Hello fellow El Degas owners, I have this guitar I’m looking at for a friend and I am wondering if anyone can tell me the year and country of origin. I think it’s either Japanese or Korean but I can’t seem to find much online about them.
It’s a Gibson Hummingbird copy the model is a GB23 and the serial number is 4120246. I’m new in here and I will figure out how to post pictures
https://share.icloud.com/photos/02e7s2p ... M1PEQi7clg
Hummingbird Copy GB23
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Betablokka
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:13 am
Hummingbird Copy GB23
Last edited by Betablokka on Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hummingbird Copy GB23
That appears to be a Japanese model (based on the headstock logo style); likely mid 1970's
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Barry
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Re: Hummingbird Copy GB23
Ohhh that's a sweet Japanese model right there, and happens to be one I have been looking for years to compliment my "Dove" model.
There is strong evidence that the serial number beginning with "4" would put it, at least, in the same factory run as many of the finest acoustic el Degas builds that we've seen (including my own).
see this post for a discussion: viewtopic.php?t=1981
As to when it was made and by whom, it's still anyone's guess but this post will give you a better idea of who would likely have been involved:
viewtopic.php?p=5780
You have a 'keeper' there!
There is strong evidence that the serial number beginning with "4" would put it, at least, in the same factory run as many of the finest acoustic el Degas builds that we've seen (including my own).
see this post for a discussion: viewtopic.php?t=1981
As to when it was made and by whom, it's still anyone's guess but this post will give you a better idea of who would likely have been involved:
viewtopic.php?p=5780
You have a 'keeper' there!
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/
M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/
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Jesseblack
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2025 9:49 pm
Re: Hummingbird Copy GB23
Today was the day i bought my 1977 EL DEGAS GB23, a faithful Hummingbird copy.
Bought it from local marketplace bc it caught my eye and seemed like a deal at 200 bux canadian.
After getting it home and putting some new elixir strings on it, minor truss rod adjustment...
IM SHOCKED by how great it is. Having owned local guitar shops and seen thousands of guitars come and go, most makes and models my knowledge of el degas was..ISNT THAT SOME MIJ off brand slightly under IBANEZ. I own 3 70s ibanez guitars from the matsu factory. This eldegas bird is something else. DAMN its gooood. Lol. Really glad i drove out to rural Ontario to pick it up.
Serial is 4060077. I can post some pics. But... i wish you could here it, strum it even. Btw..
This is my 30th guitar in my collection, i know good from crap. Shocked by how good it is. Reminds me of my olfer Gibsons quite a bit.
Bought it from local marketplace bc it caught my eye and seemed like a deal at 200 bux canadian.
After getting it home and putting some new elixir strings on it, minor truss rod adjustment...
IM SHOCKED by how great it is. Having owned local guitar shops and seen thousands of guitars come and go, most makes and models my knowledge of el degas was..ISNT THAT SOME MIJ off brand slightly under IBANEZ. I own 3 70s ibanez guitars from the matsu factory. This eldegas bird is something else. DAMN its gooood. Lol. Really glad i drove out to rural Ontario to pick it up.
Serial is 4060077. I can post some pics. But... i wish you could here it, strum it even. Btw..
This is my 30th guitar in my collection, i know good from crap. Shocked by how good it is. Reminds me of my olfer Gibsons quite a bit.
Re: Hummingbird Copy GB23
It's always a sweet day when you bring home a stunning old guitar that feels as good as the Gibbys! Enjoy it!
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42 (13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)-
Barry
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Re: Hummingbird Copy GB23
Yep, that serial number series seems to be the sweet spot alright, great score! Congrats!
And yes, we'd love some pix!
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/
M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/