UNIVOX lover's club

[Pilgrim]

OK, so I've seen other makes touted here - but one of the most prolific alternative brands of the 60's and 70's is not represented....YET.

So all you Univox owners, let's see those beautiful period basses! If you need help identifying the model you own, check the unofficial Univox site at: Link Removed

Here's my Univox 335-copy hollowbody; got it three years ago and I'm the second owner as far as I know. I plan to add the correct pickguard in the near future. It's strung with GHS flats.

Let's see those Univoxes...er, Univoxii...well, youknowwhatImean.

Edited to add: Member numbers (for those who still own a Univox)

Pilgrim = #1
Rugaar = #2
MaxGrant = #3
Wild Rice Chris = #4
LAMoore = #5
Rota = #6
CapnSev = #7
Saturday = #8
DLEE = #9

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

My first bass ever was a Univox Hi-Flyer copy.

I still play bass in spite of that.


kidding!

i learned to love that beast, and it was with heavy heart that i sold it a few years back.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I had several fo the violin basses, they were cool but they really couldent hold a tune very well.

 

[RickenBoogie]

WOW!! My first ever bass was a Hiflier, and until now, I never knew it had a name. It got me started, and that's about it. Gave it away back in '78. Facinating, thanks for the link.

 

[Rugaar]

Here's my Univox Lectra. I bought it at a Mom-n-Pop music shop in a small town a couple years ago for $150. It originally had the standard Hofner control panel with 3 sliders/2 knobs but it was having lots of problems so I replaced the pots and rewired it like a J with 2 vol/1 tone. Strung it up with LaBella "Beatle Bass" flats and it really thumps. No problems with the tuners other than the heads were a bit loose on the shafts (they rattled) so I put a bit of epoxy on 'em and they're holding nice and tight.

The neck is nice and chunky but it's so narrow that it takes me a bit to get used to it after playing my P.

(those are the old strings in the pic and the angle at the headstock looks kinda funky--the LaBellas fit much better)

 

[Pilgrim]

I'd really love to have a Hi-Flyer copy of a Mosrite, and I've heard a number of reports that they're pretty nice-playing basses. If the tuners slipped, I believe I could either tighten them or find replacements that would fit.

And I LIKE that Lectra. I'll bet the woodwork and finish is very nice, and it sounds like you made some logical and helpful mods to the electronics. BTW, I have a Rogue Beatle Bass copy (VB-100) that has the Labella Hofner flats, and they're excellent strings! Good choice.

 

[Pilgrim]

Dang, page 5 overnight...not many Univox owners here, looks like.....

 

[maxiegrant]

Those are all the photos I have. My digital camera sits next to me, dropped by a child. But I bought this in 1988 for $150 from a pawn shop. I stupidly removed the bridge cover and pickguard and lost them at some point (I was 19, so sue me). However, this bass has MASSIVE bottom end and growls delightfully. There was a particular song I played on it in the late '80's that droned in the realm of the C so that particular note seems to growl a bit more. I tried various types of string on it looking for that Jaco sound before I found half-round or ground-wound strings -- basically roundwound strings with the tops ground off. I had ONE set of flatwounds that I absolutely hated.

I have multiple recordings of this bass. It's got a very nice high register tone as well -- almost Rickenbacker-like when you get down to it (and I do have a 1973 Ricky so I know whereof I speak).

BTW, Pilgrim. The pawnshop I bought this from was Wedgle's Music & Loan in downtown Denver. I added this because I see you're in Ft. Collins. Maybe you've been to the place, or maybe it's gone now. I haven't been there in about 10 years.

 

[Hoover]

WOW!! My first ever bass was a Hiflier, and until now, I never knew it had a name.

Likewise, I never knew those had a name...I just thought they were called "Mosrite copies". Wait, that's not really accurate: I was aware of the Univox basses long before I knew they were copies of the Mosrites! But when I was 11 or 12 years old I really wanted one of those!

Only Univox product I ever owned was a solid-state 15watt combo amp. And I had unlimited access to a Super Fuzz and one of those big ugly one-knob phase shifters for extended periods during the 1970's. Bandmate of mine got one of their ugly tube heads around 1976. Man, was that a turd...

 

[Pilgrim]

I have an original Univox SuperFuzz on my pedal board.....since this pic was taken, I've added a Bassballs before the SuperFuzz, just to play around with.

 

[Pilgrim]

One more bump after overnight...

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

My Univox Naked Bass (old photos):

 

[Pilgrim]

Another fine example of a Univox design that would get their shorts sued off in today's world!

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

That bass beat out a used late 60's Fender Precision for the same money when it was bought, and it stayed when many supposedly "better" basses came and went.

 

[L.A. Moore]

Can I join? I just picked this up on the bay. Comes with the original case. Can't wait play it. I hope i like it.

L.A. Moore

 

[Pilgrim]

Delighted to see another Univox in this thread! If you don't like it, PM me...I have a jones for that imitation Ric style!

 

[Rota]

I'll jump in here.

Here's my late 60's Univox Custom 335 Copy:

Strung with flats and thumps like no other. I love it and will never sell it.

 

[Pilgrim]

There ya go! It's a dead ringer for my 335-copy, but yours is the very nice the red version. I see that yours also has the deluxe tailpiece with a rosewood insert in it. I have a duplicate of that tailpiece waiting to go on a Lyle hollowbody I'm restoring. Note that the pickups and bridge are identical on these basses, as well as the multi-layer pickguard material.

Here's another angle on my 335-copy to compare with yours...

And here's the Lyle, which is a Matsumoku product so it's the same as a Univox - built in the same factory to the same standards. It's a dark walnut finish so it appears darker than it is. Note the semi-Fender headstock design.

 

[thumpbass1]

The Univox Hi-Flyer Mosrite copy was my first bass. Boy did that toneless, unplayable
pile of crap make me bust my backside with all sorts of odd jobs as a kid until I snagged
a used 63 P-Bass. I know some folks claim to love their Hi-Flyers but I don't miss mine
at all. Now I did get a kick out of the Univox Ricky copies.

 

[L.A. Moore]

So how do we make this the OFFICIAL TALKBASS.COM UNIVOX LOVER'S CLUB? You, know with member numbers and all that?

I got my Stereo bass last night and OMF god. Mind you I've never played a a true Rick but this thing is awesome. It's lighter than I expected and the neck it a little differnt than I'm used to. I pluged it in through my practice PA and was pretty impressed with the tone, although I can't wait to play it through my stack. I'm going to pick up a stereo spitter and mess around with running the bass output dry and the treble output through my pedal board. The previous owner put true Rick tuners on it.

I found a set of BART pups on the bay should I try and pick them up or leave it this way? I've got more questions but I can't think of any right now.

L.A.