Harmony Guitar Company, founded by Wilhalm Schultz in 1892, was purchased by Sears in 1916 and by 1928 was the largest producer in the US. Harmony reached its peak in 1965 but as competition from low-end competitors increased they reduced production and focused on student guitars that were sold through JCPenny. The name Harmony was finally sold in 1975 marking the end of Harmony vintage guitars.
The name is now used by “The Original Hamony Guitar Company, Inc” based in Palatine, IL. They have re-introduced many of the Harmony vintage guitars mentioned below in their Vintage Guitar Series.
H44 Stratotone, sold from 1953 to 1957 for around $75, is a Spanish electric guitar belonging to the Stratone solid body family. The H44 has a thin-body finished in copper-bronze coating and had a slide switch to switch between bass and treble emphasis.
H49 Startotone Jupiter, sold from 1958 to 1965 for around $150, is an electric hollow body guitar. The Jupiter offered a 3-way switch, volume control, tone control, and blender control for its double pickups. The design was a natural spruce top, ultra-slim neck, rosewood fingerboard, celluloid edges, and 7 inlaid positions.
H50 Jazzbox, sold from 1947 to 1951 for around $95, is a Spanish electric guitar. This archtop guitar had a solid spruce top and maple body. A unique feature was the Kluson tuners.
H54 Rocket 2, sold from 1959 to 1967 for around $120, is a electric hollow body guitar. It has a single cutaway and went through a few changes over the years. First offered in sunburst and was changed to red in 1963. Also the Golden Tone pickups were redesigned in 1966.
H54-1 Rocket 2, sold from 1968 to 1971 for around $140, this is the double cutaway version of the H54.
H58 Jazzbox, sold from 1958 to 1962 for around $130, was one of the Roy Smeck Models. Endorsed by Roy Smeck (1900 – 1994) the H58 was an auditorium size archtop electric guitar with a natural and black body.
H59 Rocket 3, sold from 1960 to 1967 for around $150, was an electric hollow body guitar. Like the Rocket 2 the Rocket 3 was a single cutaway and changed from sunburst to red in 1963. The Rocket 3 provides 3 pickups instead of 2.
H59-1 Rocket 3, sold in 1968 for around $150, this is double cutaway version of the H59. Also has the 3 pickups.
The Harmony Guitar Company produced 10s of millions of Harmony vintage guitars, produced over 100 models, and has released its guitars under well over 50 brand names through its lifetime. This article contains just a few of the models I like.
