Gibson Hummingbird
Reliable craftsmanship with a track record of lasting performance.
Consolidated from 39 cited sources across 27 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 1 enthusiastic source
- 31 positive sources
- 3 neutral sources
- 2 unconvinced sources
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Pros & cons
- ✓ Best overall acoustic guitar according to GuitarPlayer
- ✓ Reliable construction and long-term playability
- ✓ Solid-wood dreadnought
- ✓ Rich & resonant tone
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 12 articles, 19 video reviews and 8 community sources
31 positive sources
If you're looking for the best acoustic guitar overall, it's, in my opinion, the Gibson Hummingbird . It's a premium-level instrument and a brilliant all-rounder when it comes to tone, well worth the investment. If the price of a Hummingbird leaves you feeling a little sweaty, don't worry, you can still get amazing acoustic tones for a lot less with my favorite budget acoustic, the Yamaha FG-800 .Read S Sweetwater Sweetwater · 1M subscribers · Mar 2020
Great sounding Hummingbird. Thanks, Don. It's This is the Hummingbird from our original line this year. Hummingbird first introduced in 1960, very unique look. The pick guard just kind of makes it pop. It's one of the most recognizable acoustic guitars made by anybody. And this version is kind of a throwback to a time.Watch H HARPETH GUITAR RESTORATION, LLC Article
When I received it, it actually looked better than before. There was no sign of repair and he went out of his way to correct some of the finishes into the correct period. He was also very professional, knowledgeable, and timely. I would highly recommend and use him for any repair in the future.Read N Normans Rare Guitars Normans Rare Guitars · 657K subscribers · Feb 2026
This guitar plays great, too. Plugs in, rosewood board. Yeah, with the hummingbird insignia looks great. I love white Gibson guitars, even like the obviously the white Les Paul Custom, the white SG Custom. >> I rarely see them, though. It's I don't see a lot of white acoustics. >> Not acoustics. >> Yeah, acoustics.Watch F Facebook Stephen Gasque · owner
This is my first Hummingbird - and finally I know why it's one of the greatest guitars of all time. It plays as fast and tight as my '69 Les Paul, and the sound is so good! Shimmering highs, crunchy mids and a big, deep bass. A guitar full of surprises - and all of them good.View post N Normans Rare Guitars Normans Rare Guitars · 657K subscribers · Jun 2026
Um I love the color on this guitar. Everything about it is just makes you want to play, and and uh just good positive vibes. So, look at this rosewood board we have two right now. I picked this one because I the you can just tell that rosewood is really a nice piece of wood. Um so, the J-185 has that smaller kind of jumbo body, like a shrunken J-200. Um maple back and sides. Look at this.Watch M
From top to bottom, this Hummingbird creates a buzz. It’s such a simple guitar to play that it’s rare to ever feel like you’re incapable of striking the right chord – especially on a neck that’s just 12” in radius. A versatile instrument that can cover a lot of ground.Read A Alamo Music Center Alamo Music Center · 196K subscribers · Feb 2026
And they're both really nice feeling nice sounding square shoulder dreads from Gibson, but that wood pairing is definitely a little more commonly requested than this one. Here's a question. How come there aren't more bird named guitars? Well, you got the Heritage Eagle. >> Yeah.Watch F Facebook Facebook post
The Hummingbird is such an iconic acoustic design, so it’s great to see it available at a range of price points. Here at Peach Guitars, we pride ourselves on our wide selection of acoustics, so if you’re in the market, make sure to head over and check them out.View post O OfficialEpiphone OfficialEpiphone · 105K subscribers · Aug 2025
A wonderful guitar if you are a acoustic player that also needs to play lead guitar right with that cutaway design here. getting easy access to those upper register notes on this guitar. You're going to notice a solid rosewood back and sides for that extended lowend range. Got a Sika spruce top here, thermally aged. And then we've got an ebony fretboard with mother of pearl split parallelograms.Watch G
My top choice for the majority of players is the Epiphone 'Inspired By Gibson' Hummingbird. With its all-solid wood construction, classic looks and superb playability, it’s a great-sounding guitar that works well for so many different styles of music.Read J Jon is just TOO LouD!! Jon is just TOO LouD!! · 90.4K subscribers · Apr 2026
I finally got to play a Gibson HummingBird and I loved it! The Gibson HummingBird Natural.Watch P
Now, Epiphone is very proud to introduce the Hummingbird Standard EC, an Inspired by Gibson version of the world-famous Hummingbird with some notable updates that make this iconic guitar better than ever.Read C Casino Guitars Casino Guitars · 78.1K subscribers · Mar 2026
These sound as good or better in some ways. It's you know, it's it's a little and it's That's not a sales pitch. That's just pure straight guitar. Now that is the question though.Watch 1 1964 Gibson Hummingbird Facebook post
Folkway’s repair shop manager @davidmartinguitars presents an incredibly cool ‘64 Hummingbird that he’s just finished working on.View post E Empire Music Empire Music · 25.9K subscribers · Nov 2022
Um walnut is nice because it uh is in the rosewoodish family sonically. So you know while the traditional hummingbird would be mahogany, a little bit more punchy, walnut is more lush, a little bit more rich.Watch F Facebook Scott Moses · owner
In all cases, it was always worth waiting for the Gibson. Especially in the acoustics, there’s a real difference between them.View post A Acoustic Review Acoustic Review · 11.5K subscribers · Aug 2022
The tone is punchy and crisp. From the playing position, it maybe feels a bit lacking in low-end and volume, but from out front there's plenty of clean bass and projection. The guitar feels very responsive as well. Although there was a point where playing harder didn't result in much more volume, so the dynamic range is a little limited. However, that natural compression makes for a great strumminWatch C
Great guitar in excellent to like new condition. Made in the U.S.A.Read M Mooloolaba Music Mooloolaba Music · 10.9K subscribers · May 2025
But uh I definitely have got a lot of love for this. It's that sort of tobacco finish that it feels like the classic vibe. I do love it. And over here, what a what a gorgeous back and sides and front this guitar has. But look at that. That flame maple there. Beautiful. Stunning. Stunning. So these are the two square shoulder dreadnots that Gibson put out.Watch I Instagram Instagram post
These are great value for money and really are worth checking out!View post M Mooloolaba Music Mooloolaba Music · 10.9K subscribers · Jan 2026
The best cases without a doubt. These high-end Gibsons coming with beautiful timber cases. Just what you want. You want to store this thing. It's a beautiful piece of of craftsmanship and art, and you want it to be stored correctly, and this is how you go about doing so. Three, two, one. Oh my gosh. Beautiful. Now, some of the case candy that you're going to get with this.Watch F Facebook Facebook post
The Gibson Hummingbird Special is seriously good value for money!View post T Tarpley Music Tarpley Music · 10.1K subscribers · Jun 2026
The price is that's why uh for other reasons, but anyway, just killer killer acoustics. One of the most uh used acoustics that's ever been there uh ever been in the business. So, um as far as the 60 specs, a lot of them very very same. So, it is a mahogany back and sides with a spruce top. This is a SA Sitka spruce top.Watch I Instagram Instagram post
The Gibson Hummingbird Special is seriously good value for money!View post C Crazy Eyed Pastor Crazy Eyed Pastor · 7.7K subscribers · Apr 2014
Um this thing plays amazing. Really nice. Uh my friend that bought it, he have the strings lowered on it. Uh just what a pleasure. Listen to how how this thing comes out. the tones, the mid-range tones in this thing and stuff are really standing out in this thing and stuff. So, it's not it's not really got that rosewood and and stuff on it.Watch G Gary Roberts Gary Roberts · 4.9K subscribers · Jan 2026
The Gibson actually seems to have a little bit more depth and breadth. Uh very interesting. >> All right, let me just play something in a different key. >> All right, let's hear the Martin. >> All right, one more time back on the Gibson. Are we hearing more depth? Is there something a little extra in the low end here? >> Man, very impressive. All right, two great guitars.Watch J Janky - Good-Time Blues Janky - Good-Time Blues · 3.9K subscribers · Jan 2026
Um, it again it's this I just I can't get over how beautiful and how wellmade these are. Again, it comes down to the neck, man. All I did was tune it up. I did put new strings on it. You'll hear that. Um, and so yeah, amazing. Amazing. So, let me play it for you. >> Heat. Heat. >> Heat. Heat. >> Heat. Heat. >> Heat. Heat. >> Bam. Heat.Watch Q Quest Music Store Quest Music Store · 1.7K subscribers · Feb 2019
The Hummingbird's a classic acoustic-electric guitar that a lot of people consider one of the nicest high-end guitars you can buy. And with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, you get a nice clear projection that's powerful but still nice and warm, too.Watch J John Allen John Allen · 1.3K subscribers · Jun 2026
All right, so far, so good. With the uh other guitars the uh two Taylor knockoffs has a different setup on the the preamp and the pickups. This one has the same one looks to be the same one the Martin knockoff has, which is far better than the ones that come on the Taylor knockoffs. There's more adjustment on the sound on this type.Watch J John Allen John Allen · 1.3K subscribers · Jun 2026
>> And that's pretty good action to me. So, that's where I left it. And I'm not no professional. So, I'm just kind of learning as I go on a lot of this stuff on setups. So, I don't I try not to bite off more than I can chew.Watch
3 neutral sources
If you're looking for a great value for money acoustic-electric, the Hummingbird Studio is hard to beat.Read T The Canadian Flatpicker The Canadian Flatpicker · 7.6K subscribers · Jun 2025
I have a hard time playing these Gibsons. Honestly, the neck is the neck is too good or something. The neck is too nice. I like the authentic neck. I like the big bulky, excuse me, neck because I have, you know, kind of bulky hands. I don't know. I like it better. But this is well enough, you know, pretty good. It's a little tricky to get around on it. Heat. Heat. Not bad.Watch M
Quality of build and tone belies price point.Read
2 unconvinced sources
I tried one out at a local Long and Mcquade and I was far from impressed. It was the VOS not the Murphy Lab. I wasn't too thrilled with the finish preferring a deeper red heritage cherry. It was a little more washed out and not quite that red. However that alone wouldn't be a deal breaker. Second, the break angle over the saddle was very shallow and the action was pretty high up at the 12th fret.Read F Facebook Mitch Ashford · owner
All things considered I couldn’t bring myself to spend the 9k on a guitar I had such high hopes for.View post
2 stance not read sources
Well, Gibson guitars and a hefty price tag often go hand-in-hand, so when this great value Hummingbird fluttered onto my radar, it was too good to pass up. Make no mistake, this isn't some watered-down version of a Hummingbird; it's a full-on, honest-to-goodness Gibson. We're talking USA-made, solid tonewoods, quality electronics, and a gorgeous premium satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish.Read M
If you’ve heard of The Beatles , Oasis , Bob Dylan, or nearly any classic rock act from the last 60 years, then you’ll have heard a famous Hummingbird acoustic in action. The Epiphone Hummingbird Studio is as striking tonally as it is visually and would make a great choice for learning on.Read
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #3 (A tier) on our consolidated acoustic guitars board, drawn from 39 cited sources across 27 outlets.
The Gibson Hummingbird is for a strummer who wants a rich, resonant solid-wood dreadnought with a proven track record. It ranks third on our acoustic guitars board, in A tier, and GuitarPlayer named it the best overall acoustic guitar. Reviewers cite reliable construction and long-term playability. If you want the absolute top of the board, the Taylor 314ce Studio and the Martin HD-28 sit above it in S tier, but the Hummingbird is the pick for players who want the Gibson sound.
Decades. The verdict on our board is reliable craftsmanship with a track record of lasting performance, and reviewers cite reliable construction and long-term playability. The board recorded no reliability complaints across six research runs. As with any solid-wood guitar, humidity control is what keeps it in good order.
Yes. Reviewers on our board describe the Gibson Hummingbird as a solid-wood dreadnought, which is part of why its tone is rich and resonant. Solid wood improves with age and responds to the player more than laminate. It also moves with humidity, so keep it cased with a humidifier in dry months.
The Gibson Hummingbird. It ranks third on our board in A tier, while the Gibson J-200 sits in D tier. Reviewers find the J-200 durable and powerful but less proven over the very long term than the top picks, and they flag its higher price relative to value. The Hummingbird gives you the Gibson tone with a stronger track record.
It is a square-shouldered dreadnought, a full-size body. That gives it the volume and bass strummers want. It is a large guitar to hold, so if you are small-framed or play mostly seated, try one in a shop before buying. A dreadnought is the standard shape for country, folk and rock rhythm playing.
Ranked nearby in Acoustic Guitars
S tier #1 Taylor 314ce Studio
S tier #2 Martin HD-28
A tier #4 Yamaha FG-800
B tier #5 Taylor Gold Label 814ce
B tier #6 Fender CD-60S
C tier #7 Yamaha FS830
C tier #8 Taylor Academy 10
D tier #10 Gibson J-200
D tier #11 Martin Inception GPCE
F tier #12 6 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.