Gibson Nighthawk Limited Run Electric Guitar with CaseGibson Nighthawk Limited Edition Electric Guitar; Own a Gibson Legend!
Back after 10 years, this re-visitation of the Gibson Nighthawk is most definitely worth the wait. Resembling a Les Paul but with a curvier body, this Gibson has been the object of desire for players who know how it feels to play one. A Cult-Classic, in its own rite, when it was discontinued in 1999 after only six years in production, the original Nighthawk was made to appease the masses who were searching for a modern silhouette and a multitude of tone options.
The Nighthawk of today is the same option packed Gibson that it ever was with its two volume controls, a master tone knob and two heavy-duty pickups. Experiment with endless sounds, and amazing tone or just marvel in this exquisite-looking guitar. Featuring figured maple top design, mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard and deluxe details combined into one mind-blowing guitar for 2009.
Gibson Nighthawk Features
- Mahogany Body with AAA Bookmatched Maple Top
- Quarter-Sawn Solid Grade-A Mahogany with ’50s neck profile
- 22-fret Rosewood Fingerboard
- Figured, Swirl Acrylic Dot Inlays and Traditional Binding
- P-90 and 498T pickups
- Includes Hardshell Case and Certificate of Authenticity
Tonal Characteristics
The Nighthawk’s mahogany body cranks out tone that is somewhat soft, but extremely well-balanced, with good grind and bite. It has the potential for good depth, with full (though not super-tight) lows, velvety highs and a slightly compressed response. Its maple cap adds the snap, sizzle and sustain associated with a Les Paul Standard. And like a number of Gibsons made today, the Nighthawk’s chambered interior — originally engineered just to make a guitar less back-breaking — inadvertently provides tonal benefits too. Chambered guitars are louder acoustically and offer increased sustain and resonance.
Process
The Nighthawk is finished by hand in a process that demands several coats and many hours. Unlike many guitar manufacturers, who settle for a polyurethane finish, Gibson opts for a nitrocellulose finish that will encourage the natural vibration of the instrument for a purer tone. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous and actually gets thinner over time. That way your guitar’s wood can breathe and age beautifully.
