The newer one has a noticeable brighter tone to it, yet it still has that distinct Hummingbird richness on the bronze strings. The '68 has that unmistakable sound of richly pronounced bronze strings & typical diminished steel & a beautifully subdued reverberation that only time can give to a select wood instrument. They were designed with vocal accompaniment in mind & '68 is the last year for Brazilian Rosewood sides & screw on pick guards & first year of the bottom belly bridge (My personal favourite year actually)👍👍
Thank you, Sir - for the demonstration. My spouse and I immediately preferred the 'New Historic line'. My wife said that it just sounded richer. I agree with that, though, the way I think of it - the 1960 has a boomey mid-range without crisp highs. The newer guitar had crisp highs, strong low frequencies, with a gap in the mid-range frequencies that translated to a lot of contrast and space in the sound.
The 68' might be built with heavy X braces (before the dble X in norlin era). Would be interesting to see a side by side comparison with an older hummy. However, they both sound very nice, full with deep woody tones. As close as they might be, the new cooked top hummy will probably sound better than the old 68' in a few years. It has incredible overtones for a brand new guitar.
The '68 sounds warmer to my ears. Unfortunately I am playing fingerstyle blues all my life (I can't even play with a pick) and therefore I love to play on my 000 martin's with a modified V neck.
What gauge pick are you using my friend???? It really makes a difference to the tone using different gauge picks. You have a fabulous collection of guitars!!
I agree I couldn’t detect a discernible difference between them. I love the historic line I have the J45 and Sj200 some day I’ll add this to the collection.
I like the Historic more; through good IEMs, it clearly has a brighter tone, like it has newer strings. Given that and the wider nut, I would prefer it.
Please let me know how the pickguard holds up on the vintage 60 HB. I had and SJ 200 and a HB in the mid-2000s and I hated that the paint on the pickguard wore off with very little use. It ruined the aesthetic of the guitars. My 68 SJ-200 and 67 HB are beat to hell, but the pick guards have not significantly worn. I hope the pick guards on the new Historic HBs will hold up and not wear off like the ones in the 2000s.
I’d personally go hummingbird because it’s a bit warmer and woodier which works better for singing with, in my opinion. Can’t go wrong with either and I’d rather have both lol. The new historic AJs are great guitars too. I checked your channel (great work btw) and I think you might like the hummingbird a bit more. Definitely try both if you can. Let me know what you pick!
I could not tell which one you were playing at what point. All I can say is they both sounded excellent. It must be difficult to play the 1960 with the 1 & 9/16" nut width. I have a '67 Gibson SG with a 1 & 5/8" nut width, and that has always felt too narrow. 1 & 11/16" is my sweet spot for electrics or acoustics.
The 68 model seems a slightly wider/more squared upper bout at the neck joint. The Historic seems to curve to a gentler shoulder at the neck joint. there could be a measurement, or template change involved. I remember the "new" 68 colour difference, which has lasted in yours. It has a jump in amplitude over the Historic's snug and even tone, That'll open yet. Thanks!
@@Dave-h3p I went back and forth between guitar changes watching the area above and below the neck(s), The 68 maybe 1/2 " or more straight before the curve to shoulder is noticible.. Same depth?
I loved the smooth throaty tone coming out of the '68. I have a feeling if I played that one I'd just sit there slowly strumming the G chord and day dream 😅
To me, the 68 sounds like a modern standard, but aged, which makes the chime allitle softer. where the historic line sounds like a perfected Gibson hummingbird. Honestly, for the money, I would buy the Historic line.
I prefer the sound of the 1968. The Historic has an overly metallic zingy sound commonplace with baked tops and because it’s baked it won’t open up or improve over time. I prefer the Historic nut width. Thermally aged tops are a disaster for acoustic guitar tone.
i am assuming the vintage hummingbird has the upside down belly bridge and narrower saddle? i want to say that guitar, if indeed it is the vintage one, is boomier, louder across all strings, with the classic scooped mids sound. it's bold & beautiful. the guitar with the wide saddle and standard bridge rotation, was brighter and more even across the EQ, and also sounded great, particularly for finger-style, kansas coverin' .. . ;)
The new Vintage 60 HB has the older type reverse belly bridge that Gibson was known for (belly pointing toward the sound hole) . In 68, Gibson switched to a more Martin style bridge with the belly pointing toward the end pin of the guitar. I have had several HBs over the years from 65 to 68. I have a 70 SJ (Same as HB but without the PIckguard) square shoulder also. In my view, 68 was the last great year for the HB. The bridge was changed, the pickguard typically was screwed down in addition to glued, but the bracing was still light. While my 70 SJ still sounds good, the guitar overall and the bracing are. just thicker and heavier.
You make a couple amateur mistakes. First, if you don't put a graphic on the screen telling us which guitar is which that you're playing, then it's hard to follow which guitar is making what sounds, since both guitars look the same except for the bridge belly. Second, the camera is aimed too high, focusing on your face, while the bottom of the guitar is cut off from the picture screen. I'm not interested in seeing your face. I want to see the two guitars, which are also obscured by placing that big fat microphone between the camera and guitars. I would have liked to see your right hand ɓetter because a players strumming technique has a lot to do with the sound out front. Otherwise, it's an interesting comparison idea.
They are 1 9/16” and I’ve not had two from 1968 that were both amazing guitars. I can’t remember a 60s Gibson that I didn’t like. 70s, I’ll agree with you there.
I heard the brighter tone on the new one right off the bat . I prefer the 68's tone . Thank you for the comparison
Awesome i love my 2023 Hummingbird
My goodness. No other acoustic sounds like the Hummingbird to me. The best.
The newer one has a noticeable brighter tone to it, yet it still has that distinct Hummingbird richness on the bronze strings. The '68 has that unmistakable sound of richly pronounced bronze strings & typical diminished steel & a beautifully subdued reverberation that only time can give to a select wood instrument. They were designed with vocal accompaniment in mind & '68 is the last year for Brazilian Rosewood sides & screw on pick guards & first year of the bottom belly bridge (My personal favourite year actually)👍👍
Hard to beat the Historic. Gibson really knocked it out of the park with new Historic line up
Great vid. Thanks for doing this. As a recent owner of the 1960 Fixed Bridge, I really enjoyed hearing the comparison to “the real thing”.
Thank you, Sir - for the demonstration. My spouse and I immediately preferred the 'New Historic line'. My wife said that it just sounded richer. I agree with that, though, the way I think of it - the 1960 has a boomey mid-range without crisp highs. The newer guitar had crisp highs, strong low frequencies, with a gap in the mid-range frequencies that translated to a lot of contrast and space in the sound.
The 68' might be built with heavy X braces (before the dble X in norlin era). Would be interesting to see a side by side comparison with an older hummy.
However, they both sound very nice, full with deep woody tones. As close as they might be, the new cooked top hummy will probably sound better than the old 68' in a few years. It has incredible overtones for a brand new guitar.
Both amazing guitars. Nice playing.
Thank you
Great comparison! Think I prefer the original.
The older the violin... the sweeter the music
Looks like u or someone switched out the original adj bridge for a fixed one on the 68. The 68 definitely has a warmer sound to it. Both very nice
The '68 sounds warmer to my ears. Unfortunately I am playing fingerstyle blues all my life (I can't even play with a pick) and therefore I love to play on my 000 martin's with a modified V neck.
I really like the sound of the second in all of the samples. It has that familiar "aha" Gibson compressed sound and it sounds expensive.
What gauge pick are you using my friend???? It really makes a difference to the tone using different gauge picks. You have a fabulous collection of guitars!!
¡¡¡Obras de arte poderosas!!, capaces de llenar cualquier vacío existencial con su gran sonido, ¡un sonido para despertar!!.
I agree I couldn’t detect a discernible difference between them. I love the historic line I have the J45 and Sj200 some day I’ll add this to the collection.
I like the Historic more; through good IEMs, it clearly has a brighter tone, like it has newer strings. Given that and the wider nut, I would prefer it.
Please let me know how the pickguard holds up on the vintage 60 HB. I had and SJ 200 and a HB in the mid-2000s and I hated that the paint on the pickguard wore off with very little use. It ruined the aesthetic of the guitars. My 68 SJ-200 and 67 HB are beat to hell, but the pick guards have not significantly worn. I hope the pick guards on the new Historic HBs will hold up and not wear off like the ones in the 2000s.
The New one seems louder with Fingerpicking and a bit more metalic sounding.
Thanks for the video! If you could choose between the fixed bridge hummingbird or a custom shop advanced jumbo what would you choose?
I’d personally go hummingbird because it’s a bit warmer and woodier which works better for singing with, in my opinion. Can’t go wrong with either and I’d rather have both lol. The new historic AJs are great guitars too. I checked your channel (great work btw) and I think you might like the hummingbird a bit more. Definitely try both if you can. Let me know what you pick!
I could not tell which one you were playing at what point. All I can say is they both sounded excellent. It must be difficult to play the 1960 with the 1 & 9/16" nut width. I have a '67 Gibson SG with a 1 & 5/8" nut width, and that has always felt too narrow. 1 & 11/16" is my sweet spot for electrics or acoustics.
I like the vintage guitar best. It has a deeper sound and the notes are more clear.
I like the new one! Lol
The 68 model seems a slightly wider/more squared upper bout at the neck joint. The Historic seems to curve to a gentler shoulder at the neck joint. there could be a measurement, or template change involved. I remember the "new" 68 colour difference, which has lasted in yours. It has a jump in amplitude over the Historic's snug and even tone, That'll open yet. Thanks!
They are definitely different sizes!
@@Dave-h3p I went back and forth between guitar changes watching the area above and below the neck(s), The 68 maybe 1/2 " or more straight before the curve to shoulder is noticible..
Same depth?
I loved the smooth throaty tone coming out of the '68. I have a feeling if I played that one I'd just sit there slowly strumming the G chord and day dream 😅
Well here's your chance haha. I posted that up on acousticguitarforum. Won't last long though.
@@acousticmusicnthings I'd have to sell my Santa Cruz Roy Smeck before I even think about spending that kind of money
Wow, both sound great - hard to pick a favorite. Thank you for the comparison. What pick where you using?
Thanks! I was using a pickboy celluloid .73
To me, the 68 sounds like a modern standard, but aged, which makes the chime allitle softer. where the historic line sounds like a perfected Gibson hummingbird. Honestly, for the money, I would buy the Historic line.
I prefer the sound of the 1968. The Historic has an overly metallic zingy sound commonplace with baked tops and because it’s baked it won’t open up or improve over time. I prefer the Historic nut width. Thermally aged tops are a disaster for acoustic guitar tone.
Not sure how mine would compare because mine is the 1999 "early 60s authentic" , but i would love to juxtapose them
Oh, btw, I preferred the historic. Extremely close, but yeah.
i am assuming the vintage hummingbird has the upside down belly bridge and narrower saddle? i want to say that guitar, if indeed it is the vintage one, is boomier, louder across all strings, with the classic scooped mids sound. it's bold & beautiful. the guitar with the wide saddle and standard bridge rotation, was brighter and more even across the EQ, and also sounded great, particularly for finger-style, kansas coverin' .. . ;)
Other way around. The vintage is the first one I play with the wider bone saddle. Either way hard to pick just one!
The new Vintage 60 HB has the older type reverse belly bridge that Gibson was known for (belly pointing toward the sound hole) . In 68, Gibson switched to a more Martin style bridge with the belly pointing toward the end pin of the guitar. I have had several HBs over the years from 65 to 68. I have a 70 SJ (Same as HB but without the PIckguard) square shoulder also. In my view, 68 was the last great year for the HB. The bridge was changed, the pickguard typically was screwed down in addition to glued, but the bracing was still light. While my 70 SJ still sounds good, the guitar overall and the bracing are. just thicker and heavier.
The shinny one sounds definitely better.
You make a couple amateur mistakes. First, if you don't put a graphic on the screen telling us which guitar is which that you're playing, then it's hard to follow which guitar is making what sounds, since both guitars look the same except for the bridge belly.
Second, the camera is aimed too high, focusing on your face, while the bottom of the guitar is cut off from the picture screen. I'm not interested in seeing your face. I want to see the two guitars, which are also obscured by placing that big fat microphone between the camera and guitars. I would have liked to see your right hand ɓetter because a players strumming technique has a lot to do with the sound out front.
Otherwise, it's an interesting comparison idea.
gibson acoustic guitar worst time was from 1966 narrow nut size 1 5/16 inches to 1970's Norlin era. don't recommend to buy this era.
They are 1 9/16” and I’ve not had two from 1968 that were both amazing guitars. I can’t remember a 60s Gibson that I didn’t like. 70s, I’ll agree with you there.
On my crap speaker ...it was close but the Historic seemed a bit more syrupy and lush.
Liked it a bit better but not by much.