Harmony 407h39

features....
USA made in INDIANA? 5-63
19 frets on a maple neck - stained to look like mahogany
This guitar has a solid top, back, and sides [its an arch-top hollow-body with f-holes] of what appears to be a very lightly-colored [and lightweight] mahogany. I'm not positive, but maybe Phillipine Mahogany? Anyway, its not a very dense wood at all and the tone is pretty muted. It looks quite a bit like an old ES-150.
Single bar-type pickup with volume and tone controls
Floating bridge
Tuners are of some terrible, stamped variety with plastic heads. They definitely need to be replaced.
Did i mentioned the "mahogany" maple neck? Well, the "inlays" are painted on [with white paint] also. However, the frets are wide and well finished and the action is sufficiently low to make this guitar a lot of fun to play.
When i picked this guitar up, it looked as if it had never been played. As a historical piece, its kind of interesting. Pre-BEATLES and STONES, who was playing this sort of guitar to inspire Harmony to come up with something like this that was obviously made for a low-cost beginner sort of market? If anyone knows, please fill me in.

With a musical style that my wife describes as apartment-style wanna-be CRAP, this axe is perfect for me. I've played it thru a Marshall half-stack and a Peavy Audition 110, but its NOT a pleasant experience. Can you say uncontrollable feedback?
Still, though, this rig really shines for the kind of playing I am allowed to do with a 70+ lady next door. The tone is sort of muffled, like an unplugged solid body only a lot louder. The notes have a sort-of 'kachunk' sound to them that is quite satisfying even though i'm not plugged in. Chords don't ring so much as they do fade away almost instantly. String bending is a breeze, but the floating bridge needs a lot of attention. I am a little concerned about the unadjustable steel neck, but as long as i don't change climates too quickly or leave it out in the rain, i should be okay. After all, its been around for 37 years and i've only had it for 2.

I think i've covered the fit and finish, but since this was obviously a beginner oriented model, i have no major complaints. Besides, it looks really styling with the tobacco sunburst finish and the ivory painted "binding".

I'm not a live player [yet] but i wouldn't hesitate to bring out this guitar and waaaaiiil. Its finally starting to look worn after 2 years of abuse.

Harmony might be gone, but they are not forgotten. I've talked to quite a few people with fond and not so fond memories of their first guitar... likely some sort of Harmony.

This guitar is the perfect pawn-shop pal. Its worth basically nothing, yet if it was lost, stolen, or damaged, i'd have a hard time finding something that plays this well or is as well-suited to me.