LanierP
Active member
Hey Guys,
I recently picked up this 1987 Gibson US1 at a little guitar shop in Morristown NJ (Watchtower Guitars). Super cool shop, with a bit of everything, including vintage, new and used,,,highly recommend if you're ever in the area. Super nice staff!!!
So, they had a cool looking Gibson 'superstrat' looking ax,,,the US1. Took a chance and bought it!
The good:
-The guitar is very light, maybe 7 1/2 lbs.
-super resonant,,,body and neck vibrate really well, almost feels chambered, but I'm pretty sure it's not.
-the top is very nicely figured,,,quilted maple I assume.
-Neck specs are nice,,,a bit on the thinner side but not Ibanez thin
. Call it slight thinner than middle of the road.
-light battle scars throughout, but overall very good condish on a guitar 38 years old. Someone took good care of this.
-Its all original from what I can tell
The Bad:
-I dont like the 3 toggle switch setup. Volume knob is push for 'single coil-ing the humbucker.
-Inlay at the 5th fret feel a micron 'countersunk' into the fretboard.
-Pickups sound ok but,,,,not great. Not sure what they are.
So I'm thinking on possibly swapping out the Humbucker for something cool. Maybe 'Doug Aldrich' or the like. Open to suggestions. Something hot and aggressive would be nice. The humbucker in the guitar is a bit 'cheese-grater on the top end,,just too spikey.
-Then there is the toggle switch issue. Not a fan of it at all. If the hole is big enough on the neck toggle, maybe install a standard Les Paul toggle and either cap off the other 2, or kill switch on one. Still
Contemplating.
Anyways, I totally dig the guitars look and feel,,,just want to hot-rod it up sonically a bit,,,leaving everything reversible back to original condition should I want to part with it down the road.
Also, if anyone has a recommendation on whether the slightly sunken inlay at fret 5 is a possible do it yourself situation, or should I leave that to a professional.
Any of you guys ever have one of these?
Thanks,
Len
I recently picked up this 1987 Gibson US1 at a little guitar shop in Morristown NJ (Watchtower Guitars). Super cool shop, with a bit of everything, including vintage, new and used,,,highly recommend if you're ever in the area. Super nice staff!!!
So, they had a cool looking Gibson 'superstrat' looking ax,,,the US1. Took a chance and bought it!
The good:
-The guitar is very light, maybe 7 1/2 lbs.
-super resonant,,,body and neck vibrate really well, almost feels chambered, but I'm pretty sure it's not.
-the top is very nicely figured,,,quilted maple I assume.
-Neck specs are nice,,,a bit on the thinner side but not Ibanez thin
. Call it slight thinner than middle of the road.-light battle scars throughout, but overall very good condish on a guitar 38 years old. Someone took good care of this.
-Its all original from what I can tell
The Bad:
-I dont like the 3 toggle switch setup. Volume knob is push for 'single coil-ing the humbucker.
-Inlay at the 5th fret feel a micron 'countersunk' into the fretboard.
-Pickups sound ok but,,,,not great. Not sure what they are.
So I'm thinking on possibly swapping out the Humbucker for something cool. Maybe 'Doug Aldrich' or the like. Open to suggestions. Something hot and aggressive would be nice. The humbucker in the guitar is a bit 'cheese-grater on the top end,,just too spikey.
-Then there is the toggle switch issue. Not a fan of it at all. If the hole is big enough on the neck toggle, maybe install a standard Les Paul toggle and either cap off the other 2, or kill switch on one. Still
Contemplating.
Anyways, I totally dig the guitars look and feel,,,just want to hot-rod it up sonically a bit,,,leaving everything reversible back to original condition should I want to part with it down the road.
Also, if anyone has a recommendation on whether the slightly sunken inlay at fret 5 is a possible do it yourself situation, or should I leave that to a professional.
Any of you guys ever have one of these?
Thanks,
Len
Attachments
Last edited:
