Harmony H950 Monterey

I recently received this very simple guitar for my birthday, and I have to say that it's a great asset to my vintage collection of guitars. The condition I received mine in is outstanding, minus the original pickguard that was either removed or it fell off. This instrument has a black and red wine sunburst that starts from the center out (red to black). The back of the neck has a similar approach. The neck is incredibly large for a student instrument. I could barely play a bar chord, and I have big hands. The hardshell case that came with this guitar, however, could use a good restoration.

This guitar, like a majority of archtops, has a very good middle frequency sound. There aren't really many highs or lows to it. Archtops were first designed to be played on old time radio where there was no middle frequency. However, it does sound very dull when strummed with force, but if played gently, it shines like a star!

The action is quite high on this for some reason. I will get that adjusted pretty soon.

This guitar should last me for years and years. This guitar is well built and it feels strong. Many archtops feel flimsy (like they would break under pressure) but this one doesn't.

I got this instrument as a birthday present from my parents (who don't know a thing about guitars). If this guitar were stolen, I probably wouldn't get it unless I see one for sale somewhere. I wouldn't search the world for another.

PROS:
-great mids
-lightweight
-well built
-good construction
-pretty

CONS:
-low volume
-no pickguard (can be replaced though)
-somewhat dull sounding (going to change strings)
-really big neck (U shape)


Overall, I give this guitar a 6. It would be a great instrument for those looking for old Harmony guitars or who are collectors. Not much of a professional stage player though.

Dated 1959. Top, back, and sides are solid birch. Top is arched, not carved. Thick, C-shaped neck. Small frets. Black with red tiger sunburst. Stained or ebonized fretboard (maple?).

This is a very common model.

The birch gives it a very mellow sound. Not as loud or bright as my spruce-topped H1327.

The sound is not impressive to be honest. It's fine for strumming but just sounds a little dull. But it sounds very nice when played with a slide. I use semi flat nickel strings, perhaps bronze strings would sound better.

It does occasionally have a buzz now and then, I think one of the tone bars needs some work. Usually this only happens immediately after changing tunings, after settling for a few hours it's gone.

I added a neck-mounted humbucker pickup (one of the $15 "jazz" pickups off ebay). Sounds amazing plugged in.

Construction is very sturdy. The frets are of the small variety but they're big enough to not be a problem. The non-rosewood fretboard isn't very nice but it does the job.

The action is fine. Could use a neck reset some day but with the bridge all the way down and light strings (12's) it's playable.

The finish is just painted on. It's scratched and chipped in places over the years, but it's a durable finish and birch it tough stuff, you'd really have to do something stupid to damage it.

There are no obvious assembly flaws.

It's made it this long, I'm not too worried about it. Holds a tuning forever, really not much to complain about here.

Harmony is gone, sadly. I'm not sure it would still be under warranty :).

This is an ok guitar, though in my opinion a spruce top sounds much better. It definitely has it's place though.

Oh, and these are a big ugly. But if you really like red and black it's the one for you!