Univox Ripper Electric Guitar – An Atypical Guitar Review
Most people who are familiar with Univox tie the companies name to the infamous Mosrite copy, the Univox Hi-Flier, which several famous guitar players – including Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, are known to have played.
While the Hi-Flier maybe the now-defunct Univox’s claim to fame, they also produced really fantastic copies of other famous guitars. On a recent Craigslist adventure, I procured what has become one of my favorite electric guitars – a 1976 Univox Ripper.
This isn't mine. I can't find the USB cable for my camera today! 
The Ripper is almost an exact copy of the 70′s era Fender Stratocaster. The key difference between the two is that, whereas a Fender Strat has 3 single coil pickups and a 5-way selecter switch – the Ripper has 3 humbucking pickups and a 3-way selecter switch. Aesthetically, the guitars are identical – right down to the chunky 70′s era headstock (which Fender now prevents companies from using on their Strat copies).
I’ve been lucky enough to play hundreds of different guitars in my lifetime, and will put my heavily (and naturally) “relic’d” Univox Ripper right up there with Custom Shop Relic Strats in terms of playability and aesthetic appeal. My Ripper has been played hard and tossed around by countless guitarists over the the past 30-some-odd years, and it shows! Belt-buckle rash, checking, nicks, dings, hand-oil stained maple neck and fretboard – all the signs of a well loved rock-n-roll instrument are clear and present.
The Ripper definitely has it’s own sound – and the pickups are very interesting. Between the three positions (bridge, middle and neck pickups working individually), there is an almost absurd range of tonal color. The bridge is very, very hot – and full of bite. The middle position reminds me of the neck pickup in a Telecaster. The neck pickup is so warm and “rolled-off” sounding, it reminds me of a more lo-fi take on that famous Woman Tone.
All in all, I recommend that if anyone sees one of these finely-crafted Japanese Strat copies out there – pick it up and play it! Mine is a wonderful blast from the past – I certainly wouldn’t pass up a chance to own a second one.
I too fell pray to the lure of the Univox Ripper. My friend had purchased one years ago at a yard sale. I would go to his band’s shows over the years and one day, it kind of just hit me….. that his guitar just always sounded amazing… it had almost this supersonic sound to it. So, I played his one day to feel the action and then that night… I searched online and found one on Ebay with a buy it now of 200 bills and it came with its original Univox case. Let me tell you, 200 for a monster like this is an insanely low price. You’re right, that neck humbucker is just so full and warm and to be honest…. it just has balls. I play this bad boy through a Vox AC30 combo classic with the Blue Alnico speakers…. there is no stopping it. It is an odd little guitar that I am glad to have as part of my collection. For anyone that wants one, you can still find one on Ebay every once in a while, but they aren’t nearly as common as the Hi Flyer, which I think is strictly because Cobain played one. The Ripper is a much better guitar in my opinion. Get one before people start to catch on.
Comment by Chris — December 9, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
Damn, you got a sweet deal! This is on the front page of Google…..shhhh – we’re letting the secrets out!! Ha.
I wish I hadn’t sold my AC30 before I got the Ripper. I bet that’s a nice combination. I run mine through an old Earth Sound 4×10 combo (that I’ll probably review here sometime), old Blues Deville RI or a Mesa Boogie F-50. It works with all of ‘em. What a guitar. And to think that these were the “low-quality” guitars of the day. My, my.
Comment by admin — December 9, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
I still have my ripper!!! Purchased from Mandy Music, Wantagh NY in 1977, $299 new. Still my main squeeze! This guitar is like an old shoe. I can’t believe someone resold one for $200…. that is a steal!!!
Comment by Chuck — January 13, 2010 @ 11:20 am
Lucky Chuck! There’s one on evilbay right now going for $300. I almost pulled the trigger but two is probably excessive for a part time amateur musician like me.
Comment by admin — January 15, 2010 @ 12:09 am
Plus, gotta share the love and let others enjoy these fine guit-fiddles
Comment by admin — January 15, 2010 @ 12:09 am
I have a black ripper with the case for sale. It’s well worn as expected but plays like a dream. If anyone is interested email me at jakeeckes@gmail.com
Comment by Jake e — April 30, 2010 @ 9:32 pm
You have done it once more! Incredible article!
Comment by Alisha Humphries — May 28, 2010 @ 10:56 am
If only I had a dollar for every time I came here… Superb article.
Comment by Curt Friedman — May 29, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
I have one, too…
Comment by koula — June 23, 2010 @ 7:05 am
I am only 15 years old, but have been playing for eight years, my dad passed down his 30 year old ripper to me and i love it!!!!!! i play in a band that plays all styles of music, i put it through a roland cube 60 and it is so versatile from blues to heavy drop tuning the humbuckers are awesome
Comment by Brett — August 21, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Looooove the 3 humbucker design on that thing. Bet it kills!
Comment by Fender Guitar Review — September 25, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
This is the guitar that all my siblings and I learned to play on. My uncle passed it on to us from a friend, and it is an awesome treasure. The lowest action of any guitar I’ve ever played, it almost feels fretless. We all love it.
Comment by Serial Bill — October 14, 2010 @ 8:06 am
I have had my ripper since 1979 unbelievably one of the best action guitars I have played did not know only 600 were made and 260 shipped to the US if u have one it is a true vintage guitar rock on!
Comment by Bill Panzella — December 14, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
I have a white ripper in awesome shape. Will sell for $300 to any one untrusted. call me at (210)400-3912 Rick. I need cash right now times are slow!!@!!
Comment by rick — January 31, 2011 @ 10:06 am
oooops meant interested NOT INTRUSTED!!!!!! Ha,HA anyhow I am a Ebay client under chiwawa210 check out my reviews
Comment by rick — January 31, 2011 @ 10:08 am
I have the 1977 Ripper in the sunburst kinda color. My mom bought it brand new when I got in a band. Was $299 new back in the day. Little heavy because of the solid wood but not to bad. The neck is what sold me. The action is so fast begining guitar was a lot easier on the fingers until they caloused up. Have the original black hardcase with velvet insides that it came with> Awesome guitar
Comment by JG — February 14, 2011 @ 11:46 pm
I cut my teeth on one loaned to me by my Uncle; he still has it…a white one. I’ve tried to buy it from him but, no sale. So, I thought I’d search eBay for one and wound up taking home the Eagle version. I can tell you, they play and sound identical but I was fortunate enough to gain the added cool factor of the carved body. I have over 20 axes due largely to the fact that I am a Carvin dork but oddly enough, this Eagle/Ripper and my other Univox (a UC-2) are two of my proudest trophies.
Comment by dan — May 13, 2011 @ 11:40 pm
I have a wood colored Ripper that was my fathers. He bought it sometime in the late ’70s so the guitar is a few years older than I am and still in near perfect condition. Longevity is certainly one of this guitar’s characteristics. It has a great sound and decent action too. I only have two complaints. First, the guitar is somewhat heavy. And second, The laminated neck causes some friction as opposed to a neck with a smooth finish. I’m not sure if it is a collector’s item but even so I’m never giving it up!
Comment by Mike — September 12, 2011 @ 9:45 pm
Got mine a couple of months ago on Kijiji. Some kid got it passed down to him and just wanted something “new”. Guess this was too beat-up for him.
Or it was the neck?
Nobody’s mentioning this: the neck is the one of the “chunkiest” ever
. I love that. If it was a 1/4 inch wider: It would be a dream come true. BTW, I measured the neck. One of the things I noticed: the headstock is thicker than a headstock on a Fender Jazz Bass, it’s also about an inch thick, pretty much from headstock to heel!!!
So, the whole thing is made of Maple, neck and body. No wander it sustains. Add those pickups- it sure has a distinctive “voice” .
Unfortunately the frets are really worn, so I’ll have to re-fret the beast. Still haven’t figured out what kind of frets to use, …?
It’s natural and I paid 250 for it
This one’s a keeper.
Comment by Brian — December 3, 2011 @ 9:19 am