Nighthawk Owners Club

I know there must be some other Nighthawk owners out there (well, at least one other . . . right, Nighthawk?) . . . let's see 'em all . . . whether plain Hawks, Landmark Series, SP, SP3, ST, ST3, CST or CST3 . . .

Here's my Nighthawk ST3 in translucent amber, with 3 pups and 10 different pickup combos; one of the most versatile guitars around IMHO. Though not a Tele in any way, it does have through the body stringing and a 25.5" scale length. The Gibson model for Fender fans . . . .

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9f9f_3.jpghttp://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/a008_3.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9cd9_3.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9ea4_3.jpg

For further info on Nighthawks, check out: http://blueshawk.info/new_nighthawk.htm

Here's another Nighthawk, that I just sold . . . this one's an SP3 . . . . same as an ST3, with different fret markers, no fretboard binding and no headstock inlay, and maybe slightly lower grade top, but otherwise plays and sounds the same as the Standard.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk/IMG_1649.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk/IMG_1644.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk/IMG_1650.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk/IMG_1627.jpg

are epiphone nighthawks welcome?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/deathbystroke/hawkcaster.jpg


i can't afford the real one :oops:

are epiphone nighthawks welcome?

i can't afford the real one :oops:

You betcha, they're welcome! Nothing in the description mentioned Gibson-only . . . . and according to most Craigslist sellers, Epiphones are Gibsons, right? Well, even though they aren't really Gibsons, this is the Nighthawk club, no restrictions as to manufacturer. And it's not like it's too crowded here or anything . . . .

Nice looking 'hawk you got there . . . . That's a really purty burst . . . .

... off of CL for $750, which I think is a good deal. I will go to pick it up Saturday.

I play in a '70s funk-cover band (EWF, Prince, Kool & the Gang) and am hoping this does some of the single-coil fun I'm looking for.

I will let you know and post pics next week.

PS- Working on a new Nashville Power Tele as well, so I haven't gone COMPLETELY over to the dark side ...

Peace.

Yes, that is a good deal, especially if you got the original Gibson hardshell case with it. It is hard to find any other case that really properly fits a nighthawk. The case with the red one in the second post in this thread kind of worked, but not really.

The red one above sold on ebay for $1030, so I'd say you did real well.

...I love the 2-pup version,and played the crap out of it when I bought it in '93 or so...

...I wonder if there are any parts floating around,specifically a pickup switch assembly...

...any knowledge???...

I've seen one ebay seller who has, in the past at least, always offered the slanted humbucker at an outrageously high price, but I haven't seen anyone offering the switch itself. The new Nighthawk just issued by Gibson has only the 2 humbucker configuration, though very different pickups, but dont know whether the switch would work for ya, or even whether it can be ordered separately.

I saw those pickups on ebay. 150.00 for a slanted pickup! I just ripped an epiphone apart and put it back together with all new electronics and I replaced the slanted hb with a lace dually (on sale for $35.00 at guitar center). I cut it apart and fit into the ring. Replaced the middle single coil with a lace silver and replaced the mini hb with a lace purple. Ordered custom pickup rings for the two singles from a guy on the web. The guitar is in VA Beach now getting the fretswork. I have pictures if anyone is interested. Jim

I had a bolt on neck epi sadly it had a rubber neck so i sold it.Decided to build my own.Korina(limba) body with quilted maple top,2 p-90's 6 position varytone and a great warmoth neck with ebony fingerboard. http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/medium/MVC-039F.jpeg

ooooh, that looks very very nice . . . .

Just need to decide on a finsh color and rout the rear control cavity.I loved the epi i had but the neck was junk.

I too have a nighthawk but i brought it second hand. It is a semi electronic guitar. I am facing problem with it, when ever i keep it for some days it's sound comes with clarity.
_________________
Naat (http://www.tauheed-sunnat.com)
Naats (http://www.tauheed-sunnat.com/sunnat/taxonomy/vocabulary/15)

Well this is mine. Its an Epiphone. I must admit I didn't like nighthawks before but I got a good deal on this one. The tonal possibilities blew me out and I love how light it is. Mine has tortis (faux) accents on the slanted humbucker ring, truss rod cover, input connector, and on both switches. I added a custom cover for the mini humbucker. I did so mainly to cover the tarnished gold. I also had to place one on the selector switch to cover some wood rot that stained the veneer around the screws that hold it together. I carefully carved the rot out and filled it with wood filler. I also changed the knobs to black with white numbers as they combine well with the //////OBL graphics. The previous owner added gold gotoh locking tuners which I love. After a little deoxit treatment on the electronics, everything sounds as good as new.

Great club, - applying for membership.
Just got myself a secondhand Epiphone Nighthawk on ebay.
The hawk will be landing in the middle of next month after a transatlantic flight.
Until then I will have to be satisfied by playing on the internet.

Hi guys, I'm new here. I found this site while searching infos on Nighthawk, and you helped me to choose between a Les Paul and this baby, my Nighthawk. I'm really happy with it, great tones and the kind of grunchy tones I was searching for, with many more in extra!!! This guitar has everything, the look, the tones, playability... Thanks a lot for creating this site as there's not much info on Nighthawks out there... I grabbed it out for 300$ CAD, sure it bears some little scratches and dings here and there, but it is in overall exelent condition for a '95 axe. Here are some pics... :grin:

You can't really tell from this polaroid but I turned mine into a 'fretless'
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_z3ix5XYOn6s/SIIvi_axdXI/AAAAAAAAANk/sFcc-j3L_Bo/s512/File0064.jpg

For those who may be interested, I found a nice poster which figures out a half of an Epiphone Nighthawk. It's from Trends # RP9796 and available at Wal-Mart... I joined a pic below... When I got mine (the poster), I wasn't knowing the Nighthawk and was wondering which guitar could it be... now I got mine hung just beside!!!

...

Hey, I'm new um I was going to buy an Epiphone Nighthawk tomorrow with the 3 pickups and couldn't find very much info on them, im getting it for $400 it has VERY minimal body damage, almost perfect condition and is a sunburst, it looks exactly like the one in this link. I just wanted to get some guidance on this, good deal? I know it sounds FANTASTIC I played it earlier.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/epiphone%20nighthawk/sppjr/EpiphoneNighthawk.jpg?o=1

Haven't been here before.... I do love my Nighthawk. A very capable guitar.

I know there must be some other Nighthawk owners out there (well, at least one other . . . right, Nighthawk?) . . . let's see 'em all . . . whether plain Hawks, Landmark Series, SP, SP3, ST, ST3, CST or CST3 . . .

Here's my Nighthawk ST3 in translucent amber, with 3 pups and 10 different pickup combos; one of the most versatile guitars around IMHO. Though not a Tele in any way, it does have through the body stringing and a 25.5" scale length. The Gibson model for Fender fans . . . .

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9f9f_3.jpghttp://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/a008_3.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9cd9_3.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/9ea4_3.jpg

For further info on Nighthawks, check out: http://blueshawk.info/new_nighthawk.htm


Right Nvilletele. I could not see you pictures.

If it's pretty clean, buy it, don't hesitate as these are coming hard to find. And it's really a great guitar. It's just the same as mine, look 3 or 4 threads over... If you don't buy it, let me know I know someone interested!! Regards.

Nice guitars guys!!!!!!!

Mine! Got a Gibson gig bag with it instead of a hard case but it was near mint when I got it used about 8 or 9 years ago. Won't be parting with it, too sexy... :grin:

I love my Nighthawk. It is the best stage guitar ever. Very light, fast neck, great sounding pickups, and very versitile. I love my Tele and My strat too but for 3 or more hours on a stage it's the Nighthawk all the way.

http://www.thegreatvoid.net/Web/Avocations/UD/08_06_13_Grand_Slam/medium/UD%20Grand%20Slam%202008%20Perf12.jpg

Seems the links to my pics got messed up somehow . . . can't have that . . . so here they are:

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk%20ST3/a06f_3.jpg

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk%20ST3/9cd9_3.jpg

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk%20ST3/a008_3.jpg

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk%20ST3/9ea4_3.jpg

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/nvilletel/Nighthawk%20ST3/9d4a_3.jpg

Seems the links to my pics got messed up somehow . . . can't have that . . . so here they are:




I love the top on that one!

Log in another Night Hawk!

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/GibsonNighthawk_4.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/GibsonNighthawkBody_3.jpg

... not the best, but black is not that exciting!

Had it for over a year now; briefly flirted with trading it for a big block Tele, but decided to keep it. Love it still.

cool

2010 Gibson Nighthawk (http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Designer/Gibson-USA/Nighthawk-Standard-2010.aspx)

I have my 2009 Nighthawk that I really love. Now if they'd only reissue the Blueshawk. I'd definitely get one of those too.

http://i55.tinypic.com/30jjp8j.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2qu6xd1.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2emk4uh.jpg

Edited for membership validation.

Hey guys,

I don't have any affiliation with this sale but I thought I'd put a notice here if anyone was interested.
E-bay listing of Nighthawk 2009 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150564396816&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)

It's ironic since it appears to be one number off from my Nighthawk and it's on the other side of the country. Hope this helps someone. It looks like another nice one.

I'm still partial, I like the flame on mine better. :razz:

Hello Everyone, I am Nighthawk Custom owner and have been nuts over the guitar for years. Still one of my favorites in the studio. I will post pictures asap.
thanks for a place to hang out.

Hi all, Some really nice looking 'Hawks on here, and just like it was predicted, here's my Gibson 2010 Standard in Memphis Mojo and my Epiphone Custom Reissue in Honeyburst, both look yummy, I think :grin:
The Epiphone's made think about getting a Gibson from the 90's :idea:

I have a 1993 two pickup standard in black. It is one of my go to guitars everytime.

I have a 93 Gibson two pickup standard in black. It is one of my favorite guitars I own.

Hi all, Some really nice looking 'Hawks on here, and just like it was predicted, here's my Gibson 2010 Standard in Memphis Mojo and my Epiphone Custom Reissue in Honeyburst, both look yummy, I think :grin:
The Epiphone's made think about getting a Gibson from the 90's :idea:

Both look great! Thanks for sharing.

Hi Everyone!
This is my 1st post here. I'm a new guitarist, and I got my new Epi Nighthawk earlier this year. I was doing internet research at the time to see which brand/model would give me the best bang for my limited bucks. My son has an Epi LP, which really impressed me with it's quality for the price, so that was the direction I was originally headed. However, once I started looking into things, the Nighthawk appeared to be a much more versatile instrument. I assumed the workmanship would be similar as the LP, but the Nighthawk ad, plus all the reviews I read at the time, said that it had an EBONY fretboard. It's my understanding that ebony is a more premium wood than rosewood, and since the Nighthawk was really nice to play, with great sounds, this was the final feature which sealed the deal for me. Long story short, I brought my Nighthawk to a friend's house for some jamming. When I had mentioned the ebony fretboard to him, he told me that it didn't have ebony, but rosewood. He then got out his Gibson ES 355 TDSV which has ebony and showed me the difference. We checked online and the ads and reviews still said ebony. Now many of them say rosewood. I called Epiphone, and was told that the Nighthawk NEVER had ebony, and that they were getting around to making sure that all the new ads are correct. They were not doing to do anything about the older ads, and that even though I was misled by their error, that I would just have to live with it. Besides this being just plain rude customer service, this doesn't explaine all the reviews which make a point of having ebony on a guitar of this price. Does anyone else have more information on this? Did some of the nighthawks have ebony?
Thanks in advance,
George

Hi There,
I have had dozens of guitars over the years including LP customs and Tele's but epi's have become my favorite value for money guitars.

I recently bought a Epi Night Hawk custom re-issue here in NZ.
Like you all I was seduced by the beauty and practicality of the Nighthawk. So Pretty, so light and covers jazz, country and blues(sort of). Im not a metal fan.
The wiring I found was a bit odd. the "strat" 2 4 position was n't hum bucking.
And I couldn't get parallel Neck and Bridge HB?
I opened her up and found a solid looking 5 way and coil splitting on the tone.

I experimented with different wiring even trying to reverse the magnets of the NSX single coil (can't be done easily).
Eventually...

I replaced the 5 way with a Super-Switch and wired it as per the Gibson 1/31/1995 schematics.

Now I had classic LP and strat sounds plus split neck and split bridge in parallel.

But because of the original PU split arrangement i.e. via earthing ,the splits were on the inside so I rotated the HB's to the out side.(Looking at photos of Gibson NH I notice the extra bobbin hole is at the top mine were at the bottom.)

Any one else had this problem.I am assuming that the 5 way switching was a cost cutter.

My next challenge is the tone it's a bit harsh so I dropped the PU as low as possible. Now I get Blues as well as LP Strat but lose most of the Tele twang.

I am going to try a tone cap swap out. The original schematics don't show a tone cap. so I will go to the next standard value up.

After that may be a Pickup transplant. Why you may ask?. It is such a dream to play.
cheers

Hi,
Regarding previous post. I upgraded the tone cap to .05uf and adjusted the neck this improved the harmonics.
cheers

Here's my epiphone nighthawk with SD pups in the neck and the bridge with US pots and switchcraft 5way switch and jack. The pots are both push and pull so I can get several more tones.
http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab97/Aircop/Snapbucket/85EFA358.jpg

Nice, What improvement do you notice sound wise and what options have you got on the push pulls 5 way
cheers

I get around 13 different tones by switching the pots out with 500k push/pull Bourns and going thru the 5way switch. It made it a lot more cleaner with several fat Les Paul tones and several twangy Strat tones. I need to change out my middle pickup to get a more rounded out sound. I have got in touch with Seymour Duncan and they told me that the Custom Shop would make me a middle pickup for $160.00, that's almost what I paid for both of the Seymour Duncan's that I have installed on the neck and bridge? Wow!!! I got rid of those cheap Chinese electronic components and install all American made parts which made a lot of difference in the sound, believe me.

What SD options did you go for?
I believe that the middle PU is one half of a Humbucker, it may be possible to use one half of your bridge pup as a middle PU.

I am trying to get a Telecaster tone form the rear Pu split. How does the SD sound for that?

Epiphan
I changed out the OEM pickups that were yeaaaa not to bad with Seymourized mini in the neck and the slanted 59 in the bridge. It made a difference but try not to just change out the pickup's, you need to change out the controls to get a better effect of the pickup's.

Has any one changed out the middle pup?

Hey twanged, you are just the person i have been trying to find at the epi forum with zero luck ! I have the same epi custom RI and i love it like no other guitar i've owned in my 40 years of pickin. However, i do feel the guitar is capable of even better tone and have been contemplating seymours too, but you are the 1st i have seen who's tried them. Being desperate for some insight, could you tell me how they are in more detail please?

What i really want to know is which did you get for the bridge, the JB or the 59? And how does it compare to the stocker in as much detail as you can give me. And i love the stock neck, but it's too hot. I take it that seymour mini is about 1/2 as hot, no? If i'm right about that, how does it do that round thick sweet hollow tone for single notes with gain up around the 10-12th frets? Does it still get that as good? I suppose you could say that santana sorta tone.

As to the middle, i'm pretty happy with that but there IS a guy selling a replacement for $36. bottom of this page... http://www.bensoncustom.com/services.html
Not sure what it is. I was wondering if he just sourced the stock epi pickup and is selling it as a replacement because i think the 7.3k he states is what ours are.

Anyways, please.....any input about the duncans will be greatly appriciated because if i buy the bridge and don't it, no chance of ever selling it and recouping any of the money. So any info you can give including which one you got, the JB or 59. Oh, and ever think of replacing the saddles with vintage fender strat ones? Every time i've replaced those solid block saddles on a fender with the vintage bent steel the tone improvement was always considerable.

Edit: I see now it's the '59 you put in the bridge.

I had the first year Gibson run and foolishly sold it in college. Recently got the new Epiphone run and love it
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/timanderin/2012-03-29155810.jpg

slap a set of vintage fender style saddles on there and prepare to be happy. Those saddles are pot medal and kill the tone. I put a set of import fenders on mine, tho they were too wide so i had to dremel them to make them fit. Did it just to see if the stock ones were as bad as i figured and if so would get a set of callahams. The callahams are in the mail as we speak ! The difference is considerable, and i know the callahams sound better than the ones i used because i have several fenders with them. So i expect even BETTER tone. Another guy bought the block saddles GFS sells for $12 and said the same thing as I did....big improvement. It's a no brainer.

I also ordered the duncan slant '59 they make especially for the epi hawk. Another guy already got his and said it too is a huge improvement. I'm also coing to change out the neck one because like the bridge it's much too hot and doesn't clean up at all into a dirty amp, even when split. The guitar is on it's way to being what i think will be one of the absolute best electrics of any kind i've ever owned. The design and woods together make a great tone, but it's tone is hindered worse than most inexpensive guitars by bad saddles and pickups. Theres gold behind those "filters".

Hi all, new to this thread.....

Just found this '95 Korean Epi 'Hawk at a local store for $225. Great condition, nicer flame top than my reissue. I'm curious about the body though, looks like alder to me, butcher-block style. Definitely not mahogany.

Anyone else ever seen one of these bodies?

It's bright as heck, I had to lower the OBL bridge pickup really far down to make it sound OK. It's also almost a pound heavier than the reissue and noticeably thicker. Very different vibe to the sound overall.

For those who are curious, the pickup switching is as follows:

Straight-up volume & tone pots, the tone pot has a dummy coil on it;

The mini-toggle "up" position gives you a standard single-coil choice through the 5-way switch: Bridge/Bridge+Middle/Middle/Middle+Neck/Neck (all single-coil);

The mini-toggle "down" position gives you standard humbucking Bridge/Bridge+Neck/Neck/additional low-cut (MUD!) filter on the Neck/kill switch.

BTW, there doesn't seem to exist any info on these at Epi or Gibby, but the Gibson M-III wiring is the same:

/http://www.gibson.com/Files/schematics/M3wiring.PDF (http://www.gibson.com/Files/schematics/M3wiring.PDF)

Of course, they wired mine wrong at the factory so I'm missing 2 of the tele tones. Easily fixed.

Great guitars for the money!!!

Love my reissue Epi

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/telemike/Nighthawk/DSCN0339.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/telemike/Nighthawk/DSCN0337.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/telemike/Nighthawk/DSCN0331.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/telemike/Nighthawk/DSCN0330.jpg