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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1638.0. "Harmony Guitars" by DECWIN::KMCDONOUGH (Set Kids/Nosick) Tue Jan 16 1990 10:18

    
    
    When going through some junk I had left at ma's house, I found a 1969
    Harmony catalog that brought back more than a few memories.
    
    Great advertising....
    
      "DeArmond pickups designed for today's sound."
      "Smooth, quiet, comfortable fingering on modern flat-wound strings."
    
      "You will enjoy the 'uniform feel' of Rocket's 'ultra-slim' neck,
       reinforced with our torque-Lok adjustable truss rod."
    
    Great stuff. A two pickup Rocket was $124.50  The top-of-the-line
    archtop was $325 with a "Bigsby Vibrato Tailpiece."
    
    But, holy price shock, Batman, the top-of-the-line amp, a solid state
    2-12 Jensen, 70-watts-of-clear-power job, was $550.  Of course, that
    included reverb and tremolo.
    
    
    I confess.  I owned a Rocket and loved it.  Any other closet Harmony
    owners?
    
    
    Kevin
    
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1638.1Confess, nah I'm proud of mineVINO::OCONNORProud owner of a Ferrari F-40Tue Jan 16 1990 11:009
    Hi,
    
    I still have my old Harmony acoustic paid $50 for it in Lechmere when I
    was thirteen.  It was my only acoustic until 1986.  It was a really
    good guitar.  The guitar had a solid spruce top and a rosewood neck. 
    Harmony guitars IMO are really pretty good axes.
    
    						Joe
    
1638.2Me too!WONDER::DICKSONTue Jan 16 1990 14:3914
    I *still* have my old Harmony rocket!  Sunburst, (on a tiny body)
    with the two DeArmond (D'Armond?) pickups.  First electric guitar
    I ever owned, and I made more $$ with that cheap guitar than I did
    with the Les Pauls and Strat (and MIDI guitar, and etc...) combined.
    Never could bear to part with it.. especially since I *might* have
    gotten $25 for it.
    
    It sure brings back the high-school memorys.  BTW, the "uniform
    feel of the Rocket's 'ultra-slim' neck" was not unlike the uniform
    feel of a baseball bat... Thick!
    
    From the Home for Old Rock'n'Rollers:
    
    Bob D.
1638.3Truly a CollectableSALEM::TAYLOR_JTue Jan 16 1990 14:4617
    Harmony guitars can still be purchased through Sears and JC Penny
    catalogs...Sears sold a model {Harmony} that had built in reverb,
    phase,tremolo,echo and 2 other similar Cheesy effects.I believe
    the selling price was 199.99 but at Christmas they could be had
    {for a limited time only}for only 169.99
    
    These truly unique guitars featured a wide Les Paul style neck 
    2 "speed knobs" and 2 volume controls and possible the worst setup
    this side of a Tiesco del ray found at a flea market.But oh what
    a bargain.
    
    Harmony Strat copys and other fine collectable guitars{ such as the
    model with the built in speakers...SCREAMING SUSTAIN...well screaming
    anyway B*) } can be found at Hampshire Music in Nashua{around the
    back ,next to the KAY amp for 99$}or in your handy dandy Sears catalog.
                            Jon. 
    
1638.4... but what about those KAY'sSALEM::ABATELLINouveau Blues RockerTue Jan 16 1990 15:0024
    Although this is a "Harmony" note, I couldn't resist mentioning
    that I saw a *new* "KAY" electric solidbody at Daddy's in Salem
    today at lunch. Next thing ya know KAY will be up there with
    Gibson's, Ibanez and ESP!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    ... naw!  (uttered in total disbelief)
              
    
    Fre
1638.5ATTN. to Detail...SALEM::TAYLOR_JTue Jan 16 1990 15:0924
    Fred...I would bet w/a metalflake finish,a "Floyd Rose licsensed{SP?}
    trem and a neat Endorsment from Ywingie Van Malmenstien...it could
    work
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    nah.........                     JT :*)
1638.6REAL OLD,GOOD AS GOLD!!HAMER::KRONBILL-THE-WONDER-MUTANTTue Jan 16 1990 15:108
    I've got not one but two harmony acoustics (NEWYORKERS)with arch
    tops f-holes and trapeze tailpiece....seem to be from the late '40s
    to early 50's (one was a wedding gift from mom to dad;and the other
    Igot in a san antonio pawn shop for -95$ with a case.....)Dad's
    is just about unplayable but mine is very good...nice action and
    sweet tone.Once in a while I pull it out and play it and then my
    father goes into a marathon of oldies(like never recorded)from his
    teens.Lots of fun and would never part with it!!!!
1638.7Maybe 20 years ago but not nowSALEM::DWATKINSBo knows snowmobiles?Wed Jan 17 1990 07:166
    Maybe the old ones were good but, the Harmony guitars made now are
    even suitable for use as canoe paddles! ;-)  Want a good laugh,
    try a new at Service Merchanise.
    
    
    Don
1638.8chapter 7MOSAIC::WEBERWed Jan 17 1990 08:528
    Not to be a downer, but the "Harmony" guitars currently available at
    Sears et al are Harmony's in name only.
    
    The original company, at one time the largest guitar company in the
    world, is long since kaput--the name now graces foreign-made guitars of
    even lower quality.
    
    Danny W.
1638.9RAVEN1::BLAIRLucy, I'm home!Wed Jan 17 1990 09:189
    
    Can't help but just one more Kay comment!  Tinsley Ellis plays around
    here (Greenville, S.C.) sometimes and he uses a Kay for a slide song
    or two.  At the end of the last song, he holds it horizontally above
    his head and DROPS IT FLAT ON THE STAGE!  You know it's coming when he
    raises it, but you're thinking, nah,  he's not gonna do THAT!  Boom!
    Good set break lead-in.
    
    -pat
1638.10another rocket manMPGS::RJPELLETIERWed Jan 24 1990 02:358
    I have an early 60's Harmony Rocket (sunburst) complete with wammy in x
    condition and still use it once in a while. I had it stored for years
    and took it out of the closet a couple ago restrung it, strumed it and
    said GOD listen to that. It still sounds the same. 
    
    "Nice git"
    
    roger
1638.11and another oneAYOV11::IGILLESPIEFri Feb 02 1990 11:0716
    I have a model of Harmony not mentioned so far.
    
    It is a Harmony Soverign bought in 1971 for �64 - a lot of money then !
    
    [A lot of money now !!!]
    
    It probably sounds better now than it did when new, but with my old
    ears ????
    
    Best sound was with a set of GRETSCH SPANISH ELECTRIC strings which has
    some of the winding machined off so you dont get the usual 'zing' when
    sliding - sort of semi-flat wound.
    
    If anybody knows of a UK supplier ........
    
    Iain.
1638.12ackFASDER::AHERBSat Feb 02 1991 23:108
    I have 3 harmonies. 1 bass 2 acustic. One of the acuastics I punch a
    hole in and the other one has 4 strings left on it that are about 5
    years old. My harmony bass is used for multitracking because my
    brothers Ibenez bass is broke.
    
    I cant really judge the guitar but I like it better than other peoples
    guitars probaly cause I lower the strings so low on my guitars
    
1638.13Roy Smeck ModelTECRUS::ROSTClueless and slightly slackMon Mar 28 1994 07:518
    Saw the Holy Grail last night, the Mojo axe...a Roy Smeck Harmony
    semi-hollow.  Looked a lot like the dual cutaway Meteor but was
    asymmetrical, less of a cutaway on the upper horn where Roy's signature
    was emblazoned.  Other than that, pretty much like the Meteors and
    Rockets we all know and love (maybe) so well.  In a beautiful fire
    engine red finish, too.  
    
    							Brian
1638.14And don't tell me you didn't buy it...GOES11::HOUSEAren't you glad I asked?Mon Mar 28 1994 14:573
    How much did you have to pay for it, Brian?
    
    gh
1638.15Not For SaleTECRUS::ROSTClueless and slightly slackMon Mar 28 1994 15:314
    Happened to see it in the hands of the bandleader at last night's gig.
    Even got to hear it  8^)
    
    							Brian
1638.16GOES11::HOUSEAren't you glad I asked?Mon Mar 28 1994 17:521
    And you didn't snatch it from his hands?