magictwanger Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Not trying to start trouble and I love the looks,but those thick pickguards can't help the sound..No? I've played three and all had a dull thunky sound....What gives?
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 where have you played them ? . I think Keith (Modoc333) once asked Ren about why gibsons are hit or miss ... Ren said it was because some dealers handled them poorly and don't give them maintenance JC
retrorod Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Not trying to start trouble and I love the looks,but those thick pickguards can't help the sound..No? I've played three and all had a dull thunky sound....What gives? Me thinks that they migrate south for the winter....
magictwanger Posted January 8, 2013 Author Posted January 8, 2013 I've played two at G.C. and one at Sam Ash.I'm just thinking that such a thick and large pick guard might be the reason for the lack of tone,to my ears......Not sure,but it would seem to slow down the top from vibrating.My D-18V simply slaughters these...Btw,I have a Gibson J-35 on order,so I clearly have put my cash on the line and support this company.
Rich Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 I recently bought a beautiful 2012 Hummingbird which came in the factory sealed box. It was the original strings that made it sound dull and thunky. Once I changed them to Daddario PB 12's, the guitar sounded great. It has warm sounding bottoms, crisp mids and crystal sounding trebles. I don't think the pickguard dulls the sound.
zombywoof Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 While a setup like those big old Everly Bros. pickguards can't be the best thought out thing in terms of sound, the fact is the part of the top covered by the pickguard - roughly from the soundhole on up does not come into play near as much as that region below the soundhole. To blame the a pickguard for a dead sounding instrument does not make sense. More than likely you are looking at, as has already been suggested, guitars with dead strings or simply a guitar that just is not going to sound all that great no matter what.
ponty Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I have never really wanted a Hummingbird. It is an iconic guitar however, and I have played a few of them. The ones I played were probably the finest acoustic guitars I have played. That thick guard, and on some Gibson s, the adjustable bridge, have been accused of all manner of tone murder.If I was on the jury I would say not guilty.Most sound just fine.
Motherofpearl Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 IMO the hummingbird is the most inconsistent if all gibsons But when you get a good one WOW!!
E-minor7 Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 and on some Gibson s, the adjustable bridge, have been accused of all manner of tone murder Feel like challenging a myth. Adjustable bridges aren't necessarily tone-killers. They were made for 2 kinds of saddle inserts back in the day – the rosewooden one and the ceramic. The first very withheld and dim like one could expect. The other pretty much the opposite – crystal clear and LOUD. Some situations might benefit from the first – certain recordings/atmospheres - - while others may take great advantage of the porcelain. Rock groups for example that need a sharp acoustic knife to be heard in the mix, , , and most of us here, who all enjoyed the mesmerizing sound of the Angie intro*. Theoretically it's easy to dismiss the principle as a tone-killer, but reality will show more varied results. I had a Morris w. adjustable saddle a young man, which wasn't tone-killed at all. Slightly different to the Gibsons as the insert was metal with a bone saddle. It wasn't quieter than my fellowmen's Yamahas and Arias – the 2 Gibsons I purchased a few years later were – and they had normal bridge/saddles – but were Norlins. My 5 cents of the big coin, just saying. *Not to mention Donovan's splendid work up through the 60's.
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 here are too examples of great sounding birds : JC
Stubee Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Owned two '65 and a '72 Bird & they can be very nice guitars. The build is what it is: warm tonal character, great accompaniment guitars. Not the best choice for flatpicking, maybe. I should have bought a beat '63 years ago that was as good as any vintage Gibson other than a good J-35 or AJ. That one was a exceptional. The Montana 'Birds IME are more versatile than most vintage examples & can flatpick. The PG is a love/hate thing but has little tonal impact IMO.
merseybeat1963 Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I tried two Bozeman J45 Vine Guitars that were so uncharacteristically dead sounding. Should go back to Gibson & redo if there was justice in the world.The original purchaser would have been seriously shorted on both of those.
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I tried two Bozeman J45 Vine Guitars that were so uncharacteristically dead sounding. Should go back to Gibson & redo if there was justice in the world.The original purchaser would have been seriously shorted on both of those. Nick , what dealer/store did you play them at ? JC
j45nick Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Feel like challenging a myth. Adjustable bridges aren't necessarily tone-killers. They were made for 2 kinds of saddle inserts back in the day – the rosewooden one and the ceramic. The first very withheld and dim like one could expect. The other pretty much the opposite – crystal clear and LOUD. Some situations might benefit from the first – certain recordings/atmospheres - - while others may take great advantage of the porcelain. Rock groups for example that need a sharp acoustic knife to be heard in the mix, , , and most of us here, who all enjoyed the mesmerizing sound of the Angie intro*. Theoretically it's easy to dismiss the principle as a tone-killer, but reality will show more varied results. Agree with everything he says here. A bone saddle seems to be somewhere between the bright/harsh ceramic sound and the subdued rosewood saddle tone. You can buy solid bone replacement adjustable saddles now, or you can always modify an existing rosewood saddle with a bone insert, like this: Given the low cost of a bone replacement saddle--and the fact that you can go back to where you started if you don't like the result--I would start there if I had an adjustable-bridge Gibson whose tone I felt was too subdued.
Markini Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Yep, HummingBirds are fairly inconsistent in tone, but there are excellent ones out there, the trick is finding them, I went through a dozen test drives until I scored a truly exceptional 2010 Model. I also found a very nice sounding 2003 model. Still have both. Re: PG not an issue.
EuroAussie Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Most of the standard / modern classic Hummingbirds have not impressed me much, many were quite awful. But the TV's is a totally different story.
Del Nilppeznaf Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Most of the standard / modern classic Hummingbirds have not impressed me much, many were quite awful. But the TV's is a totally different story. I think EA may be onto something there actually... not saying that there are no modern standards out there that don't sound great but wasn't the 'Bird one of the first proto types of the TV build ( I may have got this wring before ? ) either way i think a main reason for Gibsons amazing come back is this True Vintage line.. and esp' where the HB is concerned If you think about it.. the first HB wasn't brought out until the early 60's yes?.... just how many where actually made before Gibson enters the Norlin era... compared to the J45's... L's ect'.. there must be far far fewer great early examples out there. With theses TV's... I think they have made a true classic once again.. ( of course I'm not biased :) )
magictwanger Posted January 9, 2013 Author Posted January 9, 2013 Btw,as the originator of this post,I "do" find something very nice about this model.It is stunning in appearance and built well....I think those I've played were most likely with dead strings...Congrats to the owners of this model. -:) WOW! That Koa version is unreal!! I have a Fullers Custom 1939 Reissue J-35 on it's way to me right now,so I'm "into" the Gibson sound,though like most,I have a few others. Best to all
fortyearspickn Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 I've played two at G.C. and one at Sam Ash.I'm just thinking that such a thick and large pick guard might be the reason for the lack of tone,to my ears......Not sure,but it would seem to slow down the top from vibrating.My D-18V simply slaughters these...Btw,I have a Gibson J-35 on order,so I clearly have put my cash on the line and support this company. Of course you realize, GC has a 'Hummingbird' model that is not in any way, shape or form an actual Hummingbird?
Triumph1050 Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 I Recently played a Hummingbird at GC that completely owned the acoustic room. A large store with many Martins and Taylor's and other fine brands Had I the funds I would have bought it on the spot
Guest J-Doug Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 Needed some fresh strings maybe? I've played some nice HBs.
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