Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

[Tony_H]

Hi folks,
I have just seen a NOS Gibson Nighthawk (2-pickup, tobacco sunburst) for a price close to 950 Bucks. As you may know I'm a huge fan of the Gibson The Hawk, and although the Nighthawk is a slightly different beast, I want it too. These birds are not made anymore (not since 1998 or so), and the price seems right to me. Here in the Czech Rep a faded Flying V goes for about 1400 Bucks (new) and a LP Studio for about 1600 Bucks (you know, dealer's margin, customs, value added tax and all that kinda thing).

I haven't paid my taxes yet. Once I do I may have to run into debit on my account if I want to buy that guitar. However, provided that everything goes right, the price is about equal to my usual gross income for two weeks of work.

On the other hand, I have a 5-piece family to support and we are expecting the birth of our 4th baby in a month. We'll need a bigger car, so that means more expenditures. We have some money saved for the car, so that should not be such a big problem.

Yeah, I know - nobody can tell me what to do, I have to decide for myself. But still, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Even if you bust me for such a lame post. But hey, I've warned ya!

 

[Breaking the law]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I'd wait.. I've done some GAS purchases, and ran out of money later on.. Not cool.

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I'd wait.. I've done some GAS purchases, and ran out of money later on.. Not cool.

My wife thinks so too. She's usually very supportive when it comes to my guitars, so probably I should take that into account.

Anyway, just for kicks: here's a photo of the beast, though the one I saw is not as fancy-appointed (it has simple inlays, simple binding etc.), but the pups are the same and the color is similar.

http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/Hawk/Nighthawk/images/nh-standard2-gt.jpg

 

[big_black]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I've got the 'Hawk bug as well. I just bought a Nighthawk a couple of weeks ago, I love it. Mine is the two pickup in Heritage Cherry. It matched my Blueshawk! Take care of busines first, there are many more out there!

 

[sooperunkn]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I F'ING LOVE THAT GUITAR!!!!

But the never made a lefty so I just try to tell myself that the Gibson Nighthawk never existed... it's all just a figment of my imagination.....

THEN YOU POST THIS!!!!! BAZTARDZ!!!!!!

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I F'ING LOVE THAT GUITAR!!!!

But the never made a lefty so I just try to tell myself that the Gibson Nighthawk never existed... it's all just a figment of my imagination.....

THEN YOU POST THIS!!!!! BAZTARDZ!!!!!!

LOL ... life's a b**ch y'know
In fact, I'm going to Prague to the shop that has the Nighthawk only next week, and someone may buy it in the meantime (or may have bought it by now). That would be a nice way out of trouble ...

I'm trying to sell some of my older stuff, and if I succeed, I might bolster the Nighthawk purchase with cash gained this way. I've been advertising some Duncans on a local classified website but nobody seems to want them so far.

At any rate I have some stuff to imagine before I fall asleep

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

How does a nighthawk sound? I know the blueshawk, but it has P90s, not whatever those things inthe nighthawk are.

 

[big_black]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

How does a nighthawk sound? I know the blueshawk, but it has P90s, not whatever those things inthe nighthawk are.

The Blueshawk has "Blues-90s". They are built like a Strat single (A5 w/magnetic pole pieces), wound fat like a P-90. They sound like beefier Strat singles, but hold up under gain like a P-90. An interesting cross.

The Nighthawk is a completely different animal. Same exact shape, different pickups and wood. Built like a thinner Les Paul, the body is mahogany, with a 1/4" maple cap, string-through Fender inspired bridge, five-way swtich, 1 tone, 1 vloume pot. The model I have is the two pickup model. 1st position is bridge hum split- sounds just like a strat bridge (the slugs are big like in a SD QP), second is full bridge hum- pretty warm clean with alot of mids under gain, third is split bridge hum/split neck minihumbucker- this is supposed to emulate the middle position in a Strat- does it quite well, fourth is minihum full- very warm, not jangley like I have heard Firebirds are, fifth is minihum split- supposed to emulate a Strats neck, don't really use it. It is kind of hard to find good reviews of the Nighthawk, not very many people have them. I bought mine, knowing the feel and construction, but not the sound. I'm happy with what I got.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

Cool. So the P90s on the blueshawk aren't really P90s, they're something unique? I've played a blueshawk twice, both times in a store. What hooked me was how grungey and sludgey the tone was that I nursed out of it! Is it the pickups?

 

[big_black]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

Cool. So the P90s on the blueshawk aren't really P90s, they're something unique? I've played a blueshawk twice, both times in a store. What hooked me was how grungey and sludgey the tone was that I nursed out of it! Is it the pickups?

Yes, they are unique to that guitar. They have never been issued on another. They are the same size as a P-90. I would say that is a good desciption of the neck pickup. The bridge is more focused IMO. I usually play through a DS-1 on the clean channel of my Vox Cambridge 30. I usually put the gain up pretty high, the channel is pretty hot so it doesn't really get that sludgey to my ears.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I want the blueshawk just to play early nirvana, helmet, melvins, and black sabbath tunes. But it's around a grand Canadian... how can I get the same tones for way less money?

 

[big_black]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

With the exception of Helmet, I think you could get all of those with a P-90 bridge pickup and the right amp. Maybe a Phat Cat would do it, but I have yet to play one. I think for Helmet you need the definition of a humbucker. The guitar in my sig. is still for sale, even shipped to Canada it would still be way less than $1000, maybe close to $600.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

With the exception of Helmet, I think you could get all of those with a P-90 bridge pickup and the right amp. Maybe a Phat Cat would do it, but I have yet to play one. I think for Helmet you need the definition of a humbucker. The guitar in my sig. is still for sale, even shipped to Canada it would still be way less than $1000, maybe close to $600.

$600 Canadian? I don't want to sound like helmet, I just like the tone for their songs.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

cool guitars

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

With the exception of Helmet, I think you could get all of those with a P-90 bridge pickup and the right amp. Maybe a Phat Cat would do it, but I have yet to play one. I think for Helmet you need the definition of a humbucker. The guitar in my sig. is still for sale, even shipped to Canada it would still be way less than $1000, maybe close to $600.

'96 Gibson Blueshawk: Blues-90b/PGn

Wait, does this mean that you have a humbucker in the neck position of your blueshawk? Which means that you have the original pickup laying around somewhere?

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

Yes, they are unique to that guitar. They have never been issued on another. They are the same size as a P-90...

One thing unique about the Blueshawk is the dummy coil which is wired up in series with either the neck or bridge pickup alone, but is out of the circuit when both pickups are selected (which is humcancelling). Some fancy trick wiring in there!

BTW for those of us with more GAS than money there were Epiphone versions of the Nighthawk sold in the 90's. I just bid on one over at ebay but it went for $390:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33040&item=7304880132&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

Wait, so is the grungey sound I can get out of a bluehawk more because of the pickups, or more because of the dummy coil?

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

I tried a Blueshawk at a shop once and didn't like the sound very much - too brittle. I haven't tried the Nighthawk yet. Boy I can't wait till next Wednesday - I'll definitely go to that shop again!

Actually I'd love to have the Floyd Rose-equipped 3-pickup Nighthawk; there was one up for sale locally a year or so ago but I was broke. And yes, the Epi versions pop up occasionally, but I want the set neck, and the Epis are bolt-on.

Errata: the one I saw at the shop has actually the Vintage Sunburst finish - not the Tobacco Sunburst. This one goes from black to yellow.

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

The guitar in my sig. is still for sale, even shipped to Canada it would still be way less than $1000, maybe close to $600.

An other shop here in Prague has the same guitar for sale, but it costs considerably more than the Nighthawk.

 

[Breogan]

Re: Lame GAS post - a Gibson Nighthawk on the block.

Once I played a Little Lucille in a shop (Robb's Guitars) in Boulder - Colorado during a business trip. It was ussed but in pefect condition and was about 1000$. It pretty amazed me the hole guitar. Shape, so confortable to play seated, The Blues-90 were incredible clear pickups. But the thing impresed me the most was the neck...

I thought in buying it but I didn't had the money. I bought a second hand Dano U-1 for 100$, replaced the electronics, the pickups and the tuners. Big improovement but not exactly the same!!!