Faded VS Studio - Which Gibson Hummingbird Should You Get?

[@lynnbeaulier8882]

I have one that my dad bought in the summer of 1968. The back is a red rosewood I believe. Guitar is in great shape and sounds amazing, it is my pride and joy.

[@jottydotty]

I’ve owned a plethora of acoustics and have to say my favorite is my hummingbird studio rosewood. Gibson at its finest except this one in particular has a slightly deeper tone reminiscent of a d28. Some people may naysay over this comparison by saying it’s not a “true hummingbird” without mahogany but after owning one, I’ve found this guitar to be truly elite in every way. If you haven’t yet, I definitely recommend playing one.

[@flattopbill3305]

I received my Gibson Hummingbird faded 2 days ago and have barely put it down. I love the tone and the 'liveliness' of the woods due to the non-gloss finish. The build quality, the openness of the tone, the way the guitar feels - I love it. I've been play acoustic guitars since 1970 and the resonance of this guitar is awesome. Thanks for the thoroughness of your reviews - they helped me a lot. Looking forward to enjoying my Hummingbird for a long time.

[@FabioRicciulli]

I' d love to see a comparison between a Gibson Hummingbird studio rosewood vs a Gibson Songwriter Standard

[@doglover31418]

They mention that a thick finish acts as a blanket on the sound. What about that enormous pickguard? Is that not a damper, too?

[@LegsON]

It is, of course! Thinner, smaller, absent pickguard is always better for the tone. But it's a crucially important part of this model's visual identity.

[@sustainablelife1st]

Forgive my ignorance, but are Cooper's demos original songs? Amazing guitarist.

[@ken.martin]

Please make a video of Martin D-18 and D-28 streetlegend

[@CameraLaw]

Nice comparison. I truly liked the warmth and depth of the rosewood. And I’m a mahogany kind of guy. You never know. As Andy Powers once wrote, you have to hear the entire package to evaluate an instrument.

[@stormengine3261]

And that's the dilemma of ordering an instrument online only without handling it first.

[@CameraLaw]

@@stormengine3261 Oddly, I’ve made some great online purchases based on KZbin reviews like these. But nothing beats the experience of going to a good music store and finding the perfect guitar that has “my sound”.

[@rickmoderie4213]

I wonder what it sounds like when you just strum basic chords. Cooper is a virtuoso with total control over struming, fingerpicking and chord and fingerstyles.

[@ThatHuskyisCrazy]

I’m happy with my Ovation which I purchased new for $199

[@robertgladstein]

I have both guitar's..a brand new 2024 Gibson Hummingbird and an Ovation Adamas 1687gt and spend an alarming amount on...I agree Gibson and Ovation are the best acoustic guitars ❤

[@vernonknight5827]

I want to hear a comparison with the Rosewood Studio and a D28, mainly because of the scale difference!

[@happytrails1963]

If liisten closely can hear butterfly is maybe missing. Difficult to go wrong with either.

[@slpc30]

Wow two amazing sounding guitars

[@rexrathtar3893]

Gibson studio isn't their entry-level electrics. Entry level is the tribute, which is significantly cheaper than a studio. With the acoustics, wasn't it originally a reference to the type of electronics, ostensibly giving easy "plug-in-ability" for studio recording? It's all a bit antiquated, admittedly, but that's the brand, man.

[@72Stiles]

Now throw the Walnut Hummingbird in the mix....

[@anthonyb2334]

Obviously objective, but over the years, after thinking I NEED spruce and rosewood, I’ve found spruce and mahogany fits my taste more. I do like the satin finish. If it lets more resonance I’m all for it. But I’d love to have either of these. Thank you

[@LegsON]

What is it exactly you like more about mahogany?

[@anthonyb2334]

@@LegsON the tone of mahogany is richer to my ears. I’m a finger picker , and that probably contributes to it. Sold a couple of Martin spruce /mahogany for spruce/ rosewood models and wish I hadn’t. Not that rosewood doesn’t sound great. The mahogany was just better for me.

[@LegsON]

@@anthonyb2334 I have a sitka-rosewood dread, and although I really love its rich tone, I'm starting to think it's a bit too cold abd metallic. Sometimes I think I like my all-sapele dread more, for its fuller smoother tone.

[@anthonyb2334]

@@LegsON I had a D18 and a Gibson Hummingbird Pro. I sold both ( everything I saw said go ROSEWOOD) . I purchased a D28. I learned I preferred the sound of mahogany. . Richer to me too.

[@vincentlussier8264]

The rosewood back and sides model sounds deeper in tone ! I like it more and it's louder!

[@clyderichardson6475]

I am sure there are applications for the mahogany backed Gibson, but none come to mind. Ok, my clear bias is toward the sound projected from the rosewood.

[@patricklundquist9869]

I tried a Faded Hummingbird yesterday which is what has me researching them today. That guitar is LOUD but seemed too bass heavy for my taste. Considering I have a Martin J-40, you know I love me some bass. In your video the heavy bass dominates all else confirming my real-life first impression. The difference in depth between the two guitars was shocking. At first I thought Gibson built the shallower rosewood Studio to save on rosewood but now I believe it was necessary to control the bass for better balance because that Studio sounds sweet.

[@nicolen.9642]

Great review. The "butterfly and tone" humour was priceless! I'd take the rosewood for more comfort. Full dreadnoughts are...ouch...on the shoulder... Thanks guys!🎶🎶🎶

[@stormengine3261]

That reference on triple o with a dreadnoughts depth, please tell me youre going to review a Martin J40 I haven't heard a good review on one yet. I know what it is and how it only comes in Rosewood or Koa. But a Jumbo Martin has to be reviewed through this channel.

[@mallorga1965]

I'd love that faded with rosewood back and sides. Great playing from Cooper!

[@charlesstrahin-wf3un]

I love rose wood but with that said this one is a turn off! With the lack of depth it sounds too much like a Taylor come on Gibson you can do better the both sound thin I would never buy ether of these!

[@Depsilon69]

Blind folded tone wood test!! Different brands, different tone wood. Will your opinion hold?

[@startreker8591]

Big y dwarfs the the dude…tha5 was the guitar that I had admired circa 70’s when in the Philippines .My father worked in the USA naval base then y he brings home that epic commissary’s magazines lol…I just gleaned over the pages where the variety of guitar brands are on…y finally…had skipped on Gibson acoustic for Martin…but the hummingbird brand is really what had stuck in my mind y the Yamada( style only though but handmade lol)which btw my first in 1973

[@samsoliva]

Please tell me that a Faded L-1 with 14 fret to the body joint will be on sale soon. Because that's what I want to buy. The Robert Johnson L-1 sells for far too much in the (Australian) used market.

[@sorencin11]

I wish they were affordable

[@LegsON]

They are for Americans.

[@LegsON]

Also, check out Epiphone Hummingbird bird and Sigma copy.

[@uvp5000]

I had an unexpected response to the Gibson Studio - I liked it better than the Faded model. I normally prefer Rosewood and Maple over Mahogany, so that is no surprise, but the shallower body seemed to keep the notes cleaner (the sound doesn't clang around inside the body as much). I found the Faded more subdued, and I like a high dynamic ceiling in an acoustic instrument.

[@kennygardner5041]

I prefer the Hummingbird Faded. Mahogany pops the lows better for flatpicking. Remember Doc Watson had his signature Gallagher made with a mahogany back and sides.

[@richardtaylor2361]

I think the yamaha fg9 or the taylor 3 series

[@lenrichardson5183]

The Hummingbird is a very easy guitar to build and to sand and the joy of the Hummingbird is the sound. Nothing else sounds like it .

[@teumuarikit601]

Beautiful playing. I liked the Mahogany for the tune you were playing. Both sound great.

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

I bought the EART 335 in satin mahogany , open pore finish and it sounds incredible…better than my eastman

[@zororosario]

The pickguard does nothing for me to improve the sound, never had a use for that. I would like both for the flavors.

[@samk4801]

Thanks. This is the second video in which I've been able to hear the "faded" version, but also the first to hear the rosewood version. To my ear, the faded is the most open Hummingbird I've ever heard. The sound just fills up the room, almost like a J-200. And I was really loving it. But after hearing the rosewood it sounded more focused and maybe more amenable to studio recording where you're not necessarily looking for as much of a big booming sound. And maybe the thinner body is at least partially responsible for the more focused sound. (OTOH, when it came to the thinner bodied J-45 from Epiphone, I preferred the Hummingbird by Epiphone because the thinner J-45 didn't sound as rich as the fuller Hummingbird.)

[@jshu1625]

I think the faded sounds the best

[@sorencin11]

Nice guitar playing

[@ryanbloom1738]

I really dig the studio.

[@TomZola1]

Good point, Cooper - I'd be more interested in a deeper 00 than a slimmer dreadnought

[@Lalairu]

I never thought about that option until now. It must be very interesting.

[@GPLP335]

May be a great sounding guitar but the over the top pickguard has always been a non starter for me.

[@khoahoanh930]

I pick Studio