Birds of a feather...
When it comes to guitars – electric, acoustic, air, take your pick – there is one name that always seems to come up. It's no secret that Gibson is a monumental force in musical domains, and not just concerning electric guitars, either! Gibson's presence in the world of acoustic guitars is palpable if you spend any time poking around. There's a lineage of Gibson acoustics that goes back generations and it's certainly one to check out.
Among the great Gibson acoustics across time is the Hummingbird. One of Gibson's most famous "birds", among the Firebird and Thunderbird (accipiter volcanus and pernis thunderus, respectively), the Hummingbird has staked its claim to Gibson royalty time and time again. There's quite a bit to be excited about when it comes to one of Gibson's most famous Aves-class guitars – so much so that today we're talking about two new friends to the flock, the Hummingbird Standard EC and Hummingbird Studio EC.
Shop the Gibson Hummingbird Standard EC
Acoustic Ornithology
Introducing the Gibson Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC
The Gibson Hummingbird has been reimagined in many different forms to serve the needs of players. At its core, the Hummingbird is an acoustic for writing and performing. You might chalk this up to the Hummingbird's tradition of being an easily handled and expressive acoustic, or to its pension for making fashionable statements with its intricate pickguard designs. Any way you slice it, the Hummingbird is at its heart a performer's guitar, and the Hummingbird Standard and Studio ECs are no slouches in that department. There's a bit to unpack about these acoustics, so let's get into it.
Flocking Together
Gibson Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC Construction
As acoustics, the Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC employ a classic tonewood combination to establish their base experience. Both of these Gibson acoustics utilize a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides to produce their basic voice. These two woods are formed into Gibson's classic Hummingbird body shape and include a cutaway. A common, player-forward feature, the Hummingbirds' single cutaway easily opens access to higher frets and invites bold exploration of the full scale length.
The Hummingbird has a reputation for being a favorite of songwriters for a reason. When dealing with a classic tonewood combo like Sitka spruce and mahogany shaped to a Hummingbird body, the riffs have a tendency to start writing themselves. Alright, let's zoom out for a second. Whether you're dealing with the Hummingbird Standard EC or Studio EC, you've got yourself a balanced and responsive sonic profile. Both of these birds play naturally with a light and airy voice that is bright and suited for both campfire chords and intricate fingerpicking patterns. Balance, projection, resonance, and sweetness are all names of the game for these Hummingbird ECs.
For players seeking out a guitar that gives back what they put into it, the Hummingbird Standard and Studio ECs are the ticket. The sonic profiles of the two guitars summon that perfect mix of mahogany warmth with Sitka spruce brightness to offer the articulation to play among a band while remaining lush to stand on its own for a solo performance. Songwriters, take note here, we know you've got your lyrics sheet on hand, these Hummingbirds are here to perform alongside you.
Migratory Patterns
Gibson Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC Playability
Now that we've got our acoustic palette of sounds, let's talk shop on playability. The Hummingbird Standard and Studio ECs differ when it comes to their neck, which does play a part in making them unique experiences. Onboard the Hummingbird Standard EC, you'll find a mahogany neck, on the Studio EC, utile. Both of these necks are shaped in the same Round SlimTaper profile that connects with a slender yet full feel in hand.
A contributor to the different feelings between these two necks is their two different finishes. Along with its body, the Hummingbird Standard EC's neck is decked in a gloss finish. Its Studio counterpart features a satin finish. Between these two finishes, the Standard's gloss finish assists in making the profile feel closer and smoother while the Studio's satin finish gives the neck a more textured and interactive feel. Whichever you prefer out of an acoustic, these Hummingbirds have you covered for a welcoming and familiar feeling in hand.
The neck's playability is compound with a rosewood fingerboard on both models. As a rich and woody element added to the guitar, these rosewood boards connect for easy fretting across the fingers with Standard-sized frets that make for easy transitions from notes to chords and back again. The Hummingbirds both play light on their feet as they flutter about. As mentioned, campfire chords, fingerpicking, and just about any other style you could think of are up for grabs with the Hummingbird Standard and Studio ECs.
And Your Bird Can Sing
Gibson Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC Performance
Alright, so let's bring this all home, now. You get a Hummingbird Standard or Studio EC in your hands. You're immediately met with its fresh gloss or satin finish, inviting you in close to get familiar with it. Wrap your hand around its neck and feel gentle frets, a rich rosewood board, and easily maneuvered strings for fingerpicking, bends, and the like. You're about to take the stage, what's next?
Onboard the Standard and Studio EC, Gibson included an L.R. Baggs electronics system. On the Standard, an L.R. Baggs VTC electronics system lands with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. For the Studio, Gibson loaded in an L.R. Baggs Element Bronze system with a soundhole-mounted volume control. Both of these systems make for essential performance features for singer-songwriters, band members, or whoever might need to translate the sweet acoustic voices of these birds to the stage. These L.R. Baggs systems encapsulate the great chops these Hummingbirds have as guitars for performance, along with their seamless playability and dynamite aesthetics.
Gibson Hummingbird Standard and Studio EC Final Thoughts
With the Hummingbird Standard and Studio ECs, the legacy of the Gibson Hummingbird lives on. These two models fit in perfectly with any acoustic player looking to write or perform due to their vibrant tonal profile and knockout looks. In any instance, these Hummingbirds play to crowds big and small as true performers. Gibson's mastery of acoustic instruments clearly shows with these ECs as they chalk another successful Hummingbird up on the board.
Like birds of a feather, these acoustics should stick together.
