Vintage 1974 Gibson Hummingbird Custom Cherry Sunburst with original hard case

Vintage iconic all original 1974 Gibson Hummingbird Custom Cherry Sunburst . I purchased this guitar from an EMI Records colleague in London in 1975 and it has been a cherished and well cared for musical partner for nearly 50 years. Therefore this amazing sounding and playing beautiful guitar has complete provenance, with no repairs and is all original. 

I would not be selling such a wonderful instrument, but have a new business project to fund so I'm looking for it to go to a good home.  It's the last of my vintage guitars ( my pristine1947 Gibson Southern Jumbo and 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty were sold  to a UK No1 album top guitarist artist friend some years ago & have since doubled in value!). 

Having lived and worked in Nashville and New York for a couple of years I played dozens of vintage guitars at Gruhn's Nashville & other US & UK vintage guitar stores and I can tell you that model and year is no guarantee they will sound great!   However this '74 Hummingbird Custom is by far the best acoustic I have played in 50 years with a rich balanced full tone, perfect for both recording and live.  Not being a full time musician, but a music business executive, the guitar has had relatively light studio/live use, but enough for the wood to fully develop its wonderful rich balanced sound.   It has been professionally set up and has a straight neck, low action and perfect intonation. This guitar has its original Gibson gloss nitrocellulose lacquer Sunburst finish in very good condition. 

It's a really fantastic playing and sounding example, with a full range classic bright and resonant vintage Hummingbird Custom tone. The iconic hand-painted pick guard provides, as Gibson explains, a degree of 'natural compression'. Multi-layer purfling abuts the top and back binding.

Features a beautiful Rosewood fingerboard with block inlays and the original Rosewood bridge, Mahogany Back, Sides and Neck with Spruce top. Frets are original in excellent condition.  The Nut width is 43mm.

Original Grover tuners hold tuning perfectly. Serial Number B000118 Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA.

There are just a few small scratches and tiny indents (see photos). See in particular lower left front next to edge binding, small one on right shoulder and a tiny indent bottom rear back about 1" up and in from the strap button, plus a few more, but none of these are easily noticeable and are minimal for an instrument nearly 50 years old and regularly played. The overall condition is very, very good, please examine photos.

This particularly good double 'X' braced rare vintage Hummingbird Sunburst Custom has perfect sound balance, projection and its own special musicality.  The guitar comes with the original '74 Hummingbird hardshell case (without Gibson Logo) which is in very good condition, apart from a small lining wear tear next to the right side of the Grover tuners.

Sold as Described. This sale is for Collection in London or Delivery in UK only, to protect this great instrument from potential overseas carrier related issues and to ensure buyer satisfaction. Therefore if price is agreed based on this description, you will be able to collect from near Esher London, inspect and try out in my presence or I will on request, professionally ship free on a 'Sold as Described' basis within the UK.

N.B. For those that see cheaper vintage prices from the USA please bear in mind.... 1) You have no idea what they sound like   2) They mostly have no provenance and have often had unproven repairs and are sometimes not fully original  3) To import a vintage guitar from the USA apart from the shipping risks, you can expect to pay more than an additional 25% in VAT, import duty and shipping fees!

Product Main Specs
Condition:  Very Good ( Used)  Brand:  Gibson   Model:  Hummingbird Custom  Finish:  Cherry Sunburst
Categories:  Dreadnaught  Year: 1974  Serial No: B000118   Made in:  USA  Sides & Back: Mahogany
Neck: 3-piece Mahogany   Top:  Spruce  Series: Kalamazoo Factory Era  Colour Family:  Red  Frets: 20
Fretboard Material:  Rosewood   Machine Head Tuners:  Grover (original)