Epiphone Nighthawk

[PizzaMaker]

Due to work and family commitments my CNC Router plans are on hold and I have no time to build anything, so I'm going to sink a few hundred into an Epiphone Nighthawk. I've found a Korean built unit for sale which I haven't looked at yet. They're asking the same $$$ as a new indo/chinese model but I think the nostalgia of having a Korean epi in my hands again will win out so I can reminisce of days of yore when Kurt Cobains biography hadn't yet finished with a bang and Guns N Roses was more than Axl Rose and his ever changing list of session musos.

Anyway, the reason I'm here is to ask for help.

The standard Nighthawk wiring has a push/pull coil split for both humbuckers.

I am hoping to be able to add another push/pull to simultaneously turn on the neck AND switch its phase while still allowing the coil split. Can this be done?

I'm also hoping to add a series/parallel switch but am not sure if it will be possible given the above. I don't mind adding a toggle to a guitar (my LP has 2) but I'd rather not do so unless I am certain it's going to work. Can this be done?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

You appear to be describing a two pickup 'Hawk rather than the snazzy three pickup variant. The latter employed a five-way Superswitch to automate all of its trick coil switching. It might be worthwhile researching the schematic for that variant and adapting it for your chosen instrument.

 

[PizzaMaker]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

You appear to be describing a two pickup 'Hawk rather than the snazzy three pickup variant. The latter employed a five-way Superswitch to automate all of its trick coil switching. It might be worthwhile researching the schematic for that variant and adapting it for your chosen instrument.

I am referring to the 3 pickup, which has a push/pull tone knob for splitting and from the diagrams, a standard 5 way using the earth from each pup to turn it on. I know little if anything about what can be done with a superswitch, but if I was to use one I wouldn't want to lose the standard 5-way select functions.

I think I will have to run an extra toggle to do what I want, but still am unsure how.

 

[Artie]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

Wow. I wish I'd seen this yesterday. I just replaced the 5-way in this exact guitar yesterday. I could have noted the wiring more closely to see if you can do this. I'm sure you can do it, but it would have been easier with the guitar right in front of me. :banghead:

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

I'm going to sink a few hundred into an Epiphone Nighthawk. I've found a Korean built unit for sale which I haven't looked at yet. They're asking the same $$$ as a new indo/chinese model but I think the nostalgia of having a Korean epi in my hands again will win out.

The old Epi Nighthawk has a detachable neck. The new model is way better. That Indonesian factory is churning out VERY good instruments, I was surprised to see it with my own eyes.

For the record, I've own such an instrument for two years in the early '90s. It was NOT something to write home about...

HTH,

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

Many examples of the Nineties Epiphone Nighthawk came with OBL pickups. (Designed by Bill Lawrence. Manufactured under license in SE Asia.) These were nothing like the American-made OBL "rail" pickups associated with the likes of Nils Lofgren.

 

[PizzaMaker]

Epiphone Nighthawk

Might be the indo model then. I've found that even though Australia is closer to Indonesia than just about anyone else, we tend to get Chinese built guitars from epiphone over the Chinese builds.

If the pickups don't suit me then I'll make a switch. I've always been a Jazz/JB fan but I get a sense that they won't do a nighthawk justice. Something a little cooler maybe. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it though.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Epiphone Nighthawk

The Nighthaw feels like what a strat should've been all along.

An acquiantance of mine modded one to a HSS with an EMG SA/SA/89R set and it sounds great. The mahogany body with the rosewood body and neck, with the rosewood fingerboard really gives an excellent tonal footprint for that set, which is a bit on the cold side, specially with alder bodied, maple-neck instruments.

HTH,