I'm still somewhat of a beginning player, but I got the Hummingbird studio even though I understand they are now made in China. I was pleased to get one that was made in Indonesia (Mar 24). It cost a little more than my Yamaha starter guitar but I am very pleased with the new guitar. I too am weak on picking (flat or alternate) but I do have a couple of pieces where I use pluck-pluck strum like the intro to the Johnny Cash cover of Hurt, so I get a little bit of an idea of what it is like under picking and strumming. I received the guitar during a busy work week, Changed the strings from the Gibson ones to D'addario XS as I like the feel of the latter better, and this gave me an excuse to remove the strings so I could properly install the battery in the nylon fabric case - that was the only downer on this design, IMHO. It wouldn't have cost a great deal more to put in a slide-in battery box with an external cover on the case. The fabric bag is cheap, but it works. It took me a few days to get enough play time in for the strings to settle in and this guitar holds a tune very well. It came very nicely set up out of the box, and plays very nicely. Tone is warm without excessive brightness characteristic of a lot of entry level guitars, and it is absolutely gorgeous for a guitar in this price range. Mine is the tobacco sunburst which I think looks great. The electronics package is a Fishman Sonitone pickup with integral Sonicore preamp and sounds good through a clean amp or through a digital interface.
Thanks for the info - thinking of picking one of these up for my son. I did a double take when I saw your Epi LP Modern - my son has the same one (even the same coloured strap!)
I think it is a decently built guitar. Some of the very best epi stuff is similar in quality to Fender Mexico IMHO. The only thing about this guitar to really be aware of is that the short scale length makes playing with a capo beyond the 2nd fret a bit light sounding. Mine also requires a lot of humidifier work in the winter, otherwise the higher frets don't ring out so well.
Nice video! I have an epiphone guitar that is a bit simiar to yours. I find it is really good for strumming, especially while practicing my singing too. Why go with the epiphone instead of another brand? Is it because you simply like the tone, feel, or look of the epiphone better? Yamaha has one model that is highly praised called the FG800. It has a lot of great features and it is only around 300 new. In terms of the specs, I think it is equally as good as the guitar you have there. But will require some setting up probably, as people say it has high action out of the box. I think that is because of the fact the maker cannot be bothered to do a proper setup at such a low price.
I think the reason I picked this one in particular was that I was looking for a hummingbird in general because I know Eric Faulkner used to do songwriting on one way back in the 70s and I liked the sound of the guitar on what I think we're some rolling stones tracks. The Gibsons were too expensive but I read many reviews of this particular model saying it was actually quite good. So I tried it out and was pleasantly surprised. I had a Yamaha in the past but it required a lot of setup! The intonation was way off! Other than that it was a solid guitar.
Sounds great, Blaine...makes me want to get one! I don't know whether the Hummingbird acoustic I saw recently has a pre-amp in it but I'm going to check it out asap. I have an Ibanez Acoustic/Electric (bought at a different store in town) but I'm thinking about trading it for the Hummingbird. If I'd seen it before I got the Ibanez, I definitely would have gotten it--it inspired me to play just by looking at it! Eric IS quite the inspiration, isn't he...KOR
Here in Canada I buy all my new instruments from Long and Mcquade for this reason. I traded in my fretless bass for a guitar and managed to get a good amount of the value back. I think this guitar is a real deal, aside from the slight lack of projection. That would be the only big difference with some of the others I have played perhaps but for home recording I think that is fine.
@@blaineca I'm hoping to get a good trade-in amount but it's kind of a crapshoot here...I should have taken more time before I actually bought the Ibanez. It's a great acoustic but I just feel like the Hummingbird is a better fit for me. I'm off on Tuesday so that's when I'll be able to check it out--can't wait! "See Ya" on Friday for the radio show...😁
Those were the strings that came with the guitar, but I have switched to Elixir light 80/20 nanoweb and they sound much better. A lot of people recommend the phosphor ones which I'll be trying next - they apparently sound a bit darker.
I'm still somewhat of a beginning player, but I got the Hummingbird studio even though I understand they are now made in China. I was pleased to get one that was made in Indonesia (Mar 24). It cost a little more than my Yamaha starter guitar but I am very pleased with the new guitar. I too am weak on picking (flat or alternate) but I do have a couple of pieces where I use pluck-pluck strum like the intro to the Johnny Cash cover of Hurt, so I get a little bit of an idea of what it is like under picking and strumming. I received the guitar during a busy work week, Changed the strings from the Gibson ones to D'addario XS as I like the feel of the latter better, and this gave me an excuse to remove the strings so I could properly install the battery in the nylon fabric case - that was the only downer on this design, IMHO. It wouldn't have cost a great deal more to put in a slide-in battery box with an external cover on the case. The fabric bag is cheap, but it works.
It took me a few days to get enough play time in for the strings to settle in and this guitar holds a tune very well. It came very nicely set up out of the box, and plays very nicely. Tone is warm without excessive brightness characteristic of a lot of entry level guitars, and it is absolutely gorgeous for a guitar in this price range. Mine is the tobacco sunburst which I think looks great.
The electronics package is a Fishman Sonitone pickup with integral Sonicore preamp and sounds good through a clean amp or through a digital interface.
Does it have Grover or Wilkinson tuners?
Thanks for the info - thinking of picking one of these up for my son. I did a double take when I saw your Epi LP Modern - my son has the same one (even the same coloured strap!)
I think it is a decently built guitar. Some of the very best epi stuff is similar in quality to Fender Mexico IMHO. The only thing about this guitar to really be aware of is that the short scale length makes playing with a capo beyond the 2nd fret a bit light sounding. Mine also requires a lot of humidifier work in the winter, otherwise the higher frets don't ring out so well.
Nice video! I have an epiphone guitar that is a bit simiar to yours. I find it is really good for strumming, especially while practicing my singing too. Why go with the epiphone instead of another brand? Is it because you simply like the tone, feel, or look of the epiphone better? Yamaha has one model that is highly praised called the FG800. It has a lot of great features and it is only around 300 new. In terms of the specs, I think it is equally as good as the guitar you have there. But will require some setting up probably, as people say it has high action out of the box. I think that is because of the fact the maker cannot be bothered to do a proper setup at such a low price.
I think the reason I picked this one in particular was that I was looking for a hummingbird in general because I know Eric Faulkner used to do songwriting on one way back in the 70s and I liked the sound of the guitar on what I think we're some rolling stones tracks. The Gibsons were too expensive but I read many reviews of this particular model saying it was actually quite good. So I tried it out and was pleasantly surprised. I had a Yamaha in the past but it required a lot of setup! The intonation was way off! Other than that it was a solid guitar.
Sounds great, Blaine...makes me want to get one! I don't know whether the Hummingbird acoustic I saw recently has a pre-amp in it but I'm going to check it out asap. I have an Ibanez Acoustic/Electric (bought at a different store in town) but I'm thinking about trading it for the Hummingbird. If I'd seen it before I got the Ibanez, I definitely would have gotten it--it inspired me to play just by looking at it!
Eric IS quite the inspiration, isn't he...KOR
Here in Canada I buy all my new instruments from Long and Mcquade for this reason. I traded in my fretless bass for a guitar and managed to get a good amount of the value back. I think this guitar is a real deal, aside from the slight lack of projection. That would be the only big difference with some of the others I have played perhaps but for home recording I think that is fine.
@@blaineca I'm hoping to get a good trade-in amount but it's kind of a crapshoot here...I should have taken more time before I actually bought the Ibanez. It's a great acoustic but I just feel like the Hummingbird is a better fit for me. I'm off on Tuesday so that's when I'll be able to check it out--can't wait! "See Ya" on Friday for the radio show...😁
@@michelerosevear7466 I will miss this week's show. Going out for seafood with folks from the states! Enjoy the show! I'll be listening the next day.
@@blaineca Will miss ya...enjoy the seafood--and "the folks"!😎
Hi Which strings are you using ?
Those were the strings that came with the guitar, but I have switched to Elixir light 80/20 nanoweb and they sound much better. A lot of people recommend the phosphor ones which I'll be trying next - they apparently sound a bit darker.
@@blaineca Thank you. I bought this guitar this week. I love it. Great video