brannon67 Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I just picked up a Gibson hummingbird Artist model the other day. I really really like this guitar. Its a Dread, but a smaller D body, not so bulky, but feels solid, good, and comfortable, not like a full sized D body. Easier to handle. Sound/tone is amazing. It can only open up and get better with age. Does anyone else have this model? If so, what do you think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I just picked up a Gibson hummingbird Artist model the other day. I really really like this guitar. Its a Dread, but a smaller D body, not so bulky, but feels solid, good, and comfortable, not like a full sized D body. Easier to handle. Sound/tone is amazing. It can only open up and get better with age. Does anyone else have this model? If so, what do you think about it. Congrats! Welcome to Da Club. I have a 2010 H'bird TV. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours as much as I've enjoyed mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Hi Brannon, I bought one in February; it's a great guitar and I love it. At first it caught my attention because of its fantastic playability, short scale and beautiful shaded top. It's also lightweight. But then the tone was what really convinced me: woody, crisp and "chimey". It's not very loud but it might improve with time. I changed tuners (Waverly ivoroid oval knob), saddle (bone) and pickguard. I also changed the pickup beacuse I didn't like the stock one: I'm very partial to the LR Baggs M1. I did all this because this guitar is a keeper. Here's the guitar now: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentw Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 The Hummingbird Artist is a great guitar! Congrats!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I've wanted to try one of these as well. Is it similar to the Hummingbird Pro they carry at Guitar Center? I quite liked the regular and the cutaway HMNGBRD Pro I tried at GC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I changed tuners (Waverly ivoroid oval knob), saddle (bone) and pickguard. Is that a genuine Gibson pickguard? If so, and if you don't mind me asking where did you get it and how much did it run you? I've been thinking I want to put one on my Epi Bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I could be wrong but i think they are the same except on is short scale and the other long. I've wanted to try one of these as well. Is it similar to the Hummingbird Pro they carry at Guitar Center? I quite liked the regular and the cutaway HMNGBRD Pro I tried at GC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Lovely transformation. I like the look a lot. Hi Brannon, I bought one in February; it's a great guitar and I love it. At first it caught my attention because of its fantastic playability, short scale and beautiful shaded top. It's also lightweight. But then the tone was what really convinced me: woody, crisp and "chimey". It's not very loud but it might improve with time. I changed tuners (Waverly ivoroid oval knob), saddle (bone) and pickguard. I also changed the pickup beacuse I didn't like the stock one: I'm very partial to the LR Baggs M1. I did all this because this guitar is a keeper. Here's the guitar now: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Hi meanstreak, no it's not an original Gibson pickguard. I don't know where it comes from because it was ordered by my luthier, sorry! It's thinner than the original pickguard and, besides looking nicer, I think it allows the top to vibrate a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Interesting you say that .... I was often wondering whether the traditional thick HB pickguard has an effect on tone. In terms of net letting the top vibrate as much as it could. Ive been now reading on the AGF from a guy who prmotes 'arm rests' (ugly looking things) that they help tone as you are not leaning so much with your elbow / arm over the top of the guitar and not letting the full top vibrate. Anyway, if that has an affect on the top I wonder how much a traditional, thick HB pickgutar might also. Just wondering .. Hi meanstreak, no it's not an original Gibson pickguard. I don't know where it comes from because it was ordered by my luthier, sorry! It's thinner than the original pickguard and, besides looking nicer, I think it allows the top to vibrate a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 ... 'arm rests' (ugly looking things) Amen. Preach it, brother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 My Deering banjo has an armrest which, somehow, doen't look out of place, but I've seen some armrests on archtops that looked like they were taken out of an Edsel. I took the pickguard off my LG1 because it was unbelieveably thick and I'm pretty sure that it improved the tone. BUT I've found that the single biggest negative impact on tone and projection of my guitars is playing while standing and having the back of the guitar rest on your belly. I was careful, for example,when trying out H'birds in GC to play without resting the back up against my stomach. Regardless - I'm sure I would have picked out the H'bird TV over other guitars no matter how 'un-scientific' the tests might have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce G Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 I could be wrong but i think they are the same except on is short scale and the other long. The pro has the same short scale as well. FYI, the pro - according to the Gibson web site (http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Square-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/Hummingbird-Pro/Specs.aspx) - comes from the factory with a bone saddle. I wonder if that's also true of the artist model? The Hummingbird retails for $800 more than the Pro. Does it come with a bone saddle as well? If so, why replace it? (note: newbie question here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Thanks for the info about the scale. Not sure if the HB comes with bone saddle, but it is a vastly different guitar from the Pro / Artisst. Mainly as the pro / artist body shape is based on the SWD, which is a bit smaller, tighter body shape, giving somewhat a different tone. The pro has the same short scale as well. FYI, the pro - according to the Gibson web site (http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Square-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/Hummingbird-Pro/Specs.aspx) - comes from the factory with a bone saddle. I wonder if that's also true of the artist model? The Hummingbird retails for $800 more than the Pro. Does it come with a bone saddle as well? If so, why replace it? (note: newbie question here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce G Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Thanks for the info about the scale. Not sure if the HB comes with bone saddle, but it is a vastly different guitar from the Pro / Artisst. Mainly as the pro / artist body shape is based on the SWD, which is a bit smaller, tighter body shape, giving somewhat a different tone. Cool - thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyVader Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 The Hummingbird doesn't come with a bone saddle...the nut is bone, but the saddle is Tusq...which is Gibsons posh way to say "plastic" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 The Hummingbird doesn't come with a bone saddle...the nut is bone, but the saddle is Tusq...which is Gibsons posh way to say "plastic" Tusq is synthetic, but it isn't the same as a plastic saddle. Tusq is an extremely hard synthetic substance with some tonal sound attributes...whereas plastic saddles are just, plastic. Tusq is way better than plastic for saddles. Just my two cents, along the lines that they shouldn't really be lumped together...it'll confuse the unknowing. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyVader Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 True...Tusq isn't plastic...but it does look and feel a bit like it...as you say it's synthetic, graphite based I believe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vigiano Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hi Brannon, I bought one in February; it's a great guitar and I love it. At first it caught my attention because of its fantastic playability, short scale and beautiful shaded top. It's also lightweight. But then the tone was what really convinced me: woody, crisp and "chimey". It's not very loud but it might improve with time. I changed tuners (Waverly ivoroid oval knob), saddle (bone) and pickguard. I also changed the pickup beacuse I didn't like the stock one: I'm very partial to the LR Baggs M1. I did all this because this guitar is a keeper. Here's the guitar now: Hi I'm new to the forum and I wondered what kind of pick guard you got for the Hummingbird. I had called Gibson and they told me that they didn't sell replacment Hummingbird pick guards and that they weren't aware of any aftermarket onces available. I just bought my daughter a Hummingbird Artist and would like to change it. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Yes on the artist. Our nearby GC has had several over the last 5-6 months. I've spend quite-a-bit of time playing them when I go up there. Each one was very, very nice. Really sweet instruments. If I didn't already have a "bird," I'd have come home with one.....Congrats on a great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hi I'm new to the forum and I wondered what kind of pick guard you got for the Hummingbird. I had called Gibson and they told me that they didn't sell replacment Hummingbird pick guards and that they weren't aware of any aftermarket onces available. I just bought my daughter a Hummingbird Artist and would like to change it. Thanks Hi Vigiano, It's not exactly a replacement pickguard: the HB pattern is painted and not engraved. I don't know where my luthier ordered it from but I found it here too: http://www.guitaraust.com.au/body/pickguards/acoustic-pickguards/hummingbird-pickguard.html ...and my HB Artist is fantastic and its tone is improving with time. I'm so happy I found it (since it's a GC model it's strange that I picked it up in an Italian shop...). I know it's got very little to do with a "real" HB, but as MissouriPicker stated, it's a sweet guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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