Gibson "Fruit of the Loom" Special Edition Blueshawk 1997 - Ebony

Every once in a while, a guitar comes through that is impossible to mistake for anything else. This is one of those guitars. The Gibson Hawk “Fruit of the Loom” Country Comfort Music Series is a genuinely oddball, deeply cool piece of 1990s Gibson history — part promo guitar, part no-frills American-made rocker, and part conversation piece that somehow still feels like a serious player’s instrument.

Built as part of Fruit of the Loom’s Country Comfort Music Series, these Hawks were tied to the country-music festival and radio-promotion world of the mid-1990s. The Fruit of the Loom graphic is not a random sticker someone added later; it is part of the guitar’s original identity and sits beneath the finish. These were never meant to be another standard production Gibson. They were promotional, limited-run instruments with a distinctly weird and collectible personality that has only become more fun as the years have gone on.

At its core, though, this is still a really cool Gibson solidbody. The Hawk has a lightweight, contoured mahogany body, a longer 25.5" scale length, and a fast, more Fender-like response than a traditional Les Paul. It has the directness and snap of a longer-scale guitar, but still retains that Gibson feel in the neck, body shape, and overall voice. At 7.72 pounds on my scale, it is also an easy guitar to wear for a long session or gig.

This example has been fully rewired and upgraded in the best possible way. The original pickups are no longer present, but the guitar now has a Gibson Super ’57 in the neck and a Gibson Rhythm ’61 in the bridge. That pairing gives it a much more premium and inspiring voice than the typical barebones Hawk setup. The neck pickup has a warm, open, vintage-leaning character that works beautifully for blues, cleaner tones, and thicker lead work, while the bridge pickup has the bite, punch, and attitude you want when you lean into an amp.

The upgraded pickups are honestly what make this one special as a player. It has plenty of clarity, it cleans up well with the volume controls, and it can still get aggressive when you want it to. It does not feel like a novelty guitar that happens to play okay — it feels like a genuinely fun, responsive Gibson with a wild backstory and a completely unique look.

The guitar has recently been set up with new strings, the intonation is spot on, and it plays amazingly. The frets are in excellent condition, and the neck feels very good in the hand. It is one of those guitars that immediately feels comfortable once you start playing it.

Condition is very good overall. There are light swirls and normal signs of age and use, along with a couple small chips and areas of finish checking on the front and headstock. The body is rated good because it has honest cosmetic wear, but there are no issues affecting the way it plays or functions. It presents really well, especially considering it is a nearly 30-year-old promotional Gibson that was built to be played, traveled with, and enjoyed.

The original Gibson factory gig bag is included.

What stood out to me

• Gibson Hawk “Fruit of the Loom” Country Comfort Music Series
• Rare mid-1990s Gibson promotional model
• Original Fruit of the Loom graphic under the finish
• USA-made Gibson
• Lightweight contoured solid mahogany body
• 25.5" scale length for added snap and clarity
• Weighs 7.72 pounds on my scale
• Fully rewired electronics
• Gibson Super ’57 neck pickup
• Gibson Rhythm ’61 bridge pickup
• Upgraded pickup combination sounds incredible
• Excellent fret condition
• Recent setup with new strings
• Spot-on intonation
• Factory Gibson gig bag included
• Honest cosmetic wear, light swirls, small chips, and finish checking consistent with age

Like all my guitars, this one has been carefully inspected, tested, and set up to ensure it plays exactly the way a great instrument should. I personally go through every guitar before it ships so there are no surprises when it arrives.

⏳ Quick note

These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 1–5 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window.