Univox fans....am I the "lone survivor"?

Does anyone else here even remember Univox amps, or even better own(ed) one?
I was GIVEN a c.1970 U-1010 Univox 4ch. 105w 8x10" Celestion loaded Reverb/Tremolo Stack (one piece cab) by a friend that was about to pass from "agent orange" cancer. It was "Pre-Japan" as the id. plate on the head states, "Made in Great Britain, ser.# 235".
This thing was a BEAST !!! Crank the preamp volume to get the "golden tone" of pure overdrive heaven, then twist the master-v as loud as you like, I was heard clearly from 3/4 mile away more than once.
The channels were the traditional Bright/Normal with a ch.2 for each, and hosting 8 preamp tubes (EL-84's I think, it's in my attic at present) and 4 6L6GC power tubes.
After playing it for 15 years, the reverb coils finally shorted out (sagged & touched) about 5 yrs. ago, causing a massive internal short circuit, and literally melting HALF the wiring inside my Les Paul, including the 3-way, and a volume & tone pot.
I had the guitar repaired immediately, and when I find someone I trust, i'll have the head rebuilt, but with a few changes.
This is my dilema, hopefully someone reading this will be able to suggest a REALLY good amp tech, preferably in the Southeastern United States. If any of you know someone, please, PM me.

I have to check those...
Do you have pics of it ??? I'm very interested in vintage gear that is not common and often cheap...

MusashiChan wrote:I have to check those...
Do you have pics of it ??? I'm very interested in vintage gear that is not common and often cheap...

I have no pics of it good enough to post.......i'm bringing it out of the attic soon though.
Heres a link to a wealth of information about Univox guitars & amps, and my particular amp is shown in the "B-group" section, pg.5 model U-1010. On Pg3 the "spec sheet" lists it as a U-1011 Head.

http://www.univox.org/catalogs/

EDIT: the specs only list 6 preamp tubes, perhaps I'm remembering it wrong.....as I said, it's been in my attic for several years ,

I also had a '68 "Thinline"(Coiley) Deluxe Rosewood, that I stupidly sold to fund a beach week.

6StringBender wrote:

MusashiChan wrote:I have to check those...
Do you have pics of it ??? I'm very interested in vintage gear that is not common and often cheap...

I have no pics of it good enough to post.......i'm bringing it out of the attic soon though.
Heres a link to a wealth of information about Univox guitars & amps, and my particular amp is shown in the "B-group" section, pg.5 model U-1010. On Pg1 the "spec sheet" lists it as a U-1011 Head.

http://www.univox.org/catalogs/

I also had a '68 "Thinline"(Coiley) Deluxe Rosewood, that I stupidly sold to fund a beach week.

Sooo vintage styling !!! Are they expensive now ?

I have no idea, mine is the only one i've ever seen.......my friend bought it in Okinawa during the Vietnam conflict.
I edited my previous post concerning the # of preamp tubes.

6StringBender wrote:I have no idea, mine is the only one i've ever seen.......my friend bought it in Okinawa during the Vietnam conflict.
I edited my previous post concerning the # of preamp tubes.

It has a real history too ! Nice !

I found a pic of it hiding behind some "poser" (a younger me).
Can't see much of it, but it's all I have until it comes downstairs this coming weekend.
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It was origionally a medium blue color, but the friend that gave it to me painted it black when he had it apart to install new tube sockets.
As soon as I get it downstairs & photo it, i'm going to take a good look at the tubes inside it, I remember him saying that he re-used almost all of the origional tubes, maybe theres something I need inside it.

Oh yes !!!!! I really love this vintage (??) pic !!!

Well, I dragged the head out of the attic this morning and cleaned it up, removed the back plate, and vacuumed the insides as well.........
#1, the reverb "spring tank" is NOT shorted..........so I have no clue what happened that was so violent it melted wires and components in my Les Paul.
3 of the 6L6GCs appear to be burnt, and 1 of those 3 was actually shattered.
all 6 of the ECC82s appear to be ok.
I'll post up some pics this coming weekend, so we can enjoy some "Unirotica"........
At this point, i'm most likely going to gut it, and purchase a lower wattage custom made single channel point to point non-reverb power chassis to install in the box.(with true standby, output attenuator, and preamp/Master volumes of course).
Here in the states I can have one made with my choice of tubes for about $250.

Why would you sell this ?? It's still collector !

MusashiChan wrote:Why would you sell this ?? It's still collector !

Oh NO.......I wasn't considering selling it, just installing a different power chassis , BUT, I've changed my mind again because i've realized that my guitar had a "dead short" in the circuit that fried, and now I believe the guitar simply shorted the power tubes in the amp.
I'm going to pull the chassis out, clean it thoroughly, and test it for damage.........if it checks out OK, i'll install all new tubes and see what happens.
Heres a pic of it, i'll post internal pics after I get it apart.

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OK gotta update here........after cleaning up the preamp tubes, i'm amazed it was working at all.
I've already said the power 6L6s were a "hodge-podge", and I now realize the preamp group were even worse.......3 Mullard Ecc82s, one burnt.....2 completely unidentified tubes, no name, number, military designation, nothing, but both appear to be ok.........and 1 SEVERELY shorted Mullard Ecc83.
I have the chassis out now, and am going to give it a good cleaning, have it tested, and go from there.......chassis pics after cleanup.

Here are some pics of the chassis, minus the one shattered 6L6........on the underside there are 2 adjustment pots, both using a small flat screwdriver........one is plastic on isolation board, the other a tiny metal box.

pics of the underside:
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and topside, notice the massive transformers....

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have to have it tested now before I decide what to do with it.

It was a pcb board in it ? Transfos are just huge !!!

MusashiChan wrote:It was a pcb board in it ? Transfos are just huge !!!

Yes, it's one of the 1st true "hybrid" amps.

I finally opened my vintage 8x10 cab up, to discover that nothing i'd been told about it (by the friend that gave it to me) was correct......

there are only 6 spkrs actually IN the cab.....
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which is all pine, not mahogany
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none of the spkrs are Celestions....
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they're cheap Japanese generics......
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oh well.........it sounded great anyhow

You just have to find nice vintage jbl speakers...oh...8 of them...