This guitar was a gift from Kurt’s girlfriend at the time, Tracy Marander. Kurt had received the guitar while on the road, probably around July 6th or 7th, 1989. Prior to using this Univox, Kurt had used a maple neck Hi-Flier which he ended up destroying upon receiving the new guitar.
I really like Univoxes, and that’s what I play all the time. But they are hard to find because they are Mosrite copies that were made in the late 60 and the early 70s. You just have to find them by chance in pawnshops, and I’m just gonna keep breaking them every time I get one.
Luckily, Matt brought me another one from Seattle that my girlfriend bought for me, and I made sure I had the new one in my hands before I break this one (talking about the old maple neck Univox).
Nirvana – Interview 07/14/89. Interviewer: John Robb
The first time the new white Univox was used live was probably around July 18, when Nirvana played a gig in Pyramid Club (New Music Seminar), New York.
Based on photos, Kurt brought the guitar with him on Nirvana’s first European tour and used it up until around mid-November 1989, at which point he started using a few different European brands instead (likely something he picked up on the road).
The white Univox was destroyed on the night of November 11, 1989, at Ecstasy, Berlin, West Germany. According to the info posted over at LiveNirvana.com, the band had problems with equipment all night long, which resulted in the set being cut short, and Kurt destroying his guitar during Breed.
Neck from that guitar
Kurt Smashed the White Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3 on November 11, 1989 – ecstasy, berlin, (west) Germany. Then from November 12-27, 1989 Kurt used the Red Hagström II F-200 guitar, until he Smashed that in Rome Italy on the November 27th, then the last 3 days of the European Tour (December 1, 2, 3, 1989) Kurt used a Washburn Force 31 (Black & White) Guitar Right-Handed flipped for Lefty was Smashed at the end of the December 3, 1989 Show.
Added the date, thanks!
No problem, glad to help.