Univox Hi-Flier Build/Restoration

[punkacc9]

Pickup rings arrived. They're great! I just wish shapeways would do a polish black already. I don't really know if this black is dyed or what is but you cant polish it because it just starts to turn white. Anyway... I had a set of old, dirty vista series jagmaster pickups laying around I bought from HNB a long time ago. Why not use them? Plus they already have the age.

Thanks to theworkoffire, I won't have to make a bridge plate now.

Anyone have a pickguard or a template for one?


Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr

[punkacc9]

I also need to find a matching string tree like this.

Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr

[punkacc9]

The bridge from theworkoffire came. It's an original Univox bridge plate and a vintage Tokiwa Tune O Matic. This TOM has a nice round look to it compared to most TOM bridges. I think it will work nicely and it looks good. Only problem was the cutout for the thumb wheels were too small. I wanted to keep the big, wide Univox wheels... so I had to dremel the bottom of the bridge out a bit. Fits like a glove. Also, thank you littlericky for a perfect matching string tree!

Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr
Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr

[punkacc9]

I was finally able to get a trem plate tracing. Thanks to phillyfuzz on instagram. That tracing is on its way to Kevin to have the plate made. Then it is a matter of working the template together with a jaguar tremolo template, dismantle the jaguar one, and put the guts on the new plate.


Untitled by punkacc9, on Flickr

[theworkoffire]

Glad the bridge arrived OK - nice work getting the wheels to fit

[United Guitars]

Not to bring back an old thread, but how is this build going?

[punkacc9]

Not to bring back an old thread, but how is this build going?

Still waiting to find parts. Tremolo, pickguard, original tuners.

[United Guitars]

Just saw this on reverb. Why are you selling it? Because you couldn't find parts?

[Mike S]

I'm about to retrofit ceramic humbuckers on my Phase 1 Eastwood Hi Flyer. Are you looking for the crazy microphonic humbuckers or the traditional Mosrite-style P90's?

[punkacc9]

The project has just been sitting in a closet for a long time. I used to see hiflier parts online all the time now it's so rare for any of them to pop up. I've had save searches on eBay and reverb for a year now and have tried to get parts on here. No luck. If someone wants to buy the project before I find the parts then so be it.


Also, on the pickups... I was just gonna use the humbuckers I had laying around unless a set of Univox or Eastwood p90s were to show up at a decent price.

[United Guitars]

I would buy it from you, but I just finished restoring mine. Good luck on the parts, Mine was missing a truss rod cover and bridge, But i couldn't find them either. Just ended up making a cover and using a Tune-O-Matic. Btw I really like the idea of the humbuckers.

[Mike S]

Wouldn't it be better to upgrade and use an actual Jazzmaster tailpiece instead of a more authentic generic Univox style? Maybe it's just me, but I find myself using the trem lock on my Jaguar a lot and really wish my Hi Flyer had one for detuning and such.

[punkacc9]

Wouldn't it be better to upgrade and use an actual Jazzmaster tailpiece instead of a more authentic generic Univox style? Maybe it's just me, but I find myself using the trem lock on my Jaguar a lot and really wish my Hi Flyer had one for detuning and such.

Could. I just don't wanna modify it. I rather the stock look.

[Mike S]

So I got one of the two metal-framed ceramic humbuckers yesterday (really weird that they have plastic completely covering one of the coils). The problem is that the mounting ring is slightly wider than the screw holes on the pickup. Do they make some kind of adaptor or is it time to whip out the drill and direct mount this thing?

[Mike S]

One down, one to go.