The wonderful Harmony H 1260!!!

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by owen006

Jimmy Page wrote Staiway to Heaven on a Harmony 1260.

I have a Barclay H1203-3 which is the Harmony 1203 Sovereign in a Sunburst finish. They were made for and sold at W.T. Grant dept. stores.

...snipped above pic...

Beautiful!

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Quick question for anyone who has played both an H1260 Jumbo and a H1203 000-bodied:

Is the neck profile on the H1203 the same as the neck profile on the H1260?

I LOVE the neck on my Regal Sovereign (Regal branded H1260), but I'd say it is right on the brink of being almost too clubby for me. I'd love to get my hands on an H1203 to test drive, but can't find one near by. Thanks.

[Toby Walker]

I'm also a huge fan of that model. I even had a K&K pick up installed and use it in some of my shows.

[fogrider]

I own an early 60's Harmony 1260 with a DeArmond soundhole pickup. In my opininion, certain Harmony guitars from the '60's are very underated (some of the lower end models should be passed up). They usually sell for a very low price. They often need some work to get them set up properly, but once they're dialed in, they are very nice guitars.

The fan braced, nylon string H-173 Classic (Birch body, spruce top) can be purchased for under $100, and is a great sounding folk guitar with a bluesy sound.

The H-162 (mahogany, spruce top) and H-165 (solid mahogany) are great campfire guitars.

Lets not forget some of the early Harmony's from the 1930's.

All Harmony guitars are solid wood, many have a truss rod adjuster, 1 3/4" nuts, and great neck profiles.

If you don't mind doing a little setup work, then an old Harmony might be the guitar for you.

[kkrell]

Inherited a long-unused one from probably about 1968. I certainly think it could use a setup, & possibly a neck reset. Has some finish problems also, sort of a raised blister on the top in the lower bout (possibly a bad attempt at finish repair, or cigarette burn or something), and belt buckle damage on the back.

Could you suggest anyone (cost-effective) in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica/Culver City, California area to improve playability? I suppose the finish blemishes aren't worthwhile spending much $ to fix, and aren't going to make it play any better.

Also, recommendation for a string set (I use John Pearse Phosphor Bronze on my 6) and how far down to tune it? I think in the past it's been tuned down to D. The Harmony database said there was text in the 1969 catalog that said to tune down 3-4 half-tones.

Hi-Res pic here:http://www.ravinecats.com/Harmony%20...012-string.jpg

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by kkrell

Inherited a long-unused one from probably about 1968. I certainly think it could use a setup, & possibly a neck reset. Has some finish problems also, sort of a raised blister on the top in the lower bout (possibly a bad attempt at finish repair, or cigarette burn or something), and belt buckle damage on the back.

Could you suggest anyone (cost-effective) in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica/Culver City, California area to improve playability? I suppose the finish blemishes aren't worthwhile spending much $ to fix, and aren't going to make it play any better.

Also, recommendation for a string set (I use John Pearse Phosphor Bronze on my 6) and how far down to tune it? I think in the past it's been tuned down to D. The Harmony database said there was text in the 1969 catalog that said to tune down 3-4 half-tones.

Hi-Res pic here:http://www.ravinecats.com/Harmony%20...012-string.jpg

Great looking guitar. Maybe try a set of D'Addario EXP 38 coated phos. bronze strings. I use them on four 12-string guitars. A little bright when new but they warm up tonally as they wear in.
OP - 'Stairway To Heaven' is on Led Zeppelin 4 not 3.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Reviving this old thread because of a string/pick combination breakthrough with my H1260 guitar!

For the past year+ I have been on a quest to find the right string/pick combination for my beloved R235 (a Regal branded H1260 - see below). The guitar always sounded great to me, but I could tell there was more potential in the box if I could just find the right keys to unlock it!

Well, after much trial and error, I believe I've found the right combination for me...GHS Signature Bronze 11s (LJ20X) with a Wegen TF120 pick. Wonderful!

The Signature Bronze strings provide great volume (especially for the gauge) clarity, brightness, and punch, while the Wegen pick adds power, warmth, articulation, and a woody dryness that accentuates the characteristics of the old wood.

If you're looking for the right strings and/or pick for your Harmony Sovereign Jumbo I highly recommend trying these!

#HarmonySovereignForever

[Edgar Poe]

I know this thread is older, but does anyone now if the Guitar played by Jimmy Page, was X Braced or Ladder Braced, The Harmony H1260 ?

Ed

[Inyo]

Yes, this thread has now been twice zombied--Glad that it was, actually.

I played a 1968 Stella Harmony H912--a sunburst 12-string with the classic white pick guard--for several years. It was manufactured from 1964-'68 (other years possible, but not verified). A fine instrument, indeed.

Here's the exact model I played (it's not the guitar I owned, of course):



And, a sample of my 1968 Stella Harmony H912 in action--my solo, acoustic instrumental version of the Woody Guthrie classic, "This Land Is Your Land"--recorded a number of years ago:

"This Land Is Your Land"

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by Edgar Poe

I know this thread is older, but does anyone now if the Guitar played by Jimmy Page, was X Braced or Ladder Braced, The Harmony H1260 ?

Ed

Here is a cool interview wherein Page discusses his Harmony Sovereign H1260. By all accounts it was/is a stock, ladder braced guitar. (And to my ear it sounds quite similar to my '66)

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Inyo

Yes, this thread has now been twice zombied--Glad that it was, actually.

I played a 1968 Stella Harmony H912--a sunburst 12-string with the classic white pick guard--for several years. It was manufactured from 1964-'68 (other years possible, but not verified). A fine instrument, indeed.

My favorite Stella 12 string remains the 1940s H922 with the big round bottom. Fairly hard to find though as Harmony changed the body style in the early 1950s. I used to own one and now wish I had held onto it. I now play a pre-War Regal Jumbo 12.