The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist is a high quality, affordable acoustic guitar that is ideal for intermediate and advanced players. It offers a rich, full sound with balanced warm and bright tones. While it may not have all the ornate appointments of the Gibson Hummingbird it is modeled after, the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist still provides fantastic value for the price.
Overview of the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist
The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist is part of Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson line which consists of guitars designed to capture the essence of iconic Gibson models at more affordable prices. The Hummingbird Artist is directly inspired by the legendary Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar first introduced in 1960.
Like the original Gibson Hummingbird, the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist features a square shoulder dreadnought body shape with a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. However, while the Gibson model has an AAA grade Sitka spruce top, the Epiphone uses a standard grade Sitka spruce top to keep costs down. The body binding and rosette are also simpler on the Epiphone model.
The Hummingbird Artist has a 25.5” scale slim taper mahogany neck with a smooth satin finish and a Pau Ferro fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets. It has a standard belly bridge with a compensated saddle for improved intonation. The headstock has a 60s style dovewing shape and features vintage style split parallelogram inlays.
Other appointments on the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist include a pickguard with a vintage Epiphone logo, nickel hardware, Grover Rotomatic tuners, and a pre-installed Shadow Performer pickup and easy access 9V battery compartment for plugging in. It comes strung with D’Addario strings and includes a hardshell case.
Sound Quality
The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist sounds fantastic for a guitar in its price range. The combination of a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides produces a balanced warm and bright tone. The mahogany lends a smooth, woody warmth while the spruce provides crisp, detailed high end. There is good resonance and sustain across the tonal spectrum.
Strumming and flatpicking delivers a rich, full sound that projects well. It has plenty of volume suitable for playing solo or in a jam session or band mix. Fingerstyle playing is also very nice on the Hummingbird Artist. It has a complex, piano-like tone when played fingerstyle that allows different tones to ring out. The bass is punchy but not boomy, the mids are strong and balanced, and the high end has a clear bell-like quality.
The Shadow Performer pickup installed on the Hummingbird Artist reproduces the guitar’s acoustic tone very naturally. It captures the warmth and detail well and doesn’t quack out or sound too electric. The pickup gives you flexibility for amplifying and lets you access a range of tones suitable for recording or performing live.
Playability
With its slim taper neck and smooth satin finish, the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist excels in terms of playability and feel. The neck has a very comfortable C-shape that fits nicely in the hand. The satin finish allows for a fast, slick feel up and down the neck. The fretwork from the Pau Ferro fingerboard is even and nicely polished, with no sharp or protruding edges.
The medium jumbo frets are tall enough for various fretting styles and offer a very solid, responsive feel. Even high up on the neck the action is comfortable for chording and lead playing. The nut width is a very playable 1.69” which allows room for complex fingerstyle playing but is not overly wide for smaller hands.
The overall setup right out of the box is very good on the Hummingbird Artist. The action is a comfortable medium-low height that makes it easy to fret notes and facilitates complex chording. Intonation is accurate right up to the higher frets thanks to the compensated saddle. It’s a very playable instrument even for beginners while offering the versatility needed by more advanced players.
Craftsmanship
Considering its price point, the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist displays very good craftsmanship and attention to detail. The fit and finish of components is excellent. Starting with the Sitka spruce top, the strong grain patterns produce appealing visual texture. The mahogany back and sides have an attractive deep reddish hue. The body binding is cleanly applied, and the rosette has an intricate design.
The neck has Epiphone’s proven hand-set dovetail joint for a strong solid wood-to-wood attachment. The tapered heel allows excellent upper fret access. The headstock overlay is neatly applied, following the lines of the dovewing shape well. The tuners are good quality Grovers with butter smooth performance.
In terms of materials and visuals, the Hummingbird Artist certainly looks more high-end than its modest price would suggest. Little cosmetic details like the vintage style Epiphone logo pickguard and split parallelogram inlays on the fretboard also lend the guitar a handsome, vintage appeal.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Balanced warm and bright acoustic tone
- Good volume and projection
- Integrated pickup reproduces acoustic tone well
- Fast, comfortable neck for various playing styles
- Overall excellent playability right out of the box
- Attractive looks with vintage vibe
- Hard case included
- Outstanding value for the price
Cons
- Not as ornately appointed as Gibson model
- No cutaway for upper fret access
- Metal parts not as luxurious as Gibsons
Alternatives
The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist occupies a fairly unique spot in the market as an affordable Gibson Hummingbird tribute model. However here are some other guitars to consider in the same price range:
- Yamaha LS6 – Another high quality all solid wood guitar with a slightly brighter tone thanks to its Engelmann spruce top.
- Blueridge BR-160 – Vintage style dreadnought with all solid woods; excellent bang for the buck.
- Takamine GD30CE – Playable neck and cutaway; built-in electronics with tuner.
- Seagull Artist Mosaic – Canadian made acoustic with wider nut; full and balanced tone.
The Hummingbird Artist can also be compared to the other Inspired by Gibson acoustics from Epiphone such as the AJ-45ME and the DO-200SCE. While those are excellent instruments, the solid Sitka spruce top and iconic styling give the Hummingbird Artist an edge.
Conclusion
The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist delivers outstanding bang-for-the-buck. The combination of its solid spruce top, mahogany body, and Shadow Performer pickup produce highly impressive acoustic tones and versatility. It has excellent playability right out of the box, and an attractive vintage-vibe style. While it does cut some corners from the true Gibson model, it captures the essence beautifully at a fraction of the price.
For intermediate to advanced players looking for Gibson Hummingbird tones on a budget, the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist is easy to recommend. It provides big full acoustic sound and terrific playability at an affordable price point. Overall an excellent value that punches far above its class.
