Gibson Hummingbird N Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965)
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Gibson Hummingbird N Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 360761, natural top, cherry stain back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This is a nice playing example of the classic Gibson Hummingbird from 1965, one of the company's most distinctive 1960s flat top creations. This fairly fancy acoustic was introduced in late 1960 as Gibson's first square-shoulder Dreadnought, nearly three decades after the company's venerable round-shoulder Gibson Jumbos first appeared. This new model was positioned above those already in Gibson's line, but below the super flashy 17" J-200.
With a nod to Martin's popular Dreadnought shape this new Gibson was timed right for the folk-era acoustic boom; it quickly became a popular model and the even fancier square-shouldered Dove was added to the line in 1962. Initially offered only in cherry sunburst finish, a natural top option was added in 1963. This Hummingbird N was built in 1965, when only 361 were shipped from Kalamazoo. The natural finish option proved far less popular than the original cherry sunburst on the Hummingbird, making up only about 25% of production. The list price for both in 1965 was $285, plus $60 for the hard case.
The boxy shape of the mahogany body may have been inspired by Martin but the look is e all the way. The multi-bound top has a distinctive "hummingbird in flight" pattern engraved on the large tortoise celluloid pickguard and filled with yellow toner creating a unique decorative look. The rosewood bridge has the adjustable ceramic saddle construction Gibson made increasingly ubiquitous at the time as a hedge against warranty repairs. The mahogany neck has a 25 1/4 scale, longer than most Gibson flat tops, with a bound double parallelogram inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The nut is the narrow width adopted in 1965, and this neck has a very slim profile for much of its length. The wide headstock has Gibson's distinctive "crown" inlay under the inlaid pearl logo, and mounts gold plated Kluson Deluxe tuners.
The Hummingbird was a ground breaking design for Gibson, opening up a new chapter in the company's flat-top history. While a large guitar, it was not as powerful or wide-range sounding as many earlier Gibson flat tops but offered a tight high midrange-rich sound that makes them ideal as recording guitars for rock and country bands, a role they still are prized for today. The Rolling Stones in particular became associated with the model, Keith Richards having been duly immortalized with one on the inside cover of the HIGH TIDE AND GREEN GRASS collection issued in March 1966. The Hummingbird remains ideal for that situation, as well as songwriting and recording in general, and can also light up any stage. This is a well-played but still lovely guitar to play, hear or even just listen to.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 13/16 in. (40.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This is a nicely original Hummingbird overall, a but worn-in showing its share of typical wear and minor repair but still a fine player. The finish remains original overall showing dings, dents, scrapes and some deeper "case lid bites' with adjacent scraping to the top. There is no serious pickwear, just a few scrapes and nicks to the upper edge of the soundhole. The back and sides are relatively clean; the back of the neck has a few dings and dents (one feelable behind the second fret) and a bit of finish worn away on the edges just below the nut. There are a few chips and dings to the headstock edges, but less than some.
The top has two noticeable old grain splits near the upper edge on the lower bass bout, sealed but visible with no overfinish. This area may have suffered an impact long ago. The top seam looks to have been resealed but other than these the guitar remains crack free. The neck has never had or needed a reset. The guitar remains original including the gold Kluson tulip-button tuners, adjustable ceramic saddle and even the bridgepins. The bridge looks to have been reglued at some point but was not altered, the ceramic saddle, adjustors and retaining bolts are all intact and unaltered as is the original maple bridgeplate. This is not the cleanest Hummingbird out there but a very good player with a seriously chunky, midrangey sound-one of the better mid-60's 'birds we have heard. It resides in a well-preserved gold lined, Gibson-logo HSC in good shape with a few stickers added. Very Good + Condition.
This is a nice playing example of the classic Gibson Hummingbird from 1965, one of the company's most distinctive 1960s flat top creations. This fairly fancy acoustic was introduced in late 1960 as Gibson's first square-shoulder Dreadnought, nearly three decades after the company's venerable round-shoulder Gibson Jumbos first appeared. This new model was positioned above those already in Gibson's line, but below the super flashy 17" J-200.
With a nod to Martin's popular Dreadnought shape this new Gibson was timed right for the folk-era acoustic boom; it quickly became a popular model and the even fancier square-shouldered Dove was added to the line in 1962. Initially offered only in cherry sunburst finish, a natural top option was added in 1963. This Hummingbird N was built in 1965, when only 361 were shipped from Kalamazoo. The natural finish option proved far less popular than the original cherry sunburst on the Hummingbird, making up only about 25% of production. The list price for both in 1965 was $285, plus $60 for the hard case.
The boxy shape of the mahogany body may have been inspired by Martin but the look is e all the way. The multi-bound top has a distinctive "hummingbird in flight" pattern engraved on the large tortoise celluloid pickguard and filled with yellow toner creating a unique decorative look. The rosewood bridge has the adjustable ceramic saddle construction Gibson made increasingly ubiquitous at the time as a hedge against warranty repairs. The mahogany neck has a 25 1/4 scale, longer than most Gibson flat tops, with a bound double parallelogram inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The nut is the narrow width adopted in 1965, and this neck has a very slim profile for much of its length. The wide headstock has Gibson's distinctive "crown" inlay under the inlaid pearl logo, and mounts gold plated Kluson Deluxe tuners.
The Hummingbird was a ground breaking design for Gibson, opening up a new chapter in the company's flat-top history. While a large guitar, it was not as powerful or wide-range sounding as many earlier Gibson flat tops but offered a tight high midrange-rich sound that makes them ideal as recording guitars for rock and country bands, a role they still are prized for today. The Rolling Stones in particular became associated with the model, Keith Richards having been duly immortalized with one on the inside cover of the HIGH TIDE AND GREEN GRASS collection issued in March 1966. The Hummingbird remains ideal for that situation, as well as songwriting and recording in general, and can also light up any stage. This is a well-played but still lovely guitar to play, hear or even just listen to.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 13/16 in. (40.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This is a nicely original Hummingbird overall, a but worn-in showing its share of typical wear and minor repair but still a fine player. The finish remains original overall showing dings, dents, scrapes and some deeper "case lid bites' with adjacent scraping to the top. There is no serious pickwear, just a few scrapes and nicks to the upper edge of the soundhole. The back and sides are relatively clean; the back of the neck has a few dings and dents (one feelable behind the second fret) and a bit of finish worn away on the edges just below the nut. There are a few chips and dings to the headstock edges, but less than some.
The top has two noticeable old grain splits near the upper edge on the lower bass bout, sealed but visible with no overfinish. This area may have suffered an impact long ago. The top seam looks to have been resealed but other than these the guitar remains crack free. The neck has never had or needed a reset. The guitar remains original including the gold Kluson tulip-button tuners, adjustable ceramic saddle and even the bridgepins. The bridge looks to have been reglued at some point but was not altered, the ceramic saddle, adjustors and retaining bolts are all intact and unaltered as is the original maple bridgeplate. This is not the cleanest Hummingbird out there but a very good player with a seriously chunky, midrangey sound-one of the better mid-60's 'birds we have heard. It resides in a well-preserved gold lined, Gibson-logo HSC in good shape with a few stickers added. Very Good + Condition.