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BluesHawk Club


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Welcome to the Gibson BluesHawk Club.

 

Post pictures and tell us the history of your Hawk, whether it's a BluesHawk, NightHawk, or other breed within the Hawk species. Like Little Lucille or Epiphone's reissue NightHawk.

 

If you're interested in Hawks as a former owner, or because you played your friend's Hawk and now yer jones'n, jump on in. We'll take care of ya... [thumbup]

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Welcome to the Gibson BluesHawk Club.

 

Post pictures and tell us the history of your Hawk, whether it's a BluesHawk, NightHawk, or other breed within the Hawk species. Like Little Lucille or Epiphone's reissue NightHawk.

 

If you're interested in Hawks as a former owner, or because you played your friend's Hawk and now yer jones'n, jump on in. We'll take care of ya... [thumbup]

 

Doug;

Thanks for starting this. I am glad to contribute to the BluesHawk Club, and as a newbie no less - how about that timing? So I looked back into my records and I see that it has been ten years and about a month since I bought my '97 ebony BluesHawk S/N 93437501 in a used guitar store in San Jose, CA. Time sure flies, it seems like yesterday. I paid $475 for it so it looks like it has been a good investment for me over time but its real value is in the playing. I am not a musician, I just love guitars, I play for fun and for the neighbors whether they like it or not. The guitar is nice, far from perfect as it looks like it got some heavy use from the PO. Some minor buckle rash and a couple of small dings but overall it is in pretty good shape. I sometimes have to wiggle the pickup switch as it cuts out in some varitone positions but that doesn't happen too often. And lastly the frets were dressed not too long ago by a guy who knew what he was doing and that took care of some buzz in the 5th and 6th strings between the 4th and 6th frets, it plays great. I run it through a fairly new Vox Pathfinder 15R.

 

I think that about covers it, I hope my photo comes through. Anyone else out there?

post-54814-056481100 1365136465_thumb.jpg

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I have two, a red and a black one and I call them the evil twins because both guitar work born on the day of the death of a music gaint.

 

Great guitars, light weight, very versatile, both in mint condition... I wasn't looking to buy two but there were two minty ones up at the same time on eBay so I had a bid on both and won both. Think I paid around $600 each for them at the time. Not sure what they are going for now but I assume much more. If you can find one...

 

Black Blueshawk Made at Nashville Plant, TN, USA September 28th, 1998 - Production Number: 1 (Miles David died on Sept. 28, 1991)

 

Blackoncase-1_zpsf5be1266.jpg

 

BackofBlack-1_zpscb62dc08.jpg

 

 

Red Blueshawk made at the Nashville Plant, TN, USA September 18th, 1997 - Production Number: 259 ( Jimi Hendrix died on Sept 18th, 1970)

 

Backofred-1_zpsca292555.jpg

 

OnCase-1_zpsd4e0603d.jpg

 

Incase-1-1_zpsa0e3ee78.jpg

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Jim, Dave, and Doc,

 

thanks for introducing us to your BluesHawk experiences. Aren't they beautiful tone machines?

 

As for current values and availability, I track these on Ebay and usually find two to six BluesHawks listed. Ebay is not the best measure of value, but sellers seem to be getting around $900 for Ebony and Cherry Red BluesHawks and $1000 or more for Chicago Blue (usually with hard shell cases).

 

Interestingly, I have yet to see a beat-up BluesHawk...

 

I'm curious, what is the feature of your BluesHawk that you love the most?

 

Cheers,

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Although these are very nice guitars I would place them in the starter guitar category. It's a nice, light, versatile guitar that offers lots of sound variations and is comfortable to hold. They are however, not easy to get set up as far as action and tone goes. I've had a very hard time trying to find the right combination of good action and tone. When the action feels good there are buzzes and an overall dead sound. When the the action is set so the guitar rings out, has no buzzes and sound full the action is to high, at least for me. I guess it also depends on what style you play. I am speaking in general playability though. Once you play a Les Paul or a SG you can feel the difference of both these aspects. Could be why you never see them very beat up. The two I have are near mint and will most likely stay that way as they get little to no play. Still a very nice guitar for the money.

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I think daveinspain makes some good points. I tried to set mine up myself and I was never able to get it quite right. Then I took it in to a good guitar tech and he was able to find just the right compromise, so now it sounds and plays quite nicely. The action could be a bit lower but with .009s it is very playable and string bending is easy - I guess the longer scale length has something to do with that. Might be a little pricey though for a starter guitar imho, weren't these things around $600 new? Another thing about the Blueshawk is its uniqueness, it is a bit different and it never fails to generate interest.

 

That's my $.02,

Jim

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Oh yeah a very unique guitar and it's a Gibson most people haven't seen or heard of so it will generate interest... It's an extremely comfortable guitar they really got the shape and ergonomics in the design. Maybe I'll spend the money to see what a proper guitar tech/luthier could do as far as set up goes with my blueshawks someday...

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Does anyone know (or do we have any way of knowing) many Blueshawks were produced?

 

BTW, daveinspain, your guitars are gorgeous. I can't believe the protective film is still attached to the back panels on the black one!

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Does anyone know (or do we have any way of knowing) many Blueshawks were produced?

 

BTW, daveinspain, your guitars are gorgeous. I can't believe the protective film is still attached to the back panels on the black one!

 

Good question, Jim. I think there are a few people on this Gibson Forum who work for Gibson in some capacity. I'll do a little fishin and if that doesn't get us some data then I'll contact Gibson directly.

 

Cheers,

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FYI; not an endorsement:

 

Heritage Cherry BluesHawk for $605 as of 7:50 p.m. ET, Monday, April 15:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Blueshawk-electric-guitar-/271185375012?rd=1&clk_rvr_id=468603441887&ssPageName=ADME:B:TB6:US:2

 

Cheers,

 

 

This is good...it sold for USD $624...(albeit without a HSC). Now, I want a Chicago Blue for that. [rolleyes]

 

Cheers,

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I am now on a Telecaster kick and have a Baja Tele that is very popular and very reminiscent of the BH. Soft V neck, strings through body. Some teles have a Strat type bridge (like the BH.)But the Blues 90s are fantastic on the BH.

 

Thanks, Doc. Never thought how a Tele might compare to a BH...but this strings through, V-neck Baja is reminiscent? [thumbup]

 

Cheers,

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  • 3 weeks later...

Pulled out my Chicago Blue BH today. I believe they were initially strung with 9s (Bright Wires) mine still bends well with the 10s I have on. The big difference from the Baja Tele and the BH is the blues 90s PU. They are humbucking and are not the same as P 90s. I have not seen these pickups anywhere else in the Gibson line- Ever. Or am I wrong?

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Pulled out my Chicago Blue BH today. I believe they were initially strung with 9s (Bright Wires) mine still bends well with the 10s I have on. The big difference from the Baja Tele and the BH is the blues 90s PU. They are humbucking and are not the same as P 90s. I have not seen these pickups anywhere else in the Gibson line- Ever. Or am I wrong?

 

 

Think you are right...

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The big difference from the Baja Tele and the BH is the blues 90s PU. They are humbucking and are not the same as P 90s. I have not seen these pickups anywhere else in the Gibson line- Ever. Or am I wrong?

 

Hi, Doc. Regarding those unique Blues 90s, you raise a good question...how are they different? Not sure technically how they differ from P90s myself, but I do know they are single coils. The BluesHawk's hum cancelling function is not based on the pups being "humbuckers" as one might guess. I'm no expert but I'll try to explain my best understanding of what designer J.T. Riboloff...I hope I'm spelling his name right [confused]...did:

 

Riboloff was a Gibson designer at the time who went on to design for Samick. Anyway, Riboloff used a clever trick to get the two single coils to cancel hum by placing a "dummy coil" between them...this configuration is like each pup having a second magnet & counter-wind, which is what a humbucker is. Two single-coils side-by-side and wound counter to each other.

 

Now can anyone refine or correct my explanation, or explain how the Blues 90 is different from the P90?

 

Cheers,

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  • 8 months later...

Now can anyone refine or correct my explanation, or explain how the Blues 90 is different from the P90?

 

Cheers,

 

Blues 90 pickups are based on Gibson P90 single coil pickups - continuing the same soap-bar appearance, but with a substantially modified interior. Blues 90s have -

 

Alnico 5 magnets for pole pieces - rather than the steel or ceramic magnets (depending on which "authority" you are reading) used in many forms of P90 pickup (Alnico is a magnetic material made typically with Aluminium, Nickel and Cobolt - hence the name. Alnico 5 is a specific grade.)

windings of 42 gauge, enameled, copper wire (with reportedly fewer windings than P90s)

non-adjustable pole pieces which are all the same height - ie non-staggered and without individual screws

 

 

Blues 90 pickup

 

As far as I can tell, the same pickup design is used in both the neck and bridge positions - although I have noticed recently that my neck pickup has R (for Rhythm?) marked on the base-plate and the bridge pickup is marked with a T (for Treble?). Does anyone out there have certain information about this? Update - see Pickup orientation below

The pickups seem to be wax potted - traces of wax can be found on the pickup bobbins. Wax potting helps reduce pickup microphony (responding to audio signals, as opposed to changes in the magnetic field), which in turn reduces squeal (as opposed to more desirable forms of feedback - which occurs via string/body resonance).

The pickups are mounted direct to the body via two gold-plated screws between pole-pieces 2 & 3 and 4 & 5. These screws allow the height of the pickups to be adjusted - the pickups are supported on springs threaded on to the mounting screws. The mounting screws fit into threaded metal bushes that are set into the body.

The dummy-coil appears to be a Blues 90 pickup without the magnetic cores - which makes sense from an electronic point of view!

Pickup orientation - the bridge pickup has its north magnetic pole upwards/towards the strings, and the neck pickup has its south magnetic pole upwards/towards the strings. This helps cancel hum when the pickups are selected together.

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Blues 90 pickups are based on Gibson P90 single coil pickups - continuing the same soap-bar appearance, but with a substantially modified interior. Blues 90s have -

 

Alnico 5 magnets for pole pieces - rather than the steel or ceramic magnets (depending on which "authority" you are reading) used in many forms of P90 pickup (Alnico is a magnetic material made typically with Aluminium, Nickel and Cobolt - hence the name. Alnico 5 is a specific grade.)windings of 42 gauge, enameled, copper wire (with reportedly fewer windings than P90s)non-adjustable pole pieces which are all the same height - ie non-staggered and without individual screws

 

Blues 90 pickup

 

As far as I can tell, the same pickup design is used in both the neck and bridge positions - although I have noticed recently that my neck pickup has R (for Rhythm?) marked on the base-plate and the bridge pickup is marked with a T (for Treble?). Does anyone out there have certain information about this? Update - see Pickup orientation below The pickups seem to be wax potted - traces of wax can be found on the pickup bobbins. Wax potting helps reduce pickup microphony (responding to audio signals, as opposed to changes in the magnetic field), which in turn reduces squeal (as opposed to more desirable forms of feedback - which occurs via string/body resonance).

 

The pickups are mounted direct to the body via two gold-plated screws between pole-pieces 2 & 3 and 4 & 5. These screws allow the height of the pickups to be adjusted - the pickups are supported on springs threaded on to the mounting screws. The mounting screws fit into threaded metal bushes that are set into the body. the dummy-coil appears to be a Blues 90 pickup without the magnetic cores - which makes sense from an electronic point of view!

Pickup orientation - the bridge pickup has its north magnetic pole upwards/towards the strings, and the neck pickup has its south magnetic pole upwards/towards the strings. This helps cancel hum when the pickups are selected together.

 

Wow, thanks, MusicFox! This is a truly informative post...exactly why we have the BluesHawk thread.

 

Cheers,

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  • 4 weeks later...

I have a Blue "Blues Hawk" with soap bar pups and gold hardware s/n:02852614.

I thought I had one and sure enough I found it amongst my collection,.

in the middle of a bunch of empty cases.

I can't remember when I got it, a couple of strokes and coma's ago. But I took it out

tuned it up and remembered how much of a joy it is to play. Now if I can just relearn how to.

 

When I remember how to post a picture of it I will. I need to find out when it was made but that shouldn't be hard.

 

I think I've been to this board before, but I don't know. Who first said "if I knew I'd live this long

I sure would have taken better care of myself"

 

Remember if you can remember the 1960's you weren't there.

 

Rock and Roll forever.

Duncan

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  • 3 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Welcome to the Gibson BluesHawk Club.

 

Post pictures and tell us the history of your Hawk, whether it's a BluesHawk, NightHawk, or other breed within the Hawk species. Like Little Lucille or Epiphone's reissue NightHawk.

 

If you're interested in Hawks as a former owner, or because you played your friend's Hawk and now yer jones'n, jump on in. We'll take care of ya... [thumbup]

 

I have a Blueshawk Phantom, apparently only 14 were made!

It has a pearlescent scratch plate, gold coloured metal fitting, blueshawk phantom on the truss rod cover and came with a brown Gibson all as standard with the phantom (so I'm tolď).

Does anyone know anything about them as I'm struggling to get any more info?

I recently had it appraised at a vintage guitar specialist in London, they also couldn't find out much more info but were aware of the limited production saying it was 13 or 14 made! They valued it at £1800.00, but I suppose its only worth as much is someone is willing to pay!

 

Thanks Ben

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Welcome to the Gibson BluesHawk Club.

 

Post pictures and tell us the history of your Hawk, whether it's a BluesHawk, NightHawk, or other breed within the Hawk species. Like Little Lucille or Epiphone's reissue NightHawk.

 

If you're interested in Hawks as a former owner, or because you played your friend's Hawk and now yer jones'n, jump on in. We'll take care of ya... [thumbup]

http://s1173.photobucket.com/user/Rabs2010/media/20140508_121728_zpsed40f59e.jpg.html

 

This a picture of the Blueshawk Phantom (only 13 or 14 made??)

 

20140508_121728_zpsde14f938.jpg

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