Univox U1881

1970s Les Paul copy. "Deluxe" model. MIJ, of course. Natural maple top, rosewood fingerboard, chrome hardware, H/H pickups. Body and neck woods unknown; body is two piece. Tune-O-Matic bridge. Has black barrel speed knobs, not sure if they're original (I doubt it). Slim bolt-on neck with a heel. Mellow yellowish-white pickguard. Some serious nicks and chips along the back upper bout ridge, and few divots on front.

Sounds great. Neck pick up is nice and clean. Bridge pickup is fair. Both pickups seem rather "weak" sounding to me at low volume levels. It could be their age or perhaps that just their output, then again,I haven't had a chance to crank this baby up... (short pause) Okay, I stopped, went and plugged in and turned it up on clean settings... very clean, loud, and sparkling; good presence. Good range of tones at low practice settings through a Yamaha G100-212II... classic rock, blues, jazz (neck pick up only). My only dislike: bolt-on neck with too slim (for me) profile, but I'll live with it and rationalize both as "retro" coolness.

Previous owner was a touring musician and had it set up with 9s. I switched to 10s and had a complete set up. Action is very low and the rosewood of the neck looks almost new. Frets are in good shape. Neck came with a short crack on the upper side of the neck by the nut that appears to have been professionally glued some time ago (glue looks dark with age). Nut appears to be original and each slot may be too deep and so it may need eventual replacement; tendency for strings to catch/get stuck and then "snap" into length while tuning. It needed to have the bridge post replaced along with the little square panel under the input jack.

Well, this thing weighs in at a solid 8 lbs. and is built like a tank. Overall, I'd say it's held up pretty well over the past 30+ years between me and its day of manufacture. Nut will need eventual replacement and I expect it may improve the tone some. Strap buttons are solid. Seems pretty dependable to me.

The late, great Univox. Defunct in 1978, I think. RIP, boys, you were ahead of your time.

I started on bass--upright and electric--and have gotten the guitar bug in the past two years. I've a Washburn HB-32DM with Epiphone Broadway pickups, a Washburn WI67PRO, an Epiphone Firebird (installed Seymour Duncan mini-humbuckers), a Samick Royale RL-2 (nice guitar), and a "Fake Paul" Chinese pieces parts guitar with Gotoh jazz and S-D HB pickups. This is actually a very cool little guitar. Beyond it's "retro" value, it's got a good sound and I think will be just fine for a clean Mike Bloomfield (yeah, that'll be the day when I get compared to him) like bluesy tone. I'll be watching out for more Univoxes.

1971 made in Japan Les Paul Copy. Two volumes and two tones, one for each p/u. Stock tuners and les paul style bridge. Pretty much the same thing as a Les Paul Standard.

It sounds awesome. A deep rich sound with lots of sustain. Those two stock covered humbuckers are amazing. It blows away a Cort or any other MIJ Les Paul copy.

The action is awesome too. The neck is just how I like it- nice and straight, low action, stays in tune with light gage strings, good intonation. I had the maple finish which doesn't have binding, but it almost looks like binding and a very cool look it is.

My bridge pick-up went kapooey, but I still kept hammering on it using only the neck pick-up. I liked it better anyway. I wouldn't use it without a back-up at a gig, but then, I wouldn't go to a gig with only one guitar anyway.

Out of business since 1975 so you are on your own.

I've been playing for twenty years. Been in rock bands, blues bands, punk bands, and played dozens of live gigs and recording sessions. I rate this guitar very highly. It is one of the best Les Paul copies you will ever find.