Harmony Guitars - "The People's Guitar"

Comment

Comment by Jud Hair on August 9, 2012 at 7:12am

Hi Jim ... Thanks for reminding me exactly what Chuckie's guitar was.  I'd forgotten the brand. I traded my Harmony Rocket in on a Hagstrom 12-string because I became enamoured with the Byrds and fancied myself the next Roger McGuinn, LOL.  much later, I gave the Hagstrom to MY little brother and guess what ... he let it get stolen!  As you say ... no more gifts for HIM!  :-)

Comment by Jim Swalley on August 9, 2012 at 5:39am

Jud,

I just scrolled down to the bottom of the page and saw your band photo from 1967. What really caught my eye was Chuckie's guitar.  It looks just like my first electric that I bought in 1967 when I was taking lessons at a local music school.  My original Harmony had an action that was too high and hard to play above the above the fifth fret, so my teacher convinced my to buy one of their slightly used student rentals. It was a 1966 Teisco Del Rey Sunburst with two (three?) pickups, a vibrato bar and the distinctive patterned aluminum pickguard.  The 5 watt amp was small, but adequate (always too loud for my parents!).  With the case, cable, new strings, and a few picks, I was on my way to rock godliness all for $50.  Such a deal.  

My brother ended up with it when I enlisted in the AF.  He tried to play like Kiss and the Del Rey died a slow, painful, and noisy death - the same fate as my original Harmony that I gave him.  No more gits for him!

So, thanks for the photo.  Fond memories of the 60s.

Comment by Jim Swalley on August 8, 2012 at 7:47pm

Not a real active group, but since I'm a noob at AGC, I thought I'd sign up here since I have a 1966 Harmony h162 that I bought "gently used, but not abused" in 1971.  I had to remount the bridge last year and lowered the action while I was at it, and it plays as good as it did 41 years ago.  Those were the days . . .

Comment by Jonathan Gates on May 4, 2012 at 8:09pm

I learned on a Stella six string.

Comment by Jud Hair on March 24, 2012 at 3:30pm

This has probably been discussed in here somewhere along the way, but doesn't Ryan Adams get a great sound out of his old  Buck Owens "American" by Harmony as his primary stage guitar??

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on March 22, 2012 at 11:31am

Cool guitar, Ed! I really like these... but I just gotta question: $1250???? I mean... $1250????

I have a 1941 Harmony Archtop with exactly the same finish as this one. Mine is in perfect condition except the frets (those thin frets they used to use) are getting a bit worn. She is still playable and sounds great, but I wanted to get her refretted. The neck is not warped a bit.

I took her to 3 different luthiers for a refretting quote and two of them would not do the job because (in their words) "This is a pawn shop guitar" meaning it is not worth the effort and only worth about $50. The third said he would do the job but it would cost many times what the guitar was worth - he didn't act as if he wanted to do it, either. He wanted $350 to refret. All three of them commented on the perfect condition, especially the action and the neck.

So... I'm gonna do it myself. I figure I can buy the equipment for around (or not much more than) the $350 quote. I'm a bit concerned about setting the action as there is no truss rod (adjustable, anyway - maybe not at all) and the bow will change when strings are added, I'm sure. I'm also going to refinish the guitar with a french polish process. There currently is no binding but I'm going to add that (for structural strength). Should be good.

But $1250????

Thanks - m

Comment by Edward Sparks on March 21, 2012 at 6:42pm

Hey everyone, a friend of mine has a 50's Harmony Brilliant archtop for sale...the link includes photos and video! Check it out! 

http://www.stellaguitars.com/1200_Harmony_brilliant_cutaway.htm

Comment by Edward Sparks on November 5, 2011 at 7:14am

Hey, the wife and I are going to the Great American Philly Vintage Guitar show on November 13th...if any of you are going to be there, let me know and we will try to run into each other!  Edward

Here is the link and info...http://www.bee3vintage.com/south_philly.html

Great American Guitar Show (Fall Philly)

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

DATES

Saturday, November 12, 2011. Sunday, November 13, 2011.TIME Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00pm. Sunday: 10:00am to 4:00pm.

The line can grow very long when doors first open. Don't worry, the line moves fast!

PRICE

Saturday Pass: $12.00Sunday Pass: $10.00, 2-Day Pass: $15.00Children 12 and under free with an adult!

WHERE

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Rt. 422, Exit at Oaks 100 Station Ave., Oaks, PA 19456

<

Comment by Edward Sparks on October 31, 2011 at 7:28pm

Check out this beautiful old Stella tenor!  Belongs to a guy named Tim in the tenor guitar group...

Comment by Michael S. Jackson on September 17, 2011 at 10:51am

The DeArmond pickups are HOT! Brash, and with a lot of feedback, but hot! Clear and natural; not muffled. I love my Rocket.

m

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• …
• 13
• Next ›
• Page