Now here's an old junker I wouldn't mind owning!

[Jakedog]

Talk about cool factor. I drooled a little, I'll admit it.


http://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/1458841507.html

[HoodieMcFoodie]

What's going on in that photo of the back?

[Tdub]

I think he forgot a decimal point. $6.50

[toadman]

nice one! yesterday i bought a '66 H54 rocket. need some cleaning but it plays really nice. Pix coming soon.

[Groovey Records]

Thats a fine instrument thats highly under valued

[voodoo_idol]

Originally Posted by Tdub

I think he forgot a decimal point. $6.50

It's a Harmony H49 Jupiter. I have the Silvertone version of this guitar and watch them on eBay. 1-2 years ago, many of the Harmony models in good condition sold for $800-$1,000, easily, and some really nice examples sold closer to $1,200. They seem to have a small premium over the Silvertones. The market has softened, but I don't think he's that far off.

http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H49/136.htm

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by voodoo_idol

It's a Harmony H49 Jupiter. I have the Silvertone version of this guitar and watch them on eBay. 1-2 years ago, many of the Harmony models in good condition sold for $800-$1,000, easily, and some really nice examples sold closer to $1,200. They seem to have a small premium over the Silvertones. The market has softened, but I don't think he's that far off.

http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H49/136.htm

Well, I would certainly never pay anything even remotely approaching those prices for an instrument of this quality. But I guess people do... I just thought it was really cool. I could see going maybe $300 for something like this, if it was GREAT player, but never any more than that. I eventually see people coming to their senses, and the bottom dropping out of the off-brand market. When the prices get realistic again, I'll probably buy a few of these types of things just for fun. But not before then.

[Mike Eskimo]

Some people are sooo snobbish about Harmonys.


Especially older boomers for whom a Harmony was a "starter" guitar.


The Dearmonds they put on those things can be some of the finest pickups you'll ever hear.


They've actually dropped in price lately but they'll go back up.


MIM Classic 50's/60's Tele vs that Harmony ? Not even close...

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by Mike Eskimo

MIM Classic 50's/60's Tele vs that Harmony ? Not even close...

Well, I guess I'm not a snob then, cause I wouldn't pay what they are asking for one of those either...

I've owned several Harmony Rockets of different varieties, Silvertones, Airlines, etc. They were fun, but they were nothing approaching well built quality instruments.

The difference is, I bought them just for fun, to play around with and get funky off-beat tones out of, and I never paid more than $100 for any of them.

[Mike Eskimo]

Well, I guess I'm not a snob then, cause I wouldn't pay what they are asking for one of those either...

I don't even know what they go for !


But I know what you're saying. $300 always seemed like the top number for any of those.


Buddy of mine went to the Harmony auction in Chicago in 1975* and was able to get a bunch of solid spruce flat-top wood from it.

It was considered "ok" at the time.

Now he's got about 10 tops left and says that very few suppliers can approach anything as good as those.


*"In 1975 the Harmony Guitar Co. in Chicago ceased operations and had a huge three day auction. The auction was huge since it was two city blocks under one roof.

All the equipment was right where it had been when the factory was up and running. You could walk through the building and see just how the factory operated. All the wood and other parts had been put on pallets and was sitting in the shipping area to be sold. The problem was that each lot was so huge that no one that were interested in the guitar parts could afford the lots. Stan Werbin, who then and now owned Elderly instruments in East Lansing Michigan, started a bidding cartel made up of those who were interested in guitar stuff. Some of the other cartel members included Tut Taylor and Greg Lake (Great Lake Banjos). "

[Octave Doctor]

Harmony acoustics are one thing, but I've worked on enough Harmony electrics to know that they're not in the same league as better guitars. Fortunately my research was relatively cheap, since I got them at flea markets and yard sales for $10-$15.00.

[iansmitchell]

Harmony made some great, and some not-so.
I still say they're fine.
Heck, people discount first act now, but they make some stuff that's quality too.

[07 road house]

not digging it

[Notalent]

Interesting, but too much$$$. Indicator of the "Vintage" craze.

[jkingma]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Thats a fine instrument thats highly under valued

+1

[cowboytwang]

Hey that's EXACTLY like the one I had stolen from me just over 20 years ago! Right down to the scratches, case and everything, man I miss that guitar. It didn't stay in tune in the heat, but it played easy and sounded very cool.

Here it is back around 1986

[HoodieMcFoodie]

Originally Posted by cowboytwang

Man that's a great rockin' little song, but what's the bass player got in his mouth?

[tuuur]

Nice stuff!
But yeah, prices are strange. You can get new and better guitars for less. Guess you pay for the vintage factor...

[cowboytwang]

For all those who seem shocked by the price, have you seen the price of the reissues??????????

List price for the H49 Reissue is $999 and made in Korea instead of Chicago.
You can get a new one from Elderly Instruments for $899

Kind of makes the original '60s one for $650 look like a deal.

[imsilly]

They are great guitars in my opinion. I am too young to have experienced them the first time around so I have no bias. I think the styling and pickups make them popular with people who don't associate them with the cheap catelogue image.

I have been looking for one here in the UK, but all those Silvertones, Supros and Harmonys are £1000 guitars once they reach music stores here and ebay is just as bad really.

That particular model is the one everyone wants, flamed maple, trussrod, de'armond pickup, blender switch all sounds like a good package.

I agree they are overpriced though.

[Mike Eskimo]

For all those who seem shocked by the price, have you seen the price of the reissues??????????

List price for the H49 Reissue is $999 and made in Korea instead of Chicago.
You can get a new one from Elderly Instruments for $899

Kind of makes the original '60s one for $650 look like a deal.

Yeah - the entire idea of those reissues is so strange w/ them priced above the real thing.

I'm guessing they're gonna take a bath and who wants a set-neck Rocket ?

[cowboytwang]

The one I'm playing, in the video I posted, I paid $100 for it and it came with a '58 Fender Champ! That was about 25 years ago, and I do still have the champ.

[MickM]

Originally Posted by cowboytwang

Hey that's EXACTLY like the one I had stolen from me just over 20 years ago! Right down to the scratches, case and everything, man I miss that guitar. It didn't stay in tune in the heat, but it played easy and sounded very cool.

Here it is back around 1986

Sounds great Cowboy. If I was in Cleveland I'd go get that sucker and don't forget, you can use those pickups for a mic in a pinch!

[bingy]

This guitar is Roots Americana...how could you not love it?