GIBSON U-2

  • Gibson U-2 electric guitar
    Gibson U-2

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 materialblack controls
Number of control knobs2 control knobs
Pickup selector controls1 coil tap switch, 3 pickup selector switches, bypass switch
Tone controls1 tone control
Volume controls1 volume control

Electronics

Pickups brand and modelGibson L-8 pickup(s)
Pickups configuration2 single coil pickups and 1 humbucker pickup

General

Finish colorsblack finish, green finish, red finish, white finish
Made inUSA
Number of strings6 strings
Scale length25.5 inches scale-length

Body

Body materialbasswood body
Body shape featuresdouble cutaway
Body stylesuper strat style body

Hardware

BridgeFloyd Rose locking tremolo, Kahler Pro tremolo
Hardware colorblack hardware
TunersGrover tuners

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialebony fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

Neck

Neck jointset neck
Neck materialmaple neck
Number of frets24 fret
Nutlocking nut
Peghead (headstock)hockey stick headstock
Tuner layoutsix-in-a-row tuners

Prices (13)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
2016€1000goodNils M.
1991€700poor
2014€800goodSKBlack color, the version with Schaller/Gibson floyd, including original case
2016€300wreckSKHusk only with no hardware or pickups
1989£900excellent
2018$580goodKAGood deal nice guitar
1990₪1700good
1989$800good
1989$900new
1988$600good
2017$230.00goodtim
2018$600.00good2020 year bought it black and case
2017$600poor

Reviews (2)

GIBSON U-2 reviewed by Anonymous

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
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.

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
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.

Gallery (4)

Players (0)

2 Comments

Switching info

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 ??

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]