NOAD Univox UB250

godofthunder · December 26, 2015, 11:17:22 AM

This was my first real bass amp back in the day, the totally underwhelming Univox UB250. I found this on Craigs list for 100 bucks and yes it is just as underwhelming as I remember it. It is in really nice condition, most I see are pretty beat up. It is cool to look at but only good for practice. I am glad I bought it as it fills a hole in my "early years" collection. Back in the day I bought a extra cab in a effort to improve it's performance, as I recall it didn't help much.

Granny Gremlin · December 26, 2015, 01:05:16 PM

From what I recall, Univox sealed bass cabs from that era (I had a crappy 1x15 for a little bit; looked a lot like that one) where humorously undersized. Small even by guitar 1x15 standards.

... but then there was stuff like this, which is allegedly bloody awesome (but I don't know; never seen one IRL much less played thru):

godofthunder · December 26, 2015, 01:10:09 PM

Those big Univox rigs were pretty good. Zeppelin used them for a time, JPJ said he got his best sound out of them. As I recall he said they didn't stand up to touring so they ditched them. I remember seeing posters in music stores with Paige playing them live.

nofi · December 26, 2015, 02:25:13 PM

https://www.google.com/search?q=beck+bogert+%26+appice+univox+amps&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjz5-6avPrJAhXC7CYKHYN_AaoQsAQIHA&biw=1600&bih=775#imgrc=wCIQmh9DeWa3nM%3A

saw these guys with cabs.

Granny Gremlin · December 26, 2015, 05:46:12 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on December 26, 2015, 01:10:09 PM
Those big Univox rigs were pretty good. Zeppelin used them for a time, JPJ said he got his best sound out of them. As I recall he said they didn't stand up to touring so they ditched them. I remember seeing posters in music stores with Paige playing them live.

Well that's interesting. The horn above does strike me as similar in concept to my well-loved Musicman 115RH. Also interesting is how to make a cab like that could be of poor structural integrity (it looks reasonably well put together); folded horns are inherent brick shithouses.... though the matching guitar 6x10s (or is it 12s?) in nofi's link are another matter. ... then again this is Zepplin we're talking about, so who knows what those poor rigs had to go through.

lowend1 · December 30, 2015, 06:25:40 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on December 26, 2015, 11:17:22 AM
This was my first real bass amp back in the day, the totally underwhelming Univox UB250. I found this on Craigs list for 100 bucks and yes it is just as underwhelming as I remember it. It is in really nice condition, most I see are pretty beat up. It is cool to look at but only good for practice. I am glad I bought it as it fills a hole in my "early years" collection. Back in the day I bought a extra cab in a effort to improve it's performance, as I recall it didn't help much.

Twas my first also...

godofthunder · December 31, 2015, 07:29:00 AM

Nice Hyflyer! I had one in black, bought it used cost me 30 bucks no case! I brought it home on my bike from the House of Guitars! I have been looking for a reasonably priced one.

lowend1 · December 31, 2015, 07:03:29 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on December 31, 2015, 07:29:00 AM
Nice Hyflyer! I had one in black, bought it used cost me 30 bucks no case! I brought it home on my bike from the House of Guitars! I have been looking for a reasonably priced one.

Did you have an Ampeg Big Stud also? That was my second bass.

godofthunder · January 01, 2016, 08:57:49 AM

Ha! No I never did but I have always wanted one just for the name Big Stud!

Dave W · January 01, 2016, 04:51:33 PM

Didn't those have plywood bodies?

Rob · January 01, 2016, 07:05:40 PM

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on December 26, 2015, 01:05:16 PM
From what I recall, Univox sealed bass cabs from that era (I had a crappy 1x15 for a little bit; looked a lot like that one) where humorously undersized. Small even by guitar 1x15 standards.

... but then there was stuff like this, which is allegedly bloody awesome (but I don't know; never seen one IRL much less played thru):

Looks like a robot head on a Voice of the Theater folded horn. Likey a LOT

nofi · January 02, 2016, 09:11:32 AM

way back in the day voice of the theater cabs with a horn on top was the best p.a. system a local band could hope for.

Granny Gremlin · January 02, 2016, 11:33:50 AM

I wouldnt doubt it.

lowend1 · January 02, 2016, 09:30:52 PM

Quote from: Dave W on January 01, 2016, 04:51:33 PM
Didn't those have plywood bodies?

In the truest sense of the word. And a positively horrendous neck profile. And a butt-ugly headstock.

Pilgrim · January 03, 2016, 08:53:10 AM

That's an interesting bass - like the pickguards and the material round the pickup - but it does look like a dedicated neck-diver.