Univox
Encyclopedia
For Univox portable keyboards, see Vox (musical equipment)
In the early 1960s the Unicord Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic transformers purchased the Amplifier Corporation of America of Westbury, New York
. They began marketing a line of amplifiers under the name of Univox. The company was purchased by Gulf + Western in 1967. Guitar making operations moved to Japan
in 1975 where they continued making guitars until 1982. Production under the Univox name was halted after a fire at the Matsumoku
factory. After this time instruments were made in Korea under the name Westbury. The Unicord Corporation was purchased by Korg
in 1985, effectively ending the line for good.
Univox was best known for making copies of instruments from better known companies such as Mosrite
, Fender, Gibson
, Rickenbacker
, Ampeg/Dan Armstrong
, Epiphone
and others. These copies are often referred to as lawsuit copies among collectors. The Univox Hi-Flier
was largely based on the Mosrite "Ventures" guitar; it was popularized in the early 1990s by Kurt Cobain
, almost two decades after original production had stopped.
and Electro-Voice
instead of doing major original research and development, in spite of Univox amplifiers and univox peripherals using time-proven electronic circuits and quality components. To combat this, Unicord developed the Stage brand. However, the only difference between Univox and Stage equipment was the nameplate, attached prior to shipping from Westbury.
synthesizers.
and tremolo
effects. In 1971 Univox introduced the "B Group" amplifiers, covered in two-toned blue or gray Tolex
with distinctive ovalesque cosmetics.http://www.univox.org/amps/uniamp.html
. http://www.univox.org These pedals routinely fetch over $250 used now and are in scarce supply. They also produced the Uni-Vibe, a Leslie speaker
effect made famous by Jimi Hendrix
.
As of 2009, Univox Super-Fuzz
pedals are selling in the $400 – $500 range.
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
In the early 1960s the Unicord Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic transformers purchased the Amplifier Corporation of America of Westbury, New York
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
. They began marketing a line of amplifiers under the name of Univox. The company was purchased by Gulf + Western in 1967. Guitar making operations moved to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1975 where they continued making guitars until 1982. Production under the Univox name was halted after a fire at the Matsumoku
Matsumoku
Matsumoku Industrial was established around 1900 as a woodworking manufacturer of various items but is best known as a manufacturer of high quality guitars and bass guitars.- History :...
factory. After this time instruments were made in Korea under the name Westbury. The Unicord Corporation was purchased by Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
in 1985, effectively ending the line for good.
Univox was best known for making copies of instruments from better known companies such as Mosrite
Mosrite
Mosrite is an American guitar manufacturing company, based in Bakersfield, California, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s. Founded by Semie Moseley, Mosrite guitars were played by many rock and roll and country artists....
, Fender, Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
, Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
, Ampeg/Dan Armstrong
Ampeg
Ampeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
, Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
and others. These copies are often referred to as lawsuit copies among collectors. The Univox Hi-Flier
Univox Hi-Flier
The Univox Hi-Flier was an electric guitar manufactured by Univox and Unicord from 1968 to 1978. It had a very similar appearance to the Mosrite Ventures guitar, though was somewhat different .-Phases:...
was largely based on the Mosrite "Ventures" guitar; it was popularized in the early 1990s by Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, almost two decades after original production had stopped.
Change from "Univox" brand to "Stage" brand
Per Frank Kosinsky, Unicord's Chief Engineer in the late 1970s, as told to Rick Reinckens, a short-term employee, the brand name developed a market reputation as "cheap" because Unicord copied designs from companies like ShureShure
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
and Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice is a manufacturer of audio equipment, including microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. A subdivision of Telex Communications Inc., Electro-Voice markets its products for use in small or large concert venues, broadcasting, houses of worship, and in retail situations.-History:On...
instead of doing major original research and development, in spite of Univox amplifiers and univox peripherals using time-proven electronic circuits and quality components. To combat this, Unicord developed the Stage brand. However, the only difference between Univox and Stage equipment was the nameplate, attached prior to shipping from Westbury.
Relationship to Marshall and Korg
Unicord was also the U.S. distributor for both Marshall amplifiers and KorgKorg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
synthesizers.
Univox Amplifiers
A number of tube and solid state amplifiers were produced by Univox over the years. These ranged from small practice combo amps to powerful heads with separate cabinets. Some models had built-in spring reverbSpring Reverb
Spring Reverb is the third studio album released by the rock and roll jam band The Big Wu. This was the last album recorded with former member Jason Fladager before he departed the band.-Track listing:# "Break of Day"# "SPMC"# "Make Believers"...
and tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
effects. In 1971 Univox introduced the "B Group" amplifiers, covered in two-toned blue or gray Tolex
Tolex
Tolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
with distinctive ovalesque cosmetics.http://www.univox.org/amps/uniamp.html
Univox Guitars
Around 1967, Unicord merged with Merson, an importer of various headstock-brand guitars such as Tempo, Giannini and Hagstrom. This new company was called "Merson Musical Products, A Division of Unicord Incorporated, A Gulf + Western Systems Company." Around 1968 they started producing the Univox guitars. In 1975 Unicord and Merson split. However, Unicord continued to make Univox guitars until around 1978, even adding some newer models. * Univox.orgElectric guitars
- Badazz
- Coily
- Custom
- Deluxe
- Eagle
- Effie
- Gimmie
- HR-2
- Hi-FlierUnivox Hi-FlierThe Univox Hi-Flier was an electric guitar manufactured by Univox and Unicord from 1968 to 1978. It had a very similar appearance to the Mosrite Ventures guitar, though was somewhat different .-Phases:...
- Limited Edition Series
- Lucy
- Mother/Rhythm and Blues
- Pro
- Ripper
- UC-2
- UC-3
- Westbury Performer
Bass guitars
- Badazz
- Coily
- Hi-Flier
- Naked
- Precisely
- Professional
- Stereo
- UB-1
- 'LectraUnivox 'LectraThe Univox 'Lectra was a bass guitar made by Univox modeled originally on the Hofner 500/1 bass, popularized by Paul McCartney in the early days of the Beatles, and later on the Gibson EB-1, both violin shaped guitars. The bass was available from the late 1960s through the mid 1970's.The 'Lectra...
Univox Keyboards
- Univox Stringman (see link)
Univox Effects
Univox had many effects, but perhaps their most famous was the Super-Fuzz Pedal, used by Pete TownshendPete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
. http://www.univox.org These pedals routinely fetch over $250 used now and are in scarce supply. They also produced the Uni-Vibe, a Leslie speaker
Leslie speaker
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects using the Doppler effect. Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ but is used with a variety of instruments as well as vocals. The...
effect made famous by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
As of 2009, Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox Super-Fuzz
For the Italian film, see Super FuzzThe Univox Super-Fuzz is a fuzzbox produced by the Univox company, primarily for use with the electric guitar or bass...
pedals are selling in the $400 – $500 range.