The Low Down on the Hi-Flier™

by Ellen Angelico

Eastwood’s first Hi-Flier™ electric guitar model was introduced in the early 2000s, and it quickly became clear there was an appetite for these Made In Japan-inspired recreations. Nirvana fans clamored for a model like the one used by Kurt Cobain in the “Heart-Shaped Box” music video, pawn shop hunters craved a model with a vintage-style vibrato, and microtonal nerds sought a model like the one King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Craig Cook used.

Now the Hi-Flier™ has its own series here at Eastwood, with a whole slew of great models. It can be a lot to wade through. So strap in! We’re going to give you the low down on the Hi-Flier™.

Hi-Flier™ and Hi-Flier™ LH

Here is where it all started: the classic Hi-Flier™. If you’ve ever played a vintage original Univox Hi-Flier, you know the magic these guitars could contain. They were light, streamlined, and perfect for rock and punk. But finding a winner among the sea of neglected pawn shop survivors is no easy feat. 

Eastwood Hi-Flier™ family portrait

Eastwood’s Hi-Flier™ is made with modern construction and quality. Playing ours feels like playing the best possible original, without months of hit-and-miss (mostly miss) searching. They have hot Phase 5 chrome-housed humbuckers and top-tier playability from the bolt-on maple neck. Naturally, this guitar is available with a bevy of killer finishes, a rosewood fretboard option, and it also comes in a full-featured left-handed version. 

Hi-Flier™ Custom

Where the regular Hi-Flier™ is like an “improved” take, the Hi-Flier™ Custom stays a little closer to the vintage charm of the original Univox Hi-Flier Custom Phase 1. The Eastwood of Canada Custom M-90 pickups are a dead ringer for the Mosrite pickups that inspired the Univox model, and they have individual on-off switches rather than a three-way pickup selector. Where the Hi-Flier™ has a wrap-around hardtail bridge, the Hi-Flier™ Custom has a Tune-o-Matic roller bridge and a Fender-style tremolo.

Eastwood Guitars Hi-Flier™ Custom

The Hi-Flier™ Custom’s sharp sunburst finish recalls several models used by Kurt Cobain, but it wasn’t just the cool look that drew him to these guitars. They were also cheap! According to Rick King, owner of Guitar Maniacs in Tacoma, Washington, Cobain "bought a whole bunch of Univox Hi-Fliers… He broke a lot of those guitars. We sold him several of them for an average of $100 each over the course of five years." Makes sense, if you have a penchant for smashing guitars! A few years ago, we did a deep dive on the guitars favored by Cobain during the Bleach era, and it’s a great read for guitar fans and Nirvana fans alike.

Kurt Cobain playing a Univox Hi-Flier

Hi-Flier™ Phase 4 MT and Hi-Flier™ Phase 4 MT LH

More recently, another player took advantage of the affordability of vintage Univox Hi-Flier guitars: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Craig Cook. Cook was not in the business of guitar-smashing, but rather, guitar-modifying. The 21 frets of the original Univox Hi-Flier weren’t enough, and he outfitted his with a quarter-tone microtonal neck for consistent access to the notes between the notes of a standard guitar.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's Craig Cook with his modified microtonal Univox Hi-Flier

We received many requests to explore the world of microtonal guitars, and the Hi-Flier™ design was a perfect foundation for the Hi-Flier™ Phase 4 MT. It’s an excellent entry point for anyone curious about microtonality, no DIY mods required. Just like the regular Hi-Flier™, it’s built to last with top construction techniques and quality, and we also make a left-handed version. We see you, lefty microtonal nerds!

Close up on the microtonal neck of the Hi-Flier™ Phase 4 MT

Hi-Flier™ Ripper

When the original Ripper was released in the mid-70s, it took a beloved design and turned up the volume. At first glance, it looks just like a Strat. But dig a little deeper and you’ll notice the three hot humbuckers instead of single coil pickups. It’s no wonder boundary-pushing hard rock and fusion guitarist Tommy Bolin (of Deep Purple and Zephyr) was drawn to this model: it lived up to its name.

The great Tommy Bolin with a Univox Ripper

Eastwood’s Hi-Flier™ Ripper has the raw, “ripping” tone of the original with one important change. The original guitar had a three-way pickup selector, and players wanting access to Strat-style “in-between” sounds had to precariously balance the switch to make contact with two pickups at once. Our model features a five-way switch so you can get those sweet tones without the high-wire act.

Eastwood's Hi-Flier™ Ripper

Hi-Flier™ Bass

While not as ubiquitous as its 6-string counterpart, Univox also produced a Hi-Flier bass. Like the guitar, it was lightweight and resonant and had a perfectly punchy tone for rock and roll. You can hear the sound of this bass front and center on Iron Butterfly’s mega-hit “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Bassist Lee Dorman was seen performing with his Univox bass throughout the late 60s and early 70s.

Lee Dorman with his Univox Hi-Flier Bass

A bass guitar was the ideal choice to round out Eastwood’s Hi-Flier™ lineup. It’s got two P-90 pickups, 30 ½” scale, and a great-playing maple neck. Like the original, it sports a chrome cover over the bridge and a remarkably light build. The average weight of our Hi-Flier™ Bass is just 7.5lbs!

Eastwood Guitars Hi-Flier™ Bass

Why the Hi-Flier™ Still Flies High

From pawn shop prizes to microtonal experiments, the Hi-Flier™ has always attracted players who like to do things a little differently. Eastwood’s Hi-Flier™ is all about carrying that spirit forward, keeping the quirky charm, ditching the headaches, and opening the door to new sounds. Whether you’re after vintage flavor, modern playability, or something totally out of left field, we bet there’s a Hi-Flier™ in our lineup waiting to become your favorite.

Brand Experience Manager Ellen Angelico runs through the Hi-Flier lineup