Is an Epiphone Hummingbird worth it?

The Epiphone Hummingbird is one of Epiphone’s most iconic and popular acoustic guitars. As an affordable alternative to the Gibson Hummingbird, it provides excellent value for money for intermediate and professional players looking for a great sounding and playing dreadnought acoustic guitar.

How does the Epiphone Hummingbird compare to the Gibson version?

The Epiphone Hummingbird is designed to be similar in look, feel and tone to the legendary Gibson Hummingbird but at a more affordable price point. Key similarities include:

• Same dreadnought body shape with solid spruce top
• Mahogany back and sides
• Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
• Traditional Hummingbird pickguard

However, there are some differences:

• The Epiphone has a select spruce top while the Gibson has premium grade solid spruce
• The Gibson uses higher grade and thicker mahogany
• The Gibson fingerboard is rosewood while the Epiphone is ebonized
• The Gibson features gold Gotoh tuners while the Epiphone has simpler tuners

These factors contribute to the Gibson having a more complex, balanced and refined tone which justifies its higher price tag. But the Epiphone aims to deliver most of the Hummingbird character at a more affordable cost.

What are the main features and specs?

Here are the key specs of the Epiphone Hummingbird:

• Solid spruce top
• Mahogany back, sides and neck
• Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
• 25.5″ scale length
• 1.68″ nut width
• Nickel hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuners
• Epiphone Shadow ePerformer preamp

It has a traditional square-shouldered dreadnought body shape with scalloped X-bracing inside. The rosewood fingerboard has traditional parallelogram inlays and 20 medium frets. Other features include a maple neck, dual-action truss rod and dual stereo NanoFlex pickup system.

How does the Epiphone Hummingbird sound and play?

The Epiphone Hummingbird is known for its big, bold and balanced acoustic tone. The spruce and mahogany body produce a rich, warm and deep voice that handles different styles of music admirably. It has excellent sustain and resonance even when strummed harder. The tone has sparkling highs, muscular mid-range and tight bass end.

The mahogany neck has a comfortable 1960s SlimTaper profile that makes the Hummingbird easy and fun to play. The action is set low and playable straight out of the box. It feels great for strumming chords as well as fingerstyle playing. The wider nut also provides extra room for fingerpicking.

Overall, it provides classic Hummingbird tone and playability at an affordable price point. While it may not have the exceptional tone woods and refinements of the Gibson, it certainly delivers on outright quality and value.

Pros of the Epiphone Hummingbird

Here are some of the key advantages of choosing the Epiphone Hummingbird:

• Great Hummingbird tone at an affordable price
• Quality all-mahogany and solid spruce build
• Iconic and striking Hummingbird aesthetics
• Easy and comfortable 1960s SlimTaper neck profile
• Quality Grover rotomatic tuners hold tuning well
• Onboard Shadow ePerformer preamp system
• Very good bang for buck for the price

Cons of the Epiphone Hummingbird

Some potential downsides to consider:

• Not as complex and refined in tone as the Gibson
• Laminated pickguard rather than tortoiseshell
• Build quality and attention to detail not as high as Gibson
• Preamp system may feel unnecessary for a traditional acoustic
• No hardshell case included

What is the best use case for the Epiphone Hummingbird?

The Epiphone Hummingbird is ideal for:

• Players who love the Hummingbird look and sound but want great value
• Guitarists who appreciate big, rich dreadnought tones
• Musicians playing rock, blues, folk, country and other popular styles
• Intermediate to advanced level players who will appreciate the quality
• Performers who want an affordable on-stage acoustic with pickup

It may not have the premium appointments of a high-end Gibson, but it excels at delivering classic Hummingbird vibe at a price most can afford.

Is the Epiphone Hummingbird a good guitar for beginners?

The Epiphone Hummingbird may not be the best choice as a beginner’s first guitar. Reasons why include:

• It’s a bulky dreadnought which can be difficult for smaller players
• The action may be too high for comfortable beginner playing
• It holds tuning well but cheaper tuners would be more beginner friendly
• The ornate pickguard and binding risk easily getting damaged
• The lack of cutaway can limit access to upper frets

That said, it could still work well for:

• Larger framed beginners who can handle a big body
• Players who love the Hummingbird style and are willing to invest
• Those who want to grow into an intermediate instrument

But there are cheaper, smaller and more beginner-friendly options out there. The Little Martin and Yamaha FG800 are two great examples.

What is the resale value of the Epiphone Hummingbird?

As an indication, here are some typical used prices for the Epiphone Hummingbird based on condition:

Key factors affecting resale value include:

• Age and rarity – older models may command higher prices
• Condition – only excellent or mint retain best value
• Upgrades – aftermarket pickups and electronics can help value
• Color and cosmetics – more desirable colors retain value best

So while the Epiphone Hummingbird may not hold value like a Gibson, it does maintain decent value especially if kept in great condition.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Hummingbird represents excellent value for money. While not at the elite level of a Gibson, it delivers impressive Hummingbird tones and playability at a price most guitarists can afford.

For intermediate players or working musicians who need a great sounding, looking and playing workhorse acoustic, the Epiphone Hummingbird is easily worth the investment. Its combination of quality materials, iconic styling and versatile sound make it a modern classic.

Those wanting absolutely top level craftsmanship and tone woods should consider saving up for a Gibson. But the Epiphone is a genuine Gibson-authorized alternative that proudly carries the Hummingbird name for good reason.

So if you love the Hummingbird vibe, don’t need absolute perfection and want great bang for your buck, then yes – the Epiphone Hummingbird is definitely worth it.