Ultimate Acoustic Luxury: Gibson Unveils Stunning Koa Editions of the Iconic SJ-200 and Hummingbird!
Two of Gibson’s most iconic acoustic guitar designs get a magnificent koa refresh – and they look out-of-this-world…
Gibson has significantly expanded its Artisan Series with two new acoustic guitars – the SJ-200 and Hummingbird, representing a pair of the brand’s most celebrated acoustic blueprints – expertly crafted using premium exotic koa tonewoods.
Handcrafted to absolute perfection by the master builders at Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman, Montana, both instruments feature a «richly figured» koa back and sides matched with a AAA Sitka spruce top, delivering a sparkling high-end clarity that naturally develops greater acoustic warmth and harmonic complexity with regular play. A notable boutique aesthetic touch is provided by a striking three-rope marquetry strip running cleanly across the centre of the back of each guitar.
First up, the new SJ-200 Elegant Koa – built upon a legendary blueprint introduced back in 1937 that has grown to be universally regarded as the «King of the Flat Tops» – features, alongside its stunning koa back/sides and Sitka spruce top, a rosewood SJ-200 two-bar moustache bridge outfitted with abalone bar inlays, a classic tortoiseshell pickguard adorned with abalone dot inlays, and a brilliant silver-foil stamp that creates vivid, shifting iridescence as the light moves across the surface.
Elsewhere, the guitar sports a premium mahogany neck carved to a comfortable Round profile, a bound 20-fret rosewood fingerboard featuring abalone graduated crown inlays, a single-ply bound headstock, a durable TUSQ nut, and high-end gold-plated Grover Rotomatic tuning machines.
In terms of onboard electronics, the SJ-200 Elegant Koa is fully equipped with professional L.R. Baggs Anthem electronics, seamlessly combining an under-saddle Element pickup with a discrete internal microphone and preamp to faithfully reproduce the guitar’s rich unplugged tone when plugged in.
Meanwhile, the new Hummingbird Elegant Koa features a remarkably similar, top-tier spec sheet, boasting the exact same figured koa back and sides, Sitka spruce top, Round-profile mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fretboard, and TUSQ nut and saddle.
Visually, this masterpiece stays true to the timeless design that has made the Hummingbird such an enduring classic, featuring the familiar artwork on its tortoise pickguard. This classic art has been elevated, however, now incorporating shimmering gold and silver-foil details that dynamically shift as the lighting changes. This model is also outfitted with L.R. Baggs electronics, utilizing their exceptional VTC system.
Naturally, elite-tier instruments demand elite-tier protection – so every new Elegant Koa acoustic model ships securely in a deluxe Gibson Custom hardshell case.
«The SJ-200 and Hummingbird represent defining chapters in Gibson acoustic history», says Robi Johns, Gibson Acoustic Senior Product Development Manager.
«With the Elegant Koa models, Gibson Custom honors the unique character that made these instruments legendary while introducing the exquisite beauty, crystalline clarity, and evolving warmth of koa. These are instruments meticulously designed to form an even deeper connection with players over a lifetime of music making».