pnikola007 Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 Hi. I am interested in the epiphone hummingbird inspired by Gibson. Any thoughts on this guitar, how it plays, feels. And also I was wondering if iit has one piece neck, or 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 On 12/9/2021 at 7:48 AM, pnikola007 said: Hi. I am interested in the epiphone hummingbird inspired by Gibson. I think the best thing to do is just GET ONE! From what I've heard, it is a great guitar at a great price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagull Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 If you can find one to buy you are doing pretty good right now. I called GC last week, he told my they have a little over 200 on order, already spoken for. Due sometime next month or so! I did find a used demo, but it was sold before I could blink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Joseph Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 I bought an IBG Epi J200 it was supposed to be a Demo with some dings and dents. Instead they sent me a brand new J200 because the demo was sold after I ordered it. It sounded ok when I got it about 2 months ago. In the last 2 weeks I replaced what I thought was a cheap mass produced not very well made bone saddle that had the intonation off on all strings. I had a custom saddle made for it replaced the plastic bridge pins with bone and experimented with different strings and gauges. I settled on Martin Monel Tony Rice strings. The difference these changes made are amazing. The sound went from ok to pretty awesome. The bass improved the most and the high end . The overall volume is much better the intonation is perfect. I did when I replaced the saddle take the pickup ribbon under the original saddle and pull it into the body and taped it down. The IBG J200 is well made and bracing is done well the finish is really nice on the body and the maple. back and sides are beautiful. Polishing the back and sides with Lizard Spit brought out the grain in the solid maple back and sides. Holding back the potential of this J200 were a cheaply mass produced saddle, cheap plastic pins and strings to light to drive the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebubs Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) Well I have the IBG Hummingbird and did some very similar mods myself - like above I changed the pins from plastic to bone pins I 'aged' in coffee and also like above I removed the UST ribbon and taped it inside the guitar and made my own saddle from a bone blank I also 'aged' in a cup with tea-bags - plays beautifully and I'm using Martin Titanium strings which are very lush and rich. I treated the bridge with Music Nomad F-One fretboard conditioner to give it a darker, slightly more finished look - before and after pictures below of my replacement 'aged' saddle and the bridge treatment. Edited January 11, 2022 by Brucebubs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Joseph Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 5:48 AM, Brucebubs said: Well I have the IBG Hummingbird and did some very similar mods myself - like above I changed the pins from plastic to bone pins I 'aged' in coffee and also like above I removed the UST ribbon and taped it inside the guitar and made my own saddle from a bone blank I also 'aged' in a cup with tea-bags - plays beautifully and I'm using Martin Titanium strings which are very lush and rich. I treated the bridge with Music Nomad F-One fretboard conditioner to give it a darker, slightly more finished look - before and after pictures below of my replacement 'aged' saddle and the bridge treatment. I was going to remove the pickup. But I read on another forum you just tape the ribbon inside. I wonder if I got the idea from you. I have a 2012 Bird and removed the pickup this is easier and if I ever sold it the pickup is intact. I've been thinking of getting the Epi Bird just to compare the two everything I hear about them is good. I think they come closest to a Gibson of all the IBG models. My Epi J200 sounds just like a Eastman AC630 jumbo. I know I have one. There so close I'm thinking they could be made in the same factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebubs Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, John Joseph said: I was going to remove the pickup. But I read on another forum you just tape the ribbon inside. I wonder if I got the idea from you. I have a 2012 Bird and removed the pickup this is easier and if I ever sold it the pickup is intact. I've been thinking of getting the Epi Bird just to compare the two everything I hear about them is good. I think they come closest to a Gibson of all the IBG models. My Epi J200 sounds just like a Eastman AC630 jumbo. I know I have one. There so close I'm thinking they could be made in the same factory. Those Eastman AC630 are beautiful looking guitars, every one I've seen looks stunning. My IBG lives with these guitars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 I bought one, replaced my old 1994 Epi Hummingbird with it. It's wwwaaayyyy better than my old one, save for possibly how pretty that old one was! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1gMattAttack Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 1:01 AM, John Joseph said: I bought an IBG Epi J200 it was supposed to be a Demo with some dings and dents. Instead they sent me a brand new J200 because the demo was sold after I ordered it. It sounded ok when I got it about 2 months ago. In the last 2 weeks I replaced what I thought was a cheap mass produced not very well made bone saddle that had the intonation off on all strings. I had a custom saddle made for it replaced the plastic bridge pins with bone and experimented with different strings and gauges. I settled on Martin Monel Tony Rice strings. The difference these changes made are amazing. The sound went from ok to pretty awesome. The bass improved the most and the high end . The overall volume is much better the intonation is perfect. I did when I replaced the saddle take the pickup ribbon under the original saddle and pull it into the body and taped it down. The IBG J200 is well made and bracing is done well the finish is really nice on the body and the maple. back and sides are beautiful. Polishing the back and sides with Lizard Spit brought out the grain in the solid maple back and sides. Holding back the potential of this J200 were a cheaply mass produced saddle, cheap plastic pins and strings to light to drive the top. Did you do this since you don't plug it in? So that it has better vibrational transfer between the Bridge and the Saddle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Joseph Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Yes with my 2012 Gibson Hummingbird I removed the pickup had a large endpin made and taller saddle. This was me retired and 10 years older just pulled it inside and taped it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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