Harmony 1270 Acoustic 12 String

Flawless finished jumbo 12 string with a somewhat wider neck and slightly rounded rosewood fretboard. I first saw mine at the fall 1963 NAMM show in Chicago courtesy of an instrument dealer friend. I fell in love with it, placed an order, and it arrived before Christmas 1963 making it a VERY early 1270. The guitar first appeared as "new" in Harmony's 1964 catalog. Solid woods throughout. Mahogany back, sides, and neck. The early 12's didn't have a pick guard, and that allows the sound to really flow although after a few decades the surface shows some scratches. The earliest production used an ugly u-shaped string harp, replaced in 1965 with a more graceful one. It's the one ugly duckling for this instrument.

This 12 string bellows, assertive, deep, loud, and sustained. There is nothing soft or delicate about the lion like roar. I love to pull it out when I want to make a statement. It's ideally suited to folk but is as out of place as a redneck at a debutants ball for big band or crooners. That's where my Takamine shines.

The action was a bit high straight from the factory, very common with mid level 1960's instruments. The sound flows from a beautifully matched, close grained top. Interior bracing is rounded and sanded, a step up from the normal in this call of instrument. The tuners on all these 1960's guitars left a lot to be desired, and the 1270 was no different that the rest in that regard. From the very first to this day the guitar has been without flaws in finishing throughout although I've added a few dings and dents. Perhaps because this was so very early in this model's life a bit more care was taken throughout.

Truss rods were a weak point in this model and I've had to re-manufacture the original rod after it broke during adjustment. It now works fine. I used to tune to E and that caused a bit of bow, now corrected. This guitar has traveled to London and throughout the USA with this amateur song-writer/guitarist. It has withstood all the airlines can dish out in it's Guild hard case. The finish is beautiful discounting some pick scratches on the face and a couple cups of coffee. Everything remains tight and true. The finish was always thin, contributing to the sound, but remarkably durable. She holds tune well and yes, I'll carry her onto any stage without a backup so long as we played the right kind of music.

Never needed help and sorry they are gone

I've played since 1958 and own 2 Takamines (6 and 12), an acoustic bass and 6 string banjitar. The Harmony is in semi-retirement for I also love my 12 string Tak. This is a good, true, old friend and it may be in better shape than it's owner. Frankly, I got a honey of an instrument and probably benefited because it was just being introduced and everyone was probably being a little more careful.