The year they got discontinued, it was a fire sale. $300-$600 for every (Gibson!) model. Those days are gone now. Still one of my favorite guitars. Plus, it seems like no one is making knockoffs LOL.
Thanks so much for playing my guitar so well and showing me all the things this can do. Very inspiring. (Yes I purchased this actual guitar from your good selves at Squealing Pig Guitars. Brilliant condition and outshines most every other guitar. With 10 options, yes, it can sound like a Gretsch 6120, Tele, Strat, and Les Paul. Bloody brilliant.
That sounds amazing from all positions! This is what I want in a guitar : a slimmer, lighter Les Paul with both strat & les Paul tones, floyd bridge, and a cool look, The only thing i dont love is the rim burst.... but that's no deal-breaker. Bring 'em back! Join the storied alumni of models that initially flopped, but came back stronger than ever on relaunch: • Les Paul • Flying V • Explorer • Jazzmaster • Jaguar • Non-reverse Firebird • Firebird X Okay, ok! Maybe not that last one...... _yet!_ But I, for one, am still holding out hope! I think they fkn _rocked!_
I remember buying the butterscotch flamed maple version as soon as it came out initially. I wish I had never gotten rid of it. It sounded and played great. Very versatile for a Gibson and I love the mini humbucker tones. The only complaint I ever had was the body felt so small since I'm pretty tall. Everyone that tried mine loved it. Excellent guitar I felt should have caught on more!
thanks for putting this very underrated gibson in the spotlight! 1 thing i'd like to point out about your video is the list of existing Nighthawk models. Almost all models had a 2 and 3 pickup version, named accordingly CS2/CS3, ST2/ST3 and SP2/SP3. The picture you used to show the 'special' model is actually the studio version. The actual Nighthawk Special also had a 2 and 3 pickup version and even had binding. It was similar to the standard and custom except for the simple dot inlays. I think only the one with a Floyd Rose like yours didn't have a 2 pickup version. Other existing versions are the Landmark Series with 2 mini humbuckers, the Studio with 2 humbuckers as seen in your video, the "Hawk" as a simplified cheaper version with 2 humbuckers, and a reissue (2010) with 3 straight pickups instead of slanted.
My ‘96 Gibson Nighthawk in Tobacco Burst is a phenomenal guitar and will always be a part of my inner circle of gigging guitars. Good review and great playing! Subscribed!
I have an M3 (I bought new in '93). The switching is different to the Nitehawk. With the toggle down position 3 on the 5-way is neck humbucker and position 5 is a kill switch! The single coil sounds are really authentic.
I have a 96 The Hawk modded heavily. Schaller 456 bridge, moves the toggle to the upper bout like a LP, replaces that with a second volume, put a ceramic mini hum in the neck pulled from a broken 99 SG Deluxe, and currently a 500T bridge pup that when I get her out of the pawnshop will be replaces with a 4 conductor Dirty Fingers with a push/pull. And it’s got locking Grover’s.
I bought one of the first ones in ’93. I still have it and I’m always amazed at how great a guitar it is.
Epiphone used to.
The year they got discontinued, it was a fire sale. $300-$600 for every (Gibson!) model. Those days are gone now. Still one of my favorite guitars. Plus, it seems like no one is making knockoffs LOL.
I remember now! In the 90s there were no guitar magazines without a Nighthawk ad. They were really trying to push these suckers.
Thanks so much for playing my guitar so well and showing me all the things this can do. Very inspiring. (Yes I purchased this actual guitar from your good selves at Squealing Pig Guitars. Brilliant condition and outshines most every other guitar. With 10 options, yes, it can sound like a Gretsch 6120, Tele, Strat, and Les Paul. Bloody brilliant.
That sounds amazing from all positions!
This is what I want in a guitar : a slimmer, lighter Les Paul with both strat & les Paul tones, floyd bridge, and a cool look,
The only thing i dont love is the rim burst.... but that's no deal-breaker.
Bring 'em back!
Join the storied alumni of models that initially flopped, but came back stronger than ever on relaunch:
• Les Paul
• Flying V
• Explorer
• Jazzmaster
• Jaguar
• Non-reverse Firebird
• Firebird X
Okay, ok! Maybe not that last one...... _yet!_
But I, for one, am still holding out hope! I think they fkn _rocked!_
Awesome playing there!
I'm fortunate enough to have two Nighthawks...both standard threes.
Thank you mate!
Woah that’s different! I like it! Awesome video as always mate! 🤘🏻💪🏻
thanks for watching mate
I remember buying the butterscotch flamed maple version as soon as it came out initially. I wish I had never gotten rid of it. It sounded and played great. Very versatile for a Gibson and I love the mini humbucker tones. The only complaint I ever had was the body felt so small since I'm pretty tall.
Everyone that tried mine loved it. Excellent guitar I felt should have caught on more!
Thank you for sharing mate! Yea I agree, the bodies are a little small but the tones are amazing
thanks for putting this very underrated gibson in the spotlight!
1 thing i'd like to point out about your video is the list of existing Nighthawk models. Almost all models had a 2 and 3 pickup version, named accordingly CS2/CS3, ST2/ST3 and SP2/SP3. The picture you used to show the 'special' model is actually the studio version. The actual Nighthawk Special also had a 2 and 3 pickup version and even had binding. It was similar to the standard and custom except for the simple dot inlays. I think only the one with a Floyd Rose like yours didn't have a 2 pickup version.
Other existing versions are the Landmark Series with 2 mini humbuckers, the Studio with 2 humbuckers as seen in your video, the "Hawk" as a simplified cheaper version with 2 humbuckers, and a reissue (2010) with 3 straight pickups instead of slanted.
This is one awesome sounding and looking guitar! With those sounds, it needs a trem! This guitar is a gem!
Thank you for watching
My ‘96 Gibson Nighthawk in Tobacco Burst is a phenomenal guitar and will always be a part of my inner circle of gigging guitars. Good review and great playing! Subscribed!
I have an M3 (I bought new in '93). The switching is different to the Nitehawk. With the toggle down position 3 on the 5-way is neck humbucker and position 5 is a kill switch!
The single coil sounds are really authentic.
Thanks for sharing mate!
I did sound for a band once where someone played one of these, I can still remember thinking how good the tone was.
I have a 96 The Hawk modded heavily. Schaller 456 bridge, moves the toggle to the upper bout like a LP, replaces that with a second volume, put a ceramic mini hum in the neck pulled from a broken 99 SG Deluxe, and currently a 500T bridge pup that when I get her out of the pawnshop will be replaces with a 4 conductor Dirty Fingers with a push/pull. And it’s got locking Grover’s.
These are possibly the most underrated and versatile guitars that Gibson ever made.
I wanted the midnight blue one of these in the late 90’s, but I was a kid and could never have one.
Mines Midnight Blue with gold hardware. Been gigged most weekends since '93. All original except the frets and one saddle on the Floyd.
this thing is really cool.
thanks for watching mate
props for using an old photo and not some jackass selfie in the thumbnail.
😂
I have a question, is it ok to use virtuoso cleaner a d polish on vintage guitars or will it ruin the value
🎵r0ck0n 🎵
I’m not surprised, it’s a cringe name and the kiss of death to whatever you stick it on.