Harmony Sovereign H1260 vs....

[MBee]

Thinking about a restored Harmony Sovereign H1260 (sitka/solid Honduran) as a poor man's substitute for a J-45.

I've joined a guitar group where we play and sing a whole variety of songs: folk, pop, rock, etc, from all different decades. I'm finding that the guitars that I'm using now don't really have the volume to cut through the mix. I'm not fond of the standard dreadnought shape. Love the J-45 shape. Tried a couple of new J-45s recently which I really liked, but those things are expensive.

So what do you think? Would that Harmony be a good choice?

[Osage]

When restored to playable condition, Sovereigns can be great guitars but they sound nothing like a J-45.

[Slimt]

I have a couple 1260s They are light weight. Ladder braced. They are prone to cracking on the sides. They are thin. As most when they get old , neck sets a thing with these. Truss rods are weak. Doesnt take much to break. When there cleaned up there great guitars. Deep tone.

There is someone out there that x braces these. How much I have no idea.

[pagedr]

Originally Posted by Osage

When restored to playable condition, Sovereigns can be great guitars but they sound nothing like a J-45.

In addition to this, they are also really, really big guitars. If you aren't a fan of the traditional dread shape you probably won't like the H1260 very much either.

[mr. beaumont]

Instead of cutting through a mix, why not find a guitar that occupies its own place in the mix?

[Fatfinger McGee]

Never played one but the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 is trying really hard to be the poor man's J-45. Maybe check one of those out?

If you like the 1260 for its own sake and it's cheap enough, cool, I've got a 1260, fun old guitar. But as others said it's nothing at all like a J-45.

[random works]

Have a friend who had one X braced by a pro. He said the sound was very good for sure, but he wishes it were louder when playing out.