Product: Harmony H39 Hollywood
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
01/10/2008
at
06:04pm
by
Johnny G
Features
:
8
Spring 1966 according to serial number. Tobacco burst, actually smells like Tobacco (former owner). Very clean, hardly a scratch, missing pickguard. 1 neck DeArmond foil pick up, Tone and volume knobs.
Sound
:
10
This is the easiest to play archtop I have experienced playing. My drummer even had some fun with it. I play through a V series V50 amp, the guitar sounds great, as it does when played unplugged. I had tried acoustics fitted with sound hole pick up, but never really liked the sound...this has solved that problem for me. It looks great too, I use it all the time.
We play loud, quiet, loud Indie rock, very lounge punk, taking trad. sounding songs and turning them on their side. When it comes to the loud part, the hollowbody sounds great, I have to watch out for unwanted feedback, but for wanted feedback, it's great. Heavily driven reverb sounds fantastic, my whole band loves it. I love having the acoustic sound in the room for quiet parts as well.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
No problems, easy to play. Need to clean pots on volume/tone knobs. Stays in tune. Nice chunky neck, how I like it. similar to my Yamaha FG-180 and Burns Marquee neck, wide.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
So far so good. I hate to say it but I will probably put the most scratches on it in it 42 years on earth. I can't believe how well preserved it is. And the Tobacco smell, so weird, my girlfriend calls it "The Cubano" So I threw an ornate virgin mary and cherub pop religion icon strap on it...it's the fucking coolest. I love it.
Customer Support
:
5
None. Google online for info
Overall Rating
:
10
Love it, One of a kind, cherish it
Product: Harmony H39 Hollywood
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
01/05/2008
at
10:53pm
by
John W.
Features
:
9
1954 Harmony Hollywood H39 "f" hole archtop with one Dearmond foil pickup at the neck position. One tone pot and one volume pot. Violin tobacco sunburst. Trapeze tailpiece and wooden adjustable bridge. 25.25" scale. 1.688" nut. Body is 3.250" wide. 19 frets.
Great warm sound. Am looking for another pickup for the bridge position.
Sound
:
10
Very pleasing acoustic sound. Warm with a nice bit of brighter edge. Aged wood is a splendid thing!
The pickup is terrific. Translates a sound through an amp that just has to be heard.
I will install another Dearmond near, but not too close to the bridge for yet another sound (bright).
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
I bought this for a 'song' at an estate sale. ($25.00 US) It had no wear from play. The strings were about four kilometers above the board and the bridge had been installed out of alignment by the factory. The high 'E' string actually angled off the fretboard just before the board reaches the neck. Easy fix. The neck was nearly flat with very little relief which is fine. Lowering the action to "nice and low" causes no buzz anywhere and still sounds strong and pure.
The neck is the full boat shape you would expect from the era, but is extremely comfortable for chords and pickin'. It's impossible to put this thing down!
The top board of the body had a crack several inches long that was repaired by an owner with some epoxy. Very poor cosmetic work, but effective mechanically. I haven't bothered to repair it since I want this thing to play, not impress anyone.
The tuners are actually nice and tight and adjust without dancing around. They stay in tune at least for me in the house.
The fretmarkers are painted rectangles, not inlays. No problem. They will show nice wear patterns that give you info about your style and preferance for play!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Well it's a 1954 model with very little play before me. It's not for giging, but would be just fine for the fall hay ride!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I called the factory at their number, BR-549. They musta been out to lunch. I'll try again later.......
Overall Rating
:
10
I have too much gear. Lots of great guitars and amps. Never met gear I didn't like for what it does or can do. This guitar falls into the "little engine that could" category.
Harmony popped out guitars for the world's masses at a bewildering rate back in the day. The pieces and wood shaping were fine, the assembly was hit and miss. This one was a closet guitar for the above mentioned factory goofs. In literally 15 minutes of work, the thing is as easy to play and as resonant as any guitar one could ask (pay) for.
These go for 200-$500. on ebay and are, from a players viewpoint, worth even more. Extremely lovable instrument!
