Gibson Custom adds Elegant Koa versions of the SJ-200 and Hummingbird
The Artisan Series pair combines figured koa backs and sides with AAA Sitka spruce tops as Gibson continues its flat-top centennial releases.
· Edited by Peter Luha
Credit: Gibson
Gibson Custom has launched Elegant Koa versions of two of its best-known flat-top acoustics, the SJ-200 and Hummingbird, as part of the Artisan Series. Both use figured koa for the back and sides with AAA Sitka spruce tops, mahogany necks and rosewood fingerboards.
The SJ-200 version uses L.R. Baggs Anthem electronics, while the Hummingbird uses an L.R. Baggs VTC system. Gibson also gives both models elaborate abalone and foil details, with a Honey Burst finish designed to emphasize the koa figure.
This is more than a finish-only refresh: the switch to koa changes the construction recipe of two long-running Gibson acoustics while fitting into the company’s broader 100-year celebration of its flat-top lineage.
Why it matters
Two cornerstone Gibson acoustic designs get a materially different tonewood recipe rather than a simple cosmetic color change.
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