Head to head
Gibson Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst vs Gibson J-45 50s Sinker Mahogany with HiFi, VOS, Vintage Sunburst

Acoustic$3,999
No ratings yet78Overall / 100

Acoustic$5,499
No ratings yet74Overall / 100
The verdict
The Gibson Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 78 to 74 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst wins on
- Better build (96 vs 91)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (68 vs 63)
- Lower price ($3,999 vs $5,499)
Gibson J-45 50s Sinker Mahogany with HiFi, VOS, Vintage Sunburst wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst | J-45 50s Sinker Mahogany with HiFi, VOS, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 74 |
| Build | 96 | 91 |
| Playability | 75 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 68 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst | J-45 50s Sinker Mahogany with HiFi, VOS, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | Solid Mahogany | Sinker mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs VTC | LR Baggs HiFi |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,999 | $5,499 |
| Back | Solid Mahogany | Sinker mahogany |
| Binding | 6-ply Top, 4-ply Back, Single Ply Fretboard | Single-ply |
| Body Finish | Gloss | Thin VOS nitrocellulose lacquer |
| Body shape | Hummingbird EC | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder | — |
| Bridge | Belly-up; Rosewood | Traditional belly up |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory Plastic | Tusq |
| Case | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Finish | Gold | Nickel |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Split Parallelogram | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson Logo and Crown in Mother of Pearl | Silkscreen script logo |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck; Tapered Dovetail | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | MCSSHBECHCSL | RS45SMPSLD1256 |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Output Jack | Combination Battery Box and 1/4" Output Jack | — |
| Pickguard | Tortoiseshell Hummingbird with Graphics | 50's, Tortoise |
| Profile | Rounded C | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | TUSQ | Bone |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Solid Mahogany | Sinker mahogany |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Battery Box/Output Jack and Back of Heel | — |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Red spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Black Bell | Black |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Nickel |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs VTC | LR Baggs HiFi |
| Bracing | — | X-bracing |
More Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst comparisons
- Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst vs J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
- Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst vs SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
- Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst vs 1960 Hummingbird Reissue, Heavy Aged, Washed Cherry Sunburst
- Hummingbird Standard EC, Left-Handed, Heritage Cherry Sunburst vs J-45 EC Studio, Vintage Sunburst