Harmony Guitars Club

I would like to start a Harmony Guitars Club thread as a tribute to the instruments that got me started playing guitar. Since a lot of American players got a similar start, I figure a club thread is in order.

The first guitar I played was a Harmony Archtone archtop guitar, an acoustic jazz guitar. It was my father’s guitar. He had it around for I don’t know how many years before I picked it up, so I don’t know specifically the model and the year, and I don’t have any pics of the guitars from that time. Mom may have some somewhere, but getting them from her, scanning them, etc. is not something I can do right now, so I found some pics online that show what I’m talking about.

This first pic shows a 1965 brown sunburst Harmony Archtone acoustic jazz guitar with an archtop/archback and f-holes. This one is essentially what I started on, though I don’t know the precise year model of mine/my Dad’s.
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1213_Archtone_1965_01.jpg

Furthermore, what I played didn’t have the pickguard, but for a while it did have the mounting bracket, much like the one in this pic.
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1213_Archtone_1961_04.jpg

The first electric I played was also a Harmony, a Silhouette, as in the pic below.
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H19_Silhouette_02.jpg

This has a little more interesting story to it. After I’d been playing a few months on Dad’s acoustic jazz guitar, he agreed to buy me an electric. The neighbor across the street had a son that was starting a band, and they had an electric guitar at their house to sell (it wasn’t their son’s, but a friend’s and/or a band mate’s). Both of these long-haired guys were there, and one even played the guitar a little bit to demo it for us. Dad played it, too. I was offered a go with it, but I was far too new a player to feel comfortable playing in front of these guys in a Rock band.

The guitar was a Harmony Silhouette. The neighbor’s son was Rod Prince, co-founder of the group The Bubble Puppy (their biggest hit, in 1968, I think, was “Hot Smoke and Sassafras”).

Now, about this club thread, who else has stories, specs and/or pics of Harmony (or Airline, Silvertone, etc.) guitars to share?

my dad gave me a 1970 harmony H6362
sovereign he got it in 1970 or 71,you see me holding it posing with a car I had. the car was a 1973 plymouth satellite my dad gave me but i sold it like a dumass
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/11-13-2005-05.jpg
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/11-13-2005-01.jpg

Ah, the Harmony H1203 Sovereign. There were feature variations through the years of production. Early models didn’t have pickguards, had a more “hourglass” shape, etc.

Early (undated) Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_30.jpg

1962 Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_1962_01.jpg

1971 Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_1971_01.jpg

Hmmm...from your pic, it looks like that Sovereign has white bridge pins. The Sovereigns I've seen had pinless bridges. I’ve never seen a bridge pin variation before. Am I just seeing things? Or was that a stock feature for the 1970 model, or perhaps a modification?

I thought it was a 1203 too but that was one we used to have. my dad told me this is an h6362 so i looked and it is. i found a website that tells about it
http://harmony.demont.net/model/179.htm
whats weird is my dad said he got it in 70 or 71 and in the guitar it says S71 but the website says 1972-1975. i guess the websites arent always right huh.
my dad always likes the kind with the pins and the f hole kind with the trapeze type of string holders. in the last 2 years he has sold like 20 or 30 guitars and maybe 15 or 20 amps serious. I keep sayling whats left for me and he says whatever i can afford,lol. but he still has a bunch. I have a les paul and the harmony and a gibson melody maker he gave me .he gave me a telecaster to but i sold it. i want to get another one. when my dad gets his eyerquire i want to order a tele from mr bob and i want to get one of the harmony rockets. my dad sold a couple of them one red like most i have seen and a black one which i thought was really cool. he had one he called a jupiter and he had one with the really skinny pickups that looked like pincels.and others some were pretty sweet

I have an old Harmony 6 string lapsteel, gold with a 'deco-ish' fretboard. Started learning my way around a C6 on that thing, and I still play it from time to time.

nice

I thought it was a 1203 too but that was one we used to have. my dad told me this is an h6362 so i looked and it is. i found a website that tells about it
http://harmony.demont.net/model/179.htm
whats weird is my dad said he got it in 70 or 71 and in the guitar it says S71 but the website says 1972-1975. i guess the websites arent always right huh.
my dad always likes the kind with the pins and the f hole kind with the trapeze type of string holders. in the last 2 years he has sold like 20 or 30 guitars and maybe 15 or 20 amps serious. I keep sayling whats left for me and he says whatever i can afford,lol. but he still has a bunch. I have a les paul and the harmony and a gibson melody maker he gave me .he gave me a telecaster to but i sold it. i want to get another one. when my dad gets his eyerquire i want to order a tele from mr bob and i want to get one of the harmony rockets. my dad sold a couple of them one red like most i have seen and a black one which i thought was really cool. he had one he called a jupiter and he had one with the really skinny pickups that looked like pincels.and others some were pretty sweet

Kevin, I know that website. I’ve got it bookmarked. And your right, websites aren’t always right. That said, that particular website is pretty reliable. This thread would not be complete with mention of it, so here is the link for the Harmony Guitars Database (http://harmony.demont.net/).

Also, this thread would obviously not be complete without a link to the website for The Original Harmony Guitar Company, Inc. (http://harmonyguitars.com/).

cool, that link had my lapsteel in the big pic of guitars, here is the link to the model I have (http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H1/1.htm).

and thanks for posting that, I've often wondered what the details were to my guitar.

cool, that link had my lapsteel in the big pic of guitars, here is the link to the model I have (http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H1/1.htm).

and thanks for posting that, I've often wondered what the details were to my guitar.

You’re welcome. I’m glad to have this valuable resource posted in this thread.

Let’s attach some pics of your model of lapsteel, so they can be a part of this thread’s info.

http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1_lapsteel_Aldens_01.jpg
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1_lapsteel_07.jpg

I thought it was a 1203 too but that was one we used to have. my dad told me this is an h6362 so i looked and it is. i found a website that tells about it
http://harmony.demont.net/model/179.htm
whats weird is my dad said he got it in 70 or 71 and in the guitar it says S71 but the website says 1972-1975. i guess the websites arent always right huh.


K son of eyerish, I was just re-reading that web page, and noticed that for the productions years of the H6362, they listed 72-75, but then added parenthetically "(other years possible, not verified)." So it's certainly possible that your dad's recollection is right, they leave room for that in their stated info.

Let's put up another pic of that guitar.

http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H6362_1972_02.jpg

K son of eyerish, I was just re-reading that web page, and noticed that for the productions years of the H6362, they listed 72-75, but then added parenthetically "(other years possible, not verified)." So it's certainly possible that your dad's recollection is right, they leave room for that in their stated info.

Let's put up another pic of that guitar.

http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H6362_1972_02.jpg

Hi Larry
This is Robert(eyerish)

I remember I was at a music store in Los angeles My Grandmother and I were actually looking at pianos.

I overheard a salesman talking to a guy. He was saying something to the effect of(almost 40 years so may be paraphrasing a bit).

You just bought this you sure you want to trade? The guy traded this for a Teisco electric. I remember that,as it was a bright blue one,my favorite color.

I then went and checked it out(the h6362) and bought it before it even left the counter. The store was the one who originally sold it and withen a few months took the trade. It had a paper thin gigbag, I kept for many years then 5 or so years ago I bought that chipboard case for it and gave it to my son(K).

My birthday is in March. I would say my G-mother and I were piano shopping late 71 early 72 then. It has the S71 in the soundhole and even now sounds pretty darn good.

Harmony was an excellent maker of guitars. They made stuff for Fender and Gibson as well as others.

I had some of the Rockets and one of the Rebels. I miss those Rockets. Great guitars. I had many harmony's over the years and who knows may chase one or two down again,LoL.

The only thing DeArmond I have now is an old DeArmond volume pedal that I have had for nearly 40 years. The paint is all warn off and the new color scheme is rust and bare metal,hmmm lovely,LoL. Hey it still works so what the heck,right? I also have a DeArmond floating Mandolin pickup that I bought from Merle Haggard. It doesn't work now because sometime in the last few years the wire leading from the phono tip to the volume control was pulled apart. It can be repaired of course,but I don't own a mandolin now so I don't worry about it.

http://i43.tinypic.com/ejj7f7.jpg

I also have a 1965 harmony archtone. Possibly made on the same day! :D
Small world, eh?
I would NOT call it a jazz guitar, it's my favorite bluesbox.

The thread wont let me edit. So I am adding this. a friend of mine who read what I posted earlier about the DeArmond stuff got ahold of me to remind me of two things.
1, That I am a boob(he's right)
2, I got the Mandolin pickup not from Merle haggard but from Waylon Jennings. I bought a mandolin(a harmony A style 1970 by the way) it had the pickup on it. The neck was broke and rather than pay to fix(more than the mando was worth) I returned the mando and bought just the pickup. So Waylon not Merle,My bad. this is not a picture of the one i bought from Mister jennings but it is what that one looked like(except with a deArmond floating pickup) Oh I will also add that I bought another harmony mandolin just like the pick but in that rebel green burst that Harny did and it was one of the many instruments stolen out of my storage in November of 2005
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/harm225.jpg

Hello Larry (wasn't that a tv show? LOL)
Robert(eyerish)

You're kidding! How have I not heard of this before? :shock:

Well, come to think of it, we didn't have a TV from the late 70s to the late 80s, so if this show aired during that time frame, I wouldn't have seen it. Still kind of surprising that no one's ever brought it up to me before.

You're kidding! How have I not heard of this before? :shock:

Well, come to think of it, we didn't have a TV from the late 70s to the late 80s, so if this show aired during that time frame, I wouldn't have seen it. Still kind of surprising that no one's ever brought it up to me before.

Hello Larry

heres an IMDB link about it I found.
Later
Robert(eyerish)
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0078623/

Yup, I called it. Hello, Larry was released in 1979 and only ran two seasons. Right in the time frame when we had no TV. Might be a kick to track down some episodes. I always liked McLean Stevenson.

Okay, moving on. Back to the topic at hand.

Here’s an item of Harmony interest. Roots/blues artist J. J. Cale (“After Midnight,” “Cocaine,” “Crazy Mama,” covered by Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd) says that his favorite guitar is his Harmony. And you can tell it’s a Harmony by the headstock, but aside from that you’d have to take Cale’s word for it, because he’s modified the body beyond all recognition.

It started life as a round sound hole, flat top acoustic Harmony. Cale filled in the sound hole and started adding pickups…and adding pickups…and adding pickups. A total of five, as a matter of fact. One of those was a Dan Electro “bar type” from a Sears Silvertone guitar. The other four “are Gibson, two of which are low impedance for recording direct.”

In addition to the pickups, Cale has added an array of control plates, knobs and switches, and took the back off to facilitate “easier access to the electronics.”

I first saw and read about Cale’s “Harmony” in the May (?) 1977 Guitar Player issue. He was on the cover with that thing, and the feature article was about him. Here are some pics, starting with the cover of that GP issue.

http://rockcriticsarchives.com/pix/GP-cale.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/J_J_Cale_Munich_75.jpg http://jjcale.org/harmony1.jpg http://jjcale.org/harmony2.jpg

I was excited a few years ago when Harmony reissued the Sovereign. I knew JC Penny carried them. I was hoping to get one and repaint it in the Buck Owens style. Imagine my suprise when I looked in the Christmas catalog and found out they had done it for me.

Has anybody here played a Harmony H310? Better yet, does anybody here own one? This one’s really caught my eye and caused GAS big time! (Funny mixed metaphor, now that I actually see it in print!)

If you’re not familiar with this model, here’s what you’re missing: archtop, f-hole, solid spruce top; solid flame maple back, flame maple neck; ebony fretboard, bridge and tailpiece; gold hardware; floating mini humbucker, a single volume control mounted in the pickguard; 25 ½ scale neck, 20 frets; the color is listed as “brown” but it sure looks sunburst to me. Check it out at this web page.

http://harmonyguitars.com/ProductLine.asp?pl=newline&pid=3DFDA7341625A59C6A666B77A065E15E183B25D3C20D34 E0

And here are a few pics.

http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/top_87.jpg http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/detail_images/310br-back-neck_87.jpg
http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/detail_images/310br-tail_87.jpg

It has been favorably reviewed online by one reviewer at Harmony Central. But I’m hoping to get more input, particularly from fellow Harmony Guitars Club members/TDPRIers.

Here's my Harmony H-62. A nice clean example, and a fine jump blues machine. I've had 2 or 3 of these, but managed to just hang on to this one. Silly me. They are quite 'spensive now.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs029.snc1/2371_1087131624936_1425784141_30252714_6063_n.jpg

Has anybody here played a Harmony H310? Better yet, does anybody here own one? This one’s really caught my eye and caused GAS big time! (Funny mixed metaphor, now that I actually see it in print!)

If you’re not familiar with this model, here’s what you’re missing: archtop, f-hole, solid spruce top; solid flame maple back, flame maple neck; ebony fretboard, bridge and tailpiece; gold hardware; floating mini humbucker, a single volume control mounted in the pickguard; 25 ½ scale neck, 20 frets; the color is listed as “brown” but it sure looks sunburst to me. Check it out at this web page.

http://harmonyguitars.com/ProductLine.asp?pl=newline&pid=3DFDA7341625A59C6A666B77A065E15E183B25D3C20D34 E0

And here are a few pics.

http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/top_87.jpg http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/detail_images/310br-back-neck_87.jpg
http://harmonyguitars.com/images/products/detail_images/310br-tail_87.jpg

It has been favorably reviewed online by one reviewer at Harmony Central. But I’m hoping to get more input, particularly from fellow Harmony Guitars Club members/TDPRIers.

Well, since no replies yet about the H310, I'm guessing few if any here own or have played this model. I referred in my previous post about this guitar to its being favorably reviewed at Harmony Central. So in absence of any TDPRIer user reviews here, I'll post the URL to that HC user review. Here's the hyperlink:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Harmony/H310/10/1

LG, I confess I have never heard of that guitar before, and I follow Harmony auctions and such pretty closely. I've played/seen other reissue/modern Harmonies though, and would say just don't kid yourself about what you are getting into. It's a Chinese guitar. You can make it work, and sound just fine if you are willing to take the time to dial it in (setup, possible hardware changes, maybe a new pickup, etc.). If you're expectations are set properly, a street price of $600 is a pretty low risk starting point. I think it's pretty, and would probably give it a go if I needed a jazzy instrument inexpensively (and didn't have a pile of other stuff).

I've had a handful of Harmonys, as well as a bunch they built for other people.
Here's what I'm playing around with right now, and H906 bass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/harmony1.jpg

LG, I confess I have never heard of that guitar before, and I follow Harmony auctions and such pretty closely. I've played/seen other reissue/modern Harmonies though, and would say just don't kid yourself about what you are getting into. It's a Chinese guitar. You can make it work, and sound just fine if you are willing to take the time to dial it in (setup, possible hardware changes, maybe a new pickup, etc.). If you're expectations are set properly, a street price of $600 is a pretty low risk starting point. I think it's pretty, and would probably give it a go if I needed a jazzy instrument inexpensively (and didn't have a pile of other stuff).

Well, I’m not trying to kid myself about the Harmony H310, that’s why I posted my question. As for it being MIC, I am a bit wary, but at the same time I’m not ready to write it off just because it’s Chinese. The reviewer at HC (an Ausie named Aaron?) praised its construction, calling it “very well made” and “solid,” saying “the overall quality of this guitar is equal, if not superior to some of the Gibson guitars being made today.” And yes, I think you’re right that I should expect to tweak it somewhat, to “dial it in,” as you put it (strings, action). Again, reviewer Aaron found this to be the case. But as you say, $600 is a fairly low risk starting point. So at this point I am just trying to get input on this particular guitar, and whether or not I pull the trigger on one is subject to a number of variables.

Not the least of which is my wife’s opinion. When I showed her the pic the first time, she said (after a moment of wary hesitation) “Yeah, it's pretty.” And when I showed it to her a second time, she just rolled her eyes! :sad:).

Surf's up!

Here's my beautiful little 1964 Harmony H14 Bobkat, in amazing condition for a 45 year old lady!

Just how sweet are those Dearmond pups?

I'll never part with this little bit of history....:cool:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/fatmanstratman/HarmonyH14.jpg

Ah... Harmony guitars. Like some of you, my first guitar was a Harmony. Here is my dad's 1965 Harmony 'Roy Smeck' Rocket. I think model H73. He passed it on to me in 1989 when I took an interest in learning guitar.

I regret that I kind of mistreated that guitar when I was young and replaced the original bridge with a modded Gibson TOM. To me it was just an old piece of junk and I quickly replaced it with an HM Strat later that year:roll:

The Harmony was kept around just for nostalgia until I started playing it again last year, since of course my tastes in music have changed considerably since 1989. LOL. After a good set up and new strings it's really starting to grow on me! Those pickups sound great, very Gretsch-like. Too bad the neck has the girth of a tree trunk.

Ah, the Harmony H1203 Sovereign. There were feature variations through the years of production. Early models didn’t have pickguards, had a more “hourglass” shape, etc.

Early (undated) Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_30.jpg

1962 Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_1962_01.jpg

1971 Harmony H1203 Sovereign
http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H1203_Sovereign_1971_01.jpg

Hmmm...from your pic, it looks like that Sovereign has white bridge pins. The Sovereigns I've seen had pinless bridges. I’ve never seen a bridge pin variation before. Am I just seeing things? Or was that a stock feature for the 1970 model, or perhaps a modification?

I learned on that exact guitar. My dad gave it to me, his brother gave it to him. It sounds great. But I need to take it to have it repaired, it is showing its age pretty bad.

HARMONY ROCKET! a friend of mine from highschool is liquidating his collection of old Harmony guitars and he saved this one special for me! just picked it up last weekend.
it needs a cleaning and the pots need a shot of juice but it plays great and looks cool as heck! i may try to upgrade the tuners even if it means drilling the holes bigger. somebody already shored up the input jack with a peice of metal.
i think it's a 66 or 67. it's got those cool "double moustache" pickups.
sorry for the crappy pix. i think my wifes camera has taken on a personality of it's own!

any of you'se guys hang out on the Harmony forum?? awful nice folks over there! real helpful and knowledgable in all things Harmony! i already scored some handmade tuner bushings for my new/old rocket from a member there! just need to spread the love!

My first guitar was a Silvertone acoustic from Sears. The guitar was made by Harmony. I got it for Xmas from My Nana.

i have a pic of my getting it,I'll have to scan it in.
i won't bother telling you how long ago it was though.



Ah... Harmony guitars. Like some of you, my first guitar was a Harmony. Here is my dad's 1965 Harmony 'Roy Smeck' Rocket. I think model H73. He passed it on to me in 1989 when I took an interest in learning guitar.

I regret that I kind of mistreated that guitar when I was young and replaced the original bridge with a modded Gibson TOM. To me it was just an old piece of junk and I quickly replaced it with an HM Strat later that year:roll:

The Harmony was kept around just for nostalgia until I started playing it again last year, since of course my tastes in music have changed considerably since 1989. LOL. After a good set up and new strings it's really starting to grow on me! Those pickups sound great, very Gretsch-like. Too bad the neck has the girth of a tree trunk.

well heres some OOOLLLLDDDD pics of me with my first guitar and my second (another silvertone) and even my first drums.
first my nana knew I wanted a guitar so she teased me by giving me a Xmas card that had a picture of a git saying sorry all I could do this year
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/foolme.jpg

Then after I opened everything else. she does the old "gee what this?" thing
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/firstguitar.jpg

Then a couple years later. She got me another one,larger and better to play and in sound. Still a Silvertone made by Harmony. Its right handed I am just screwing around
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/secondguitar.jpg

And just for fun here is a pic of me at 3 years old maybe 4 getting my first drum set. Even at such a young age I wanted to be Buddy Rich. LoL
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/firstdrums.jpg

Wow these are way back when but hey good memories.

well heres some OOOLLLLDDDD pics of me with my first guitar and my second (another silvertone) and even my first drums.
first my nana knew I wanted a guitar so she teased me by giving me a Xmas card that had a picture of a git saying sorry all I could do this year
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/foolme.jpg

Then after I opened everything else. she does the old "gee what this?" thing
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/firstguitar.jpg

Then a couple years later. She got me another one,larger and better to play and in sound. Still a Silvertone made by Harmony. Its right handed I am just screwing around
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/secondguitar.jpg

And just for fun here is a pic of me at 3 years old maybe 4 getting my first drum set. Even at such a young age I wanted to be Buddy Rich. LoL
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/firstdrums.jpg

Wow these are way back when but hey good memories.

I'm sure those old pics do elicit good memories, and they actually conjure up some pleasant memories from my own past with similar scenes. And that old Silvertone/Harmony. Dad had one of those as well as the Archtone mentioned earlier.

Man, Robert, I guess you've just always had music in you.

I'm sure those old pics do elicit good memories, and they actually conjure up some pleasant memories from my own past with similar scenes. And that old Silvertone/Harmony. Dad had one of those as well as the Archtone mentioned earlier.

Man, Robert, I guess you've just always had music in you.

Thanks Larry. that one with my second guitar and I was me doing my best Paul McCartney thing. Maybe if I wasn't wearing my BC glasses and had longer hair it might have looked more authentic,eh? LoL
My very first instrument was those drums you see the pic of. From there it was guitars,piano's cornet trumpet,flute,clarinet(can't play to save my life). Tried harmonica's accordion and some others. I love music but even more I love trying to make it.

Thank goodness for Sears and JC Pennys and Woolworth's and Wards. May be I should say Thank you to Harmony,Regal,Danelectro and Olds(all the brands out of Elkhart Ind) those georgous Italian accordions as well as Lyon and Healy and Story and Clark for there great and reasonably priced pianos.

The 60's and 70's were an absolute blast for music and the making of it.

Sorry for being overly dramatic but i can still remember the sensation of my first drum roll attempt and the first guitar strum. The first time I played a whole song on the piano(granted it was probably twinkle twinkle little star,but it was still a song) They were for my nerdy backside imbued with the same sort of energy as my first kiss with my first girlfriend. Her name,Donna and here is a pic of her and I many many moons ago
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/donnaandI.jpg

Wasn't she a cutie?
music and women have always been both an inseparable pair and the most powerful muse.

The first kiss and the first guitar both meaningful and very powerful events in ones life.