Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1964)
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Item # 11106
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1964), made in Chicago, serial # 5488H22, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog; it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway.
This 1964-made bass features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is thick but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is no visible factory date stamp in the body; the ink-stamp under the pickup is somewhat blurry but appears to be February 1964.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which has limited function, but certainly has an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US and UK and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, where its aggressively thumpy tone can be clearly heard on many recordings. Popular up into the late 1960s, the H-22 has recently again become a much used and sought-after item with new generations of players discovering its quirky charm, extremely easy handling, and excellent sonic qualities.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a super nice all-original bass with very little wear and tear; some small finish dings, dents and scrapes overall are really the only noticeable defects. The finish and hardware are all original including oft-missing parts like the eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons and lever "clunk" switch, which for once works exactly as intended. Three of the four strings are even the original flatwounds as well; the G string is a period flatwound as well but not the same brand.
This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck and the classic H-22 look and sound. This one is really about as nice as these get, looking not too much used over 55+ years and completely unaltered. It includes a later hardshell case covered in several types of tape which we would describe as something of an eyesore but offering much better protection than these basses usually get. Excellent Condition.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog; it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway.
This 1964-made bass features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is thick but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is no visible factory date stamp in the body; the ink-stamp under the pickup is somewhat blurry but appears to be February 1964.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which has limited function, but certainly has an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US and UK and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, where its aggressively thumpy tone can be clearly heard on many recordings. Popular up into the late 1960s, the H-22 has recently again become a much used and sought-after item with new generations of players discovering its quirky charm, extremely easy handling, and excellent sonic qualities.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a super nice all-original bass with very little wear and tear; some small finish dings, dents and scrapes overall are really the only noticeable defects. The finish and hardware are all original including oft-missing parts like the eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons and lever "clunk" switch, which for once works exactly as intended. Three of the four strings are even the original flatwounds as well; the G string is a period flatwound as well but not the same brand.
This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck and the classic H-22 look and sound. This one is really about as nice as these get, looking not too much used over 55+ years and completely unaltered. It includes a later hardshell case covered in several types of tape which we would describe as something of an eyesore but offering much better protection than these basses usually get. Excellent Condition.