Harmony H958W Montclair

Well, this old archtop has got 20 frets, tobacco sunburst finish, quilted maple top and back I think. Rosewood fretboard, and some old tuners.

For a Harmony, it holds up really well in my liking of sound. It's got a bluesy, vintage sound. A fat rhythm, but not a good lead guitar. But if you fingerpick or even flatpick it, it makes up for it not being so loud.I hope to get some kind of a pickup installed in it if possible. I wat to do some of that Jack White stuff.

i got this guitar at a church revival in Paragould, Arkansas. When i first found it, it was in a musty smelling room behind the alter/stage. It had some busted strings and was dirty (there were dust bunnies inside the guitar itself). So it wasn't set up well, and it still ain't. but it's a little better than what it was down there. The action's high and tough to play. But it would make perfect for a slide guitar. The nut is poorly set up. Instead of getting a new nut, someone decided to shove cut-up picks under it to raise it. Which causes buzzing on the G string. After i get it out of the pawn shop, I plan on taking it to get it professionally set up. The finish is beautiful though; i had a decent deal for it being a freebie. The fretboard is faded, and the neck finish is worn off, so it's not perfect. Looks like whoever played it, played the same song over and over again over the years. But i can't complain, it's old and it's free.

I wouldn't count on it now. Wait to get some bugs worked out of it, then i'll give it a shot. The tuners, i really want to replace, because they're so tight, there are cosmetic stress cracks along the headstock where the tuners follow. But other than that, i don't see why it wouldn't hold up in a live gig.

I've been playing guitar for 3 years and i'm pretty serious when i say this is a pretty good harmony guitar. Usually they're junk, but this old archtop is worthy. I choose my Johnson acoustic ove it but that's only beause it's set up well. When I put a pickup in it, I hope to put it up against my Epiphone SG 3-10. Not to compare, but to use it as an electric/acoustic slide guitar. This was a blessing from God. And I wouldn't get rid of it.

Archtop Harmony built in 1958. Both the front and back are arched. It has a solid spruce top, a 16-5/8" bout. Neck is fully bound with 20 frets to body with a truss rod and pearl dot inlays. The guitar is done in black enamel with "Harmometal" binding and deck flairs. I believe this is the only year where the Montclair had both the aluminum Harmometal and a neck with a truss rod. Guitar is all original except for the pickguard, which is solid black and looks like a generic replacement. The guitar does show some wear, but overall condition is excellent.

This guitar had the perfect Harmony archtop sound. Very distinctive, cheesy thump that makes it perfect for rythm playing. It isn't really loud enough for leads when put up against a standard flat top, but in a solo setting it has a very sweet voice when fingerpicked.

The guitar plays like a dream. Stays in tune with very little fussing around. This is a solid high quality instrument. The body size is large in the bout but narrow enough to make it comfortable to play. The Harmonetal is just a gas to look at.

I bought this used about 6 years ago and realized that it was not a gigging guitar. Something this rare should be well cared for. So it does not get a lot of use. But it looks solid enough to be an every day player. Naturally, the aluminum is holding up well. There is a small chip in the enamel on the back, but that's very minor. The machines are stock Harmony but are still tight.

No opinion

In my stable of 30 some odd guitars, this one holds a special place. I will never part with this one. It has a perfect blend of cheesy art deco appearance and a very distinctive voice that matches the looks.