Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird review

Inspired By or rival to? This solid-wood Epiphone asks the big question of its more expensive sibling

Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird
(Image: © Future / Olly Curtis)

Guitar World Verdict

A beautiful square-shouldered acoustic that'll only improve as the years go by, there's a lot to like about Epiphone's high-end take on the Hummingbird. It's playable, looks the part and sounds it too.

Pros

  • +

    Classy looks.

  • +

    All solid wood build.

  • +

    Big 'bird tones.

  • +

    Quality hardware.

Cons

  • -

    Battery pack design is disappointing.

  • -

    Factory setup needed a tweak.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Gibson Hummingbird is one of the iconic acoustics; it’s been found in the hands of everyone from Keef to Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz and Radiohead and Dylan. With its ornate pickguard depicting flowers and, yes, a hummingbird, there’s no mistaking this for any other square-shouldered flight of fancy either. 

But the Gibson versions have always priced most of us out. So the news last year of a new Epiphone model with the same solid wood back and sides as the Gibson sibling was a welcome feathered friend. Now it’s here, does it sing?  

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