Univox Hi-Flyer Piccolo Bass Project: Mid-term Report

I’m about half through with my Univox Hi-Flyer piccolo bass project, only 90% to go.

I bought this to gloss up the knotty pine recycled front porch decking but it works on bass guitars too.

It turned out to be originally white from the factory.

With white pick-guard and natural headstock. The lined, block ‘UNIVOX’ logo decal running aligned with the fretboard.

I machine and hand sanded down to the factory white except on edges and on the front German carve.

Drip glue into unneeded mounting holes then jam in as many toothpicks as necessary to fill the hole. Tap down with small hammer.

Sprayed two coats on body and neck after masking off the fretboard. Didn’t sand any between coats, saving varnish for the knotty pine porch planking.

When dried I’ll cut toothpicks off flush with a Dremel tool or Exato knife blade, then block sand flat, allowing me to mount bridge correctly.
Tuners are like new and operate smoothly.

Installing them was easy with this ratcheting 15 mm box end wrench; and tiny Phillips head screwdriver for tiny screws in back.

Wildly eccentric holes show a slight gap.

Installed strap holders front and back.

I decided to fill the through-body holes with wood plugs. I’ll finish that tomorrow.

Tomorrow I’ll glue in the other three plugs. Then properly locate the bridge, drill holes and screw it down.

Then comes a probable slowdown as I try to suss out the nonop pickup and the gnarly wiring.

Unless noted, all text and images by todgermanica.com.

2 thoughts on “Univox Hi-Flyer Piccolo Bass Project: Mid-term Report”

  2. Thanks! Now my challenge is to make it sound better by randomly touching the loose wires to various obvious possible solder points until 1) the bridge pickup starts working, or 2) I burn out the whole wiring loom. Either could happen I reckon. Thanks for the comment.

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