Univox Hi-Flier

See the previous review. Mine got trashed in 1989 so I don't remember the exact features. But I do remember the playability and have a funny story so please read on.

Cross between a tele and ricky tone, never played a Mosrite so I don't know. The first thing I did was play "Walk Don't Run" at the flea market and sounded a bit cheesier.

Action OK, neck had a lot of bow to it, had I owned it now I could have probably saved it and sold it for 10 times what I paid (just kidding). Frets were worn out they must be made out of some kind of soft metal cause all univoxes have this problem. Intonation was OK.

Played a first set with it once, then just kept it as a toy. I used to go to Central Park NY on Dec 8 every year (this was the day John Lennon was shot). And people would bring acoutics to Strawberry Fields and sing Beatles/Lennon songs etc. Anyway I brought this thing along with a pignose and had a blast cause I got to do all the leads as the only electric. Anyhow, this was a really cold Dec 8, single digits (about 1989 or 90), and on the way home to NJ, I heard a snap come from in the gig bag on the subway. Thought it was maybe the strings, I left it in there for a few weeks, took it out and the neck was split longways. Really weird. Tried to put a tele copy neck on it but it didn't work. All parts/pieces gone, before I even heard of Nirvana.

I tried to call Univox to inquire about a lifetime warrenty :-)

Was a toy next to the '68 strat, had some good cheese tones however.

ok..i got an old model..one of the first made..and it has to OLD nailed in logo on headstock and p-90 pickups and thicker body. not many people know this but the early models have slightly fatter bodies and necks i would love the more newer versons other than an early one like this..but i love it

this sounds awesome..the only way i can think this guitar could sound better is if someone go the later model with humbuckers

i love the finish on mine..i just wish the action on the neck was better..but im no hendrix and i play punk rock so deal deal anyway

they look good to me..but it is a univox brand ..so i wouldnt give it a 10..10 being like a gibson or something..but i dont think anyone would have problems to worry about

heck, none for univox.

i love these guitars..they r my favorite..but theyre arent worth more than 250$..so if anyone sees this for more than 250$ ur being ripped off..kurt cobain used this guitar..so since then this plywood thing is being sold for up to 700$ which is digusting.. i love this guitar..i would like a later model though..one with decal logo and maple fret board and humbuckers..if anyone is willing to seel one email me

After about 2 years of searching, I have finally bought a Hi-Flyer. This is a copy of the Mosrite Ventures model. The guitar looks extremely cool. I think the body is alder. That's what Univox used in most of its guitars. My Hi-Flyer has 2 PAF style single coils, 3 way pickup selector switch, and a volume knob, as well as a tone(treble) knob. It has a floating tremolo kind of like a Fender Jaguar. The tuners are 3 on a side. These are the only things that I'm certain of. I can't tell if the neck is 25" or 24 3/4".

My musical style is that of the alternative and weird. The Hi-Flyer has 3 very different sounds. With the bridge pickup on, the guitar sounds very bright and jangly (like a Telecaster, sort of). My favorite tone comes with both pickups active. This setting heeds a sweet Les Paulesque sound. Very strong mids. And finally the neck pickup sounds just like a strat with the neck pickup active. Round and sweet.

Aside from its great tone, the guitar has a tuning problem. That is, it does not stay in tune! I usually tune about 3 times during a 10 song set. This really doesn't bother me. What grieves me about this guitar is the neck. I think that mine has a warped neck joint, because if you pull on the neck a little, it will sound like you're using the tremolo bar. I've played one other Hi-Flyer that didn't have this problem. The previous owner probably tried to put a new neck on it.

This is a really flimsy guitar. It only weighs about 5-7 pounds. The body is about 1 inch thick, like a Gibson SG. My guitar is over 30 years old and still plays well. It isn't my main guitar, but I use it for a couple of tunes. The finish is still perfect. No flaking or cracking. Despite its weak appearance, Kurt Cobain smashed Univoxes all the time. And they still played. I've witnessed this by another band (Verbena, the lead singer Scott plays a Hi-Flyer).

Univox is no more! No support available.

Mainly I wanted this guitar because it looked cool. It DOES sound great too. Unfortunately, somebody bought it for me at a guitar show and I couldn't play it first. Had I been at the show, I probably wouldn't have bought this guitar (because of the shifty neck). I would much rather have the Hi-Flyer model with humbucking double coil pickups. I think these were the newer ones, the PAF's were on the first Hi-Flyers.