Epiphone Hummingbird

The Epiphone Hummingbird HS is made in China. It has a 25.5" scale with frets. It has mahogany sides and back with a solid spruce top, and a rosewood fingerboard. It features pretty standard chrome hardware, split paralellogram fingerboard inlays, and of course the obligatory brilliant sunburst finish that Epiphone calls "Heritage Cherry Sunburtst" along with funky decorative pickguard. I was quite impressed of the quality of the finish on a 300.00 guitar.

UTILIZATION

The neck had a decent feel, nothing spectacular. At least this guitar is built to mimic the more expensive Gidson model so they already had neck specs to copy. Unfortunately, the action on the guitar I sampled was terrible, I mean absolutely dreadful. Anything beyond the 5th fret was increasingly difficult to fret, and playing anything beyond the 12th fret was almost impossible due to the high action.

SOUNDS

Even for a 300.00 guitar, I was not at all impressed with the sound of this guitar. It had a "harsh" tonal quality that made me wonder "why?" I mean, its got a solid spruce top, a fairly large cavity to resonate, but you are left with a shrill bottomless tone.

OVERALL OPINION

The finish, look, and overall style of this guitar would draw many in. It looks like something your daughter would want for her first guitar based on the grand appearance. Sadly, Epiphone fell flat on every front when you get beyond its looks.
If you had 300 to spend, I would keep looking because there are better playing and better sounding guitars out there in this price range.

Made in China, but it's weird, it seems to be two finishes. With a simple red DGRAD (around the body) to orange (is that the photo) and another that looks more like the Gibson version (DGRAD fawn red sunburst without the banding around the body), the one I have much more beautiful!
Guitar enjoyable trs, trs handle practical, not too late nor too pais, low action.
The body with good power cords adquate.
Trs well finished guitar for this price (triple binding on the body, binding on the fretboard, split diamond on the neck). It throws in a guitar, even the pickguard is correct compar his cousin Dove (ignoble!).
The report price is unbeatable beauty, even when a account! Moult guitars seem very bland ct.
The report price is trs good quality, it is better finished than the Epiphone most happening everywhere.

UTILIZATION

To see the end come round, we must turn to a small OOO.
The sound is bright (massive spruce) with good power (mahogany back and sides.

SOUNDS

Good sound folk rock / unplugged.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had six months, I tried almost the entire range Epiphone, only Don Everly (my little CHRI) has a round more enjoyable. Should compare the original Gibson.
For the price, hard to find more beautiful.

Korean manufacturing (old version, model 1994)
- Shape Dreadnought
- Back & sides Solid Mahogany neck
- Solid Spruce (in two parts)
- Rosewood lacquer, inlaid perloïd split trapezoids
- Rosewood bridge
- Binding around the button, double 3 ply binding around the body.
- Mechanical vintage tulip Kluson imitation.

Let us put things in perspective: at the time, was the only guitar to less than 3000 francs (€ 450) to provide a solid table!
And what a look! When I saw her in the store, she typed directly into the eye. I had to try it. And try to adopt it ...

UTILIZATION

The V handle (this may surprise) is very fine and very comfortable to use (although a little thicker would make the game less tiring blocked).
The reference in perloïd, the button, do a little cheap. Seen from afar, it looks great, but seen up close, it's really plastic.
Everything else is of superb craftsmanship, really well built, well finished, and the materials do not suffer any reproach. Quality clearly superior to current Chinese models (but the price was also much higher).
The weight is relatively consistent.
No cutaway, so access to basic acute.
Overall, this guitar made an excellent impression and is very ergonomic (within the limits of what can offer a Dreadnought size, of course).

After 3 years of use, but I had to change the mechanics. The two small screws (undersized) that kept the original ones threatening to pull out altogether on the lower strings. So I enlarged the axes (a bit of a drill and that's it) to mount the mechanical oil bath. The look loses a bit, but we gain in precision and reliability. On current models, Epiphone made some adjustments and OE MECAS the oil bath.
I also sanded the bridge saddle to lower action (which I could easily allow me since I tend to play on drafts of barbaric).

SOUNDS

Sound level, it sounds very round, very hot, and it will be perfect for blues and rock. The Rolling Stones sound so rhythmic and beautifully blend to perfection with a line of electric guitar.
It will be a little less comfortable on the folk lack of brilliance (although it's still quite manageable).
It projects well, playing arpeggios sounds great (especially in blues records) and it also sounds great played on the bottleneck.
A very good guitar, then. Full of character.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar extensively since 1996, and I am quite satisfied. She is beautiful, very comfortable and sounds great, that you ask for?
The price / quality ratio is very good, although it is important not to yield to compare it to his sister.
A guitar perfectly successful, so that I remain faithful.
Over 15 years later, the love remains intact.
I welcome this choice yet!