DC_NH Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I've seen a few of these here and there and they seem to be a bit of a departure from the conventional - any opinions on the Nighthawk? I don't know much about them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnytuinals Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Just ordered a Nancy Wilson Seems on Amazon these are well under $900 ($839} Get one while you can.(nice guitar}.......JT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailjunkie Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I have a Nighthawk Custom. Fun guitar, sounds somewhat Fenderish due to the bridge & pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 The comment about Fenderish sound is well said... in fact the feel also is kind of like playing a fender but with a preferable neck as far as I am concerned. I had both a nighthawk and a blueshawk both in ebony a while back they have the same size weight action and "feel", but obviously a different sound. Of the two, I greatly preferred the blueshawk, but I am a sucker for P-90's. If you are a smaller guy (as am I) you will love the compact size and light weight. The neck and frets are to die for IMO and my favorite of any of the dozen or so guitars I own. I have since traded the nighthawk off about a year and a half ago...as the blueshawk became my primary electric. I am in negotiation to get it back however as I miss having the pair together. I have heard very good things about the Seymore Duncan diagonal mounted replacement humbucker over the original, but have no personal experience with it. This is the only aftermarket off the shelf drop in replacement I believe ...but I am no authority. Mine was the 2 pickup version humbucker/ mini hum combo. I felt that the Gibson humbucker was a bit thin, weak and trebbly...but again simply an opinion. Gibby Hawk owners are passionate about these guitars! My Blues hawk was (and is) a battered road warrior when I got it and I love it to death. It is one of only a couple I own that I would not part with under the right circumstances...read any circumstances period. I posted a photo on here the other day on a thread devoted to Gibson Hawk models...I am sure you can find it with a search, but will re-post it on this thread when I get home...can't do it on this work computer. Good choice sir on the hawk acquisition....you will not regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 AS mentioned earlier here is a pic of both "hawks" together I dig em...can you tell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tokairic Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 I bought the 20th Anniversary Gibson Nighthawk. It has the now familiar Gibson quality issues. Mine flaked the gold plate as soon as I put a screwdriver on the screws, and the paint finish is uneven as thought the sanding/polishing was not done carefully enough causing hollows in the surface finish. Also the threaded insert on the middle pickup pulled out of the body when I adjusted the pickup height. The Gibson supplied Canadian made case was also appalling - Gibson logo badly stencilled on, glue all over the joints in the thin poor quality lining, and wobbly stitching lines around the lid - I have seen much better cases from Korea. However, I have kept the guitar because I love the light weight, strat like scale length, the tone and the overall playability of the guitar. In the end this is what counts. Gibson have such a loyal following, it is a shame that they do not provide their customers with the quality to match the prices they ask. I almost sold the Gibson and looked at buying an Epiphone Nighthawk because at the Epi price I could excuse a few quality issues. The Epi and Gibson are over $800 apart, but that Gibson logo on the headstock is still a draw.......but how long will it remain so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karathas Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Just bought a 20th anniversary Nighthawk a few weeks ago. I love it. There was a smudge in the finish that the tech had to buff out, and the action was way too high and had to be adjusted. But overall i am pretty stoked about it. One of the things that drew me to the Nighthawk was its versatility as well as the fact its not everyone's guitar. Being off the beaten path a bit is always a draw to me. Maybe im weird LOL But the Nighthawk's Tone makes it worth every penny of what I paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi Mac Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Just bought a 20th anniversary Nighthawk a few weeks ago. I love it. There was a smudge in the finish that the tech had to buff out, and the action was way too high and had to be adjusted. But overall i am pretty stoked about it. One of the things that drew me to the Nighthawk was its versatility as well as the fact its not everyone's guitar. Being off the beaten path a bit is always a draw to me. Maybe im weird LOL I've long been a fan of the JT Riboloff designed Nighthawk & Blueshawk! He's been doing things with Samik since parting ways with Gibson, and I'm no fan of Samik! The Blueshawk with the stacked dummy coil P90's (affectionately deemed Blues-90's) that act almost like a humbucker with noise canceling is a really good sounding pickup and axe combination... I especially love the rare Chicago blue Blueshawk! There are some good websites dedicated to this guitar with some good info... http://www.blueshawk.info/history.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dReit1 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I've had 5 Gibson Hawks over the years, 3 Nighthawks and 2 Blueshawks. Sold all but 1 '06 Blueshawk. Just too nice to let go. Also have owned both the early EPI NH and current production EPI NH RI. All have been kick-ars guits. But, IMO, the current RI with the set neck is much better than the earlier bolt neck EPIs.(but the OBLs on the early ones were better pups) If I had room(and $)and I could get a Nancy Wilson for < $900.00 I sure would jump on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUITAREST Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Just picked up a Black 3 pick up with tremolo. Fretboard markers are dots. Body is pure black with binding. No binding on neck. Having a bit of trouble getting info on this. Anyone have any? Mini switch to split coils. One odd thing - mini switch turns off front / mini humbucker in the full humbucker position. Any help here. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabeck5 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 You should be able to find the switching diagram online, I remember searching images for gibson nighthawk switching and I found a few. Great guitar, I think very under-rated, I have the 2 pickup version and I could not be happier. My favorite is the bridge & neck split together, great tone, I don't think I will ever part with mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marius Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Mine`s a 1995 model, two pickup Fireburst standard. really Nice guitar :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabeck5 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Love the fireburst, that is the finish on mine, when I take my Hawk out of the case the three comments are usually 1.That is a really small guitar, 2. that fireburst is beautiful 3. that guitar sounds great. Usually in that order. This guitar is such a joy to play and so comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marius Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 small, lightweight,awesome finish,great sound(s)and a great player as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabeck5 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It is too bad that many LP players sneer at the NH, I think too many saw it as Gibson's venture into Fender Territory, while I would say that you can get "Fenderish" tones from the NH, it is entirely it's own guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry W Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 A Few months ago, I bought a new Epi Nighthawk Custom RI. I bought it wondering if I'd like the model. Well, I liked it well enough that, 4 weeks ago, I bought me a new Gibson 20th Anniversary Nighthawk Standard. WOW. What an amazing guitar. This has to be Gibson's best kept secret. If had gotten one of these when they first came out, there are about 10 different Fender and PRS guitars I would not have purchased. I am on the fence now about selling the Epi. I can't see playing it with the Gibson in the house. But it sure is close. The neck shape is better on the Gibson and the electronics are better on the Gibson too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabeck5 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The guitar can be versatile, the mini humbucker I really like for Jazz and the middle position with the split alone was worth the price of the guitar. I looked for the 20th Anniversary but I could never find it in the fireburst, so I settled for the Nancy Wilson, which was immaculate in both construction and finish. The only thing I did was removed the foolish looking truss rod cover and replace it with a more appropriate one. They really are Gibson's best kept secret IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry W Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The guitar can be versatile, the mini humbucker I really like for Jazz and the middle position with the split alone was worth the price of the guitar. I looked for the 20th Anniversary but I could never find it in the fireburst, so I settled for the Nancy Wilson, which was immaculate in both construction and finish. The only thing I did was removed the foolish looking truss rod cover and replace it with a more appropriate one. They really are Gibson's best kept secret IMHO. That's the thing......I got the Epi in Fireburst.....Got the Gibby in Antique Natural..could not find Fireburst. But, that's OK. The AN really is beautiful and has grown on me. All my other electrics are some type of burst....so why not!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byron123 Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 HI...have had a nice Gibson nighthawk 20th anniversary for over a year...its my main ax these days....one thing though: the single coil can get pretty noisy. At a gig last friday...it was unusable due to all the lights and TVs in the venue. I was thinking of replacing it or shielding the cavity. My question is: are there springs behind the PUP? or foam? If its springs, then this could be a bit of trick getting it back together...any help...most appreciated Byron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailjunkie Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Overall, they are great guitars. Not very road worthy though. I've heard that the headstocks are susceptible to breakage (i.e. don't drop the guitar or knock it over). I keep mine in my studio...sounds wonderful through my Swart AST! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry W Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 That same thing applies to pretty much all Gibson guitars due to the "tilt-back" headstock. We've seen thousand of Les Pauls with heads broken off. The Nighthawk is no more fragile than any other Gibby guitar. The gold comes off any guitar that that gold hardware. Anyway, I love my two 'Hawks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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