Univox “Coily” Guitar

[Bonzo Moon]

Apparently, I have one. Can someone tell me what “Coily” means?

 

[RodeoTex]

Prolly best not to try to make sense of it.
Looks like a good player though.

 

[Bonzo Moon]

Prolly best not to try to make sense of it.
Looks like a good player though.

It is a very good player. The pickups sound great through my Ampeg Reverberocket R212R.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

I think the "coilies" were the versions of that Univox that had the vibrato arm. The ones without were called "Effies." Those were just nicknames. (see http://www.vintageunivox.com/guitars/coily.html )

I had one like yours, with the vertical logo, except in sunburst. Mine got played into the ground and I didn't want to refret it etc. so parted it out.

But I kept the pickups -- you may find those are fairly awesome humbuckers! I remember really liking them, so someday I'll put them into a project.

 

[brookdalebill]

Dunno, but, cool lookin' guitar!

 

[Bonzo Moon]

I think the "coilies" were the versions of that Univox that had the vibrato arm. The ones without were called "Effies." Those were just nicknames.

I had one like yours, with the vertical logo, except in sunburst. Mine got played into the ground and I didn't want to refret it etc. so parted it out.

But I kept the pickups -- you may find those are fairly awesome humbuckers! I remember really liking them, so someday I'll put them into a project.

Mine came with a vibrato arm but it was missing when I picked it up at the Goodwill for $12.50. The spring and cap are still there though. They thought it was a Garage Band video controller and had it in a stack of other guitar shaped controllers instead behind the counter where they put the first act guitars.

 

[Bonzo Moon]

I think the "coilies" were the versions of that Univox that had the vibrato arm. The ones without were called "Effies." Those were just nicknames. (see http://www.vintageunivox.com/guitars/coily.html )

I had one like yours, with the vertical logo, except in sunburst. Mine got played into the ground and I didn't want to refret it etc. so parted it out.

But I kept the pickups -- you may find those are fairly awesome humbuckers! I remember really liking them, so someday I'll put them into a project.

You don’t still have that trem arm do you?

 

[TeleTucson]

It's clear, with all your coily postings on two forums, that ...

 

[Bonzo Moon]

It's clear, with all your coily postings on two forums, that ...

(link removed)

I got the coily pneumonia and Matsumoku flu.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

You don’t still have that trem arm do you?

No, sorry! I've seen them on eBay, and maybe check Reverb if you're looking for one.

 

[MitchMiami]

I also have a coilly I’ve had since the late sixties and I can tell you my research showed green was only offered in 1967. I may have the handle somewhere, I’m moving and am going though several decades of stuff , parts , pieces etc. My spring shattered into about a half dozen pieces during a gig in 1979 or 80 so I’ve used it as an object d’art since.

The guy I bought it from said the coilly model had the bigsby style vibrato instead of fixed tailpiece or the Gibson style that was used in the sixties, not the lyre tailpiece the one that looks like a fixed bridge but has the short flat bar handle

Haven’t played it in years but it really helped push me into my love of double cut Thinline hollow and semi-hollow guitars that I still have today.

 

[RodeoTex]

I have a hollow bodied Univox violin shaped bass. I believe the body is fiberglass.
What are the bodies on the coilys?

 

[dan1952]

I got the coily pneumonia and Matsumoku flu.

Brilliant!

 

[strat a various]

Apparently, I have one. Can someone tell me what “Coily” means?View attachment 538492

I have that guitar in it's Epiphone version ... same thing, different headstock inlay and different pickguard. Also, different pick-ups ... black plastic covers with screws and "staples".
Coily refers to the vibrato spring. The vibrato will put you out of tune every time, other than that, a cool guitar.

 

[Bonzo Moon]

I also have a coilly I’ve had since the late sixties and I can tell you my research showed green was only offered in 1967. I may have the handle somewhere, I’m moving and am going though several decades of stuff , parts , pieces etc. My spring shattered into about a half dozen pieces during a gig in 1979 or 80 so I’ve used it as an object d’art since.

View attachment 538522

The guy I bought it from said the coilly model had the bigsby style vibrato instead of fixed tailpiece or the Gibson style that was used in the sixties, not the lyre tailpiece the one that looks like a fixed bridge but has the short flat bar handle

Haven’t played it in years but it really helped push me into my love of double cut Thinline hollow and semi-hollow guitars that I still have today.

Let me know if you find the bar.
Also if you want to sell the art let me know.

 

[zhyla]

I have the same green coily. Great guitars, surprisingly well made.

You can find an arm on eBay but it will cost you. Finding the other pieces will be harder. I eventually made my own spring height adjuster and the other part with a D shaped protrusion. I have a CNC mill so I was able to fabricate those.

I think these are the coolest of the Univox models aside from maybe the Hi-fliers. Very happy with the pickups.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

Here's the only pic I can find of the sunburst coily I had a few years back:

When my girlfriend picked it up somewhere, a local tech—just hearing the Univox name—told her, "Throw it away! Period. Just literally throw it away!" He insisted it was worthless.

As if! Girlfriend left it with me and I had it around for years, sometimes played it despite serious fretboard wear because it sounded great.

Eventually got over $400 parting it out (and I still have the pickups, gave her $50 for them.) The body had gorgeous transclucent grain.

But I am still blown away that anyone would say "throw it away!"

 

[Bonzo Moon]

I have the same green coily. Great guitars, surprisingly well made.

You can find an arm on eBay but it will cost you. Finding the other pieces will be harder. I eventually made my own spring height adjuster and the other part with a D shaped protrusion. I have a CNC mill so I was able to fabricate those.

I think these are the coolest of the Univox models aside from maybe the Hi-fliers. Very happy with the pickups.

It has the spring and cap. Just no bar.

 

[Blazer]

Here's the only pic I can find of the sunburst coily I had a few years back:

View attachment 538619

When my girlfriend picked it up somewhere, a local tech—just hearing the Univox name—told her, "Throw it away! Period. Just literally throw it away!" He insisted it was worthless.

As if! Girlfriend left it with me and I had it around for years, sometimes played it despite serious fretboard wear because it sounded great.

Eventually got over $400 parting it out (and I still have the pickups, gave her $50 for them.) The body had gorgeous transclucent grain.

But I am still blown away that anyone would say "throw it away!"

I remember watching a Documentary on the Pixies and Kim Deal got a similar response when she turned up at the studio with THIS bass.

Which is an Aria Pro2 Cardinal bass

The Producer told her "Forget it! I'm not going to let you record using THAT piece of crap! Get yourself a better bass or the whole deal is off."

She ended up getting herself a Red Musicman and the rest is history.