Gibson Nighthawk Guitar
Gibson Nighthawk (1993-1998)
In 1985 under the new ownership of Henry Juskewiscz, Gibson wanted to regain their classic reputation by focusing more on detailed featured specs of reissues, they also wanted to start a new genre of guitars that bared their name but didn't have that standard classic Gibson sound and tone.
In 1993 Gibson build a guitar with a wide range of sounds by placing a coil tap switch which doubles as a tone control knob. When this switch was pulled up or down the hum buckers were converted to single coil, thus making the guitar extremely versatile.
These Gibson guitar models were called the Gibson Nighthawk.
Perhaps not the most popular guitar Gibson ever made, but many guitar players until today like these guitars because they are light (unlike their Les Paul cousins), less expensive and versatile. The guitar let's you switch to single coil pick ups or hum bucker pick ups thus creating a different sound.
In 1993 Gibson introduced 3 variation models of the Night Hawk, the Gibson Nighthawk Custom which had a flame maple top, single cut Les Paul style body, gold hardware, mini hum bucking pickup in the neck position, single coil pick up in the middle and a slanted hum bucker, trapezoid inlays, push/pull master tone, 5 way switch, ebony fingerboard, and were made in antique natural, fire burst and amber finishes.
The Gibson Nighthawk Standard had double parallelogram inlays, rosewood fingerboards and were made in fire burst, amber and vintage sunburst finishes.
The Gibson Nighthawk Special had dot inlays, rosewood fingerboards and were made in ebony, cherry or vintage sunburst finishes.
In 1994 Gibson started to make some nighthawk models with floyd rose vibratos, and optional 2 pick up versions with no single coils, in 1995 they added another guitar to the family called the Gibson Blueshawk with f-holes which were discontinued in 2006.
Despite the success Gibson had with other Gibson models, the Gibson Nighthawk never really established ground on the market. All 3 versions were discontinued in 1998.
In 2009 they manufactured a limited a edition of the Nighthawk guitar, it was named "Nighthawk 2009".. The guitar had a AAA figured maple top, mahogany body and amber finish. In 2010 Gibson introduced the Nighthawk Standard 2010 limited model until 2012. In 2011 the Nighthawk Studio was on the market for a year.
> View used and vintage Gibson Nighthawk guitars for sale.
| Gibson Nighthawk Price Guide (Updated April-27-2021) |
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there is a nighthawk 12 string out there somewhere. check out harmony central
ReplyDeletegreat review , im proud to own a gibson nighthawk .. luv the touch ,look and feel .
ReplyDeleteoh ... and sound too !
ReplyDeleteI have a Nighthawk standard, the serial # indicates 1993. I have a 335 w/seymour duncans,and a strat with Van Zandts. Neither can touch the sound or feel. Too bad more of these beauties weren't made.
ReplyDeleteJFBFAVKHive been a strat and les paul guy for 30 years.I now own 2 nighthawks, and they are great! the two pickup model gets a better strat and tele sound.The 3 pickup model middle single coil is awesome also has a thicker neck.IF YOU DONT WANT TO CARRY AROUND 3 GUITARS TRY A NIGHTHAWK.
ReplyDelete1. I have a Nighthawk SP3 Limited (Gold Top), that Gibson has acknowledged there were only 30 made. How would the Limited change the value?
ReplyDelete2. Are there "better" PU's out there than the OEM versions? I am thinking to try a screamer or something different in the bridge position.
This guitar is epic. The most beautiful cross-breed of a Les Paul and Fender Strat. I have owned mine (Nighthawk Custom 3 pick-up) since 1994 and I have never considered selling this beauty and never will. This stud of a guitar is so versatile. Bit of advice- Stick to the Custome 3 pickup with gold hardware. You won't regret it.
ReplyDeleteI have one of the 93 Knighthawk specials 2 pickup versions and it has been a true workhorse for years. In 97 I had a PAF humbucker installed in place of the mini humbucker on the neck. Replaced to tuners with grovers and installed graphite saddles on the bridge. Once that mode was mad, I have yet to find a guitar that sounds anything like it, every time I pull it out at a gig other guitar players look at it with amazement and once I plug it in they are always blown away. Best money I ever spent.
ReplyDeleteI have nighthawk special (2 PU)in cherry. It's a pretty instrument and has served me well. This is the first time I've heard of anyone else owning one of these. I wonder how many were made?
ReplyDelete-TheGreatRedLion
Ciao.
ReplyDeleteI bought a used custom 3 p.u.
I really don't get the combination of the splitter and of the p.u. selector.
could u please explain it to me?
I own a 3-pickup Custom and love its versatility and looks. Even though I own some awesome Strats, I have preferred the Nighthawk for some recordings because its more zingy tone stood out more in the mix. It's a great guitar for slide--lots of sustain and the Strat-type bridge lets you adjust the string heights for the way you use your slide.
ReplyDeleteA correction to the original entry. The Custom does not have trapezoid inlays; it has the same inlays as a J-200, called "crown," "crest" or "cloud" inlays.
The pickup selections are as follows for the 3-pickup model:
ReplyDeleteTone pot down:
1) bridge humbucker
2) bridge + neck humbuckers
3) neck humbucker
4) bridge humbucker + middle single [fat Strat]
5) bridge split-coil + neck split-coil [Tele middle position]
Tone pot up: humbuckers are split and conventional Strat selections are employed.
I own what maybe the only Gibson Nighthawk 12 string guitar. You can read my review on Harmony central here...
ReplyDeletehttp://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Gibson/Nighthawk+12+String/10/1
If you know of another please contact me - Ed
email - pastored@netamumail.com
I have a 1994 cst3 nighthawk and was wondering if anyone out there knows how many were made, this one has the castle inlays on the fret board.
ReplyDeleteI have a 94 Standard and a 94 Special. Probably the most versatile easy playing guitars I own. Gibson outdid themselves on these great guitars and the only thing I can attribute to their lack of success was poor marketing. Thru a Marshall JCM 900 you can get any tone, any modulation at any volume. I also have a Blueshawk with Blues 90's but it can't match the Nighthawk in sound or playability. If you own a Nighthawk, keep it. You'll never find another make of guitar you'll like better.
ReplyDeleteBought a used Nighthawk Special today. Aside from a bit of buckle burn on the back and gold plating worn off the hardware it's in almost new condition. It sounds awesome! I especially like the thin neck (as I own a few Rickenbackers) it has a familiar feel.
ReplyDeletemy guitar teacher has one of these and it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI own a 1995 with floyd rose vibrato and its awsome !
ReplyDeletelooking to sell my 95 nighthawk. Its the standard with 3 pickups ad coil tap. Beautiful guitar. I got from a man namd Wes Daniels who was a fill in lead guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. He showed me many photos of him with this guitar on stage. if anyone is interested please email. pbmoore12@me.com
ReplyDeleteMy serial number starts with 94 and so I assume it's the 1994 vintage; right below it also proudly states: Made in the U.S.A. which I suppose is a rarity these days except perhaps for PRS guitars. It's a sunburst Nighthawk Standard with two humbuckers - one slanted -that I bought when I happened to be in Louisville, Kentucky sometime in 1996 and it's been my main axe ever since I bought it. In fact, I liked it so much that I sold my other two guitars at the time. I'm thinking of getting a 24 fret with tremolo bar PRS soon but this Nighthawk will still be close to my heart because it has done well by me gig after gig after gig. With my future PRS, this Nighthawk, my Taylor acoustic and my Yamaha classical, I think I'll be satisfied as far as axes are concerned.
ReplyDeleteI love my Nighthawk!
ReplyDeleteBut it's so hard to find the original hard case ... can anyone help me with this?
Regards,
Rembrand
I live in Brazil and I have a ebony 1994 Special. I will never sell it although I have also one Les Paul Studio and a Fender Strat. Just amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have a gorgeous 2 pu 1993 nighthawk. It is fireburst and the back of mine is done to look quite red compared to many that I've seen. One concern a friend pointed out to me is that the slanted humbucker does not line up neatly with each string. Its like it would be fine if it wasn't slanted as in every bit of metal would line up that way but put it on an angle and you have a longer distance. The high e string is perfect but it gradually goes off alignment to until the low E is not over top! Anyhow. I also have a nice hard shell case that is fluffy hot pink inside! I found out that the serial number corresponds to the date as follows: YDDDYXXX Put the Ys together to get the Year (but if it starts with 94 apparently its simply a 94. DDD is the day of the 365 day year. This makes sense for mine and makes mine a bit of an early model I believe. Mine has all the crown inlays gold plating - everything is high end except for the plastic tuning knobs. Here is the link about serial numbers:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blueshawk.info/serial_numbers.htm
I own a 97 nighthawk with a floyd rose. Guitar is great but what a piece of shit bridge. threads all worn out. cant trust those cheap schallers. but i love the guitar. Can someone tell me howmany nighthawks were made with a floyd? cheers
ReplyDeletehey,how r u people? i am just about to buy one of these nighthawks guitars ,the custom one , w/3 pickups does anybody know about this serial number: 90745430 its very importan for me to know if these is original cause im gonna pay for it, and i dont wanna regret, plese help me guys....this is my e mail soulmetal@msn.com
ReplyDeleteYou wont believe this i just bought today 1993 CUSTOM
ReplyDeleteNIGHTHAWKbrand new never played forgoten in a store in MONTREAL, changed the strings and the rest you can
IMAGINE.....oh so sweet
Love my nighthawk. I have the early 90's standard in natural finish running through a line 6 pod into a 100 watt peavy with a boss sustain pedal. It will do everything from metal to acid to jazz, blues, country... Super fast and light. Skill and imagination are the only limits.
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