Can you ID this Harmony?

[pchilson]

Anybody know the model and/or have any firsthand knowledge of this Harmony model? Impressions?
Whats with the first fret wire being a 1/4" from the nut?

Thanks

[skeksis]

Mmmm... I'm no expert - but here's what I see: 1) the logo is the post 1972 logo when the brand was used for importing cheap asian-made guitars. 2) and yes, it looks like a very cheap import, maybe from the late 70's or early 1980's? given the headstock style, that's what I'd guess.

The "zero fret" is not that uncommon of feature on guitars from the late 60's through the 70's - nobody much likes 'em that way anymore, but you'll see it on this era of guitars. Supposedly makes the open vs fretted tone more consistent. But really, is that a problem that really required a solution?

If it sounds interesting to you, enjoy it - but it's not a very collectable piece.

[Dan German]

What skeksis said. I looked here: http://harmony.demont.net/brands.php?id_brand=75

but none of them have the same peghead. Still, they could have just changed that along the way.

Interestingly, I discovered that my Harmony Flying V is model H666. !! What makes that funnier is that the last time it was used was in a production of Faustus. The devil played it.

[pchilson]

Dangerman, I also looked at that site and could find nothing that looked correct. Probably because as skeksis said its a post "desirable" Harmony...

Guy that has it said its 20 years old so 1990ish. Guess I'll pass on it.

Thanks for the info guys.

[hannigan]

I have a similar guitar that was a thrift store purchase, I have never known what it is but the body and hardware are almost identical to yours but the neck looks more like a strat like rip off . But many of those cheap asian guits share the same hardware.
Another cheap guitar I have has that same bridge. They can be tricky to figure out .
The cheap guitars seems ya love em or hate em.....
I am a lover.

[pchilson]

I have come to learn the the guitar is:

Harmony "est. 1892" Model H803

Similar to the H802 but the H803 has the hockey stick head.

I may look at it tomorrow evening.