Dogwood Guitars

  • Home
  • Semi-Retirement
  • Guitar Galleries
  • Services
  • Lutherie Classes
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Pictorials / Repairs / 1975 Gibson Hummingbird Restoration

1975 Gibson Hummingbird Restoration

While meeting with a customer and his daughter about designing a guitar for her, he showed me his Gibson Hummingbird that his daughter had been playing.

Using the serial number and other identifying characteristics, I was able to date the guitar as a 1975. This confirmed the owner’s recollection that the Hummingbird was a mid-70’s instrument which he had purchased used after graduating from high school in the early 1980’s.

The guitar was in pretty rough condition, mostly due to some poorly done older repairs. The bridge was not original and had been glued on in the wrong location causing the guitar to play out of tune. The bridge plate inside the guitar was damaged and the replacement bridge was shaved too thin and had cracked. The guitar also needed a neck reset and some cracks in the top repaired. I agreed to take on these repairs and to make the guitar playable for the daughter while her Dogwood Guitar was being made. Click the thumbnail image below for a photo essay detailing the repairs made to the guitar.

[Show as slideshow]
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_01
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_02
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_03

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_04
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_05
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_06

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_07
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_08
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_09

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_10
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_11
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_12

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_13
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_14
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_15

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_16
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_17
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_18

dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_19
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_20
dogwoodguitars_gibsonrepair_21

1 2 ►

Customer Testimonials: Monarch 12 String

"Greg Maxwell's 12-string Monarch guitar is the product of an artist. I played the guitar among a small of group of rock-climbing paramedics during my interim stay in Richmond, Kentucky, before returning to Kailua, Hawaii, and the comments about the … [Read More...]

1932 Martin 0-18 Parlor Guitar

It's not often that a luthier has the opportunity to work on a pre-war Martin. This little 1932 Parlor 0-18 came to the shop in very rough condition. It took a tumble down some stairs, resulting in a long crack in the treble side of the body and … [Read More...]

Customer Testimonials: Taylor 12 string setup

I had a well known luthier in Columbus do a setup on my custom Taylor 12 string including having a bone saddle and nut made. The work seemed good but a while later while using the guitar for recording I noticed a strange light buzzing sound in the B … [Read More...]

Customer Testimonial: Vintage Fender Jazz Bass

"Greg you are the man! This 1968 Jazz bass plays like butter. Greg has to be the premier luthier in Ohio, I wouldn't go anywhere else. I use to go to Columbus but not any more. Unlike going to the big city, Greg is most personable. And his shop is … [Read More...]

Customer Testimonials: A. B. Manson Acoustic

"I recently had major work done by Greg Maxwell on my very expensive and treasured old guitar.  Boy, am I glad that I found Greg, because I do not think any other luthier would have given the time and effort  this project required.  My guitar needed … [Read More...]

Mastery of Craft

As a high end artisan woodworker of over 30 years, Greg's passion for excellence is a hallmark of his instruments. Every Dogwood guitar reflects this dedication to fine craftsmanship. All the skills required to make exceptional high end guitars- … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2025 Dogwood Guitars