Vintage is a newer version of True Vintage. Only difference is the V has a 'torrified' top. Which means heated slowly over time to age it as if it were decades old, with the humidity content of the wood (and I assume it's ability to hold moisture) reduced, And, as a result - the 'burst' is different. Quote
Lars68 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 High humidity is very unlikely to damage a guitar, at least not as severly as lack of it. Lars Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, Lars68 said: High humidity is very unlikely to damage a guitar, at least not as severly as lack of it. Lars Thank you - that is reassuring to know Quote
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 High humidity can cause your top to bulge. Quote
E-minor7 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 My previous post above is hereby deleted - it obviously misunderstood the dilemma by taking the Original for a Standard. Quote
Lars68 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, E-minor7 said: My previous post above is hereby deleted - it obviously misunderstood the dilemma by taking the Original for a Standard. Me too, I did the same mistake. However, I would still lean towards the TV, but maybe not quite as heavily. 1 Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 45 minutes ago, Lars68 said: Me too, I did the same mistake. However, I would still lean towards the TV, but maybe not quite as heavily. Ah ok. Can I ask why not so heavily? Quote
Lars68 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 52 minutes ago, rocky_raccoon said: Ah ok. Can I ask why not so heavily? The Original is closer to the TV in spec than the Standard. So in this case, I think the main question is if the warranty of the new guitar is worth $500 to you. Either way, you are getting a wonderful guitar, and again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Standard either. I have one myself in the honey color Gibson offered back in 2026, and it's great. Good luck! Lars Quote
MissouriPicker Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 (edited) If $500 would "break the bank," then I'd go with the TV, assuming it's exactly what you are expecting. If the difference in price is not a deal killer and the one you can play feels very playable, feels great in your hands, is comfortable to play, and it kind of calls your name (hard to describe, but you'll know it if it does), then I'd go with that. Either way you're spending a good chunk of money. Get the guitar that feels like an extenstion of who you are. I've got a Hummingbird Standard. Haven't looked at what the specs are for a long time. It's a great player, so the specs don't mean much. Edited June 15, 2020 by MissouriPicker Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 Apologies it appears I got my model names mixed up! So in essence I am looking to decide between a 2020 brand new HB Original (which is was used to be known as a TV) and between a 2016 HB Vintage (the top of which is thermally aged) with £500 difference. I will be able to play the brand new model tomorrow but will have to chance it on the 2016 vintage model. Decisions, decisions, decisions! 🙂 Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, MissouriPicker said: Get the guitar that feels like an extenstion of who you are Thank you. I appreciate this advice! Quote
E-minor7 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 38 minutes ago, rocky_raccoon said: Apologies it appears I got my model names mixed up! So in essence I am looking to decide between a 2020 brand new HB Original (which is was used to be known as a TV) and between a 2016 HB Vintage (the top of which is thermally aged) with £500 difference. I will be able to play the brand new model tomorrow but will have to chance it on the 2016 vintage model. Decisions, decisions, decisions! 🙂 After failing in my first post I boldly try again : So the big Qs are whether you want torrified or non-torrified top, pick-up or no pick-up. And they actually are quite big. Can only second MissouriPicker - feel your way forward. Ouh, , , and then there is the aestheticss of the Pickguard. Another highly personal choice. Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 15, 2020 Author Posted June 15, 2020 13 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: torrified or non-torrified top I think this is the big decision for me. Is there a significant difference in sound between the two? I will be mainly playing at home so not much need for pickups. I did not realise the pick guards were different though.. More food for thought! Quote
E-minor7 Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 22 minutes ago, rocky_raccoon said: I think this is the big decision for me. Is there a significant difference in sound between the two? I will be mainly playing at home so not much need for pickups. I did not realise the pick guards were different though.. More food for thought! Especially if you sit at home where the possibility to get into the deeper nature of the creatures is optimal, the difference will be significant. Though tried fx on these pages many times, it's pretty hard to describe - and both can be terrific. Btw. the best way to really understand your acoustic guitar is to 1 be by yourself and then sharpen all senses - without bein' afraid of reaching a point where you almost step out of this realm. 2 sit face to face and play with a good friend - then once in a while switch instruments and hear your own axe from the front while evaluating the difference between your own and the one you now have between your hands. You should tell us which way your choice falls, , , or rises. How/why and so forth, , , it's good stuff. . Quote
Sgt. Pepper Posted June 15, 2020 Posted June 15, 2020 47 minutes ago, rocky_raccoon said: I think this is the big decision for me. Is there a significant difference in sound between the two? I'd buy the one that sounds better than the other one. Quote
fortyearspickn Posted June 16, 2020 Posted June 16, 2020 ...unless it's in a foreign country. In which case I'd buy the other, other one. Quote
rocky_raccoon Posted June 16, 2020 Author Posted June 16, 2020 12 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I'd buy the one that sounds better than the other one. cant argue with that logic 😄 Quote
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