I Should've Skipped This Review... | Gibson's "Super Strat" 1987 U2

🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com
🔴Reverb: tidd.ly/4aFiyhC
🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
⚫Amazon: www.amazon.com/Zither-Wooden-...
🍭Shop Sweetwater + Support the Show ➡️ imp.i114863.net/trogly
Gibson had a few "super strats" in the 80s but in my opinion, the US-1 and U2 were the most "gibson-ified" super strats that they made before they finally came up with something that would stick semi-longer term - the Gibson MIII. The U2 and US-1 are great for people who love Gibson flair but want an S-style guitar.
🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:12 - Opening / The Gaudy Gibson Logo
0:48 - Some Historical Context
1:23 - The U2 and Its Specs
2:39 - The US-1 and Its Specs
4:32 - Inside Look / Specs
12:35 - Clean Tones
13:16 - Dirty Tones
14:08 - Final Thoughts
15:20 - What to Watch Next!
🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
1:19 1986 Gibson Les Paul Studio Custom XPL
• The Story, Review + De...
1:21 1985 Gibson Q Series Q100
• Gibson Tried to Win EV...
2:40 1987 Gibson US-1 Super Strat Natural
• The Most "Non-Gibson" ...
4:08 Gibson M3 Deluxe Natural
• The Flamey King of Gib...
4:16 1981 Gibson Victory MVX Super Strat Sunburst
• Gibson's Strat Killer ...
5:33 1988 Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite
• "Fixing" The Les Paul ...
❓Private Help Sessions ➡️ troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
💰New to Reverb? Get $10 on Me ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/earn10
🍭Shop Sweetwater + Support the Show ➡️ sweetwater.sjv.io/x90ZDO
👕 Merch: www.teepublic.com/stores/trog...
🥇 Patreon ➡️ / trogly
📘 Facebook ➡️ / troglys
📸 Instagram ➡️ / troglys
🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com
🔥 TikTok: / troglys
🛒 Current Inventory ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/CurrentInventory (also on website)
✉️ Email for Business Inquiries ➡️ [e-mail]
❓Guitar Questions ➡️ troglysguitarshow.com/help-ap...
⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
George L's Guitar Lead: ebay - goo.gl/6SjCeG
Shure SM57 (Amp Cab Mic): ebay - goo.gl/JK9bAC
Audio Interface - Roland Duo Capture EX - amazon - amzn.to/2tkIBed
+ Universal Audio Apollo Twin: amazon - amzn.to/2uYeeKN
Headphones: Focal Listen Professional: amazon - amzn.to/2tonXtI
Rode Videomic Go (backup audio): amazon - amzn.to/2vHNzm5
Lens: Lumix 12-35mm : ebay - goo.gl/NP6dQd
Computer: Mac Pro 2013 - amazon - amzn.to/37L9eb4
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro X - ebay - goo.gl/oiU3L2
American DJ Eco UV Bar Plus Blacklight: ebay - goo.gl/1E4ELt
Camera:
Panasonic Lumix GH-4: amazon - amzn.to/2Se3akM
Camera Gimbal: amazon - amzn.to/38KxYk9
Camera Slider: amazon - amzn.to/3bTIXK1
Rode NTG-2 (vocal + room mic): amazon - amzn.to/2UjxmxA
I Should've Skipped This Review... | Gibson's "Super Strat" 1987 U2
Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

[@Trog]

Do you prefer 3 switches or a blade style for pickup selecting? 🟢Available on My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@1000poundsguitar]

Toggle switches over blade EVERY time. I love Jackson and ESP and hate them with blades. I hate blades…

[@Iam_Dunn]

Switches are a pain. Blades can cut you… Rotary knob like BB all the way! \m/, ,\m/

[@clarkbabin9799]

I hope your reviewing the new Mike McCready Stratocaster at a point just under $2K. It's supposed to be as good as the custom shop model for a substantially lower price. The custom was a retail price of $15K.

[@JokersWild70]

It's too easy to go to the wrong pickup or pickup combination with that junky blade switch. Sometimes people need to switch pickups fast, and a 5 way blade makes that just about impossible.

[@Bigfoot-px9gj]

I prefer rotator switches, like those on a Gibson ES-355. And real Strats, of course.

[@JohnFromArlingtron]

In the 80's if you wanted a really good Gibson you bought a Hamer

[@doc_matter]

Makes sense! I love old hamers! Can you elaborate on the exact hamer models your referring too?

[@shelbyavant5081]

Got a '78, '81, '84, and '85 here that beg to differ. Hamers are great, though.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

😂😂so true

[@789again8]

Hamer USA made some really nice guitars.

[@dylanzrim3635]

Hamer make some of the best gibson shaped guitars

[@leonarrutube]

I built the first U-2 to come through Final Assembly on April 8th, 1987. The Julian date on it was 80847xxx. With this one having a date of 80827xxx it has to be one of the very first to have been neck fit at the factory. RL

[@atrocity35]

I was given one of these that was found in a dumpster about a year ago. One tuning key was broken, but all electronics worked and appear to be original. Cleaned it up and restrung it (less the high e). Plays and sounds pretty good. Appreciate the review!

[@obican]

You were correct the first time, that's a 59 Bridge. 59B means just that. The extra J at the end means this particular pickup was wound by Maricela Juarez, the queen herself!

[@Trog]

Good catch! After the demo I just thought about the 59/JB set and went "shoot!" haha

[@obican]

@@Trog 59 Bridge is a pretty rare pickup by itself since it's almost always coupled with something hotter in the bridge, like a JB or a Custom variant and if someone wants to go for a more vintage accurate PAF model, they go for a Pearl Gates or Alnico II Pro set from Seymour Duncan. Because of all this, most people don't even know 59 and Jazz have bridge versions as well. And you have one wound by MJ! Not a super rare piece by any means but very, very cool.

[@chrispfeifer7628]

I owned and gigged a blacked out USA 1 for about 20 years. It was neck thru body with contoured heel, came with emg's, H,S,H configuration with coil split and the 3 switches for out of phase. 24 fret with a rich lite fretboard and a Kahler system that I rarely put the bar on. I did lock down the strings and used the fine tuners. It was a great guitar, stable, stayed in tune once set up. A real workhorse. Then, a local addict decided that he needed it worse than I did. Because I was out of town working, I didn't know for almost a month. But I really miss that guitar. More than any other I've owned. I've had some nice ones. Fender, Gibson, Jackson. The USA 1 was my number 1

[@vincentrandles8105]

That really blows man! I know the feeling.

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Sorry that happened. The US1's are seriously underrated guitars.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Bummer sorry to hear that 😕

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I feel ya man.. Back in the mid 2000's, I had a white w/pinstripes 85' Explorer designer series w/ a Kahler and EMGs that my dad gave to me.. Sadly someone broke into my house while I was at work and stole it. 😭 Really miss that guitar! I must find another someday. 🤞

[@jonathanhudak2059]

@WizardsWithMachinery that sucks sorry to hear that man 😔

[@joermnyc]

Back in the mid-90s my guitar shop had a Kramer that looked so much like this, but I think it had hot rails and a blade switch, so the 3 switches were coil splits. I wanted to buy it but I didn’t have the money for much more than pedals and a cheap Marshall combo (my guitar and first amp (Crate 15 watt) were a gift.)

[@jamesoniris2647]

Not gonna lie- I love the individual pickup switches. I’ve always been a sucker for Brian Mays Guitar which has a similar layout

[@joermnyc]

Fender and later Squier Cyclones have Jaguar switches for all three single coils (the Fenders had Jaguar pickups, the Squier just have their cheap strat pickups, but it’s a swimming pool route, so you could throw anything in it). It is a Mustang body, but a longer scale with a strat trem.)

[@216trixie]

That switch layout is like my charvel model 6 from 1987.

[@elcosta7483]

My father owns a Gibson U2, i dont know exactly which model, but its probably a late 80's. It came stock with another toggle switch that overrides the pickup selection above the volume knob. That way if you have selected any of the pickups, this switch when engaged, turns on only the bridge pickup. Also, the push push pot, i dont know if its broken, but its works as a phase switch instead of a coil split. It doesn't have binding or anything fancy, but it has an Ebony fretboard, 24 frets and stock Gibson Floyd Rose (totally different from the one in the video).

[@Trog]

sounds like someone has fiddled with the wiring on that one a bit to make it more practical!

[@elcosta7483]

@@Trog as far as I know, its stock. My father when he used to rock on stage, he didnt like to mod his guitars. But 4 years ago, a luthier made maintenance because the guitar was stored for almost 20 years and he probably did something

[@leonarrutube]

@@Trog No, there were some that came stock like that.

[@timothyvaher2421]

They are playable, their Gibsons and there's a bunch of configurations, colors and finishes. And you can mod the heck outta one that fits your style! Now that Trogs revitalized interest... We have a Cult guitar. 🙀 🎸 🎶

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Serious under-rated guitar.

[@hoilst265]

I hereby declare that we should call the rear comfort cutout "the Gutout".

[@TheAtariCreep]

I'm glad ya still reviewed it man. I love guitars like this. Looks like it sold FAST!!!!!

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

These guitars are underrated, and are becoming highly collectible.

[@Wilco1972]

It's listed on his site now, if you're interested.

[@boblabahh4893]

Epiphone also had versions of these, extremely similar, even has full-size “Gibson” logo on the head stock

[@justinvanstory3965]

I had a candy apple red one. “Epiphone by Gibson” logo on headstock. Wish I still had it. Traded it in for my 1990 Les Paul Studio that I still have 33 years later!

[@boblabahh4893]

@@justinvanstory3965 would you like one again? It needs work, no trem at all but all electronics work.

[@danmcveigh6139]

The DiMarzio hs3 is actually a stacked humbucker.

[@ChristopherGwinn]

I started playing guitar in 1985, when I was 14, and I don't remember ever seeing these in stores back then. The only Gibson that was on my radar in the mid '80s (and which I finally bought in '87) was an SG. When it came to Super Strats, all my guitar player friends and I wanted a Floyd Rose-equipped Kramer (which I also bought) or a Charvel. Dean's were also popular, too (at least among kids like me who were into Metal - I bought a crazy look Dean Explorer-style model with a bumble bee finish and a Kahler [if I recall correctly]).

[@ArchieOnEarth]

My first guitar had the 3 toggle switches and I developed a technique using 3 fingers to make quick changes. Also the bridge humbucker switch was a 3 way, for on/off/split.

[@eddiejr540]

Damn…Trogly went all EVH on this guitar…atta boy👍 that seymour ducan 59 sounds great!!!

[@myoptik3x103]

Odd as it may be the US-1 is absolutely my favorite super Strat.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

I can see why in the right finish it's a nice looking guitar

[@ericburgess512]

I found 2 of these at a garage sale a few years back with no hardware at all just bodies and necks. Got them all set up and working now. One is the HSS and the other is HH.

[@TylerEaves]

What I really want is someone to do this, with the 3 toggles, but use 3-way toggles, so you can do the Brian May phase stuff.

[@airfarina321]

“Ricky was a young boy He had a heart of stone”👌

[@nedsdonutshop]

Everything about it from the headstock to the 3 mini toggles for the pickups I would associate with a BC Rich ST III

[@larryshepler8946]

Nice Skid Row song at the start of the playing demo

[@cubessquares9692]

These seem to be a direct competitor to the Heritage "Stat" which is VERY similar with the multiple switches . cool guitars in their own right

[@jimmyjames2022]

Looks like this poor Gibson U2 Super Strat is simply a clean slate for pup/switch modding. Could be an amazing guitar.

[@coorsbandit5212]

So Gibson blatantly ripped off jackson and now has the balls to sue Dean? Comical

[@lrwarchild]

Wayne Charvel designed the U2

[@acdclexu6296]

the prs narrow field humbucker is actually really similar in style of the prototype gibson slim humbuckers

[@An2oine]

Didn't they basically rip off the Charvel headstock?

[@lemmy8ob]

Made when Wayne Charvel was working at Gibson...hence the model 4 controls (minus the push-push)

[@jordanpratt3821]

Did my guy just break out some skid row

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Eighteen and life you got it, Eighteen and life you know... 🎶 Cool guitar even though I'm not a big fan of guitars that are predominantly black. These are cool though and a nice US1 would be a cool Super Strat to own and play. Overall I dig it and appreciate it for what it was at it's time...

[@RandyFricke]

I have an '88 S-900. Black w/ivory binding. Steinberger tremolo. Plays like butter.

[@psmith7781]

I remember toying with the idea of buying one of these Gibson Victory II MV-2 "strat esque" offerings in the mid 80's...the elongated Dutch Klog shoe shaped head stock made it a no go for me. looked like one of the shoes from a Don Martin drawing.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Gibson: *Dean guitar lawsuit for copying guitar style* Also Gibson:

[@pawnmack]

From your original post on your US-1 two years ago: Me: No, it's not a solid balsa core. It is a chambered body but...they filled the chambered parts with Balsa wood. You: That’s the studio lite series. These are different

[@metalfenderguybradwalker1916]

That humbucker you took out the red and white wire go together for a coil split or tape them off

[@b.rodclark334]

That Dimarzio HS3 is a stacked humbucker, not a 'hot single coil' with four-conductor wiring and a bare ground wire.

[@slamrahovart9024]

I liked the Gibson Mach II super strats. They had the Explorer headstock. Always wanted an SG with a Floyd and a reverse Explorer head. So that's as close as I got lol

[@ericbgordon1575]

It was called the U2 guitar. Does anyone know if Bono or the Edge ever bought one?

[@brandonjackson5865]

String lock Kahler used string locks. I’m not sure what that Kahler is , spyder maybe ? It looks pretty cool but I don’t think they are very good trems most speed loading Floyd design me aren’t very stable

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

The Gibson US1, and its other iterations, is a very under-rated guitar. In capable hands, these things have an astounding Brian May tone. Hey Trogly, hope you find U2 that you are looking for: meat clever headstock, gaudy Gibson logo, and an ABR1 instead of the Floyd/Kahlers that seem to predominate. Finding a U2, with those specs, and hopefully a fully functional and original set of electronics, might be a near unicorn.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

A US1 like the one Trogly showed is a nice looking guitar IMHO

[@stealingtomorrowband]

I'd totally own that guitar ..

[@SpiralJucifer]

I won a Gibson Super Strat when my name was drawn from a bucket at Haight Ashbury Music Center in 1987. I was the last person to put my name a on tag and in the bucket (lol) The one I had didn't have binding and it came with a hard case that I still have today. Decent-ish guitar, but a real Fender strat would've been preferable. Can't complain for getting a free guitar, though.

[@easyfly]

If you ever want to get rid of the case let me know. I have one of these but came with a gig bag.

[@iantomsic4686]

Three on/off/on phase reversal switches is where it’s at, like Brian May’s ‘old red’. A push pull coil split on the ‘bucker facilitates series/parallel with any pair of pickups. Just sayin’.

[@butchlauer]

I love my red U2 ❤

[@doc_matter]

God thats a crazy cool guitar

[@niczim123]

I appreciate that you're honest in your review despite the fact that you're trying to sell this guitar. You are candid about the flaws in the design and of the condition of this particular example rather than making this an advertisement, as some KZbinrs would.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

I aint never seent one of dems guitars before , didnt know Gibson made Strat copies , pretty cool , I like the natural finish one , and I also like the gawdy Gibson logo on the headstock...Give me a ' Widdly-Widdly -wow-wow-WOW !!! Thanks Trogly !

[@readrepairs]

Great playing!

[@evrgreen_69]

Ironically you rocked it..sounded sick!

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Trogly, has Gibson ever disclosed exactly how many US1's and U2's were built and sold?

[@Iam_Dunn]

This U2 model made me realize that I still haven’t found what I’m looking for! LOL ❤ from 🇨🇦 \m/, ,\m/ p.s. My ex went to school with “Sebastian Bach”, I got meet him a few times, really great guy. I was totally screaming out “Ricky was a young boy, had a heart of gold!” then whacked my head on the headboard to “Master”… LOL :)

[@jonathanhudak2059]

LOL good one! 🤣

[@TyphonKrazilec]

Let's agree to disagree about the switches. I had a Charvel CH4 with that kind of switches and I found it really practical to use on stage. Most of the rythm were player with neck and bridge and i just had to switch of one or the other to go lead, depending of the song style ;)

[@webbaugh3057]

You should get a 1986 fender HM strat HSS and do a comparison of the "super strats" of the two biggest USA guitar makers that came too late to compete with Kramer and Jackson and all the other super strats

[@doctoribanez]

I have an old washburn like that with a wonderbar trem

[@BrianBrazilHarmonica]

The logo on that guitar looks like the ones that were on Gibson's amplifier grills in the early 1960s

[@ericolson326]

I bought a white US-1 back in the day because the headstock shape made me feel like I was Dave Mustaine playing a Jackson. 😆 Still have it, though all 3 switches snapped off.

[@rudiyantohalim736]

18 and life 🤘 I wonder if the trem works fine like today FR bridge

[@starrybear9778]

I may of possibly had one of the prototypes for this model. I sold it over 20 years ago....

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Ugh that horrible cinder block of a heel on the neck😂

[@doknox]

And here gibson is suing people for copying body shapes.😂😂😂😂

[@sethgross3904]

That green u2 was nice!

[@RokDAWG1]

Something like that, I would just rip that trem off of it and load a real Floyd. I would rip the guts out as well and drop in some really good new pickups. I’d ditch those annoying mini toggles as well and probably just throw in a 5 way.

[@jameshughes6049]

Evening all!!!

[@HarlanHarvey76]

That is an awesome looking guitar 😎

[@InfinityCristaralee]

I don't know why I can't remember the song played for the clean tones.. What song is that? It's driving me nuts.

[@Thirteen31Music]

How did they not get sued by Jackson over the headstock?

[@Steve.Cutler]

The Victory is the best strat like guitar Gibson ever made. I played several of the others like you have here but didn't like any of them.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Install Yngwie Malmsteen single coil pickups into the guitar. They sound great.

[@ereimul1444]

Gibson, please bring back these strats style. i have Kramer but these Gibson strats style are epic.

[@Photognick521]

Have to watch last episodes tonight to catch up. Went and saw Dave Chappelle last night 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@jimilee459]

I’m glad you did it.

[@vincentrandles8105]

Very cool! 😎

[@sinakaedwards2009]

I do like it, except I prefer hardtail. If someone buys it they can just load it with some Seymore Duncans or EMGs.

[@juananbarcelo9880]

That red one at the beginning of the video… is mine’s!! And is amazing!

[@joanlledo6367]

Nice Gibson Aerodyne

[@rondobondo6600]

Wallmart

[@timelito]

I’d say hit up Johan Lundgren at Lundgren Guitar Pickups. He’s a really good pickup guy.

[@treybennett35]

I always wanted an EXP 425

[@MichaelD8393]

12:35 _18 & Life_ As a New Jersian, I approve🤘

[@rickmccl71]

Got that car badge up top

[@lovesgibson]

Trogly’s playing as improved so much from when I first started watching his videos

[@sentforth5]

I remember chromyte....they had it in my ES 137!

[@panameadeplm]

leave it to gibson to copy fender by incorporating none of the features that make fenders more player-friendly

[@AlphaPackBoi]

It is a beautiful guitar, I'd play one but put a Seymour Duncan on the bridge

[@ohmtronseedling]

i can totally see Peter Cetera playing that guitar while singing "Glory Of Love". it's so Shoulderpad '80's looking,

[@endorphinstudios2023]

I used one in the 90s to play bars. No problems.

[@jacobbockover1628]

Im pretty sure gibson owns kramer currently so still making strat type stuff. Idk i am not up on who owns who

[@concretel10n]

I was also under the impression Kramer was under Gibson

[@averagecomrade5072]

@@concretel10nthey do own Kramer

[@JoseGarcia-eadgbe]

You know your stuff! I learn something new each time I watch your videos. 💫🎶🎶🎵🎵🌀🆒📶💫

[@kylecarrillo8727]

you mean.... quilted maple top!

[@alexandriashannon7438]

Someone’s pushed the poles down on your neck pickup. Wonder if the middle one had the same treatment and failed.

[@doublechinmask3744]

Holy cow,that sounds great.I am stunned

[@dooley9621]

Thanks mate

[@redfurydubstep]

Dang that’s a sweet guitar…did it sell already??

[@Trog]

got it on the site now troglysguitarshow.com/product/project-gibson-u-2-raised-logo/

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Fair price! Wish I had the cash!

[@richardsusasr.1562]

Trogley The trembleo is like a washburn dive bomber

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

If Gibson brought this body and headstock shape back, they could surely win Kirk Hammett over completely if they want to

[@Nblades78]

Gibson should bring these back. Love it!

[@andye3684]

👍

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Greetings Andy

[@andye3684]

@@sgt.grinch3299 G'day Sgt

[@zigzagrz]

Lol, I remember I was looking at buying this guitar a few months back

[@setituptoblowitup]

🤩🦅