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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2896.0. "Gibson Nighthawk" by HEART::MACHIN () Thu Feb 24 1994 05:16

	Anyone had any experience with Gibson Nighthawks?

	I went to a Gibson centenary 'clinic' last night, and this thing
	was the star of the show. 

	That guitar *was* a tele (at least, it was until I got home and
	played my Tele).

	It *was* a Les Paul, and flip me if it wasn't a fine Strat.

	What do people think? This was the 3-pickup Custom, I believe.

	Richard.
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2896.1KIRKTN::IGOLDIESympathy for the devilThu Feb 24 1994 10:1610
    most of the Nighthawks I've seen have just been 2 pickups,like a Les
    Paul except the bridge pick up with was at an angle so if you wanted to
    change it,it would be a bloody nightmare.It was reviewed in guitarist
    and the guy who played it gave a very favourable reference.One thing
    that stuck in my mind after reading the review was about the bridge
    pickup.The reviewer thought the p.u was very *very* loud almost to the
    point of too loud.All in all,they look like a slight variation on a 
    classic theme@
    
    						ian
2896.2TECRUS::ROSTClueless and slightly slackThu Feb 24 1994 10:2314
    The Nighthawks come six ways: special, standard and custom (like most
    Gibsons) and 2 or 3 pickups.  You need a 3 pickup model to get some
    of the classic Strat tones.
    
    Since it sells for about $2-300 less than an equivalent Les Paul, there
    has to be *something* funky about it  8^)  I haven't seen one yet, but
    it looked a cool idea: a lighter, thinner Les Paul with some
    Fenderish sounds available.
    
    To date, Gibson has been pretty unsuccessful trying to come up with
    variants on the Les Paul (only the SG has ever caught on).  I wouldn't
    be surprised to see the Nighthawk come and go in two or three years.
    
    							Brian
2896.3One for the 2nd hand stores?MASALA::WATSONTThu Feb 24 1994 11:036
    I`ve only seen one of these - probably the same one as Mr G -.2 - does
    the 3 pickup version also have that dumb angled pickup?
    	Agree with -.1 this could be destined to be another Maurauder,
    Artist,Sonex etc etc ad infinitum .......
    
    					Tom
2896.4HEART::MACHINThu Feb 24 1994 11:1921
	Yes, the three pickup one has the 'dumb' angled pickup. 'Course,
	Gibson say that 'Dumb' means 'double reverse-wired alnico bridged
	reverse phased' or somesuch. 

	5 position strat-style switch, and pull-out knob (not active -- just
	to select among 10 wiring configurations). It is a very small-looking
	guitar -- quite fashionable in that respect.

	But unlike the other non-starters you mention, this did have an 
	amazing tone to it -- not a 'soundalike' -- it really did switch
	instantly from a real creamy Carltonesque sound to a pingy twang
	with fretty edge to it. I asked the bloke (Robbie Gladwell from 
	Guitarist) what he really thought of it during the break. He said
	he was still blown away by it. (He slagged off the active guitars off
	the record, so I reckon he was being honest!)

	He used it at the end for a rendition of Layla, but by then I was 
	past discriminating.

	Richard.
2896.5I'll take 3 please, on rye...POBOX::SMITHJMe? Buy a guitar??!!Fri Apr 01 1994 21:1124
    I have a Nighthawk - the Standard model w/ 3 pu's in Fireburst.  The
    guitar is excellent!  Ordered it in September, supposedly a 45 day lead
    time, after MANY calls to the dealer (a good guy who we deal with
    quite a bit) and to Gibson, I received the guitar about January 3.  Story
    was that quality problems with some of the components caused the
    backlog -- the final QA had a high number of rejects, so they wouldn't
    ship just put the customer back in the queue.
    
    I was really put off by the delay, but the wait was worth it -- it's a
    beautiful guitar that looks great and sounds fantastic.  With a special M
    mini-humbucker at the neck, the NSX single coil mid, and the slanted
    humbucker at the bridge the 10 pu selections give a terrific range of
    tones!  The neck is thin (SG-like); it has a smaller, light, contoured 
    body; and both the neck and body are bound - the scale is similar to a
    Strat.
    
    Having a couple of guitars, I can tell you that the Nighthawk is
    definitely worth checking out... if you can find one.  Elvis and I
    haven't seen one yet in any of our travels around Chi-town - not even 
    in pawn shops!!!
    
       ....;) jds
    
                                     
2896.6Takes Time Like a Fine WinePOBOX::SMITHJMe? Buy a guitar??!!Wed Jun 01 1994 20:195
    The Nighthawks finally arrived and are on display at Guitar Center in
    Chicago (they came in about 4 weeks ago).  Check local listings for a
    time and channel near you.
    
    ...jds
2896.7I took one for a spinFRSBEE::BROOKSNatural Born HackersSat Jan 06 1996 15:2111
    Any further comments on these, now that they've been out for awhile?
    
    I played one last month through a new Marshall JTM60, and it sounded
    amazing. The one I played cost about a grand and was a 3 pickup model.
    I've seen others in the 800 dollar range.
    
    The only reason I can think of not to buy it, is resale value.
    I can get a great playing guit for $500, I can get a real G LP
    for twice that. I dont want to pay near LP price for a 'grabber'.
    
    Larry