NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
User avatar
Ursa Minor
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5892
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:26 am
Location: Chicago

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Ursa Minor » Fri Apr 06, 2018 6:55 am

As usual those prices are very optimistic. But they still seem a lot higher than I'd expect, especially for the more common Univox-branded HB version.
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:03 pm

For sure!

I can kind of understand the HB version being more because of TEH KURTZ, or whatever. Not the one I want, particularly, but I'd totally buy another one, whatever model, if one came up in the $300 range. :whistle:

ALSO, today I realized just how Jazzmaster-like these tremolos are. How? Well, the high-E broke. :fp: Went out and grabbed a single 12 gauge string, soldered the ends of all of the plain strings on the guitar, and strung it back up. I also changed out the bridge on this one for a a cheap ($10?) roller TOM bridge. Works nicely! Sounds a bit better on the plain strings and I think it stays in tune better as well. The stock bridge was a bit dull sounding and the rollers had seized from years of crud build up.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:22 am

Played some surf music with a drummer using the Hi Flier. Sounded fantastic!

Pro: Guitar works great!

Con: Vibrolux's reverb isn't working!!!

User avatar
Ursa Minor
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5892
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:26 am
Location: Chicago

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Ursa Minor » Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:20 pm

StevenO wrote:
Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:22 am
Played some surf music with a drummer using the Hi Flier. Sounded fantastic!

Pro: Guitar works great! :)

Con: Vibrolux's reverb isn't working!!! >:(
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

User avatar
Gonkulator
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2948
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:31 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Gonkulator » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:32 am

Man what a great find! I got mine from a pawn shop back in the early 2000's for $65 USD, so this is a real steal.

The rocker switches on mine are getting a little loose. Trying to find a replacement has been harder than I originally thought.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:15 am

Very cool, Gonk! Do you find yours stays in tune well? Mine is kind of wonky in that regard...

If I find a good switch solution, I'll let you know!

User avatar
Gonkulator
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2948
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:31 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Gonkulator » Tue Apr 17, 2018 4:27 am

Mine stays in tune perfectly believe it or not, even with the original tuners and bridge. I had to work the tuners a bit with some lubricant but ever since then I haven't had any issues and they work great. I did have to cut the springs short on the bridge though so I could get the intonation correct.

I do have a dead tone pot but I never use those anyways so it's not a big deal.
StevenO wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:15 am
Very cool, Gonk! Do you find yours stays in tune well? Mine is kind of wonky in that regard...

If I find a good switch solution, I'll let you know!

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:12 pm

I think I might try cleaning up the nut a bit as well as lubing up the tuners. Mine doesn't stay in tune at much at all when I use the vibrato, which is a bit of a shame since it's a very usable vibrato!

User avatar
Fiddy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12391
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:38 am
Location: Canada Dry

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Fiddy » Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:32 pm

Tighten up the screws on the back of the tuners a bit, while you're at it.

User avatar
Gonkulator
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2948
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:31 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Gonkulator » Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:47 am

tribi9 wrote:
Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:32 pm
Tighten up the screws on the back of the tuners a bit, while you're at it.
Yeah that's a good point, I forgot I had done that to them.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Thu Apr 19, 2018 4:09 am

I lubed up the trem, the tuners, cleaned up the nut, but still no dice. I think it just needs a new nut and probably new tuners in general. It can wait, though.

User avatar
Gonkulator
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2948
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:31 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Gonkulator » Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:27 am

Bummer. I believe normal Kluson 3x3 strip tuners will drop right in.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Wed Sep 19, 2018 3:10 am

Thought I'd bring this one back up again... Currently I have the guitar tuned to C# Standard and am thinking about getting new tuners (gotoh) and a new nut (tusq) installed. I should have bought a trem arm for this thing when they were readily available. I can only find them on sketchy sites now and not on eBay or reverb. Dang...

I'm also considering doing some wiring work and bypassing the switches and maybe even the pots and wiring the pickups in series to get a thicker, prettier, more usable sound. At this point, the switches are very crackly and switch on or off just by looking at them, so that along with the guitars somewhat low output makes for a good opportunity to go series-wiring. I'll attempt to do all of this either tonight or tomorrow.

Anybody have any other ideas for what I can do? I might also just get a Jazzmaster trem arm and collet, if anyone has any extras laying about that they wouldn't mind selling to me. :)

User avatar
Gonkulator
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2948
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:31 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by Gonkulator » Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:53 am

Keep looking on eBay. I know one seller posts them very often.

I think I'm going to have to end up bypassing the switches on my models as well, they are starting to get weak and scratchy too.

A JM or Jag collet will fit in perfectly.
StevenO wrote:
Wed Sep 19, 2018 3:10 am
Thought I'd bring this one back up again... Currently I have the guitar tuned to C# Standard and am thinking about getting new tuners (gotoh) and a new nut (tusq) installed. I should have bought a trem arm for this thing when they were readily available. I can only find them on sketchy sites now and not on eBay or reverb. Dang...

I'm also considering doing some wiring work and bypassing the switches and maybe even the pots and wiring the pickups in series to get a thicker, prettier, more usable sound. At this point, the switches are very crackly and switch on or off just by looking at them, so that along with the guitars somewhat low output makes for a good opportunity to go series-wiring. I'll attempt to do all of this either tonight or tomorrow.

Anybody have any other ideas for what I can do? I might also just get a Jazzmaster trem arm and collet, if anyone has any extras laying about that they wouldn't mind selling to me. :)

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: NGD: Pan/Univox Hi-Flier

Post by StevenO » Sun Sep 23, 2018 4:01 am

I was about to buy and arm and collett off of Fabz but I got an email alert that a Univox arm came up for sale, and stupid me wants to keep things as close-to original as possible, so I bought that one. Lets see how it ends up working out!

I'm trying to keep things as original as possible, but I'll definitely be changing out the tuners and nut next, just because those have been mucked with quite a bit.

Post Reply