theadguy Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Hello all - here's a longshot: anyone have any idea who may have made this Hummingbird? I cannot find anything like it anywhere on line - it's had it's day and I'm wondering if it's worth what it would take to get it playing again. There is no information anywhere on it - no headstock badge, no serial number - nothing. Only thing from previous owner : he thought it was maybe '50's or 60's vintage. Any leads or guesses would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Can't say exactly what it is, but it's definitely not Gibson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 I'm certainly no expert...but it's not a Gibson.... pickguard does not look like an Epiphone.....has cheap Chinese tuners (or some other kind). The truss-rod cover has 3 screws.... Gibson puts only 2. Probably plywood, I think if you check the grain on the wood on the back from the outside, then check the grain on the wood on back from the inside... If they don't match, the body is probably laminated. It looks like you could put strings and one pin to see if it will play, (check the intonation, etc.). Then you might also need to put on a decent set of tuners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 You know it rained (almost) world wide with copies like this in the 70ties - from all angles. You should tell us about the braces. How thick they are and the pattern itself. I like the stinger, it's well done. And yes, it has a sound - and could probably make a good campfire guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Those tuners are . . . well . . . awful looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 37 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Those tuners are . . . well . . . awful looking. They SCREAM 'phony'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 Ouch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 The machineheads are standard issue early ‘70s Japanese, which puts this guitar provisionally in that bracket. The intonated adjustable bridge saddle was commonly used by Kay around the same era, but doesn’t look original to this guitar as the adjuster screws don’t seem to match, so may have been ported over as an upgrade. The sunburst is very good, as is the attention to detail on the inlays and scratchplate. This marks it out as being likely either built by Kiso Suzuki or Terada, both Japanese manufacturers who were well known for their attention to such things. Kiso Suzuki guitars are excellent instruments-I have one of their classical guitars from the same era and it’s outstanding. Kiso Suzuki were originally a violin manufacturer and built instruments to a very high standard-I wonder if there are any traces of the logo on the headstock? If it’s a KS it will be a gold decal not dissimilar to the Martin logo, except reading “K. Suzuki & Co” I would absolutely put some time, effort and money into making it playable again-Japanese stuff is starting to make stronger and stronger money and with good reason, they’re often excellent instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 You could use the headstock as a paddle while canoeing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted December 29, 2021 Share Posted December 29, 2021 2 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: You could use the headstock as a paddle while canoeing. Don't canoe - as you know I fly. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 29, 2021 Share Posted December 29, 2021 (edited) As mentioned above, almost certainly Japanese-made from the ‘70s. Typically, these utilized all laminated wood for the top, sides, & back - but some higher end models sported solid tops. Whatever name was on the headstock is obviously now gone, but regional distributors could order them with just about any name desired. Ibanez, Aria, Suzuki, Ventura, Lyle, & others featured instruments like this in the USA throughout the ‘70s & early ‘80s, until entry level production switched primarily to Korea in the mid ‘80s. Edited December 29, 2021 by bobouz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theadguy Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Thank you all - very interesting and helpful information. I've put strings on it, discovered the truss rod is broken and the action is really high with no fix at this point. Maybe a good enough slide guitar - it actually does have a nice tone to it - the campfire suggestion is a good one, it might just be the wood we use to start it. Thanks again, Cheers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 If the truss rod is broken at the nut, there is a repair for that on StewMac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 23 hours ago, theadguy said: Thank you all - very interesting and helpful information. I've put strings on it, discovered the truss rod is broken and the action is really high with no fix at this point. Maybe a good enough slide guitar - it actually does have a nice tone to it - the campfire suggestion is a good one, it might just be the wood we use to start it. Thanks again, Cheers. The two underlined sections have a direct correlation. 23 hours ago, theadguy said: Thank you all - very interesting and helpful information. I've put strings on it, discovered the truss rod is broken and the action is really high with no fix at this point. Maybe a good enough slide guitar - it actually does have a nice tone to it - the campfire suggestion is a good one, it might just be the wood we use to start it. Thanks again, Cheers. This was me in 2008: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 1 hour ago, ksdaddy said: The two underlined sections have a direct correlation. This was me in 2008: Where is the after photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 No after photos I'm afraid. I bet there was a truss rod, 6 tuners and 20 frets somewhere in the pile though! (actually no, looks like I already robbed the tuners and fretboard!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 4 hours ago, ksdaddy said: This was me in 2008: Satanic! I remember you shot your ukelele..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 4 hours ago, ksdaddy said: This was me in 2008: The fatal halloween you had enough of the 1964 SJ. . 👹 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Did you even get to have any fun and pretend you were Pete Townshend for second? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 On 1/6/2022 at 5:55 PM, theadguy said: Thank you all - very interesting and helpful information. I've put strings on it, discovered the truss rod is broken and the action is really high with no fix at this point. Maybe a good enough slide guitar - it actually does have a nice tone to it - the campfire suggestion is a good one, it might just be the wood we use to start it. Thanks again, Cheers. Are you in the UK? If so, would you be interested in selling the guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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