from what i know,the songbird was a discontinued name.it is now called the songwriter.i personally own a songbird 12 string and a songwriter 6 string.bot are strung up with flatwounds.they both are fanominal guitars.i traded in the 12 string for a 1968 es-175,and ended up repurchasing it back.i couldn't find another 12 string with the range of the gibson.