The Gibson® Nighthawk™ was first introduced in 1993. It was a very forward-thinking guitar at the time, essentially a combination of an SG’s® lower bout and thinner body with a Les Paul’s® upper bout, but with a unique pickup combination and 25 ½” scale. The unique pickup configuration included Gibson’s NHT bridge position humbucker, mounted on a slant, together with a single coil middle pickup and a mini-humbucker in the neck position. Historically, guitarists had very few, if any, options when it came to replacement pickups for the Nighthawk’s distinctive and unique “Slant NHT” humbucker.

Now, 18 years later, guitarists who originally dismissed the Nighthawk as too “different” recognize what a great guitar it really was and is. That’s why Gibson’s Epiphone® division is reissuing the Nighthawk Custom Reissue. One thing that’s different in 2011 is now, for the first time, Seymour Duncan® is offering replacement, after-market pickups for Epiphone’s new Nighthawk. Seymour Duncan’s after-market replacement pickups for the Nighthawk bridge position humbucker will come in two voicings.

The ’59 Model™ is Seymour Duncan’s take on the legendary “Patent Applied For” humbucker. The output is vintage (8.13K Ohms D.C. Resistance) because its coils are wound with Plain Enamel wire on a vintage Leesona Model 102 winding machine. The tone is clear and crystalline and the ’59 is great for all music styles.

The JB Model™ is the world’s most popular hot-rodded humbucker. Its powerful coil windings (16.4K Ohms D.C. Resistance) give it loads of power and make it a big step up from the ’59 in terms of output. But unlike other high-output humbuckers, the JB retains its punchy upper-midrange detail. It’s applicable for heavier music styles

Epiphone’s Nighthawk Custom Reissue will make its debut at the 2011 Winter NAMM show. Seymour Duncan’s after-replacement pickups will follow shortly thereafter in March 2011. Now, if you’re a Nighthawk owner, you too can own your tone.

Gibson, Epiphone, Les Paul and SG are registered trademarks of Gibson USA with which Seymour Duncan is not affiliated.