Gibson MCSSHBPB Hummingbird Standard Acoustic Electric Guitar - Purple Burst

Since its debut in 1960, the Gibson Hummingbird has remained one of Gibson’s most iconic acoustic guitars. With its striking aesthetic, square-shouldered design, and rich, full-bodied voice, the Hummingbird first captured the hearts of country and folk players — and later took flight with the rise of rock in the mid-1960s. The Gibson Acoustic Hummingbird Standard, available at Sadek Music, faithfully reimagines that classic design while introducing modern performance refinements. A time-tested tonewood pairing of a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides produces a broad, balanced response that extends lows and highs beyond the classic Gibson midrange thump. The mahogany round C-profile neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard ensure smooth, effortless playability for both flatpicking and fingerstyle performances. Onstage or in the studio, LR Baggs VTC electronics perfectly capture the Hummingbird’s natural acoustic warmth. Finishing touches such as split parallelogram inlays, elegant fingerboard binding, and the iconic engraved pickguard complete the timeless look. Classic yet modern, the Gibson Hummingbird Standard delivers legendary tone, stunning craftsmanship, and inspiration that lasts a lifetime — proudly available at Sadek Music.

Gibson’s Premier Square-Shouldered Strummer Since 1960

Introduced at the dawn of the 1960s, the Gibson Hummingbird holds the distinction of being Gibson’s first square-shouldered acoustic guitar — though its origins trace back a bit further. Gibson had already been experimenting with square-shouldered dreadnoughts since 1958, when it introduced the Epiphone Frontier, also designed by Ted McCarty and his team to compete with the popular dreadnoughts of other leading acoustic makers of the era. True to Gibson’s spirit of innovation, the Hummingbird fused the time-tested dreadnought shape with the company’s hallmark 24.75-inch scale length and a striking visual presentation. Its beautifully engraved pickguard, featuring floral motifs, a butterfly, and the guitar’s avian namesake, quickly became a signature look. Originally ranked as the second most expensive flat-top in Gibson’s catalog—just behind the SJ-200—the Hummingbird was praised as “one of the finest guitars ever made for vocal accompaniment.” While born in the heart of Nashville’s country scene, the Hummingbird soon spread its wings into the world of rock and pop. Legendary artists including Keith Richards, Brian Jones, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones helped cement its reputation in the mid-1960s as the go-to Gibson acoustic for lush rhythm tones, rich vocal support, and timeless stage presence. Today, the Gibson Hummingbird Standard, available at Sadek Music, continues that legacy as one of the most beloved and versatile strummers ever built.

Traditional Hummingbird tonewoods

For all its visual extravagance, the Gibson Acoustic Hummingbird Standard sports the very same spruce top, mahogany body, and 24.75-inch scale length as the brand’s legendary “workhorse” J-45. What sonically separates the two models? It’s all in the shoulders. While the J-45 and other Gibson “jumbo” models wear rounded, “slope” shoulders, the Hummingbird was the first Gibson to feature “square” shoulders. Compare the area where the Hummingbird Standard’s neck meets the body to a J-45, an SJ-200, or an L-00, and you’ll notice that the former’s shoulders project outward with straight "shoulders." Moreover, the swap to square shoulders goes far beyond the aesthetic realm. Square-shouldered acoustic guitars often feature a deeper tone than the midrange-focused thump of a comparable slope-shouldered dread. Combined with a sweet-sounding Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, this ’bird will envelop your audience with a deep, warm, and full-bodied drawl. Whether you’re driving the band with a rockin’ rhythm, supporting a singer with winding fingerstyle melodies, or flatpicking powerful leads, the Gibson Hummingbird Standard sings with the same song that’s made the model a standard-issue 6-string since 1960.

What makes a Standard?

Gibson Acoustic produces no shortage of Hummingbird offerings, spanning ultra-accurate vintage re-creations to showcases of modern performance. So, what makes this Hummingbird the “Standard”? A potent blend of tried-and-true and new elements that respect the ’bird’s illustrious legacy while smoothing over a few vintage quirks. For instance, the Hummingbird Standard wears a round C neck profile that strikes a perfect balance between vintage vibe and speedy playability. Plus, rock-solid kidney-style Grover Rotomatics ensure superior tuning stability. Finally — and arguably most importantly — the Hummingbird Standard comes equipped with LR Baggs VTC electronics, giving you the power to perform with an acoustic-electric voice that retains the model’s legendary punch.

American Craftsmanship at Its Finest

Built with pride in Bozeman, Montana, the Gibson Hummingbird Standard represents the pinnacle of American acoustic guitar craftsmanship. While the Bozeman workshop incorporates select modern technologies to ensure precision and consistency, each guitar remains meticulously handcrafted by Gibson’s team of seasoned luthiers. This human touch ensures that every Hummingbird not only looks exquisite but also sings with the soul and warmth only a handcrafted instrument can deliver. Although Gibson’s acoustic lineup is often referred to as “flat-top” guitars, the term doesn’t tell the full story. Since the company’s earliest days, Gibson’s non-archtop acoustics have featured subtly radiused tops and backs rather than truly flat surfaces. Continuing that tradition, today’s Gibson acoustics feature a 28-foot-radius top and a 12-foot-radius back, shaped through carefully hand-scalloped bracing. This gentle curvature enhances the guitar’s strength and resonance, creating the rich, balanced tone and signature note-to-note clarity that define the classic Gibson steel-string sound. The result is an instrument that embodies both heritage and innovation — a true testament to Gibson’s American craftsmanship and the timeless art of acoustic guitar building.

Built in Bozeman in the handcrafted Kalamazoo tradition

For more than eight decades, Gibson’s acoustic instruments were crafted in the historic Parsons Street Factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan — only a few hours’ drive from Sadek Music Fort Wayne, Indiana, campus. Gibson’s acoustic and electric guitars were built side-by-side there for much of the company’s history. Subsequently, production was relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, over the course of several years between the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Although this change of scenery worked brilliantly for Gibson’s electric lineup, it was quickly discovered that the hot and humid climate of the American South was perhaps not the ideal setting for acoustic guitar building.

Gibson Acoustic Hummingbird Standard Features:

• Gibson’s iconic square-shouldered strummer, championed by rockers and singer/songwriters since 1960
• Sitka spruce top rings with a sweet, crisp, and balanced character
• Mahogany back and sides provide a pleasing warmth and depth
• Square-shouldered dreadnought design delivers a powerful projection and a full-range tone that excels whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or flatpicking
• Mahogany neck in Gibson’s comfortable round C profile
• Bound rosewood fingerboard, featuring dazzling split-parallelogram inlays
• Iconic engraved pickguard, beaming with floral patterns, a butterfly design, and the model’s titular Hummingbird
• Stage-ready LR Baggs VTC electronics faithfully capture the guitar’s acoustic character
• Top-shelf Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
• Nitrocellulose lacquer finish will age in and wear over time, just like a golden-era Gibson
• Traditional Gibson construction includes a dovetail joint secured with hot hide glue

Tech Specs

• String Type:Steel
• Number of Strings:6
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Shape:Hummingbird Standard Dreadnought
• Back & Sides Wood:Solid Mahogany
• Top Wood:Solid Spruce
• Top Finish:Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Color:Purple Burst
• Body Bracing:Hand-scalloped spruce X-bracing
• Binding:5-ply
• Neck Wood:Mahogany
• Neck Shape:Round
• Radius:12"
• Fingerboard Material:Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard Inlay:Parallelograms
• Number of Frets:20
• Scale Length:24.75"
• Nut Width:1.725"
• Nut/Saddle Material:Tusq/Tusq
• Bridge Material:Indian Rosewood
• Tuning Machines:Grover Rotomatics
• Electronics:LR Baggs VTC preamp
• Strings:Gibson .012-.053
• Case/Gig Bag:Hardshell Case