Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Bringing your older offset back to life.
Post Reply
User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Mon Mar 08, 2021 2:34 am

Here you go...

Image

I used some old non-digital calipers to measure them & got 4mm x 8mm for the short screws, 4mm x 10mm for the others.
The short screws are used to hold the smaller E-Tuner & Wah plates in place. The longer ones are for the main plate & you'll need 4 of them.

I didn't take out the screws for the main switches as there are nuts holding them in place & the wiring is very delicate in places. The heads are 5mm wide &, like the longer screws, they're countersunk.

These are the screws for the tuners which you probably already have...

Image

I'd imagine the smallest screws will be the hardest to find due to the slightly unusual head shape. Still, as you seem to be missing the little mounting plates too, it probably isn't a big deal.

Image

Another detail I've found is that some Wah panels have the same "ON" inscription as the E-Tuner. Mine doesn't. I have no idea if this is a later change in the design or a mistake when putting this particular guitar together.

Finally, this is the original switch...

Image

Probably much easier to source as these look pretty generic to me.

:)
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:15 am

:w00t: :-*
Cool man, thanks! Actually, the ones you didn't picture/take out are the ones I needed the most, but as stores are slowly opening (apparently) from today on, I guess I'll go look for the correct screws with washers (I suspected that but wasn't sure) in the hardware store tomorrow!

Cheers man you rock!
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:36 am

Pacafeliz wrote:
Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:15 am
...Actually, the ones you didn't picture/take out are the ones I needed the most...
Ah, typical. They were just too fiddly to get to & I'm not gonna risk busting the wiring.

I'd imagine they shouldn't be too hard to get though. They've got a very typical countersunk head & you can use the mount holes of the switches to estimate a suitable diameter screw & nut. So long as they're not too thick you'll be fine.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
GAZINGUK
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:42 pm

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by GAZINGUK » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:55 pm

Just seen this post again, congrats the guitar looks fantastic and is a great project! You've done a really nice job of setting up the bridge too! I just bought my Ultrasonic last night and it's being sent later today, so hopefully it will arrive in the UK without any problems. My TM Jazzmaster passed without any issues so...?

One other thing, what string guage do you all suggest for a Vox Ultrasonic, as they have a floating bridge like Jags and Jazzmasters? .10s or .11s?

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:04 pm

Cool, good luck man!😅

I'll be sending the guitar off to a real restauration guy. Have the headstock fixed and the rest set up, getting here ready to play, no full bling resto or so.
Might take a while, but stay tuned.

...oh and please let us know how your Ultrasonic's trip goes and how you like it!
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

User avatar
GAZINGUK
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:42 pm

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by GAZINGUK » Sat Mar 27, 2021 3:20 pm

Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:04 pm
Cool, good luck man!😅

I'll be sending the guitar off to a real restauration guy. Have the headstock fixed and the rest set up, getting here ready to play, no full bling resto or so.
Might take a while, but stay tuned.

...oh and please let us know how your Ultrasonic's trip goes and how you like it!
I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes back for you, so please post some pictures when you can, as it's a lovley instrument. I hope mine passes through customs. Fingers crossed! Like yours, mine will go for a setup but it will be in May with Dave Wilson. He's always busy, but I've managed to get a slot with him, so it looks like everything is coming together for us regarding these guitars! ;D

What strings and guage are you going to use? Does it feel like the type of guitar that would require something heavy or is a regular set of .10s fine? I'm thinking DR pure blues 11-50.
Last edited by GAZINGUK on Sun Mar 28, 2021 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Sat Mar 27, 2021 11:30 pm

Yeah for standard scale guitars I prefer 10-50 or so, too.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

User avatar
GAZINGUK
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:42 pm

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by GAZINGUK » Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:16 pm

Mine turned up yesterday (April Fools day), no import tax or customs issues. ;D I haven't been able to play it yet, as I was at work yesterday and I returned home late. I'm off today, so I'm going to clean it up a bit and put some strings on it. Mine is one of the rare models without the truss rod seams down the back of the neck like the one here:

https://www.guitarmalfk.com/shop/Guitar ... 308665.htm

I'll post a pic soon, but I'm really made up with the guitar so far.

User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:42 pm

Just out of interested, to both of you, what's your serial number?

...and congratulations, GazingUK. It seems the OSG Ultrasonic Ownership List is getting longer.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
GAZINGUK
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:42 pm

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by GAZINGUK » Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:58 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:42 pm
Just out of interested, to both of you, what's your serial number?

...and congratulations, GazingUK. It seems the OSG Ultrasonic Ownership List is getting longer.

Thanks! I really love it, however it needs a bit of work, which I'll go into on a different thread. Today I've cleaned it up as it was thick with dust, but when I took the strings off, the bridge fell off. Therefore, the bridge now needs to be stuck to the body before I can use the guitar again. :fp: I'm going to see if I can bring my setup forward to try and sort everything. I did briefly play it and all the effects work and sound great. It came with a Vox case and the original paper instructions. Here's a pic of the guitar today:

Image

The guitar cost me £650 including postage from the USA.

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:21 am

Whaaaaaat?! How the hell did you get this mega score!!!

(BTW where do I find the serial number?)
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:21 am

Congrats, I mean! 😅
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:29 am

Yeah, that's a great deal!!

By the way, the bridge is supposed to be loose. It's just held in place by the spring tension & won't move a millimetre, once it's strung up & tuned.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:31 am

Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:21 am
(BTW where do I find the serial number?)
It should be on the neck plate.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
Pacafeliz
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18518
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
Location: Cococologne, Germany

Re: Vox Ultrasonic restoration - IT'S HERE!

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:34 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:31 am
Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:21 am
(BTW where do I find the serial number?)
It should be on the neck plate.
Oops 406899 here
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

Post Reply