Hawk, model A

During the period 1978-1979 (maybe early '80) the A-model Washburn Hawk is made in 4 different versions. Version 1 and 2 are the oldest Hawk incarnations, close siblings, similar specs and (given the serial numbers) might have been produced at the same time.


Version 1: Serial numbers are 5 digits on the back of the headstock, starting with 78. The most recognizable feature on this version is the shape of the body. The cutaways don't meet the neck at the 90 degree angle, which is characteristic for the Wing Series, but they have a more normal rounded shape, comparable with the early Yamaha SG's for example.

Manufacturer: unknown
Years Offered: 1978
Body:  arched top, double cutaway, bound edges.
Body Wood(s): ash
Neck Wood: 3 piece, maple-rosewood-maple, neck-through. Center neck wood visible on front of headstock.
Fingerboard: rosewood, dot inlays.
Frets: 22
Scale: 630 mm
Tuners: Grover(-ish) , sealed, 3xR, 3xL
Pickups:  2x unknown humbucker, one height adjustment screw per side.
Electronics:  2xV, 2xT, 3-way pickup selector, 2 mini-toggles in between for coilsplitting or phasing.
Bridge-Tailpiece: Washburn die-cast, string through body
Hardware: chrome, brass saddles, brass  nut
Finish: honey burst, see through dark brown
Comment: control cavity (oval shape) and trussrod cover made of plastic, jack input on the front of the guitar. Serial nr is 5 digits (small/narrow font) stamped on back of the headstock.

 

Version 2: Serial numbers are 5 digits on the back of the headstock, starting with 78. This model has the usual/common Wing-series body shape. Same specs as version 1, altough no phasing/coil-split toggle switches on this version.

Manufacturer: unknown
Years Offered: 1978
Body:  arched top, double cutaway, bound edges.
Body Wood(s): ash
Neck Wood: 3 piece, maple-rosewood-maple, neck-through. Center neck wood visible on front of headstock.
Fingerboard: rosewood, dot inlays
Frets: 22
Scale: 630 mm
Tuners: Grover(-ish) , sealed, 3xR, 3xL
Pickups:  2x unknown humbucker, one height adjustment screw per side.
Electronics:  2xV, 2xT, 3-way pickup selector
Bridge-Tailpiece: Washburn die-cast, string through body
Hardware: chrome, brass saddles, brass  nut
Finish: see through honey burst, see through black, see through medium brown
Comment: control cavity (oval shape) and trussrod cover made of plastic, jack input on the front of the guitar. Serial nr is 5 digits (small/narrow font) stamped on back of the headstock.

There are no pictures of this version of the A-model Hawk available yet.


Version 3: Serial numbers are 5 digits+E on the back of the headstock, starting with 78, 79, or 80 followed by a low number. This is the most common version of the A-model Hawk.

Manufacturer: unknown
Years Offered: 1978-1980
Body:  arched top, double cutaway, bound edges.
Body Wood(s): ash
Neck Wood: 3 piece, maple-rosewood-maple, neck-through. Center neck wood visible on front of headstock.
Fingerboard: rosewood, dot inlays
Frets: 22
Scale: 630 mm
Tuners: Washburn, sealed, 3xR, 3xL
Pickups:  2x unknown humbucker, one height adjustment screw per side.
Electronics:  2xV, 2xT, 3-way pickup selector
Bridge-Tailpiece: Washburn die-cast, string through body
Hardware: chrome, brass saddles, brass  nut
Finish: see through (very) dark brown, see through medium brown, see through tobacco burst, see through honey burst
Comment: control cavity (oval shape) and trussrod cover made of plastic, jack input on the front of the guitar. Serial nr is 5 digits+E stamped on back of the headstock.


Version 4: This version of the A-model Hawk is a much closer relative to the B-model. They have serial nrs made of 5 digits, stamped on the back of the (wood) electronics cover. So far known the numbers start with 79 but, given the fact they are hidden on the inside of the guitar, there's not a lot of serial nr info available. The top of the headstock has a kind of shallow bowl shape on this version. On this model the electronics are mounted on a print circuit board that states "Made by Yamaki", the electronics are enclosed in a metal box for shielding purposes.

Manufacturer: probably Yamaki
Years Offered: 1979
Body:  arched top, double cutaway, bound edges.
Body Wood(s): ash, ash top, also top layer on headstock
Neck Wood: 3 piece, maple-rosewood-maple, neck-through
Fingerboard: rosewood, dot inlays, bound egdes.
Frets: 22
Scale: 630 mm
Tuners: Washburn, sealed, 3xR, 3xL
Pickups:  2x unknown humbucker, two height adjustment screws on top side.
Electronics:  2xV, 2xT, 3-way pickup selector, electronics mounted on print circuit board.
Bridge-Tailpiece: Washburn "Harmonic Lock", string through body
Hardware: chrome, brass saddles, brass  nut
Finish: see through honey burst, see through black
Comment: control cavity (oval shape) and trussrod cover made of wood, jack input on the front of the guitar. Pickup rings and neck p.u are cream coloured, the (stock) bridge p.u is "zebra" with a black and a cream coloured bobbin. Serial nrs is 4 or 5 digits, stamped on back of the electronics cover.

 

 

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