The Epiphone Hummingbird is one of the most iconic acoustic guitars ever made. Loved by countless musicians for its sweet, mellow tone and stylish design, the Hummingbird has a long and storied history spanning many decades. But when exactly did Epiphone first begin making this legendary instrument? Let’s take a closer look at the origins of the Epiphone Hummingbird guitar.
The Early Days of Epiphone
To understand when Epiphone started producing the Hummingbird, we first need to go back to Epiphone’s beginnings as a company. Epiphone was founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulo in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey). Originally called the “House of Stathopoulo”, Anastasios and his sons made violins and lutes.
In 1903, Anastasios moved to New York City and set up shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The company was formally incorporated as the “Epiphone Banjo Company” in 1928 when Anastasios’ son Epaminondas took over. The late 1920s marked Epiphone’s entry into guitar production, including the company’s first archtop guitars.
By the late 1930s, Epiphone was making acoustic guitars out of its Philadelphia factory. Models like the De Luxe and Broadway established Epiphone as a leader in arched top guitar design. This set the stage for the eventual release of the Hummingbird in the early 1960s.
Epiphone Gets Acquired by Gibson
In 1957, Epiphone was acquired by Gibson and moved production from New York to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rather than dissolve Epiphone, Gibson continued manufacturing guitars under the Epiphone name as a subsidiary brand.
This acquisition allowed Gibson to produce budget friendly versions of classic Gibson models. Many iconic Epiphones like the Casino, Riviera, and Sheraton were introduced during this era.
Although Gibson now owned Epiphone, the latter still operated semi-autonomously during the late 1950s and early 1960s. This led to some of Epiphone’s most revered original electric and acoustic guitar designs, including the Hummingbird.
The 1960s: Birth of the Hummingbird
The Epiphone Hummingbird was first released in 1962. It was originally conceived as an answer to Gibson’s popular J-45 model. The Hummingbird featured a dreadnought body shape with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, similar to the J-45.
It’s unclear exactly who came up with the idea for the Hummingbird at Epiphone. Some accounts attribute the genesis of the model to Epi engineer Andy Nelson, while others say it was a collaboration between Nelson and Gibson’s famous guitar designer, Larry Allers.
What is known for certain is that the Hummingbird got its name from the lightly engraved hummingbird motif etched onto the pickguard. This decorative touch stood out from the typically plain pickguards of Gibson’s flat-top acoustics.
From the very beginning, the Hummingbird was prized by players for its loud volume, smooth tone, and stylish ornamentation. Early musicians to adopt the Hummingbird included Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful, and folk singer Judy Collins.
Key Features of the Early Hummingbirds
Here are some key features of the earliest 1960s era Epiphone Hummingbirds:
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Mahogany back and sides
- Narrow-shouldered dreadnought body
- Rosewood or maple bridge
- Unique pickguard with engraved hummingbird motif
- Diamond and parallelogram fingerboard inlays
- Available in natural and sunburst finishes
The excellent blend of tonewoods helped the Hummingbird produce a clear, projecting sound that appealed to many acoustic players. Visually, the pickguard artwork also gave the model a unique look and aesthetic appeal.
Evolution of the Hummingbird in the 1960s
The Hummingbird saw several small but meaningful changes throughout the rest of the 1960s. These tweaks improved the playability and aesthetics of an already popular guitar.
In 1964, Epiphone switched from a three-piece maple neck to a single-piece mahogany neck on the Hummingbird. This gave it a woodier, warmer tone. Epiphone also began offering the model in a cherry sunburst finish in addition to natural.
By 1967, the narrow-shouldered dreadnought body was slightly enlarged to allow more projection. Around 1968, Epiphone replaced the diamond inlays with small block inlays on the Hummingbird for a time before returning to the parallelogram inlays by 1969.
Other more minor alterations were also seen over the course of the decade like the logo design, tuner types, fretboard radius, and more. But the essence of the Hummingbird design remained consistent and beloved by players everywhere.
The Tumultuous 1970s
While the 1960s were the glory days for Epiphone, the 1970s were a turbulent time of uncertainty. Facing mounting financial troubles, Gibson moved Epiphone production to Japan in 1970-71 in hopes of reducing labor costs.
Some Japanese models were built by Terada and Matsumoku with excellent craftsmanship. Unfortunately, this period also saw a drop in consistency and quality for many Epiphone guitars compared to the 1960s.
The Hummingbird did continue to be manufactured in Japan throughout the 1970s. Earlier Japan-made versions were somewhat akin to the 1960s models in specs and materials. But by the late 70s, cost cutting saw the use of cheaper laminate wood rather than solid spruce and mahogany.
Some excellent late 1970s Hummingbirds were produced that hearkened back to the 1960s glory days. But the inconsistency and confusion around the Epiphone brand during this era makes models from this period less sought after.
The Norlin and Epiphone Resurgence
In late 1969, the Chicago Musical Instrument Company acquired Gibson and ran the company throughout the 1970s. This period from 1974-1984 is sometimes referred to as the “Norlin Era” and represented an unsettled time for Epiphone.
In the early 1980s, Epiphone got a new lease on life after being acquired by CMI’s Japanese trading arm. Production was shifted to the Matsumoku factory, where skilled Japanese luthiers built guitars to higher quality standards.
The 1980s witnessed a renaissance for Epiphone, recalling some of the craftsmanship and pride of the 1960s era. Hummingbirds from this period are generally excellent instruments that capture the greatness of the original model.
Certain limited editions like the 1985 Hummingbird Artist with a cedar top and floral pickguard inlay are superb examples of Japanese-made Hummingbirds before production moved to Korea and later China and Indonesia.
The Modern Epiphone Hummingbird
Today, Epiphone continues to manufacture the Hummingbird at its factories in Asia with consistent quality. Models are available with either solid spruce tops or laminated spruce and mahogany tops in a variety of glossy or satin finishes.
While not a reproduction of vintage specimens, the current Epiphone Hummingbird provides players of all levels with an affordable version of this historic instrument. More expensive Heritage Series models offer all solid wood construction for purists.
The Epiphone Hummingbird has now been in continuous production for over 50 years and six decades. Its staying power is a testament to its enduring sound, style, and popularity among acoustic guitarists.
Conclusion
Tracing the 60 year history of Epiphone’s Hummingbird reveals some key insights into the origins and evolution of this legendary guitar:
- The Hummingbird first appeared in 1962 as an Epiphone version of Gibson’s popular J-45 model
- It was likely designed collaboratively by Epiphone and Gibson luthiers like Andy Nelson
- Early 1960s era Hummingbirds featured solid woods and ornate pickguard inlays
- Minor changes were made throughout the 1960s to woods, inlays, and aesthetics
- Quality became less consistent in the 1970s after Epiphone production moved to Japan
- A 1980s renaissance saw excellent Japan-made Hummingbirds before production shifted again
- Today’s Epiphone Hummingbird maintains much of the original model’s iconic style and sound
For over half a century, the Epiphone Hummingbird has cemented its status as one of the most beloved and recognizable acoustic guitars. Its rich history is part of what makes this model so treasured by players around the world.
