Bob Neuwirth's personally-owned and -played 1961 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar, serial no. 30697, featuring the trademark Hummingbird cherryburst finish and pickguard engraved with a hummingbird-butterfly trumpet-flower motif. The original inner label reads: "Style: Guitar, Gibson Hummingbird Number 30697 is hereby guaranteed against faulty workmanship and materials. Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A." Stamped with matching serial "30697" on the back of the headstock. Accompanied by its well-worn hardshell travel case, with remnants of dozens of travel tags tied to the handle; the edges of the case have been repaired with duct tape, and it has been decorated with stickers for the Cornell Hurd Band, KLBJ 93.7 FM, and Northwest Orient Airlines.
This guitar was a gift to Neuwirth in about 1961 by Betty Stoneman, a known figure in the Boston folk music scene. During this period, Neuwirth had dropped out of (School of Museum of Fine Arts), Tufts University, briefly relocated to Paris, took up (banjo and )the harmonica, and returned to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he became engrossed in the folk revival. Most importantly, it was in 1961 that he met then-unknown Bob Dylan.
The New York Times reports: "Mr. Neuwirth said he first encountered Mr. Dylan at the Indian Neck Folk Festival in Connecticut in 1961. Mr. Dylan was still largely unknown then, but, Mr. Neuwirth said years later, he caught his eye 'because he was the only other guy with a harmonica holder around his neck.' The two hit it off, and Mr. Neuwirth became a central figure in the circle that coalesced around Mr. Dylan as his fame grew. When Mr. Dylan held court at the Kettle of Fish bar in Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, Mr. Neuwirth was there. When Mr. Dylan toured England in 1965, Mr. Neuwirth went along. A decade later, when Mr. Dylan embarked on his Rolling Thunder Revue tour, Mr. Neuwirth was instrumental in putting the band together."
One would imagine that this Gibson Hummingbird—clearly well-traveled and played often—went along for the ride.
Condition Report by Chris Lamy
Stage and studio used 1961 Gibson Hummingbird guitar, serial number 30697, owned and played by Bob Neuwirth, known for his long association with Bob Dylan as a friend, collaborator, tour manager, and bandmate.
This historically important to the evolution of folk and rock, first official year of production, 1961, Hummingbird owned by Bob Neuwirth, exhibits a fine-grained Sitka spruce X-braced top sporting a cherry-red sunburst finish with Honduras mahogany back and sides, a one-piece 20 fret Honduras mahogany neck with a crown inlay on the headstock face, a Brazilian Rosewood bridge with an original adjustable bridge saddle, and a beautiful ornate pickguard adorned with a hummingbird hovering near blossoms, vines, and a flitting butterfly.
This guitar’s classic '61 slim tapered neck allows for fast, low action and is very comfortable to play. The bound rosewood fingerboard with large parallel pearl inlays shows years of honest playing wear front and back. The back on the neck, in particular behind the first, second, and third frets, show years of wear from playing and heavy capo usage.
The guitar exhibits a slight shadow of a sticker that was once affixed on the front of the upper bout. Fine finish checking all over, strum scratches, and dings decorate the guitar. The guitar has an area at the bottom edge of the lower bass bout that is extremely worn and can clearly be seen in a video from a 1967 Bob Neuwirth performance at the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village (with sticker still attached to upper bout). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VMWACzDI0o.
There is a small hole on the top of the upper bass bout, thin cracks below the pickguard, and a cracked area on the side of the guitar’s upper bass side. None of the aforementioned cosmetics affect the structural solidness or sound of the instrument. This guitar sounds excellent and does it with flair. All parts are original to this guitar, except one saddle pin, and its original Kluson tuners have been replaced with more stable Schaller tuning machines.
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The guitar comes in a later 70's-80's Gibson branded case made in Canada, adorned with period airline baggage check, club, radio station, festival, and show guest stickers, and remnants of dozens of luggage check-in tags affixed to the case handle.
The majority of auction proceeds from the Neuwirth archives will support the completion of 'Untitled: Bob Neuwirth Project' documentary, exploring the life of music and art creative catalyst, Bob Neuwirth.
