Description
The Gibson Hummingbird appeared in 1960 as the company's first 'square-shoulder' dreadnought steel string guitar, aiming to compete with Martin D models. As introduced, it wore a cherry sunburst top, with natural and custom shadings like tobacco sunburst added later. And in 1960, the Hummingbird was perhaps second from top of the line behind the SJ-200, eventually dropping to third place when the Dove launched.
This very good condition Gibson Hummingbird with Natural top dates to 1965 at Kalamazoo Michigan and carries the orange 'Union Made' label, which is discussed below.
Following well-established practices, the Gibson Hummingbird pairs Sitka Spruce with tropical Mahogany for the sides, back, body blocks, linings and neck. The bridge and bound fingerboard were Rosewood, and this guitar was built just as Gibson began to shift from Brazilian to Indian Rosewood. Brazilian was used on this guitar. The split-parallelogram position markers and the headstock Gibson logo and crown are Mother of Pearl. The tuning machines are gold plated Kluson Deluxe models with plastic keystone buttons.
The bridge and top are supported by a fairly heavy maple laminate bridge plate. The two Mother of Pearl dots seen bracketing the bridge pins cover a pair of small bolts, which are used to position the bridge and provide some support from lifting. During this period, Gibson used a Ceramic saddle, later Rosewood, adjustable via carrier bolts at either end. Those bolts thread into a flanged collar on the top and retaining nuts below the bridge plate, and those components require a sturdier 3-ply Maple laminate bridge plate.
The heavier bridge plate and the necessarily thick painted pickguard produce an interesting effect, described by some Gibson staffers as 'Natural Compression'. These guitars sound very good, and this natural compression effect helps make them very microphone friendly when recording rhythm parts.
The frets are original and the binding 'nubs' are still in place, confirming that it has not been refretted. A top crack was repaired and the bridge removed and re-glued at The Twelfth Fret repair shop. There is an unfortunate dent to the top, indicating that this instrument did see real use, and an amount of natural lacquer checking proves its age. The hand-painted pickguard is still in very good shape with the blossoms and hummingbird still well visible. The guitar plays well, and has a full and rich sound with plenty of volume and projection.
The original Gibson-branded hard shell case is included.
About the 'Union Made' Label
These labels are seen on many mid to late 1960's Gibsons but their story is not as commonly told.
Gibson workers at Kalamazoo had been unionized with Local 3596 of the United Steelworkers of America since the early days of WW2 when Gibson's factories were repurposed to produce non-guitar military products such as glider skids, submachine gun and radar components. The union was firmly in place during 1944 when CMI - Chicago Musical Instruments - purchased the company. Union / Management relations were cordial and collaborative, with little friction until 1969 when CMI merged with Norlin.
During the early to mid 1960's the importation of instruments from mostly Asian countries was dramatically increasing, and from 1964 to 1969 Gibson added 'Union Made' to the labels to promote American workmanship. The 1969 merger/takeover between CMI and Norlin led to the end of that text on the label. In 1984, Norlin closed the Kalamazoo plant and moved everything to Nashville, breaking ties with the union.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Hummingbird
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
- Instrument year: 1965
- Instrument Finish: Natural Gloss
- Instrument Class: Steel String Acoustic Guitars
- Instrument serial number: 359358, built at Kalamazoo Michigan during 1965
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4,488 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 2.04 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.35 in
- Scale Length Metric: 644 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.582 in
- Nut Width Metric: 40.18 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: N/A
- Case Type: Hard Shell Gibson Branded
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 191104
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |