Vintage 1963 Gibson Hummingbird Maple guitar

John Shults

Posted on April 16 2020

Vintage 1963 Gibson Hummingbird guitar

 

This vintage 1963 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar with rare Maple back and sides came through the shop a few years ago. It was a fine sounding acoustic guitar and an excellent example of a Gibson Hummingbird with Maple back and sides. I'm always a buyer for vintage Gibson acoustic guitars but I especially love the Hummingbird model. Please contact me here to sell a Gibson Hummingbird guitar

Check out another vintage Gibson Hummingbird guitar that came through the shop:

Vintage 1963 Gibson Hummingbird guitar

I acquired this stunning Maple Hummingbird from the original owner. I asked Patrick why he chose the Hummingbird from the music store in 1963. He said he though the Martin guitars everyone was buying to play folk music were too plain. I agree Patrick! Pat played his Hummingbird but kept it in great condition along with the original hard shell case. All parts appear to be original to the guitar and it exhibits no evidence of prior repairs or cracks. There is some fret wear on the first few frets but it doesn't currently impede playability. We're confident you'll love the tone, aesthetic, and playability of this clean, one owner 1963 Hummingbird Maple (edit: sold)!

From the 1962 Gibson catalog, "A fabulous new acoustical guitar - one of the finest made for voice accompaniment. The sound is big, and round, and full with the deep rumbly bass so prized by guitar players." Indeed, Gibson designed the square shoulder body shape to emphasize the bass frequencies and leave room in the mid and top end frequency range for a tenor voice. As the Gibsons's Fabulous Flat-tops book explains, the widest bout is slightly smaller, the waist slightly wider, and the shoulders also wider than the round shoulder body shape. The chapter on Hummingbirds also details a Gibson employee rumor that sometimes incomplete Dove guitars were finished as Hummingbirds since the Hummingbird was a hot seller and Doves were slow. For whatever reason, Gibson did make a select few Hummingbirds with Maple back and sides instead of Mahogany between 1962 and 1963. This is one of those guitars.

Gibson Guitar Buyer

Vintage Gibson Hummingbird Maple back and sides

Maple Back and sides Gibson Hummingbird 1963

Vintage Gibson Hummingbird guitar original case

Gibson Hummingbird headstock, 1963

Engraved Hummingbird pickguard Gibson guitar

Gibson Hummingbird vintage guitar

 

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1 comment

  • yukitaka morise: April 26, 2020

    How much is the price?
    How much is the shipping charge to Nagasaki in Japan?

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