Harmony H162

Grand concert size with full standard feel neck. Mine is approxiametly 1966 vintage,made in the USA,and still holds a tuning nicely. The famous steel reinforced neck with no truss rod,and non ever needed. Neck is solid,and straight as an arrow. Spruce top,mahogany back & sides. This was an inexpensive guitar when it was made,but held up all these years, so the materials used were certainly respectible! Has all features requires,hey,it's an acoustic!

Here is where most of us are surprised,it really sounds nice. A bit bright,but decent bass,and open mids.It's called the poor man's Martin for good reason. No it isn't a Martin, but darn nice for the reasonable price. Sounds better than a load of the medium priced modern guitars I've tried. I use these H162's for alternate tuning experimenting. Get a couple,and mess around. The action is a bit high, but not bad,and in the alternate tunings I use them for, no problem at all.

Its 42 years old,and has no adjustments,and no ability to realy make any. So I'd say a pretty good job of factory standardization on set up. The look is very good with the reddish pickguard, and tortoise shell like binding. It holds up to punishment.Takes a licking,and keeps on ticking.The spruce top looks great,as does the mahoganey back,and sides. The insides perhaps a bit sloppy with the glue,but so what,who peeking inside much?

As I've already said,mine is a 1966 approximately,and still plays in perfect intonation,and holds its tuning for days,and days. It's soild!

I don't think the original company people are alive,and the "new" company named Harmony has nothing to do with old one as far as I know.

I've been playing for 45 years,and still like a keep an H162 Harmony around for care free playing. Go camping with it,drop it out the window accidently,big deal. Buy another. It isn't a Martin,or a Taylor,and doesn't cost much like they do either. My high rating is really based on a cost that is still in the $150. range for a sixties vintage H162. The later ones from the early seventies I think went down hill.

Solid spruce top, Solid mahogany sides and back. Decent working man's guitar. Typical somewhat sloppy workmanship inside (you can see glue drippings). But this is typical of Harmony. Mine was made in September 1970.

Here is where the guitar shines. Great loud bluesy sound. I guess that the solid woods are what does it. I found this guitar at an antique store in Asheville NC. Had old strings on it. Still had a loud resonant booming sound. Not unlike old Gibson's I have owned.
I would have to say that these guitars must be one of the best kept secrets. Tell me where you can find an American Solid Wood Guitar for this price? (I paid $100).

Typical Harmony workmanship. Action is decent. Not low, but not too high. This one has an adjustable neck. Tortoishell binding. Some is deteriorating. I plan on replacing some small chipped areas. The guitar is built well, but as stated, you can see glue drippings inside from the manufacturing process. Still, it seems made pretty well.

I'd have to say that this is the guitar I'd take to Tienamen Square.
I'd leave my Martin or Gibson at home. If a tank ran over this guitar, I'd feel sorry for the tank.

Not a clue.

Hey, it your looking for a guitar you could play on the streets of downtown and pander for $, this is the one. If a thief tried to grab it from you, you could whack him over the head with it and continue playing without missing a beat. Plus, you're less likely to get a good handout if you're playing an expensive guitar.
This is a great blues guitar.

A nice little guitar.Solid Mahagony back and sides, solid spruce top.
I believe it it was made in the 60's. It does not have the s or f stamp which than is followed by year.

No she's not my Guild(nothing is) but it gives the authentic blues sound.

Finish is checkered but she spent her life at a school in the music room. Brazilian rosewood bridge and fretboard. Neck may need to be reset in the future but still holding up nicely.

She's at least 40 years old. Replaced the machine heads with schallers. Makes an incrediable amount of differance because she won't go out of tune. especially sweet for alternate tunings.

They are out of business guess support might be a little tough.

I love her. She's sweet nice sound.I would get another in a heart beat.

My guitar is a 1966 H-162 000-style flattop, made in Chicago, and often referred to as a "poor man's Martin." Solid spruce top (thin) with solid mahogany back'n'sides. I believe the fretboard is Brazilian. The bridge is bolted on and the saddle is bone. Has a "steel reinforced neck" with a non-adjustable truss rod. Has ladder bracing, not the more common x-bracing. The pickguard is a thick piece of tortoise shell bakelite, with an unusual teardrop-ish shape. Edge binding also uses the same tortoise shell bakelite. Tuners are open-backed strip-style with white plastic buttons. Very fat baseball bat neck with fairly small frets.

The tone on this instrument is pretty weak, probably mainly due to the ladder bracing and bolted, unglued bridge. Little sustain or low end. Nothing inspiring about it at all. (Sure looks cool though.)

Vintage Harmony guitars are rather hit or miss. This one, fortunately, has excellent physics - the neck is straight, the intonation is good, and the action is very low. It seems to be generally well-made, although the glue connecting the neck to the body dried out and it had to be reglued, as the neck was seperating from the body.

Aside from the neck glue issue, it is as solid as any other vintage acoustic. It holds its tuning extremely well.

The original Harmony company went under long ago.

Cool-looking old guitar, but no tone machine. $99 Chinese-made Epiphones sound better. Fine for the beach or camping, but that's about it.

I've heard that the ladder bracing can be modified to x-bracing, and the tone opens up, but as a stock intrument, they are nothing to get excited about.

Be careful about buying one sight unseen, as most have very high action.

Oh, and my guitar has the most unpleasant chemical smell. I think it is from the cheap glue or perhaps the finishing materials used.