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Reviews taken from www.epinions.com
Blueshawk Kicks Out More Than Just The Blues
by vice | Aug 26 '00 (Updated Aug 26 '00)
Pros: Lightweight, tonal variation, classy appearance
Cons: Limited appeal to guitar players
Recommended: Yes
Introduced in 1996, the Gibson BluesHawk proved itself to be in a class of its own. Its tonal variation via two single coil P90 pickups and six-way Varitone rivalled that of a Fender Telecaster while retaining its true identity as a Gibson with sounds ranging from a snap, punch and spank; to light metal thrash; to smooth, mellow jazz; and of course, the blues.
The Blueshawk is a guitar that tends to be overlooked by guitar players, even hardcore Gibson fans. Reason? It’s just one of those guitars that either gets your attention or it doesn’t. And, you either like it or you don’t. If you like it, then you probably understand it, for it is in the understanding of the Blueshawk that one finds fulfilment therein. It's not a hardcore guitar, yet a six-string beauty that’s bound to be a classic.
I first learned of the Blueshawk via Gibson's website. The guitar immediately got my attention for a number of reasons, not the least of which was its semi-hollow body with classical f-holes cut into the maple top along with the old fashioned-looking six-way Varitone selector switch that together hinted at having the ability to take one back in time to when the blues first began. The gold hardware and classic Gibson tuners give it a certain charm. And just in case you have trouble getting the full picture, Gibson added diamond-shaped inlays on the fingerboard. Like I say, if you understand this guitar, you will like it a lot. In fact, you may love it.
When I first pulled a Blueshawk off the wall of a music store, I knew I was going to like it. First off, it’s noticeably lightweight, lighter than a Gibson SG even. In fact, it’s one of the lightest guitars on the market. Anyone who has played on stage with a Gibson Les Paul slung over his shoulder should be able to appreciate that. And the shape of its body is basically that of a Les Paul anyway.
Women should be particularly interested in the Blueshawk. No sooner had my wife put one in her hands then a guy came up from behind and said, “Looks good on you.” It really did.
The sound? To get an idea of what the Blueshawk can do, Gibson has a number of RealAudio clips via their website featuring Gibson clinician Chuck Yamek whipping out a few licks on the Blueshawk. To listen, go to the Blueshawk page at the Gibson website (see URL at bottom), click on the “arsenal of new sounds” link, and take your pick of musical clips. I will caution you, however: the clips will only give you some idea of what the Blueshawk is capable of. To really know, you’ll have to play this guitar for yourself or listen to someone live who knows how to make a Blueshawk happen.
I first played the Blueshawk through a Peavey 100-watt tube amp, which immediately gave me the impression that this guitar was meant to be played through tubes. However, I have since played it through a Line 6 combo amp with digital tube modeling and special effects. Result? The guitar rocks.
Unlike single coil pickups which tend to hum when selected individually (as with a Fender Stratocaster), the unique dummy coil setup on the Blueshawk takes care of this problem and, in conjunction with the special six-way Varitone feature (activated via a push/pull pot of the Master Tone Control) and three-way selector switch, provides an interesting array of tones in addition to those when the Varitone is off.
And for those who would be concerned over just how much the P90 single coils can deliver, I would point out that even the Les Paul Studio Gem--introduced the same year as the Blueshawk--was equipped with P90's. You know Gibson isn't going to put whimpy pickups on a Les Paul.
Playability? While the mahogany neck on the Blueshawk is narrower than a Les Paul or SG, my preference would be to have it tapered a bit more toward the head. Regardless, it’s a fast neck, provided the string height is set properly, and its through-the-body string system adds to sustain.
If you want something a bit more unique, you can get a Blueshawk equipped with a Maestro tremolo system. When I first saw that setup I thought it looked a bit large. But Gibson wouldn’t throw something like that on a lightweight Blueshawk if its body couldn’t handle it, would they? Especially since their guitars come with a limited lifetime guarantee? Whatever the case, the golden Maestro looks very classy. And when I asked a friend of mine his opinion, he thought it was a definite enhancement.
Both the standard model Blueshawk and Blueshawk with Maestro come in your choice of Ebony, Heritage Cherry, or—get this—Chicago Blue finish. As of the date of this article, you can pick up a standard Blueshawk for about $820* and a Blueshawk with Maestro for right around $970.*
You can also get a Blueshawk in the form of the B.B. King "Little Lucille" model that features a few of the master bluesman's personal touches including creme binding and more gold, in addition to the TP- 6 tailpiece and six-position Varitone selector which rests atop a golden plate. This model, of course, will cost you a bit more.
Additional note:
The only negative factor associated with a Gibson guitar these days will be related to the level of workmanship or attention to detail Gibson fails to command. Back around 1998, it became apparent that the company didn't care as much about putting out guitars with flawless workmanship as it did about putting out guitars, period. One reason why PRS, with a notable former Gibson man on its staff, started receiving more attention to its guitars.
Back then, on a Gibson it wasn't uncommon to see a bit of glue around some of the inlays, a drop of paint that wasn't smoothed out, or some other obvious imperfection that just shouldn't have been. One might have also found the cap to the three-way pickup selector switch on a Blueshawk to come off a bit too easily.
Still, there are those who will always choose a Gibson for one reason: because it's a Gibson. And word now is that the company has gone through a bit of reorganization and that the quality is "back up there." Let's hope so, considering the price Gibson demands for its guitars, regardless of any historical or nostalgic value they may possess, let alone because of the name.
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Recommended for: All levels
My Preferred Playing Style: Jazz/Rock/Blues
If Lost/Stolen: I'd replace it with the same model
I've played guitar for: 15+ years
Owns: 2 guitars
I Also Play: Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Mandolin, Blues Harp, Recorder, Bass
Home Recordings: No, I don't produce music at home
Guitar Instructor: No, I am not
Weight: Light yet still has presence
Sound Quality: Versatile
Blues Hawk-interesting hybrid
by atrain48 | Dec 20 '01
Pros: Pretty in red; versatile; nice price for a Gibson; very fast; light.
Cons: White junk in the f-holes; difficult to keep in tune.
The Bottom Line: For the price, this is a fine guitar with tonal variety for those who know how to use it (or are willing to try). Blues on this is fun.
Recommended: Yes
I bought my Blues Hawk used from Ebay for a decent price. It came with a Gibson hard shell case that fit like a glove. I feel in love with the looks right away. The love affair continues. I got the vintage cherry red finish. It had light pick scratches south of the strings. There is no pick guard on this model. So, if you want to pound on this puppy, forget it. I got some polish you really have to rub in that worked that made the scratches nearly invisible. The Gibson resin finish came back quite nicely. So now, the lady looks really pretty. The red is nicely set off by the cream edges and pickup covers. To say nothing of the gold hardware. The only down-side of the finish is the white junk you see when you look down through the f-holes. Not very visible but weird. Some folks complain about the Blues Hawk label on the body. I don't mind it; sometimes I even like it.
I have played this guitar for over a year in my basement and with a couple of friends I jam with. No gigging. So, I cannot tell you how it holds up in a working band. I have discovered a few things worth mentioning, especially if you plan to gig with this. My model was difficult to keep in tune. The Gibson tuners slipped while tuning. Then they would slip out of tune while playing. I got Grovers and the slipping seems to have stopped, but I still have to retune more than I am accustomed to. My Fenders do better in this regard. Part of the staying in tune is the way I play. This guitar just begs to have its strings bent. You can get some of the sweetest bends out of this baby. So, of course, for blues it is an instrument of choice. Thus, the name: Blues Hawk.
More about playability. The action on my model was low and fast; it came that way from the guy I bought it from. For tone, you can pick from a variety of palettes. You have 2 pickups (with switch), and a varitone switch with 6 positions. Each position on the varitone emphasizes different parts of the tonal spectrum. Or you can play without the varitone, which is where I like it most often for blues. There it sounds smoky and rich. Gibson has sound clips that make the guitar sound jazzy, funky, country, hardish rock and so on. Having tried various varitone settings, I am only now just discovering the subtleties in the varitone. I have to agree with one of the other reviewers-it is tricky. I like the jazz position for the little jazz I play. The next position down yields a distinctive tone. It sounds like a really old electric guitar. I have not found much use for the other settings yet, but I haven't given up yet either. One think I have noticed is how much difference playing through a good clean tube amp makes. My Bandmaster seems to bring out the subtle variations in the varitone better. I also think that part of what makes the varitone sounds so distinct in the Gibson sound bites is their guitarist's skill in mastering these styles. Overall, I love the tone I can get out of the Blues Hawk. The sustain, depth and variation are all remarkable.
About the pickups. Some people think Gibson put P-90s in the Blues Hawk. I don't think so. These are Blues 90s, not P-90s. I have had a hard time getting info on these. And don't ask me how they are different than P-90s, since I haven't played their P-90s. Like, P-90s, these are single coils, vintage-type sound, but are linked together so as to cancel hum. Kind of P-90ish humbuckers, sort of. The tone is distinctive. The neck pickup plays dark and rich, and the bridge has plenty of treble. I find the pickups, like most single coils, are low output in comparison to humbuckers I have played. While I haven't measured the output, The Blues 90s don't knock your socks off like my Duncan Hot Rails. But that's OK with me. I don't need this guitar to be a screamer. I play this when I want something that cries and sings out sweet. And this does just that.
The body is exceptionally light, partly due to its smallness and also the semi-solid body. Careful, though, this is not a hollow or semi- hollow body. The lightness is a nice relief after hefting a Strat or a Tele. It took some getting used to, but I appreciate it better and better as I age.
I love my Blues Hawk for what it is and what it could be. I got it, because I wanted to experience a Gibson, but couldn't cough up the big bucks. I wanted to find an instrument to play those sweet bends. It satisfies me in that way. Plus, the varitone/non-varitone combinations give me room to grow into other tones and sounds without buying a whole new guitar. Of course, if there is a particular sound you want, just go out and get that guitar and that amp. But if you want to experiment with tone without the need to mimic someone else, this could be the ticket. And the price is right.
Recommended for: Intermediate Guitarists
My Preferred Playing Style: blues-rock
If Lost/Stolen: I'd replace it with the same model.
I've played guitar for: 15+ Years
Owns: 4 Guitars
I Also Play: appalachian dulcimer, banjo
Home Recordings: Yes, I produce music at home.
Guitar Instructor: No, I am not.
Amount Paid ($US): 600
I Bought It: Used
Weight: Light, but has some presence
Sound Quality: Versatile
Excellent Guitar
by bd2925 | Apr 01 '01
Pros: Good playability and looks
Cons: Varitone is tricky
The Bottom Line: Try the guitar, it has a really kool sound. Tele meets the Wolfgang...
Recommended: Yes
The guitar is beautiful! I purchased one new with a Maestro tremelo system on it. The color is blue with gold hardware. The guitar has binding around the body but the neck is unbound. Diamond pearl inlays run up the fretboard. The tunning mechanisms are ok, they are Gibson Deluxe tuners. The strings are not good that come with it. I replaced them with Custom made 24 K gold strings. This brightens the tone up and gives the guitar unmatched sustain. The strings have independant action adjusters. An excellent easy to play great sounding guitar. The guitar is a blues guitar but is so versatile I play everything with it. I gig with it about twice per month and record on it about the same amount. The guitar came with a Gibson Gold waranty, but I haven't had any problems with it yet. The varitone switch is a bit tricky but proves to be a great asset when you get to learn how to use it.
Recommended for: Advanced Guitarists
My Preferred Playing Style: Everything from Rock to Classical
If Lost/Stolen: I'd replace it with the same model.
I've played guitar for: 15+ Years
Owns: 5 Over 5 Guitars
I Also Play: Piano
Home Recordings: Yes, I produce music at home.
Guitar Instructor: Yes, I am.
Amount Paid ($US): 750
I Bought It: New
Weight: Light, but has some presence
Sound Quality: Versatile
