Univox Hi Flier - Sunburst - 2 of 2

This was the second sunburst Univox Hi Flier photographed for the Cobain Unseen book. Unlike the first one (see other entry) this one was published in the book. In the photograph we can see a replacement humbucker in the neck position. The rest of the guitar appears to be stock.

Source

Geoff Moore

kurtsequipment

Univox Hi Flier - Sunburst - 1 of 2

This is the Univox Hi Flier famously used in the encore of the Rio De Janeiro show. Video of "Dive" can be seen on the Live Tonight Sold Out video and also below.

According to Kurtsequipment.com

"Univox Hi-Flyer, mahogany neck and stock single coils at the Rio show encore. Kurt liked this one too. Later got a humbucker in the bridge"

The humbucker in the bridge alteration can be seen in the latest photograph above (by Geoff Moore) as well as the show on 7/23/93 at The Roseland in New York City.

Geoff Moore is the photographer that shot most of the photos for the Cobain Unseen book. He was the sole photographer allowed to shoot the guitars that are in the Cobain estate vault. This guitar was not featured in the Cobain Unseen book. For other guitars photographed by Moore please visit the "Geoff Moore" tag below, as well as Geoff Moore's website.

Note: There is another Geoff Moore photographed Univox Hi Flier that ended up in the Cobain Unseen book. Entry coming soon.

Source

Violent Addiction

Geoff Moore

nirvanaguide

kurtsequipment

Additional Links

1. Video Stills of Rio performance 1 and 2

2. Rio performance of Territorial Pissings

Smashed Univox Hi Flier

Smashed October 30th 1988 @ Evergreen State College (WA)

Photo of event here.

This Univox body was displayed at Seattle's Experience Music Project April 2003 to October 2004. Here is a blurry photo of the display from 2004. Looks like the neck was displayed alongside the guitar. If anyone has a better photo of the display please contact me.

Current whereabouts are unknown.

Sources:

Come As You Are by Michael Azzerad

Experience Music Project

White Univox Hi-Flier used on Heart Shaped Box video

White Univox Hi Flier used on the Heart Shaped Box Video. Not entirely certain where this guitar currently resides.

Rumors surrounding this guitar

1. Sold on eBay in 2001

2. Currently owned by Dave Grohl

3. Smashed on 10/23/93

Related links

1. Video still from HSB video #1

2. Video still from HSB video #2

3. Heart Shaped Box Video

Source

Additional information and photos thanks to the folks from livenirvana.com

Smashed Guitar @ Auction

UPDATE 10/07/2009

Information has been confirmed and images obtained.

Stay tuned for a new entry. For now I will leave this old entry here.

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Another one of Kurt's guitars sold at an auction in December 2008.

It was a modified 70's Fender Mustang with a Univox humbucker.

This is the second Cobain guitar selling for 6 figures.

The first was a Mosrite Gospel in 2006 (here).

The guitar was sold by Sluggo of The Grannies and Hullabaloo.

Kurt traded it him for either a white Univox Hi Flier (pic 1, 2, 3) or a Gibson SG (pic 1, 2)

Update; It was the SG

It was displayed (on loan from Sluggo) at the Experience Music Project (Seattle, WA) until he decided to sell it in 2008. The news articles mention that it was smashed in New Jersey.

This may lead one to assume it may be have been the sunburst Univox. However two of the articles (NYTimes and Rolling Stone) mention a "Mustang"; hence the confusion.

My guess is that Kurt had smashed both the Mustang (possibly in 7/9/89 PA) and his sunburst Univox (7/13/89 NJ). Looking at photos from nirvanaguide.com, Kurt did not play guitar on the show following the Maxwell's gig. He played the whole show with no guitar. The show after that, he is seen with a white Univox.

To recap;

7/9/89 - Kurt is playing a sunburst Mustang (top photo)

7/12/89 - Kurt is playing a natural/sunburst/duct taped Univox

7/13/89 - Kurt is seen smashing the Univox (see photo)

7/15/89 - Kurt did not play guitar (see photo)

7/18/89 - Kurt is playing a white Univox

If anyone has photographs from when it was displayed in Seattle, or at the auction please share!

Thank you - Jon

Photo source