Stella H-912 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Harmony (1969)
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Item # 9033
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Stella H-912 Model 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, made by Harmony (1969), made in Chicago, serial # 8058H912, sunburst lacquer finish, birch back and sides, poplar neck with ebonized fingerboard, hard shell case.
This late 1960's Harmony Stella is a surprisingly good 12-string guitar considering its budget status, and is considered something of a classic in its own right. This slimmer-waisted Harmony-Stella H-912 was a direct descendant of the older, rounder-bout Model H-922 that had been in production since 1940. Through the 1950's into the early '60's this was the only 12-string guitar commercially available and one of the few "Stella" products that still carried a stylistic link to the brand's pre-war origins. They were most popular in the early 1960's before Gibson, Martin and Guild brought out 12-string flattop instruments to meet the demand in 1962-5.
This 1969 example has a relatively slim, flat profile neck with an adjustable truss rod making for a big difference in playability compared to the old huge V-profile neck used up until the mid '60's. It is set up with a traditional tailpiece and floating bridge used since the 1910's. Cosmetically the H-912 features less than deluxe trim with painted binding and a screwed-on pickguard on the all-birch, ladder braced body. This late-'60's example is rather more carefully and cleanly made than earlier912's and 922's and plays very well with a big powerful if somewhat dry sound. Always a distinctive instrument, the H-912 is also associated with Kurt Cobain, who used one on a number of sessions for Nirvana recordings.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.).
This is a super clean example of this humble but classic Stella, with just some light wear overall. The finish has some minor dings and typical light rubbed-away spots and chipping to the edges-the top's "binding" is actually painted on! There are no cracks anywhere and the top is quite clean with a little typical bellying but no serious distortion. The pickguard (which is made of fairly brittle plastic and screwed to the top) has a couple of tiny stress cracks and the plastic heelcap has partially crumbled and had the lower half replaced.
These Stellas were originally built of good materials but to a fairly loose standard. Today most require major rebuilding work to be playable to the level of modern playing expectations; this guitar has had it all neatly done and is ready to go. With a very clean neckset and low, comfortable action, this is easily one of the best sounding and playing examples of a Stella/Harmony we have ever had. While obviously a fairly low-budget model, this is a very nice solid-wood 12 string with its own distinctive sound. Overall Excellent Condition. Excellent Condition.
This late 1960's Harmony Stella is a surprisingly good 12-string guitar considering its budget status, and is considered something of a classic in its own right. This slimmer-waisted Harmony-Stella H-912 was a direct descendant of the older, rounder-bout Model H-922 that had been in production since 1940. Through the 1950's into the early '60's this was the only 12-string guitar commercially available and one of the few "Stella" products that still carried a stylistic link to the brand's pre-war origins. They were most popular in the early 1960's before Gibson, Martin and Guild brought out 12-string flattop instruments to meet the demand in 1962-5.
This 1969 example has a relatively slim, flat profile neck with an adjustable truss rod making for a big difference in playability compared to the old huge V-profile neck used up until the mid '60's. It is set up with a traditional tailpiece and floating bridge used since the 1910's. Cosmetically the H-912 features less than deluxe trim with painted binding and a screwed-on pickguard on the all-birch, ladder braced body. This late-'60's example is rather more carefully and cleanly made than earlier912's and 922's and plays very well with a big powerful if somewhat dry sound. Always a distinctive instrument, the H-912 is also associated with Kurt Cobain, who used one on a number of sessions for Nirvana recordings.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.).
This is a super clean example of this humble but classic Stella, with just some light wear overall. The finish has some minor dings and typical light rubbed-away spots and chipping to the edges-the top's "binding" is actually painted on! There are no cracks anywhere and the top is quite clean with a little typical bellying but no serious distortion. The pickguard (which is made of fairly brittle plastic and screwed to the top) has a couple of tiny stress cracks and the plastic heelcap has partially crumbled and had the lower half replaced.
These Stellas were originally built of good materials but to a fairly loose standard. Today most require major rebuilding work to be playable to the level of modern playing expectations; this guitar has had it all neatly done and is ready to go. With a very clean neckset and low, comfortable action, this is easily one of the best sounding and playing examples of a Stella/Harmony we have ever had. While obviously a fairly low-budget model, this is a very nice solid-wood 12 string with its own distinctive sound. Overall Excellent Condition. Excellent Condition.