Gibson NightHawk Standard

The Nighthawk Standard was made from 1993 to 1999. The body style is similar to a Les Paul, but a bit smaller and more stylized.

Four different models of Nighthawk were produced:
* Special - dot inlays and no neck binding
* Landmark - Basically a Special with 2 minihums and special color selections to commemorate USA National Parks.
* Standard - dual paralellogram inlays and neck binding, plus AAA figured top
* Custom - J200 cloud inlays, neck and headstock binding, ebony fretboard, and AAAA figured maple top

Within each variant, there are 2 other other factors:

1. Either 2 or 3 pickups. The 2 pu guitars have a slanted humbucker in the bridge position and a Firebird-type mini-humbucker in the neck. The 3 pu guitars add a strat-type single coil in the middle. Both pu variations have a strat-type 5 way selector and single volume and tone, but the 3 pu guitars also have a pull pot built into the tone control for more sound options.

2. Fixed strat-style bridge with string through design or Floyd-Rose licensed locking trem.

All models feature gold hardware and front body binding, as well as mahogany body and neck, set neck construction, and full 1/2 inch maple top like a Les Paul.

This review is for the Nighthawk Standard, but it pretty much applies for all of the Nighthawks with the fixed bridge and 2 or 3 pickups. I've never played the Floyd Rose-equipped Nighthawks, so I can't comment on them.

The Nighthawk is a very ergonomic design. The scale is 25-1/2 inches like a Fender, which makes the action less slinky compared to your typical Gibson, and the sound is a bit more snappy.

The weight is generally lighter than a Les Paul, with most examples around 8 pounds. The body also has a "tummy route" on the back, though it is less dramatic than most strat-type guitars.

The playability of these guitars is excellent. The necks are very comfortable, not as big as a 50's LP neck, but a touch bigger than the 60's neck.

The sound is also very versatile, as you might imagine. With the slanted humbucker, it looks like one of the coils is precisely in the same position as a strat or tele single coil, so you get a more authentic Fender sound compared to other split humbucker guitars.

The 2 pickup version sounds like this (in order of position, from bridge to neck):

1. Telecaster single coil - Modern with a bit of beef.
2. Gibson bridge humbucker - not exactly Les Paul, but very good.
3. Middle Position Strat or Tele - more like a PRS version of this.
4. Mini humbucker neck - nice and bell-like but full.
5. Mini hum split - Sounds a lot like a Strat neck pickup.

The 3 pickup version is not as aesthetically pleasing to my eyes, but there are more sound options. The Fender sounds are more authentic due to the added middle single coil, and there are a couple of different positions that are cool sounding and which are hard to describe.

I play a variety of styles, and the Nighthawk is a good utility player. A die-hard Gibson player might object to the longer scale length and the somewhat brighter sound. I like it because I prefer Gibson neck profiles, but I also like the sound of single coils. The Nighthawk does a better job of a "Gibson with single coils" than any "Fender with humbuckers" I've ever played.

The only thing I might change would be to have a more PAF-sounding bridge humbucker. I think it would also make the single coil selections more vintage-sounding. That is more of a preference thing, since I love vintage guitars. I understand Gibson offered a Classic Hawk Plus aftermarket pickup to address this very thing, but they are impossible to find today. (They also made a Super Hawk for Noghthawk owners who want a higher output pickup).

Factory setup is unknown, since all of my Nighthawks were purchased used. But NONE of them were set up the way I like them. The local luthier just set one up, and it was just about perfect. I know setups are a personal preference thing, so there's no problem there.

All ofther aspects of my Nighthawks are great. I have about a dozen of these guitars (among Landmarks, Standards, and Customs), and all are consistently excellent.

Reliabiltiy and durability are excellent. The only things I don't care for are the tuners (Gibson standard for most guitars, but very average quality) and the strap buttons. The strap WILL slip off with these buttons, so new buttons are a must for live playing. Not a big deal, since they are cheap and are a reversible modification.

E-mail support from Gibson has been excellent. No warranty issues at all, but they've been great about general questions in a timely manner.

I've been playing for 30 years and have been into vintage gear for 20 years. I own les Pauls, Strats, Teles, ES335's, etc, etc, etc. The Nighthawk is not going to be everything to everyone, but it is very good at a lot of things. Better in some ways than a PRS.

I got into them because they were different and currently represent a temendous value in a USA made Gibson electric guitar. Set neck, nitro gloss finish, deluxe inlays and binding, full thickness flamed maple top, gold hardware. All for around a grand (a bit less for the Special and a bit more for the Custom).

My NH was a Flame Maple top 1994 Mahogany etc Rosewood Fboard.
I bought it for it's looks and proved I am still a dope after 30 years playing buiding and fixing the darn things!

The NH claim to verstility across the Gibson - Fender range fails in my view -presumably that's why it failed commercially.
The bridge PUP does not produce a tele or strat type sound but something else I can't describe it but it is not the frying pan twang intended.
Using the two pups to the neck PUP produces warmer Gibson tones.
No one who is anyone ever played one in public as far as I know.

Well being a PRS fan I would be disappointed!
The finish ain't great
The binding on the neck is rough and sharp and soon hurts the Barr index finger!

Tough enough, but watch out for the Gibson curse of neckbreaks - you see loads on Ebay with repairs.
The gold plating on the PUPS is woefully thin and the tin can look soon takes over.
Otherwise typical Gibson workmanlike

Out of production need I say more.
You would need a specialist to fix anything serious but an average DIYer can set up most guitars if you follow the instructions and learn the principles

Overall the NH looks fantastic new; but physically it's out of balance the headstock weighs the thing down as your playing.
The concept was good the product looks beutiful but is no way a players Axe,
Shame coz I loved the look.

Avoid unless you want a wall display item!

1993 u.s made gibson nighthawk standard
beauitifull amber flame maple top.
bought it used for ~ 1000$
5 way selector which does not have much sense into it. i still can't understand why there's no combination of both humbackers???
however the split of the humbackers gives you an unbelievable versatility!

this is the good part.
it sounds great. though it sounds like nothing else.
the guitar has it's own uniqe sound and charachter.
it can get fragile and thin and can get fat and sustained.
no sign for the usual gibson muddiness!!!
i play it trough a 1972 marshal artiste combo (a real tone monster)- lovepedal cot50 - ad9 analog delay . i'm so satisfied that i have almost forgot how my 79' strat looks like!!!

very easy to play, nice action, great neck.
more comfortable than anyother gibson i have ever played in my life!

one thing in mind - gibson's neck is easy to break
if it will break it will break my heart !

never need anyone out there

if you are open minded and looking for great tone, versatility and comfortabilty this is the guitar for you.
if you are looking for a traditional guitar with a familiar look than you willhave to pay double for a les-paul and you will probabley get a much lousy guitar!!!

94 , usa i think
22 frets
vol, tone, 5 way

9 1/2 heavy metal
sears job

i like reallr low action , on the verge of fret buzz in fact if your not use to my guitar you will get fret buzz.
the bridge was not total flush with the body when i bought it.
it was up about 1/8"

i need new machine heads because my old strap was crap and i droped it from time to time.
the finish came off on the back in about a 3" diameter circle , because of my belt . and on the back edge from strap wear.
i find her reliable.

playing 10 years.
supersonic squire

I have the 94 Nighthawk standard. Slanted humbucker on bridge, mini humbucker on neck with a 5-way switch (which I still don't really understand) Very well built, with few exceptions. Even though this will not go out of tune, (and I bend like crazy)the tuning keys are begining to fall apart. I will have to replace them eventually.

I have never heard any guitar in my entire life that sounds as good as this one. I use one position up on the pickup switch and middle setting for clean. The amp I use is a CRATE Blue Voodoo.

Nothing wrong with the way it was set up. I just raised the action a little bit to suit me.

I use this guitar live all the time. I have beat the shit out of this guitar and it just won't go down. The tuning keys are starting to fall apart but this thing still won't go out of tune. If I tune more than once per set it's a miracle!

Haven't had a problem yet

I would recomend this guitar to anyone who plays any style.

I had a gibson nighthawk landmark series (sequoia red) and to me it was the guitar never to be replaced. i paid about 750 for it brand new when I was seventeen years old. about five months ago, it was stolen from me, and it has killed me. i'll never forget that guitar and will own another as soon as I can afford one. It breaks my heart to hear that gibson as discontinued the model, because it is the only guitar that truly fits my hands. I hope someday to find my guitar again, but guess that I probably wont. so to those who love the nighthawk, i understand your passion, and please keep the dream alive.

- Bob Schmidt., from the band "The House of Thieves."

No guitar will ever sound as good as it did in my hands

It was sex in my hands.

I had strap locks on my strap that came undone once, and it fell to the floor, I almost threw up, but it kept tuning and the fall had no effects to the guitar.

I've been playing for 13 years. The only guitar with a similar neck is the BC Rich "virgin" which i currently own. It doesn't compare to my old gibson, but i'm a broke college student, so it'll have to do. If i could afford one right now, i would buy it in a heartbeat.I love the weight of the guitar, I always liked the Les Paul, but they are so damn heavy. my favorite feature is the shape of the neck. no other guitar can compare to it.I wish I had it back.

My gibson nighthawk standard was made in 1986 in the USA, it has 22 frets, solid top, volume and tone control and a five way selector. It has two Gibson special mini humbuckers. And the neck is of courese nice maple. The body is black and it has locking tuners. Fender body-through bridge, and a fairly thin neck

I play all kinds of music as long as it is good and straight from the heart. This guitar can really make all kinds of really good sounds so I'm very happy with it. It was my first guitar so it is kinda special to me in a way. From funk to rock from jazz to soaring lead it is really all possible!!!!!!!! You have to believe me!!!!!!

I bought my guitar second hand so I dont know about the factory set- up but right now I have been playing intensivly ( I also own a great Popa Chubby sign. Flying V)The frets are pretty worn out so they ned replacement. The action is very good and the guitar plays a lot more natural, comfortable and faster than a Les Paul or Strat or whatever kind of guitar, the feel of it is just fantastic. Do not get me wrong I am not here to suck up but this guitar is one of the most not recognized great instruments!!!! The finish is ok, but because of my.....whell enthausiastic guitar playing it is starting to come of :( But because of the geat neck I will still rate it high.

I play in a band and perform regurlarly, so my axe has to withstand some bearings but it does that very well, I NEVER had any problems when gigging with this guitar except for a ocassional break of strings (happens to anyone, no? )Over time when your sweat gets all over the body and the smoke is coming through and some idiot spilled beer over her then of course some of the hardware is not really like shining anymore. When I was at a gig lately some dude thought it was nessesary to grab my girl from her stand while I was at the bar drinking a cool dutch beer during the break before the third set. after I grapped her from his sweaty pawns, I said did he hurt ya honey and she said yes, so I grabbed his bold ugly head and I...........Hmmmmmm, sorrry I got carried away, but I hate it when they touche my PRECIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

Never dealt with them sorry no comments, but I heard some good things about our Gibson Bro's

I also own a seymour and duncan convertible combo, a sessionette 75 combo and a Popa Chubby signature V (also a great guitar for a fair price). And I also have a couple of good effects such as a '72 VOX Wah, a Boss blues driver, a ibanez digital delay and a Boss chorus ensamble. I really need a new main amp and I have doubts with buying anything, I think I want either a Vibroking or a Koch amp, SOMEBADY HELP ME OUT HERE!!!!! If my hawk got stolen I would bought a new one the same frikkin day!!!! My most favourite feature of the nighthawk is its versatality, remember that, versatality.

Gibson night hawk standard. 22 frets.

This guitar has the very best warm long lasting sustain sound I have ever heard in a guitar, even customs. To get this sound it is the 2nd position up. Wow, now its time to Rock. The other 4 positions are honestly at just an average rating for sound. I like to play lead with 2 or 3 note harmonies, and the warm powerfull sustain on this guitar makes those lead parts soar. Also the action for the neck is surprisingly fast for fat a Gibson neck. Two thumbs up.

The guitar is a typical Gibson quality guitar when it came in. All I did was get rid of those terrible cheep vintage tuners and put some proper ones in. This really help the guitar to stay in tune Much much better. Plus a little tuning with the bridge. Over all Good.

really reliable, Again typical Gibson quality guitar.

never really dealt with them before.. sorry.

I've been playing for about 6 or 7 years now. I have played all types of guitars. And I don?t care who makes it just if it sounds good. I have played samicks that sound really good before. But for a fat creamy powerful rock sustained sound this nighthawk cant be beat. If this guitar was to be damaged I would take out those beautiful M-90 pickups and put them into a paul reed smith with a wide fat neck.

Mine is a 93, it says "Custom Shop Edition" on back of the neck, just under the headstock, & it's "Greenish-Blue"; all the other reviews I've read are "Amber", or "2-tones"...
I'm concerned about how to set my "Pickup height"? Since it has both , single-coils (Lower height), & Buckers (Higher height)-??
I like setting my axes as the manufactuer "recommends", but since I got this "used" ($499.), I have not clue: So I set the neck bucker like the Strat Buckers are suggested...& the bridge..."close"!
Comments on this please???

Blues
Fender Blues Jr.
Fender Custom Vibrolux
Too full really! I have to put Mast. Vol. all the way "Up", and other Vol. all the way "Down", and FORGET ABOUT "OVERDRIVE" devises...of ANY kind!!
It is a bit noisey...except for the mini-bucker in front.

Action was too high...still is...but...I'm not going to fiddle with it.
It's a '93, and in MINT condition!

Strap Button in front, SUCKS!! It "barely" stays "on" me!!!
Finish is fine...I don't really CARE about a "finish", anyhow...I'm a BLUES PLAYER!
I'd say it'll last 10 years...I don't really take good care of my guitars...
I don't "need" a back-up guitar with this thing...but, I take my Strat with Tex. Splcs. along anyhow, cuz that's the tone I'm known "with"...

NA...I DOUBT, I could EVER get ahold of a company that thinks a "Les Paul" , is worth "$5K"! Ha! (They're just a big hunk of WOOD, with big-ass PICK-UPS, man!)
No wareenty

I've been playing 38 years...
I would get another one...but, what's this about one with a "Pull-out Switch...that gives you TEN TONES???" THATS the one I'd want next!!!???

I wish there was the dual "Humbucking" setting, instead of the dual "Single-coil", & that one model came "hollow"...

Made on Nov 11 1993, standard sunburst with white trim, came with standard Gibson case with funky pink skirt

If you don't know the model, just pick one up and play it. It's a modern design with classic feel. You'll either love it or reject it. I love it, but I can see how others wouldn't.

I can't conceive a situation that this guitar wouldn't suit. It does very well what many other guitars do best, but adds a little flavor of its own. It won't replace for a Les Paul, 335, SG, or a Strat, but if you ever dreamt of getting all those tones out of a single guitar, this one substitues better than I ever expected. As for a unique tone of its own, it's spread out among all the different sounds, contributing a lil savory where most would expect it would fall short. I've used it with amps ranging from the twangy Fender Deluxe to the ballsy Marchall plexi to a full bodied Roland jazz chorus, never met an amp it didn't like and v.v.

The look is in between classic and modern. Some take it to be a contradiction, some think it's an elegant blend, some think it's downright tacky. Who cares? It plays as well as any Gibson ever made. If I'm not mistaken, the frets are a little fatter than usual, something I've grown to appreciate, I can't go back.

This guitar has only served studio duty and occasional back-up for my friend's identical Nighthawk. His has never failed, but I don't have enough experience to rave as much as I'd like to.

Can't comment, never had a problem.

A local luthier / guitar tech called this model "the best guitar Gibson has made in 25 years". I haven't found reason to disagree. I've played some classic Gibsons, and their owners have tried my Nighthawk, and we all agree this one's destined to be a classic, especially with it's short production life. I plan to take extremely good care of mine!

USA made, 22 frets, 1 volume 1 tone with a 5-way selector, 2 humbuckers (1 mini humbucker), has a string through body bridge, mahogany body and neck with a maple top

This guitar is great... suits my playing style which is alot of soft rock and emo along with some metal just to play around w/ every now and then. playing through a peavey 112 studio pro. Very quiet guitar and lots of tone and versitalitly.

I bought this guitar used and every thing was set up pretty well... needed to be cleaned and polished being that the previous owner didnt take the time to do this... but now she looks great... only thing is is that the neck gets sticky after playing... but this is easy to fix w/ a little polish

Had this guitar for a short time now but seems like it is built solid. so i really cant give this a rating.

Asked Gibson one question and they responded within a couple hours by email.

Ive been playing for a few years now and this is my second guitar. Couldnt be happier with it. If it were stolen id try to find another like it. Love every thing about this guitar except how the neck gets sticky but that is easily polished away. blows my other guitar away. great guitar for any one looking for a great rich full sound.

This guitar is a '93.The body and neck are mahogany.The top is flamed maple(not a ten top ,but very nice).The color is Fireburst.I'm sure you know what they look like,so I won't bother with those details.The tuners are vintage style.They stay in tune nice,but I think all guitars should have locking tuners.The guitar came with Gibson case.Very versatile guitar.

I play a heavy blues style(Gary Moore,Johnny Winter,Stevie).I also play some heavier music.This guitar plays those styles perfectly.It may not sound just like Strat or Paul,but it's own sound is wonderful.The pickups are both nice,but the neck pickup is extra special.It is very warm,but still has tons of bite.

The guitar was set-up very well from the factory,but I still tweaked it.The guitar looks great.It has some miles on it,but it just adds character.The finish job was fine.This guitar plays like a dream.I have only played a couple guitars in 20 years that played this good.

I have had this guitar for about 8 years,and I have never had a problem.I have played the s$$$ out of this thing.Never gig without a backup.

Never needed it.

I have been playing for about 20 years.I have owned about 60-70 guitars.I only have a few left ,and they are the special ones.I would suggest this guitar to any player of any style.If it were to be lost ,I would buy another one(or two).It is hard to compare to other guitars,because it really has it's own thing going own.I can't get over the fact these guitars didn't sell much better.I love Les Pauls and Strats,but I would take this guitar over either of them.

This is the Standard Model with the two pickups, the slanted humbucker at the bridge and the mini humbucker at the neck. It has the flamed maple finish and the parallelogram neck inserts. It comes with the standard 'tarts handbag' pink furry lined case!

The tones from the guitar are wide ranging, and the second position up, the 'full' bridge humbucker is outstanding. The lowest and the highest positions are a touch weak.

The guitar was second hand, and the action is a bit on the high side. The build quality is outstanding, and has aged somewhat to give it the classic dulled look. The controls are all positive and notchy.

I have only really just started using this guitar seriously, and it is as hardy as anything else I've used. It fell over and landed on my mates Strat and left a large gouge out of the rear of the strat. Oops! Well built and tough.

No idea, the guitar was second hand.

I would recommend this instrument for the typical all round 'pub' band. I did not go out looking for a Nighthawk, but when I had a go, I wanted this guitar! I've got a Srat and a Les Paul, but the small body size and tones of this guitar make it great all round. I play it through a Roland Bluescube, and occasionally through a Zoom 3000, but the straight overdriven tones through the Roland are to die for!

94-model,fireburstfinish,two humbuckers,a mini in the neck ,and a slanted pup in the bridgeposition,five way selector ,thru body stringing,paralellogram inlays ,same bodymaterials as a les paul although there is no carved maple top , only a flattop.kluson tuners,came with Gibson case.oh by the way this guitar has a ungibson 25`scale instead of the usual 24.75used .makes for a more Fenderlike sound

the fiveway switch is supposed to give you 10 different combinations by splitting the buckers .to my ears by splitting the coils I get some really thinny and not very usable sounds.It doesn`t sounds bad,only very unGibsonlike and not my cup of tea.To make matters worse ,the pups are extremely prone to feedback ,making rehearsals with the band really trying.the best pup-position is the bridgepup.the bridgepup sound vey good with distortion albeit at low volume.

I bought this used ,so I cannot comment on the factory setup,but it was fine when i got it.the nut was however in need of attention and needed some work in order to achieve full playability.the guitar looks really good

My guitar is at the moment gettin a pup rewax,so I guess it will be alright for liveplaying when I get it back.but not as it wore,with the microphonic pups I would not have used it in a live setting.the strapbuttons do not work ok.they are too small!!!!Hey GIBSON,what`s the matter with you???my epi lp has bigger strapbuttons and the guitar hangs safe,but with the nighthawk I am constantly worried about the guitar hitting the floor.crap!!!

njet.getting pup`s fixed

this is not my main guitar,I think my epiphone lp std blows this one away.I do not like the Fenderstyle bridge and fivewayswitch and certainly not the sound of the pickupcombinations.i would not buy it again,a real les paul is what i want.

USA made Gibson Nighthawk with two pickups. 22 frets. Mohagany body and neck with book-matched flamed maple top in an Amber stain (Grade AA). This was the final production year for this model, 1999. It has Volume and Tone controls and a 5-way switch. This guitar is a single cutaway and about 3/4 the size of a Les Paul, but about 1/2 the weight. Originally purchased NOS with OHSC for $1200 four months before I found it on Ebay. I saw one just like it at one of the big chain stores for $1400. Check out Gibson's web site for their 1999 discontinued models to get full specs.

I play a variety of styles, including Classic Rock, Blues, Jazz, Metallica Metal, Niel Young Grunge, etc. I have a solid state Crate Chorus Combo with twin 10" speakers. I typically run my Boss BR-8 through this amp for the effects that come built in with the BR-8. I also use a Mesa Boogie Nomad 45 to get the full analog sound of a tube amp. This guitar provides an enormous tone palette that I do not get from my Gibson Les Paul Double Cutaway Standard. I did not buy this to imitate a Stratocaster. I have one of those as well in my collection to provide the true Fender tone. I purchased this for its own unique character. This guitar has the fastest playing neck of any guitar I have played seriously.

Considering the cost of this guitar, the construction of this guitar is flawless. It is not a top of the line, multiple thousands of dollars Gibson, but it wears the name proudly. Ed Roman does not give Gibson enough credit for the innovation they have done in the guitar industry over the years, so do not buy into all of his "anti-Gibson" hype on his internet site...www.edromanguitars.com...He does not even comment on this fine instrument. Oh yeah, because it does not sell for thousands of dollars so why should he waste his time with it. Forget you Ed Roman. I like my Gibsons...

This is a professional quality instrument with a very unique sound and character. It looks dynamite.

Gibson is dependable...

This amber stained maple flame top is a nice match with my Les Paul DC Standard with a similar amber finish maple flame. Now that the Gary More Les Paul single cutaway is out, I will have to get that next to finish off my Gibson hat trick of 3 amber stained maple flame tops...but that is another matter. Guitars are tone palettes. Just like an artist is looking for those unusual and elusive colors within the color spectrum, musicians are on the same search for those elusive and different tone palettes. This guitar offers you something new in the way it generates tones. The sustain on this guitar is quite unbelievable.

It's a 1996 Nighthawk, finished in Translucent Amber, two-pickup model. Construction is mahogany body & neck plus maple top on body (=Les Paul). The front pickup is a specially designed mini humbucker and the bridge pu is slanted humbucker. Strings are attached from the back of the body (=Telecaster).

For rock/blues/country this guitar is voiced perfectly (and you're perfectly free to create any sounds with it, like with every other guitar, of course). The inherent sound is clear and bright with slim bass response. The body, in fact the whole guitar, resonates wonderfully. The 5 pickup settings with singlecoil options allow for different sounds that broaden the tonal spectrum without fiddling through mini-switches or other devices.

Setup was perfect. The maple top is immaculate. The finish though has wrinkles at the neck joint. Due to the heavily figured maple top it is only visible when you actually look for it but it is nonetheless a flaw. The quality of the woods used seem to be very high due to the resonating and the immediate attack (more Fender like these dull Les Pauls)

After years of heavy use (live & rehearsals & being around at home for instant use) it is still a wonderful looking guitar. Pick scratches on the surface are again barely visible due to this maple top's figuring. I like that. So this is definitely a player's guitar!

n/a

I've been playing out since ten years now, used a Gibson ES335 (wonderful guitar, definitely too heavy) and a Telecaster (not versatile enough, compared to the Nighthawk) through Fender Twin Reverbs or Deluxes mainly. If you need a perfect tool and you crave for quality and, perhaps, you don't want to have one of this dull and everlasting Les Paul/Stratocaster lookalikes, or these guitars themselves for that matter, this is a perfect choice. Remember, this guitar would cost you approx. half of what a Les Paul Standard will set you back. Too bad Gibson stopped production in 1999 (they offer Blueshawk models now, with P90 pickups, so if the Nighthawk was stolen I would replace it with one of these - or, even better, a used Nighthawk).

My 'Hawk is a two pickup model with a tobacco 'burst flamed maple top on a mahogany body with gold hardware. The front pu is modeled on the mini humbucker pattern, and the bridge pu is a large 'bucker on a slanted mount.
A solid bridge with the strings mounting from the back resembles a hardtail strat. This plus the 25.5" scale make this a very different guitar for Gibson. It looks as if they wanted to combine a bunch of gibson and Fender features to produce one of those stupid "sounds like any other guitar" products. Instead, they produced a fine guitar that speaks with its own unique voice.

I play a variety of rock and blues styles and this guitar does very well.
The long scale on a set-neck gibson style axe is not only extremely easy to play but has a clarity of tone other gibsons lack. You can hear the effect that the stamped kluson style tuners have on the sound.
The front PU has a resonant throaty sound and the back will bite. Like most tapped/dual sound PU's the bright sound is too bright and the deep sound to bassy. I may see about building a Duncan JB model onto the PU frame. Otherwise this thing is great.
DO NOT try to use this as an imitation tele or faux paul and enjoy it for what it is.

I bought this used so gave it the usual once over - all is well the thing is extremely sound and reliable. The Corian nut sounds and plays well and wears like iron.
Built like a Gibson.

This is as sound and reliable as a guitar can get. I see no reason why this thing shouldn't last like any of the other guitars that Gibson has built.
Doubt it will be thought of with the reverence of say an original Paul 30 years from now. But, I'm sure there will be enough specimens around to see.

Never called gibson. And why would I?

I've played for nearly 30 years and this guitar stands with anything else I've owned - IF we think about it as its own guitar I love it. It does a poor job of imitating others.
I would want to find something like this if I didn't have it already or if I needed a replacement.

The NightHawk Standard is a 22 Fret guitar made by Gibson USA. Its made from Mahogany with a maple top (mine is Transparent Amber - nice ;). The neck is also Mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard and Mother of Pearl Twin Parrallelogram inserts. My guitar is the Standard version with two pickups - Front is a mini humbucker and rear is a slanted humbucker - both are special Gibson pickups (I read that in their Web site). It has a Fender Bridge with string-thru-body design, stop tail - no trem. Its pickups are passive and there are five selections of both humbucker and single coil sounds. It comes with an arched contoured hard case (mine has a Pink/Crimson lining. Finally, the tuners, lickup surrounds, front humbucker cover are Gold plated.

I love the sound and versatility of this guitar. I play rock (Kiss, Van-Halen, etc) and also rock-blues (Gary Moore) and this guitar is perfectly suited to this style. The selection of single coil sounds also is very nice, with a real Texas Twang. (On a Gary Moore video he switches from his Gibson to a Fender for Texas Blues and Moovin On, but with the NightHawk, just move the pickup selector and your there!. The tone control is well voiced and the pickups have a high output, nicely overdriving my Marshall 1959 Plexi re-issue Amp. I have heard from a few sources that this guitar might not be popular with rockers, but I cannot see any reason for this. I really do love this guitar.

The guitar was pretty well setup from the factory. The action was really nice. The finish was great. There was a problem though with a couple of the frets from 20-22. The Music store I bought it from has a great guitar tech who explained that the frets were too flat on top and as a result a couple of high notes didn't ring true (especially noticable with higher gain settings). I though this might be a Wolf note, but after having a couple of frets re-profiled its better than ever. Its a little dissapointing this wasn't noticed during setup at the factory but It just highlights the value of professional setup. It was a good guitar when I got it, its absolutely fabulous now. It tunes true and doesn't move even under heavy bending. There really isn't a bad note on it.

Its a solidly constructed guitar. I think it will last well, although its so pretty and I love it so much I am going to treat it very carefully.

I've never dealt with Gibson (I'm in Australia). The support I got from my Music store though was excellent (maybe they are an authorised distributor? - I don't know).

I have been playing for 10 years. I own a Marshall 1959 Plexi Re-Issue (one of those nice 35th Anniversary Ltd edition White ones!) and the NightHawk is the perfect partner for this amp. The two things that remain in the memory about this instrument are its "Beautiful" sound and its craftsmanship. I can really appreciate a finely crafted instrument, but when it has the raw rock power to shake you in your boots its just the best of both worlds. I think I will always by a Gibson USA guitar from now on.