1983 Nighthawk
Brad W. Traweek's 1983 Nighthawk

Photos
History
Registered Examples

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The following images are in the Nighthawks/Skyhawks section of the Pictures Gallery:

Check out this page on Greg Gagliano's site for the complete story (and specifications) on the Nighthawk. All I'll add to Greg's text is that we've since run across a number of Nighthawks with ash bodies (like the clear red and clear blue examples in the photos above, for example). Dale Hyatt searched the logbooks several years ago and is responsible for the 269-guitar figure; while he was at it he also compiled the following report of Nighthawk finishes which he gave to Paul Bechtoldt: 
113 Black
 38 White
 87 Burst
 23 Natural
  2 Gold
  2 Clear Red 
  2 Clear Blue
  2 Clear Green

S/N
Model Neck Date Body Date Color Fretboard Body Bridge Other Features Owner
1. G005101 Nighthawk     Black Ebony       sh63@comcast.net
2. G009885 Nighthawk     Natural Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System Bought new at Harmony House in Alton, Il. in 1983. The salesman said it was a prototype left by a G & L salesman. garryyoung1@yahoo.c...
3. G007806 Nighthawk     Natural Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Bought new in 83, all original hardware, warranty & sales tag with #244 written under quality control team initials / other than some slight checking on the back of the neck, this guitar is still like new Jammjunky7
4. G009923 Nighthawk OCT 21, 1983 OCT 12, 1983 Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Decal on Neck plate with Patent # 4002994, 4046050, 256804, 431950, 3678795 Nguma
5. G008206 Nighthawk OCT 28, 1983   Black Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Oct of 83 Nighthawk neck on 87 - 91 black Skyhawk body. Serial # is Nighthawk. Head stock is natural color. Ebony fret board. Play's, looks & sounds great. If you want to see what it looks like, email me and Ill send you pictures. mbyrne52482@gmail.c...
6. G005329 Nighthawk     Natural Maple       Leobygnl@aol.com
7. G007935 Nighthawk MAR 25, 1983 AUG 20, 1983 Natural Maple Swamp Ash   Ash body  
8. G008481 Nighthawk OCT 21, 1983 OCT ??, 1983 Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System All Black like a Broadcaster GNLDAVE
9. G011965 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood Swamp Ash Kahler Aftermarket Kahler. I have the original Dual Fulcrum Vibrato, bar, claw, springs, etc. Body colored headstock. OHSC. Groovology
10. G015915 Nighthawk     Black Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System I got this guitar in 1983 from Leo Fender on a cruise with Mrs. Fender. I was playing a Gibson LP on the gig. Leo offered his card and invited me to try a guitar he had brought on board. He left me with the guitar and a great memory. info@LouieMoon.com
11. G015131 Nighthawk OCT 20, 1983 OCT 20, 1983 Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System Match H/Stk, P/Guard black plastic 3 ply BWB, black crinkle cont. cov.. Stainless plate on back! Exc. Minus-Cond. West Mobile Music
12. G012304 Nighthawk     Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System I bought it new at St Charles Guitar Exchange in St Louis in 1983-september 1983 manufacture date-have all tags that came from factory including one that says featured in Guitiar Player magazine which is where I saw it and decided to buy it. kycom@mchsi.com
13. G010435 Nighthawk     Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System Seen on eBay; rust on bridge parts and pickup pole pieces; matching headstock; OHSC; appears to have original trem bar  
14. G014820 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood Mahogany DF Vibrato System The original fingerboard was ebony but the truss rod was broken and the neck replaced by G&L with a rosewood fingerboard in 1988. brettgstoddard@yaho...
15. G015160 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood Mahogany DF Vibrato System Chrome Hardware, Vibrado Arm, 22 Fret neck, matching black headstock, black crinkle control plate, black 3 ply pick guard, All Factory Original Guitarmaan2000
16. G015006 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Matching head stock, black crinkle control plate, black 3 ply plastic p/g. CENZ56
17. G014382 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Matching head stock, black crinkle control plate, black 3 ply plastic p/g.  
18. G011780 Nighthawk     Clear Red Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System   ericc1974
19. G015211 Nighthawk OCT 21, 1983 OCT ??, 1983 Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System   Yamato
20. G011818 Nighthawk     Three-tone Sunburst Ebony Mahogany   1983 model  
21. G012676 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Black Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Headstock matches body color MAIKOL
22. G011959 Nighthawk     Tobacco Sunburst Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System No pickguard was ever on this instrument. Serial number on the tremolo. Brandon V
23. G012251 Nighthawk     Black Ebony     VG shape, the finish on the neck has beautifully yellowed with age. Nighthawks ROCK! Purchased from my good friend Paavo. jefF-100
24. G012379 Nighthawk     Black Ebony        
25. G015279 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood Swamp Ash cap/Tilia[Basswood] body DF Vibrato System Purchased over 20 years ago, original rusted pick-ups replaced, heavily customised, paint checked. kpayne726.kp@gmail....
26. G014834 Nighthawk SEP 26, 1983 AUG ??, 1983 Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Color matched headstock; OHSC; pitting on bridge and knobs. KenC
27. G014884 Nighthawk   ??? ??, 1983 Clear Blue Maple Swamp Ash   One of Two Clear Blue Nighthawks ever Made SMITHOMIKE@AOL.COM
28. G015072 Nighthawk     Natural Maple Mahogany   [Registry Admin note: emailed owner for missing bridge type] (Hidden)
29. G014821 Nighthawk     White Maple Mahogany DF Vibrato System Bought second hand in the mid 90's in Boston. Now in France, where I live. Unfortunately, bridge pickup had been changed for Duncan's hot rails. p.hello@orange.fr
30. G014965 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System This one was purchased new from Filip's Muic downtown Aurora, Illinois between spring and summer 1983. This guitar shows signs of wear as it was used. It is all original with the exception of 2 small screw holes drillrd for a guitar synth P/U skiplay4@comcast.net
31. G015163 Nighthawk     Natural   Mahogany DF Vibrato System Assembled 11/17/83. Purchased new 2/6/87 at Ann Arbor Music Mart, Ann Arbor MI. with case regular price $816, sale $530 JDB
32. G011956 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System Has Had A Kahler Installed At One Time Which Has Left A Hole In The Top. OHSC  
33. G014983 Nighthawk     Black         dberend@va.metrocas...
34. G015035 Nighthawk     Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System MINT pblassen@yahoo.com
35. G014851 Nighthawk     Red Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System   redwood841@comcast....
36. G014914 Nighthawk     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System   AmyFive
37. G015277 Nighthawk     Black     DF Vibrato System    
38. G015171 Nighthawk     Natural Maple Mahogany      
39. G015241 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Clear Red Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Near mint guitar; one of the very few clear red Nighthawks, probably less than 20; only 4 known with maple necks. Matching clear red headstock. PhatGuitars
40. G015329 Nighthawk NOV 22, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Black Rosewood Mahogany DF Vibrato System 100% all original JR.BLUES
41. G012370 Nighthawk MAY 3, 1983 APR 29, 1983 Natural Ebony   DF Vibrato System Koa wood body, I was told this was the only Koa NightHawk and 1 of 3 Koa G&Ls, gold HW, maple neck Mike1
42. G014979 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Clear Red Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System [Admin note: Headstock color matches body; this is a 'rarebird'; 1/6 or 7 red; 1/3 with ebony board!!] jdbe1@yahoo.com
43. G012031 Nighthawk     Tobacco Sunburst Ebony   DF Vibrato System i am the original owner, NO pickguard was ever on this guitar. I have not seen one like that. Also the finish is a See Through Sunburst. please contact me if you can help find more info mediamusic@aol.com
44. G015267 Nighthawk     Clear Red Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Headstock same color as body. jordan@covconn.net
45. G011730 Nighthawk             completion date 4/20/83 from Bechtoldt's book feel free to edit in additional info  
46. G014824 Nighthawk     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System Was used for recording and performance by my brother Oliver North in the band COMATEENS. Can be see in action here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FV3g_EP3Fa8 ndnyc2003@yahoo.com
47. G014607 Nighthawk     Black Maple       GwedoOhio@aol.com
48. G015320 Nighthawk AUG 25, 1983 JUL 27, 1983 Clear Red Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System The Former Owner wrote, "possibly 1 of 2 red Nighthawks, \\\"OK Leo C. 11-16-83\\\" written in neck pocket" Yamato
49. G015288 Nighthawk     Black Ebony       Dave@Seafordmusic.c...
50. G015204 Nighthawk AUG 23, 1983   Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System   Tom Valentine
51. G015118 Nighthawk FEB 15, 1983   Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System NAMM show guitar, gold hardware B Vestal
52. G015108 Nighthawk     Black Ebony        
53. G014975 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System 12/16/83 completion date  
54. G014777 Nighthawk JUL 14, 1983 JUN ??, 1983 Clear Blue Maple Swamp Ash   Ash body, possibly 1 of 2 blue Nighthawks  
55. G012462 Nighthawk     Black Ebony        
56. G012324 Nighthawk     Black Ebony        
57. G012042 Nighthawk     Natural Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Like an idiot I sold this guitar. If you have it I would love to buy it back.  
58. G012201 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Special factory-equipped option: no pickguard evak47
59. G012059 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 JUL 11, 1983 Clear Red Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System 2 reportedly existed, but mine would actually make number three Registry Admin
60. G014771 Nighthawk     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System   GreyVerde@ATT.net
61. G015048 Nighthawk     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System Color match headstock, chrome hardware, b/w/b pg, blk metal control cover  
62. G014832 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood Alder DF Vibrato System Color match headstock,two part pg, blk. plastic with crinkle blk control cover  
63. G014838 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System Headstock color matches body color; black polymer pickguard. Registry Admin
64. G015191 Nighthawk OCT 21, 1983 OCT ??, 1983 Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Matching Headstock Seaotter
65. G014801 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Color match headstock, b/w/b pg  
66. G014913 Nighthawk SEP 26, 1983 AUG 26, 1983 Black Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Formerly in Brad Traweeks collection  
67. G012110 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 SEP 2, 1983 Black Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System new bone-nut, new trem-arm and spring-cavity plate, non-original case, bought from BWT. Peter Frieß
68. G010921 Nighthawk     Natural     DF Vibrato System   Frodo
69. G015033 Nighthawk     White Ebony   DF Vibrato System Possibly one of 38 white Nighthawks  
70. G015051 Nighthawk     Black Rosewood   Kahler Blk. plastic pg, blk. metal control cover, SSH pickup configuration  
71. G011473 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Natural Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System   jamesboswell
72. G015049 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983 ??? ??, 1983 Tobacco Sunburst Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System Color matching headstock, two part pickguard (blk. plastic over pups- metal over controls)  
73. G014748 Nighthawk     Black Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System Bought new in \\\'83, main guitar for many years, no longer pristine, but sounds incredible. rsc59
74. G011763 Nighthawk ??? ??, 1983   Natural Ebony Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Serial # on bridge. Blk plastic PG / blk metal control plate Juan Valdez
75. G011949 Nighthawk SEP 3, 1983 JUL 11, 1983 Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Rare maple body  
76. G011993 Nighthawk SEP 3, 1983 JUN 10, 1983 Natural Ebony Mahogany DF Vibrato System s/n on bridge  
You can click the serial numbers in this column to edit the corresponding Instrument.
[Total Produced: 269]
[Total Registered to Date: 76]

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