Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Dates of manufacture:
1987 to 1994
GIBSON manufactured the U-2 between 1987 and 1994. Along with the US-1 the U-2 was Gibson's response to the booming popularity of superstrats in the 1980s. In 1988 Gibson offered a limited edition of this model called the Showcase Edition U2, 200 were made in total. The U-2's pickups are selected using the three mini switches under the volume control knob (a push pull control which acts as a coil split for the humbucker when pressed) , the first one being used for the neck pickup the middle switch for the middle on and the third switch for the Humbucker. The fourth switch, a little bit separated from the rest is a bypass/blower switch for "bridge only" versus the three individual pickup selector switches.
Specifications (25)
Controls
Controls material | black controls |
Number of control knobs | 2 control knobs |
Pickup selector controls | 1 coil tap switch, 3 pickup selector switches, bypass switch |
Tone controls | 1 tone control |
Volume controls | 1 volume control |
Electronics
Pickups brand and model | Gibson L-8 pickup(s) |
Pickups configuration | 2 single coil pickups and 1 humbucker pickup |
General
Finish colors | black finish, green finish, red finish, white finish |
Made in | USA |
Number of strings | 6 strings |
Scale length | 25.5 inches scale-length |
Body
Body material | basswood body |
Body shape features | double cutaway |
Body style | super strat style body |
Hardware
Bridge | Floyd Rose locking tremolo, Kahler Pro tremolo |
Hardware color | black hardware |
Tuners | Grover tuners |
Fretboard
Fingerboard material | ebony fingerboard |
Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
Neck
Neck joint | set neck |
Neck material | maple neck |
Number of frets | 24 fret |
Nut | locking nut |
Peghead (headstock) | hockey stick headstock |
Tuner layout | six-in-a-row tuners |
Prices (13)
Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | €1000 | good | Nils M. | |
1991 | €700 | poor | ||
2014 | €800 | good | SK | Black color, the version with Schaller/Gibson floyd, including original case |
2016 | €300 | wreck | SK | Husk only with no hardware or pickups |
1989 | £900 | excellent | ||
2018 | $580 | good | KA | Good deal nice guitar |
1990 | ₪1700 | good | ||
1989 | $800 | good | ||
1989 | $900 | new | ||
1988 | $600 | good | ||
2017 | $230.00 | good | tim | |
2018 | $600.00 | good | 2020 year bought it black and case | |
2017 | $600 | poor |
Reviews (2)
GIBSON U-2 reviewed by Anonymous
Anonymous
One of the best superstrats ever made, hands-down. I own an all-original one in black and a restored one in candy red (with an original Floyd and Schaller pickups installed) and the two are my favorite players. The neck is thin but not too thin, very much like the slim version of the SG necks. It is very wide though with an R5 nut, built for shredding.
Contrary to the review above, the fourth switch is a blower switch and switches between "bridge only" and whatever the other three switches are set to. Also the volume pot is a push-push for splitting the bridge humbucker.
Paid 800€ for the black one with original case and 300€ for the other one (husk with no hardware/pickups).
GIBSON U-2 reviewed by Nils M.
Nils M.
The Gibson U2 I own is a very nice playing and sounding Instrument built in 1989. On the pictures I uploaded you can see my U2 (which is the one with the "normal Humbuckers") and the U2 of my uncle which has after market black box pickups installed .
The Neck is very thin (almost like a wonder wizard neck ) , which I guess doesn't appeal to everybody but has nonetheless a nice feel to it . I guess I'm also a little bit nostalgic about this instrument since it was the first guitar I ever played as a young child at my uncles place but even if you put all the nostalgia aside it sill is a real 80's shred monster .
The Floyd Rose on the Guitar even has the Gibson logo on it which is kinda neat to see. The Switch system on the guitar is a real neat thing too since you can select every pickup the way you like it by turning the pickups on and off with the three switches right under the volume control knob (which also acts as a coil split for the humbucker when pressed ) , the first one being used for the neck pickup the middle switch for the middle on and yes you guessed it the third switch for the Humbucker , the fourth switch on the guitar is a little bit separated from the rest which has a good reason since this switch will activate all pickups at once when it is turned on.
2 Comments
Switching info
Submitted by SK (not verified) on
The main switch is a bypass/blower switch for "bridge pickup only" vs. the three individual pickup switches.
Volume pot is push/push for splitting the bridge humbucker.
Gibson U2 ??
Submitted by Earl Clark (not verified) on
I have a Ferrari Red one of these with 2 humbuckers. They are tapped and the middle position when they are tapped is wired out of phase. Cannot find any info or other pics any where on this guitar. Would you happen to know where I could find info on it....Earl Clark [email protected]