The Gibson Hummingbird is one of the most iconic acoustic guitars, known for its rich tone and versatile nature. The Hummingbird has a wide range of sound, from gutsy and loud, to sweet and soft. Superb for all styles of playing, whether playing chords or intricate solos. The tone on this vintage 1963 Hummingbird is superb; well balanced with strong projection and warm resonance. It’s a sought-after collector's item, due to it being a popular choice among musicians.

The Hummingbird was one of Gibson's more expensive acoustic models when they originally launched in 1960, and it quickly became one of Gibson’s most popular acoustic guitars soon after, with many of these original early production Hummingbirds in high demand and sought after today, both by players and collectors alike.

This Hummingbird sunburst has the original nitrocellulose lacquer finish, a 1 3/4" nut, and still has the original factory Kluson gold-plated tuners. It’s worth mentioning that this particular guitar has the remarkable ability to stay in tune for ages without needing to be retuned, so don’t worry if you accidentally forget your tuner when you‘re rushing somewhere to play a gig. This is a rare quality for a vintage guitar.

Modifications: bridge has been replaced, and the guitar is wired for pickup. All work was done by a professional luthier. There are no known incidents of past damage or signs of major repairs that have been made to the guitar by the previous owner or during the current ownership. It was inspected recently by a luthier who gave it the thumbs up and commented that it’s in top condition and a beautiful guitar. The neck is straight, and the action is adjustable.

This guitar has a warm, rich sound and has been both enjoyed and very much cherished over its 50+ years of service. It’s in very good condition, and it plays well. The serial number is imprinted on the back of the headstock and also printed inside the guitar body, which indicates it was manufactured at the Kalamazoo factory for Gibson around the year 1963.

The finish has some minor checking and surface scuffs which don’t extend to the wood beneath the lacquer. There is some wear on the back of the neck, which appears to be from normal usage. There is a small circular hole in the lacquer at the top shoulders of the guitar, which doesn't appear to extend into the wood beneath.

The original cellulose lacquer is glossy and brings out the brightnesss of the original spruce top and rich reddish brown of the mahogany back and sides. It’s in fine vintage condition.

The cellulose lacquer itself has visible checking throughout the finish, which tends to be more visible under certain lighting conditions and angles, (see photos of front of guitar, as well as the sides and back which aren’t as visible). I personally love the checking, as the patterns are unique to this guitar, and it informs the guitar’s authentic vintage provenance.

Gibson went to great lengths to recreate this effect for their line of 1960s Vintage Hummingbird Heritage reproductions, where they used a proprietary process in which they baked the lacquer onto the guitar surface to create a similar effect.

Noteworthy players of Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitars: Keith Richards, John McLaughlin, Gram Parsons, Mark Bolan, Jimmy Page and Gillian Welch.

Gibson did a good job on their Hummingbird Heritage reproduction models, but this is the real deal, the actual vintage instrument they’re trying to reproduce. As time goes on, there are fewer of these early models in circulation that are still in great condition and sound this amazing, which is why the value continues to go up, even with the reproductions. Some people consider it an investment that they can use and enjoy whilst investing, and certain models and years are more desirable than others.

Guitar comes with a vintage hardcase with royal blue lining which isn't the original case, but it's the case that it's been stored in going back to the previous owner.

Please feel free to message with any questions. I've uploaded a video demo, as well. https://youtu.be/QSmug-Brq3s