Harmony H-1310

[BradHK]

I haven’t had this guitar out in a while so I thought I would get it out and play it. It is a 1967 (or so) and was Harmony’s top of the line cutaway arch top. Solid spruce pressed, not carved, top. I got it for around $200 five or so years ago. I put on a different pickguard and bridge (I kept the originals but I think the pickguard is a reproduction and it is ugly).

It’s a fun guitar to play. Single notes and fingerpicking sound really good but note clarity breaks up some if strummed fast. The neck is fat with a wide nut. Not sure if anybody here has one but it’s hard to beat for the money.

 

[shihan]

I have the electric version, the H-62. I would love to have an acoustic like yours. Very nice!
I really like the wide nut and fat neck, but I have big hands; it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Silvertone 1427, here. A bit less bling, but it has the P-13s:


Massive neck with wide string spacing is great for finger-picking.

If anyone is in the market for one of these, examine the neck heel closely as they often start separating and may need a neck reset. Also: top bracing wasn't "all that" on these and they tended to be strung with heavy flats back in the day, so look for top sag in the vicinity of the bridge and bridge p'up. Some have had an interior post or block installed to counteract this tendency and/or correct the sag.

Also, some early Harmonys, Silvertones and Kays do not have adjustable truss rods, so check for that.

In addition, these were repopped awhile back, so not all the the ones on the used market today were made during the 1950s-1970s. From what I've heard, the repops are pretty decent (I'm not sayin' that they're crap): it's just something to know since the vintage ones that don't have any "issues" may command a higher price.

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, from a distance you'd think it was a pro-level archtop. Nice!

 

[bobouz]

Old Polaroid of a 1930s carved-top Harmony Cremona, purchased in the mid ‘70s at a flea market for $10, iirc. The Cremona remained in Harmony’s line for a long time, but this is the most ornate one I’ve ever come across. Art Deco Guildish headstock, sort of like an old theatre marque, with Harmony inlaid vertically & Cremona passing through it at a diagonal. Checkered body binding, inlaid fretboard marquetry down the middle, carved solid spruce top as mentioned, & maple body. The tone was wonderful, but to a guy who likes smallish necks, this one felt like a tree trunk!

 

[Walter Broes]

If anyone is in the market for one of these, examine the neck heel closely as they often start separating and may need a neck reset. Also: top bracing wasn't "all that" on these and they tended to be strung with heavy flats back in the day, so look for top sag in the vicinity of the bridge and bridge p'up. Some have had an interior post or block installed to counteract this tendency and/or correct the sag.

I'm not the big Harmony expert, but I have plenty of friends who have or at one point had H62's or Espanadas, and from what I've seen, they....plain don't have any bracing! Just the arched, pressed top. And yes, plenty of them have sagged over the years. If you look at them full frontal, and look at the location of the (giant!) pickup cutouts in the top, the location of the f-holes and the pots, there isn't any room for parallel bracing.

 

[bobouz]

I'm not the big Harmony expert, but I have plenty of friends who have or at one point had H62's or Espanadas, and from what I've seen, they....plain don't have any bracing! Just the arched, pressed top. And yes, plenty of them have sagged over the years. If you look at them full frontal, and look at the location of the (giant!) pickup cutouts in the top, the location of the f-holes and the pots, there isn't any room for parallel bracing.

The ‘30s Cremona above had parallel bracing & was structurally stable throughout. Highest level of build quality I’ve seen on a Harmony. I would guess that it’s still floating around out there & doing it’s job!

 

[Walter Broes]

Oh, I meant the H62 and Espanada models didn't have any top bracing - plenty of other Harmony guitars did!

 

[Rocky]

No interest, but if you are into finding these kind of instruments, Dylan at Classic City Vintage does a fair amount of these types. Not conversions from ladder to X-bracing or anything, but whipping these instruments into the best playing/sounding examples without turning them into something they weren't intended to be.

Classic City Vintage Guitars | Athens Georgia

Located in Athens, Classic City Vintage Guitars offers vintage and used guitars and gear. We also repair and service electric and acoustic guitars.

www.classiccityvintageguitars.com

 

[Minnesota Flats]

If you look at them full frontal, and look at the location of the (giant!) pickup cutouts in the top, the location of the f-holes and the pots, there isn't any room for parallel bracing.

I think you're right! I just stuck a dentist's mirror in the F-hole of my 1427 and couldn't see any bracing at all. The top looks to be 1/8", 3-ply plywood.

I think the reason I was under the impression that there was at least minimal top bracing is that I once saw a picture of a Harmony archtop body that had been completely disassembled for restoration. But that one may have been a no-cutaway acoustic, I really can't recall.

I'm amazed that the old, open-backed machines still hold it in tune quite well. You can stick an index card part way into the gap at the neck heel, but it's remained stable that way for years: probably actually improves the action a bit!

I think mine was made in 1957.