Sweet as Honey Hummingbird
To say that I love my Hummingbird would be an understatement. From the first time I picked up one to give it a try to me picking it up last night, it just gets better and better. I have had my Hummingbird for about nine years now. As I have played it, sometimes abused it, the tone has gotten more smooth and sweet. It has also become very loud, so much so that I have to make a concious effort to play quieter when in a group. My best friend has a Dove (another great model) which he has had for over twenty years and while it sounds great, it just doesn't sound as sweet as mine.
I have done a few minor adjustments to mine to make it fit me better, purely a personal choice. I let a friend who was an outstanding player lower my action, this resulted in a major buzz on the A and D string about half way down the fret board. I was scared to death, but finally took it into a professional and he was able to bring it back and give me the lowest action with no buzz. I also have played with the bridge pins, changing to first solid wood pins and then abolone pins. Believe it or not I changed back to wood and love the fullness of tone I get from them. My next small change is to go with a bone ivory nut and bridge.
Another constant search has been to find the perfect strings. I have found that Martin strings are consistantly good at first, but seem to not last as long as others, so if you were playing every night and changing strings two and three times a week, these would do. I have tried many others, but I keep coming back to D'Adrio strings, they have a good lifetime, great ring, and both light and medium sets have a loud volume potential. Also, since I have a bad habit of playing percussive when I really get going, they seem to be able to take it well.
After nine years, almost ten the guitar shows little wear. The pick guard has faded so that the hummingbird, or part of him is vanishing, there is a place on the head stock where I missed the stand and it hit another piece of furniture, but there is no cracks in the finish, no dull spots. The binding is intact and the fretboard is not cracked or de-laminating.
The only thing that I would change on the guitar itself would be the tuning machines. Don't misunderstand and think I am saying that they are bad, they are really good, but if I could order this one again, I would go with an upgraded tuner. They have never giving me any trouble, work just as well as when I first got it, but it is just something I want to do.
Do I recommend this guitar, without a doubt. If you buy one brand new, don't worry, it is like a fine wine, and only gets better with age (and use).
Reviewed by guitarlane on 9/27/2006 who plays all kinds but rap crap.
39 people found this review helpful.
4 people found this review unhelpful.
