Terada FW-650 Gibson Hummingbird Copy

I bought my Terada, the Hummingbird copy, in 1970-71 for 65 bucks in a pawn shop. As I was earning 120 a month that was a lot. I have never regretted my purchase. Its got a lovely spruce fine grain top with bookmatched curly maple back and sides. Of course the rosewood neck is inlaid and the head says Terada in inlay. I took the large plastic maroon pick guard off. I know purists will cringe, but it was deadening the sound over at least a third of the top! I've been in concert halls and listened to Martin D28's try and compete for richness and clarity and it didnt even come close. My hat's off to the folks at Terada. My daughter now has it. I hope her kids appreciate it as much as we do.

This guitar is beautiful to behold. rich bold red and gold. I've had mine for 35 years and it looks as good as new, except the humming bird has flown away from the scratcgh plate - too much polishing I suppose.

I use medium gauge strings and mostly play with my fingers or a very flexible plectrum which gives the guitar a lovely mellow tone.

The action was, and still is, a bit low. I've kept it that way as barre chords are so easy to do with it like it is.

This is a professionals guitar - which I'm not, but I feel like one when I'm playing it.

It's never needed repairing.

I've saved thousands with this guitar. It cost me a bout ??90.00 35 years ago. Some of my mates bought cheaper ones and have had to change them - bought cheap again - and had to chage them again, & again. I now also have an Ovation Pinnacle, 'cos I wanted the built in pick up but I love that Tearada. I nearly sold it once for ??75.00! But I changed my mind. Glad I did.

Early 70s Terada Gibson Humminbird copy. - Look just like a the Gibson version except the fret inlays are slightly different and the name on the headstock is Terada! Solid woods all round, back and sides I believe to be rosewood or mahogony (this is pretty heavy for an acoustic) and the top is believed to be solid spruce. Rosewood neck and fretboard design and colour same as the Gibson Hummingbird. MOP inlays and on headstock. Adjustable bridge. Very good and reliable tuners. What can I say, this is a Hummingbird, just without the label!!!

Was given this guitar by my guitar teacher about 10 years ago as he did not use it anymore, a couple of years later after no contact I saw him again and he offered me $400 to buy it back! - I said no of course :)

This guitar sounds beautiful. Easily comparable to it's Gibson role model, have even done a side by side test, literaly it's a near perfect copy. Terada have become renowned for making exceptional acoustic copies of all the big names Martin, Gibson etc. and this one is just great. Sounds great just strumming chords out and equally good fingerpicking or bluesing it up!!! This is a loud guitar, much louder than my other acoustics. The overall sound is very balanced, with great bass projection and ringing highs.

The mids tend to get a little muddy when the strings get old, but I guess it cant be perfect, can it?!!!

Action was much too high for my liking when i first got the guitar, but the adjustable bridge soon fixed this, plays so sweetly now :)

No idea of factory setup.

Lovely looking finish - Cherry sunburst I guess you would call the colour, just look at a Gibson Hummingbird, you will see what this looks like, just the same

This guitar has been with me to many gigs, it stays in tune so well, I love it! Everything about it is quality. It's lasted 30-40 years well and it's in great shape so I'm guessing it'll keep going for a litte while yet!

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This is really something!!! - If you do see one of these (and that's unlikely because I have been looking for a long time and had no luck in finding another) then I would most definately recommend you buy it!

I'm not sure how much these guitars sell for now days, but I'm damn sure it isn't as much as the real thing, and with this you really don't need the real thing, a great players guitar that isn't so precious you can't gig, but still there is no let up in the quality of sound or in how it plays.

This is a real find, I'm so lucky I was given this, will not be leaving me, EVER! - Thanks to Jonas for giving me this amazing guitar :)