Univox Les Paul Copy

1970s U1986 Les Paul copy ???Gimme??? model. Honeyburst finish reminiscent of Peter Green or Mike Bloomfield. Gold hardware with a lot of gold faded or worn off. Two of those odd-looking humbuckers with the clear plastic inset covers over each pickup. Metal toggle switch. Body appears to be a sandwich of two pieces with a nice maple cap. Binding on front of body and along neck.

Nice, smooth, deep bass pickup and would probably be passable for jazz with the right amp. The treble pickup is pretty strong. I run it through a Yamaha GS-212 II which is a very clean, solid-state combo. Sounds good??? but certainly not as good as my Gibson LP Studio???no contest there???so it is what it is and it's good for what it is. Like I always say, ???The blues was never meant to be played on expensive guitars.??? Haven???t been able to crank it up at all (the wife is usually at home, you know). I???ve got the Deluxe model and its pickups sound a bit stronger and fuller (and hence, better).

Fretboard had a buzz at the bottom of the neck due to a little hump and needed about $100 in adjustment and fretwork. Frets had to be leveled pretty low, but it handles smoothly; action is seriously low. The body has an assortment of chips, nicks, and scratches, but nothing too serious; just enough to add a little character.

Built like a tank. Looks like it???s taken some serious hits/falls along the lower bouts, but it just adds to the visual "mojo."

LOL! Well, let???s see, the Matsumoko plant burned to the ground around 1972 and then Univox in the US was taken over by Unicord later on and soon after dropped the guitar lines. Yer on yer own, buddy.

I've been playing a couple years now and consider myself a serious hobbyist-student. This is a cool guitar in terms of honeyburst finish looks and that "light in the loafers"--(compared to the real LP sound)--classic 70s Japanese tone monster. True, the Deluxe does sound better--and almost comparable to my LP Studio--but the looks of this baby put it over the edge IMO. Besides the Univox Deluxe, I???ve got a hollow body, ES 335 Coily model. I???m on the lookout for the ???Mother Rhythm n Blues??? model (an LP Custom copy) with weird looking humbuckers with horizontal slits.

1972 Univox "Gimme Les Paul. This baby is the bomb. I bought this off ebay in bad shape about a year ago. Arched Top flamed maple, which is the best for its era I have seen in a long time. H/H configuration. Rosewood fingerboard. Transparent blonde finish with 3 way selector switch, and 60ish style long tenon neck profile. Tuners were never original, it came to me with grovers that had been replaced years ago.

I changed the pickups to GFS Fat Paf style zebra humbuckers. Huge overtones in this guitar now. This guitar originally came with a Dimarzio pickup in the bridge position. My new pickups slaughter those. I play this fine gem with a Mesa Boogie Duel Rec through a Marshall cab. Its not noisy at all. This guitar can go form full bodied jazz, to crushing distortion in a drop of a hat. Switch the pickups to duel configuration, and you have slash kind of tones. Its amazing. I love this guitar, and wouldnt trade it for any Gibson ever!

The action on this guitar is unlike any I have played. It has a different playability to it than say a PRS which I own, and plays different than any of my Gibsons. It has a unique balance, and is my go to guitar on stage. Everyone who comes and watches me play allways asks why I choose it over my expensive 2000 dollar guitars. I allways tell them, its because it plays me, I dont play it....lol

I added Gibson black hardware to this guitar a few months back, and customized it to suit my needs. This guitar is 35 years old, and was built like a tank. The neck is straight and true. The action is awsome like it plays itself. I allways know its going to be dependable. It stays in tune remarkably well. I love everything about it.I know I could play this guitar all night with no backups, but I allways have a backup just in case.

Long since been out of business, but from what I can see they would have Gibson a run for the money for sure.

I have been touring for the last Ten years, and played out regularly since 1993. I am 25 years old and have owned every expensive manufactored guitar there is. I have had endorsements from many different companies, and I will be honest. I believe in a guitar that looks and acts like you do. This guitar looks and acts like me. It has literally made me a better player. The only thing I wish it had was more sustain. set neck would be awsome, but hey beggers cant be choosers.

Natural blonde color Univox Les Paul Copy aka the "Gimme". Gold hardware.

Bought this new in 1974 and actually went to their showroom in Westbury, NY (they also distributed Marshall Amps at the time).

The stock pickups actually have a round, sweet, full character. I made the mistake of replacing the bidge pickup with a Duncan Design humbucker. I lost the warmth. The stock pickups are good, but not extremely articulate. They also feedback like crazy. In retrospect, I should have had potted the pickups.

These guitars were made extremely well which is probably what scared Gibson. These are made almost as well made as a Gibson in many repsects - but the hardware and electronics are not as good and shouldn't be. On the other hand, I've never played an newer Ephiphone that was made as well.

Has held up for over 30 years. Neck is still in great shape. Gold plating has worn down. The tuners are not the greatest.

These guys are long gone. I think some of the people (basically Univox were distributors) after the lawsuits reorganized and started importing Korg products and are still located on Long Island.

These were very, very good guitars. Good wood, decent sounding pickups that had good warmth, inexpensive tuners. If you don't want to gig with your Les Paul and scratch the finish, you could do far worse than find one of these, replace the tuners, perhaps the bridge pickup, and have yourself a well made guitar that feels great in your hands. Perhaps the best way to describe them is that they slot in between a Epiphone and Gibson.

My Univox LP copy was my first electric guitar EVER! Wow... 20+ years gone like that!!
My Dad bought it new in the late 60's, and gave it to me in the early 80's. It has literally been around the world and back, as I was in the army for 8 years of overseas deployments, and it took a beating.
It originally had gold colored tuners that slipped miserably, but I replaced those with a nice set of Schallers in '84. I also replaced the atrocious orifginal pickups with a Dimarzio PAF in the neck and a Dimarzio super distortion at the bridge. Still beatiful to hear to this day.
This guitar has been droppped due to faulty straplocks a few times, and has quite a few dings, er, ahh.. character marks :) The frets are worn to nubs, but it is still playable. I would be mortified to have a crappy job done on it.
I still use the original tune-o-matic bridge, and it has held up well.
Aside from the multiple dings all over the body and head, the clearcoat black finish looks like it just rolled off of the assembly line. This axe is built like a freakin tank. It it heavy as he**, but has tone for miles.
I finally had to throw out the original case, as it has been held together by paperclips since '85, and the case liner, some absolutely god awful orange fuzzy stuff, has been glued in too many times to count.
I just took it out of storage today, and cleaned it up and restrung it, and just remembered why I began playing in the first place.

I play a lot of blues, and classic 70's rock on this baby. The bridge pickup has a lot of super nasal bite to it.. very tele sounding, but with more balls. The neck pickup is super creamy sounding. The mid selector sounds like my LP studio..nails that tone!

Like I mentioned, the finish, where it has not been dropped, looks like it just came out of the factory. The pickups and tuning gears were custom work, and they seem to be holding up great. The original equipment absolutely blew chunks.

I do a lot of home recording, and this guitar handles that easily. I also used it gigging at a ton of cookouts while in Europe. It held up admirably without a backup!

Huh?

Been playing 22 years now...and I would become absolutely homicidal were anything to happen to this baby...Sentimental value galore. You only get your first electric guitar once in your life.

Late 60's / early 70's Rhythm & Blues/Mother model. Standard Les Paul config, bolt on neck, black speed knobs, faded gold hardware. Comfortable, thin fast neck. My frets are very worn, but it still plays well. Originally had two strange looking humbucking pickups - kind of like a cross between a mini-humbucker and a p-90. Looked almost like a Gretsch Filtertron pickup.

I got this for a steal on ebay. Sure, I had to replace the nut, clean & replace some of the electronics & get the neck adjusted, but not a big deal...When I got this, it had the orginal neck humbucker & a no-name brand mini humbucker in the bridge. Both were microphonic. The mini-humbucker sounded like sh**t, but that orginal neck pickup was hot as hell & creamy...too bad it was microphonic. I decided to swap both these out & replace with Lindy Fralin p-90's. I Had to do a little routing of the guitar to get these to fit....but in the process discovered that this is a solid, well-makde guitar, solid maple cap. No plywood here. After I put the p-90's in & changed the pickguard, this baby sings! Great tone, fast neck, great action. The frets are a little low, but for a 35 year-old guitar, thats not surprising. The p-90's paired with this guitar very well and sound awesome - well balanced, crisp & clear. Plus they look cool. I can't say enough about this guitar's sound.

Nice black finish, solid maple cap, thin fast neck. The frets are very low.

Its lasted a long time so far & so far has been dependable. Anyting that happens at this point is probably my own fault.

N/A

I love jap les paul copies. They generally feel good and have comfortable, fast necks. This one is a little heavy, but feels solid & looks nice. I have another lawsuit copy & had to change the pickups on that. It seems like on a lot of these guitars, the pickups are microphonic. I've had to change them on all the lawsuit copies i've owned. But the great sound is in the pickups anyway, and this guitar sounds excellent and was cheap. Thise is a good cheap alternative to a real Les Paul.

I probably have you all beat I bought mine NEW in 1968. Paid about $140 for it. Other than my first super cheap model a BARTH it is the only electric I have had for all these years until last year when I bought a Strat.

I have replaced the tuners in the last few years with Gotohs and put in A Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck at the bridge and a 57 Classic at the neck.

The only problem I ever had was the first night I played on stage with it I wasn't used to the strap setup and when I pulled up on the neck the strap came off and the guitar dropped to the floor. Other than a ding to the body it was fine. Still have the original 3 way switch in it as well as 3 out of 4 pots. Had a push/pull pot put in to cut the Jeff Beck to a single coil.

Always thought the sounds was very good on this guitar. As a matter of fact I played in a band where we had 3 guitarist and we all had Univox Les Pauls.

This guitar has been with me for 35 years and I'd have no problem taking it on stage tonight.

never used it

if you get a chance to pick one up do it. Great to play very solid.

Bought used in 1976, probably an early-mid 70's model? The big gold Univox logo, not the smaller white logo on the headstock. Maple body and neck, rosewood fretboard, MOTS block inlays, flame maple top, natural color. Made in Japan. Typical Les Paul setup - two humbuckers, two tone & two volume knobs, three position switch. Bolt on neck. 24.75" scale, Tune-o-matic type bridge, stop tailpiece, etc. Body seemed to be made out of *many* glued together pieces of maple, but the top was very nice.

Neck is fairly narrow and very flat (front to back) which I found comfortable. I've since gotten used to chunkier necks.

Copped the Les Paul sound pretty well, especially for a cheap guitar. Very versatile, but couldn't do the strat sounds, of course. Could be somewhat muddy with some amps. The stock pickups are surprisingly good. Swapped them out for Dimarzio PAF (neck) and Super Distortion soon after I got he guitar, but ended up putting the stock pups back in - they sounded better.

Very solid guitar (my first "real" guitar), covers a variety of sounds. I mainly played blues and 70's rock when I used it as my main guitar. Used a Peavy Amp. They could hold their own with the strats and Twins - couldn't get as loud as clean, but could get a really nice crunchy tone and great breakup on the leads - a nice contrast.

The only hardware I upgraded on the guitar were the tuners. When I first got it tuning was a bit of an issue. Swapped the tuners out for grovers and it was excellent after that.

For an inexpensive guitar this one is built very well. Never had any problem, and I pretty much abused it as far as trying out all different gauge strings etc, without giving it a good set up. Action has always been excellent. Could use a fret job by now :)

the only noticable thing is the number of pieces of maple use to build the body - looks like maybe 5 or 6 pieces of wood *plus* what appears to be a two-piece flame maple top. It's a pretty heavy guitar, but it actually has a small hollow area under the arch by the bridge pickup. I don't know if the top is pressed into shape and then glued onto the flat maple body or what, but the gap is there. It's obviously intentional - you can only see it when you remove the bridge pup.

Pretty typical for the period I think. not a gibson of fender, but absolutely well built and definitely well worth the $$. Surprisingly good sounds in there too - nothing at all to be embarassed about.

This guitar withstood 4 years of playing college gigs (frats with sticky floors and the whole bit), and 3 or 4 more years of playing in an originals band in the NJ/NYC area before I retired it. I rarely had a backup and I never had a problem with it.

never had to deal with them.

I've been playing longer than I care to think about...Hmmm...30(!!) years now. I'm a player (well I try!), not a collector, but I've owned about 20 guitars altogether. The Uni was a fav, no doubt. Sentimental to a degree because it was my first good one.

I've currently got a '97 Am. Std. Strat, 2000(?) Les Paul Studio, '85 Carvin DC150, '90 (or so) Takamine acoustic, and a homemade strat-type. I play through a Mesa Blue Angel or a Peavey Triumph PAG 60 - both 1x12 tube combos.

I got the Uni because I was ready to step up from my department store special, but couldn't afford the ES-335 I *really* wanted :)

I bought this guitar in 1998 from a pawn shop. It was my first electric. When I first began playing, all my friends, who had strat copies were all impressed with the nice looking gold hardware and flame maple (veneer) top. The hardware was all well done, and the tuners are exceptionally stable. The humbuckers and dual tone and volume controls also out did their strat wannabes. Overall, I think the Les Paul design offers the most in features of most guitars (except those dervived from those Jaguars--but who actually uses those features?)

The guitar sounded as well as I could expect for a first guitar, and it has grown with me. A few months after I got it, I put a Toni Iommi pickup by Gibson, which sounded remarkable in it. The thick body adds to the meat of the sound, if it does diminish the highs end response. Now my beloved Univox, which I still play reguarly, has Carvin M-series pickups in it (I used the Iommi in my Carvin).

The appearance is top notch for a guitar in its price rang; however, the laminated origins of the guitar are appearent on the back. While this guitar doesn't even compare to a PRS in playability, it is definately a guitar that encourages noodling.

This baby has taken a lot of nock in its days (probably about 20 years of them). Its tough and solid, as well as heavy, but the input jack is plastic and has had to be replaced (recently, which is just short of incredible) with a metal one. Other than that, stellar

Getting this guitar was a fantastic decision. Unlike many of my friends, I have not had to deal with tremolos and weak pickups, poor fittings, and junk tuners. this has allowed me to focus on playing and not the constant struggle of getting a newer, better guitar so many new players are trapped in. New players should definately get a solid, playable ax with a hardtail or stop tailpiece bridge. These are instruments you can grow with. Epiphone makes some very nice ones as well. While I'm on the subject, new players should also get good souding amps. The two best for the money are the Crate GFX 65 and the Fender Princton. Also check out Randell. Just make sure to start out with a new or good condition solid state amp of 15-60 watts of power driving at least one 12" speaker. That and a decent guitar should keep even the serious student well served for 2 or 3 years before tube amps and set necks come into play.

I bought this used LP copy 27 years ago from the Sound Post in Evanston Il. for about $275.00. This included a used hardshell case they had on the shelf, but did not original to the ax. I have never paid attention to how many frets there are, length, wiring etc. Mine is black with gold hardware and white bindings. Still glossy after many years. Wood? Who knows, but this is the heaviest guitar I ever played. I think that has a lot to do with the great tone. I played 12 guitars the day I bought this one, and I knew it was the one I wanted within 15 seconds of playing it. Tuners are a little cheap but since I do not gig, who cares.

I don't know anything about the switching arrangements. I really don't care either.This ax has great smooth tone, but flicking the pickup selector to the rear and playing down near the tailpiece I get more twang than a room full of telecasters. Real good twang! I like the raised pick-gaurd.I have an old, Univox amp. May be about 75-100 watts. I play it through a home-made bottom with 2 15" mis-matched bass speakers. I also play it through an original 1st class condition bassman 50 with 2/12" speakers. This ax has a ton of bottom end.The Uni-amp has a lot of hum, but seeing how much I played it max out for so many years, I can't complain.I am able to get real good feed back at max settings playing right into the bottoms.Since almost everything I have is 25 years old or more, I have an original big muff and some other elcetro-harmonix that still all work.My son started playing 2.5 years ago. He has had 2 Ibenez's and we went in together on an Standard American Strat last year. it's o/k, but I'd almost always rather play the old Uni.It has a lot more tone and twang.If anything, I wish this ax had a little more mid-range but it's probably just due to my hearing loss. Sitting between the Uni and Bassman at max settings for many hours willdo that. I make sure my son does not do that!I had to move the top strap peg many years ago. I just drilled a hole in the body closer to the neck. I'll just with the other hole.Gives it character.

Factory? where? it takes a little practice tuning this baby, but I can do it quickly and it stays in tune no matter what. I'm a big dude and I like the weight of this thing. I'd just hate to change anything and effect the great tone it has. I'll just live with the tuners. No complaints on frets or string heights.I would like to buy another one just like it and throw in some hot pickups and tuners, just to see what it could do.Pickup switch is loose.I may have to have that replaced someday. Kinda fun the way it moves around like it does.

I grew up through my teens and twenties with it,then it sat around a lot for the next few years. I'm proud to say my son learned on this ax and I think it sped up the learning curve because it truly it effortless to play. Neck is smooth and easy. The gold all wore off the pickups, and a little off the tuners. who cares.If I couldn't wreck this, no one can. This guitat has never given me any trouble. Never have one ax at a gig.

I have no idea who built this, and it was an obvious knock off, but it was built to last. I plan on giving this ax to some lucky grand-kid some day. I have no doubt that it will sound and play as well as it ever has. I will not ever willingly part with this ax. NEVER! Glad to see so many other people feel the same way.This is truly a good buy no matter what price you pay. I played a new Les Paul Standard last year that did not sound or play as well and the tag said it was $2700.00! If this was a "cheap knock off" I'd like to see what the guys who built this could do if they tried to make a real good ax.

I have been playing since 1971. I have a lot of old orignal tube amps. I found an old Magnatone tube amp set up like a Twin Reverb at a garage sale for $20.00. After a new power cord, it was fine. Sounds real good. Don;t stick your nose up at these cheap old amps. They have a lot of character.I have a Yamaha fg160 acoustic that needs a neck adjustement, about 25 years old. still sounds good.

Made in the seventies,wanted a les paul kinda old copy didn't like anything new,something vintage like.

I'm using a ax2 212 line6 and let me tell you,this guitar is sounding sweet in this case the guitar makes a difference.Very full sound,i'm happy, has a little more kick ass than the new ones.

you know what ,this bitch is 31 years old and the neck is straight and the frets are smooth action is great,best out of all the guitars I own,great intonation.Finish isn't the greatest but then again who cares.

hey ,it's still going.Always have a backup.

it's a shame, out of business.

These reviews are head on the nail,you goto get one of these,playing for 32 years,just when you thought you heard em all try this it's really close to the real thing,that gibson...........

My guitar is a 1972 Les Paul copy, I think it's the Univox 'gimme' model. Orange sunburst, same scale length as a Gibson, same set up. Unlike some other Univox owners, I've had no problem with the tuners on my Univox, even after owning it and playing it 25 years or so. Every now and then I drop a few drops of lube on 'em, that's all they need. The pickups are humbuckers, the Univox ones with the clear plastic top. They sound gnarly -- a good, bluesy midrange gnarly. Good round tone.
the guitar itself has a bolt on neck, and unlike a Gibson, is a semi hollow body. The base is laminated (prob. mahogany), the top is laminate, and leaves a hollow spot underneath the bridge and tailpiece, you can see it when you take off the access plate on the back of the guitar.
Both the tuneamatic bridge and tailpiece are metal, and Gibson style, except the bridge posts are thicker than a Gibsons.
The guitar is wired a little differently than a Gibson, the controls are set up a little different. Same number of controls, but both tones are at the bottom of the guitar, where on most Gibsons I've tried the tones are towards the back of the guitar.
Whoever designed this guitar (the folks at Aria, from what I've read -- they built Univoxes for a long time) knew what they were doing. In some respects it may be an improvement over the 'real thing'. I remember taking my guitar in to music stores in the '70's, thinking I'd upgrade to a Gibson, and none of the Gibsons sounded any better. I think the combination of the pickups and hollow spots inside it give it a good tone.

I play mainly hard rock and blues-rock, and the guitar fits my style perfectly. I use a Marshall amplifier. The bridge pickup is maybe a bit more midrangy than a Gibson's, the neck pickup is the best humbucker neck pickup for blues that I've played on.
The guitar maybe has a little less bass than a Gibson, more of a midrange peak, adequate highs. The average listener maybe wouldn't hear the difference, but a Gibson player probably would.

The action is adjustable, as well as the neck. I've had no troubles at all with my guitar. The pickups have three adjustment screws instead of just two.
the neck is a bit thinner than the Gibsons I've tried. It has a nice feel to it.
The only flaws were induced when the idiot that I had refret it back in 1980 or '81 ruined some of the neck binding. Since then I've learned to do most guitar work myself......

the hardware is solid, the gold finish has worn off the tailpiece and bridge, from playing. Everything else has withstood nearly daily playing for 20 years. Like any guitar -- take care of it, and it will take care of you.
I would never use ANY guitar in a gig without a backup.

I think I reglued one strap button cause it was coming loose. The other one has held up fine.

The Univox company doesn't exist anymore. If you chance on to one of these guitars, get a competent guitar tech to do any work on it -- Univoxes were cheap guitars in their day, but they're better than most of the modern guitars I see in any music or guitar store. They are well worth any investment. If you're into modern rock, they may not be your cup of tea. If you're into blues, or hard rock, they sound quite good.

I've been playing for 25 years, my other guitars are copies and guitars considered 'cheap' in the '70's. I sometimes think about getting a Gibson or whatever, but the sound I hear from such guitars never seems to merit the cost, I already have the sound I want.
I wish they still made these guitars.

Japanese made Les Paul Copy. Set up is exactly like a les paul. Has bolt on neck, not sure on wood type though. Tuners were crappy so i replaced them with a vintage set of grovers. Dual covered humbuckers w/t 2 volume and 2 tone knobs. Came w/t original case.

For a copy this guitar has great sound. The humbuckers give off a great sound. Their really versatle and great for playing different kinds of music, from soft blues to rock.

The guitar is really old but you can tell well made, its got all the scratches of an old guitar. The guitar is extremely well made and i cant find any flaws the finish is a buitiful transparent wine red. When i saw this guitar hanging in the workshop of a friend i imeadiatly offered him whatever he wanted for it, even though i didnt play guitar at that point.

This guitar is solid as a rock i woulnt be affraid to drop it ever and i dont plan on needing a backup on gigs(unless i break a string). The tuners on it though were pieces of crap and would never stay in tune. Otherwise everything else is great. The fretts are a little worn and buzz at the 14th frett but as soon as i get the truss rod adjusted itll be just fine.

Univox went out of business a long time ago so if this thing breaks im on my own.

I love this guitar and plan on keeping it forever. Its a great guitar for a beginner and even somewone whose been playing forever. The best thing about it is its vintage feel, i love old guitars they have so much more character than new ones

if you want detailed features go on gibson.com and check for the 69 les paul. I think it's a lot like it. It was made in the 70s in Japan. it has a bolted on neck. keys are made of solid metal and has that reliable screw to adjust resistance. it has a mighty mite ( or something like that ) on the neck position which is noisy but were the base pick up replacement for the les paul till the early 80s and I replaced the other mite by a dimarzio ( thanks god for that pickup ) X2N. this sounds like the hell on earth. EMG pickups sound like sissies when compared to x2n.

I play heavy rock n roll ( some kind of a mix of motorhead meats thin lizzy on a crash with ac/dc and some recent stuff like supersuckers or hellacopters. and, of course the MC5. ) I use it at the moment on a seventy something traynor ( but I used it on a 69 musicman, a 64 fender band master or a 72 superplexi marshall and it still souns clear, crispy and loud ) and I use a boss turbo overdrive to make it scream louder. it has a huge difference between the bridge and the neck pickup and it makes it very nice for solo-ing.
there's nothing I dislike about my guitar .

probably the best univox ever got out of the factory. ( I tried 2 other ones and they were crap ) I djusted everything on it my self and since it was probably made before me I cant tell about the factory settings. but everything is in the right place and it' heavy

this guitar is THE rock.
it's good for another 30 years I guess.
I entirely depend on it and I rarely use a backup.

if you dont want to spare 2000$ on a guitar that will last you can buy mine which I paid 70$ and get the same reliability, sound and looks. But it's not for sale HA!
it it were stolen I would tell my insurrances I had a les paul standars cause I 'll never find such a piece of art for that price.

this gibson les paul black beauty copy was made in 1971 and purchased new that same year. i think it was made in japan, but i'm not sure. it is a 22 fret, 24 3/4" scale length with a tune-o-matic and stop tail. the same hardware and control setup as a real lp. 2 volume, 2 tone and three way switch. the pickups are a strange size, not standard humbuckers or NY minis, somewhere in between. but what i found unique was not only could the pickups be adjusted for height, there is an aditional screw in the pickup surround that adjusts the angle of the pickup as well! i lost this feature when i had a pair of seymore duncan's installed. the guitar tech had to cut into the guitar to get them to fit, but the end result is not visable upon casual inspection. the body is two slabs of unknown wood glued together( you can see the seam under the paint go around the guitar). the neck is a bolt on type with a rosewood fretboard that has block pearloid inlays. after 29 years of playing this guitar off and on, the frets have just about had it. i keep saying i'm going to have them redone. tuning heads are no-name sealed pot metal in gold, as is all the hardware. it is pretty much worn off the bridge and tail piece, i'm sure because of all the sweat that never got wiped off. the paint has stood up extremely well over the years, and the neck still has some adjustment left in it. the guitar came with a fitted black vinyl covered case that has a fairly plush gold lining. but the really striking feature about the case is it has these gold colored bumper strips that run around the entire case. people who own real les pauls ask me if i want to sell the case all the time.

when the guitar was relatively new the pickups were pretty powerful. amps didn't offer the diverse tones they do now, but i remember that the guitar would feed back at higher volumes. i now have a line6 duo and a 70's era ampeg jet(yes, my first amp). the guitar always had a thick, dark tone. it was never a screamer. really great for fat, heavy chord backup. the action was never even from the nut to the 22nd fret. it would always get higher the further up the neck you played. not conducive to fast lead work. but the guitar was always a blast to play. the controls have gotten quite noisey over the years. i'm sure it's the dust that has settled in them. after i put the duncan's in it, i now use the neck pickup exclusively. it's a jazz neck pickup and it sounds unbelievable. the body is so heavy(10+lbs?) the vibe with the new pickup is so clear and thick i can't discribe it in words. what i can say is that if you have one of these old guitars, upgrade the electronics. you won't believe your ears.

the guitar is double bound front and back, the neck is bound(thank God, because the fret ends would shred your neck hand, over the years the ends now protrude thru the binding and they are sharp). the headstock is triple bound laminate, very nicely done and has held up really well considering all the years of abuse. the nice thing about all the binding is how it has aged. it was brite white when new and now, 29 years later, it has become this warm cream white-yellow color. the guitar has aged gracefully and i treat it with gentleness and respect now. my world was consumed with music when this guitar was new, and all that i learned, i learned on this guitar first. i keep her very comfortable now.

if someone would buy one of these copys today, i would recommend a guitar tech open it up and check all the wire connections. also the guitar has a grounding problem when you roll off the volume contol if the selector switch is in the middle position. in itself, the guitar is built like a truck! but if you play live, have another guitar in the wings, just in case.

UNIVOX has been gone for many years.

i've been a guitarist for over 30 years off and on. i now own a voo- doo strat, a samick semi-hollow, two angelica flat tops, an ovation applause round back classical nylon string and for good measure a no name mandolin and violin. pedal steel is where my intrests are now. i didn't mention that the UNIVOX was a birthday gift from my father and brother when i became 14 years old. i never really thanked my father correctly for opening up the world of music for me to love and enjoy. i just never took the time. i think i'll sign off now and call my brother.

made in japan, h/h pickups, 2 tone, 2 volume knowbs, set up exactly like les paul. 22 frets. like i said, just like a les paul.

Sounds pretty good, it was my first guitar, i've tried tons of guitars at music shops and haven't found any to be that much better, given that this guitar was made in the 70's, and not by a major manufacturer. mine was very well taken care of. sounds good, i use a marshall vs265 2x12 combo and it sounds good clean, good distorted, higher gain gets feedback, but i guess thats the same as every guitar. i play alternative, some metal , some punk, and some blues, it suits me fine.

i think this is fine, mine is a nice sunburst, as nice as any i've seen on a fender or a gibson. strings get higher as you get into the higher frets which isn't good for hammering on, but it still sounds fine. after 30 years the pots still don't crackle, so all in all its pretty good.

This is the only guitar I own. I take it to all gigs. it never dies. i've dropped it from playing height, banged the neck on walls, stilll in one piece. i don't suggest you try it but i think it would stand up to almost anything (within' reason)

are they still around? don't need it anyway.

I've been playing for five years, i've gigged with it no problem, I like it, i think if i lost it it would be impossible to get another one in this good of condition.now it may not be as cool as a gibson, but it still looks nice and sounds good. i use it through a marshall 2x12 vs265 combo and it sounds good. although, i am buying a MIM Telecaster this weekend because I would like to have more guitars. This guitar sounds good clean and distorted, if you ever find one in a pawn shop for under $200 i'd look at it twice instead of just passing it by.

Cool old Les Paul copy, bought for $175....made somewhere in asia...22fret, shiny black w/black knobs and gold hardware...aftermarket grover tuners...les paul pickup cnfig...cool pickups...they are unlike any others i have seen (they're long bars that run perpindicular to the strings of the guitar....some crazy mid 70s asian company used to make them)...passive pickups....les paul style tail piece...rosewood frets, low fast awsome frets...(like a les paul fretless...only cheaper!) bought with an old generic case
this is just a plain old vannilla guitar.

The sound of this guitar is real muddy, great for rythem rockin...but it can also howl the blues...I'm playin through an old 70s epiphone Pathfinder 15 watt tube amp...these two suit each other...i play through boss distortion and proco turbo rat effects...the guitar is suprisingly quiet, no harsh sounds, a little fuzzy/staticy, no fret-outs, i love everything about this guitar except its weight!...this guitar is very heavy, i think, but i'm really only used to my freinds fenders and epiphone hollow body....it might weigh in very similar to other lespauls?...also, amp cant handle output of the pickups when even at low levels through proco turbo rat....amp cuts out and sounds like its dying when distortion is cranked up on rat settings.
overall good deep rythem tone, very muddy...but it clears up okay with some fine tuning (pretty wide range of tones available through les paul 4 knob w/switch setup)

great action...low fast frets....cant say how the factory setup was, but the guy i bought it from put on aftermarket bridge, and grover tuners....it has more sustain than any otherr guitar ive ever played...which aint sayin all that much (ive only been playin for 2.5 years...dont play around at guitar shops)...but i have played on about 7-8 differant guitars, uussually side be side with my lovely univox.

Ive droped this guy several times...doesnt even bruise...the guitar is going on 30 years of neglected service and still shines...strap buttons suck!....but i have yet to change them..

i dont think univox is around any more (too bad...this entry level guitar blows away anything that you can find at a shop for under $600)

i think this is a super guitar for $175...way better than any new guitar in this price range...(they don't build like the used too!)... i would not spend more than two hundred bucks on a guitar so i think this is the holy grail of the guitar world ( although i wish i could also find a good old jaguar for under $200 bucks too :)
if this guitar disappeared, i would hope to find it again...cuz it is a great, cheap rocker!....its unique to me and it looks suprisingly sharp.

Univox Les Paul copy (no model name indicated on guitar), circa mid 70's. Sunburst, same knob/switch/pickup configuration as a real Les Paul. Has a bolt-on neck, rosewood (or rosewood-like) fretboard. 22 soft metal frets :-) Pickups without covers with a cool tranlucent fiberglass top where the poles are; a pinkish color because of the copper underneath. The stop tail piece is also made of some sort of fiber glass, much lighter than a real one. Probably sucks some tone?

Sounds grittier than a les paul, maybe a wee bit harsh, but also kinda cool and trashy. Smooths up a bit with when backing off the volume.

Action is great for what this guitar is. The frets are nearly gone, though I tell myself that I will do a fret job on this guitar myself as a no risk experiment to learn fret replacement. No false tones or nothing, just makes playability diffucult. I'll give a higher rating however because I remember the guitar 17 years ago when my high school friend had it, it was fast.

Lighter wood than a real Paul, but body/neck is solid (not like the Hi Flyer I also reviewed). Usual soft Univox frets almost gone. Crackly tone pots from lack of use, vol pots ok. Switch was shot, replaced it with an all-parts, now fine. Plastic jack cracked and glued by my friend, now shot. Replaced it with an all-parts oval shaped thing, now fine, tho screw marks are showing. Used to use it on gigs for slide parts in G tuning, no need worrying about the slide bumping those frets :-) Also, the pole pieces have a tendancy to pop out. I'm missing one on each pickup. The pickup is so loud it doesn't matter.

I heard they had a merger with Teisco Del Ray and Checkmate :-)

I use it for reharsals along with a Univox 1x12 amp from the early 70's. Took it out of my drummer's basement after a flood and the case was all moldy and so was the guitar. It was sitting under the pool table for quite a long time collecting mildew. My friend doesn't know that I fixed it up :-) My rating is for what this guitar is, and does not mean the same as an 7 for Gibson! P.S. Future review of the Univox amp coming up as soon as I get the model number (it kicks some butt for old tranny garbage).