Harmony H-165 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar , c. 1966
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Item # 9871
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Harmony H-165 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1966, made in Chicago, serial # 5110H165, natural mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case.
This c. 1962 Harmony H-165 is a surprisingly good guitar considering its budget status, and while never offering serious competition to the likes of Martin is considered something of a classic in its own right. This wider-waisted H-165 design was a direct descendant of an older, rounder-bout version that had been in production since the 1940s. By around 1960 the folk boom was on, and the H-165 was redesigned to generally resemble the Martin 00-17, with the same all-mahogany construction but of course less finesse and the Chicago company's typical ladder-braced top.
The rosewood bridge is a pinless string-through design and decoration on the instrument is minimal. In the mid-60's this model was given an adjustable truss rod that definitely adds to the playability factor. In general this guitar is one of the nicer budget Harmony flat tops of the era, plain to look at but built well of a good grade of solid mahogany. Through the '60s this model was described as a "Strong value" in a folk guitar Harmony's catalogs, and indeed retailing under $50 for most of the decade they weren't wrong! It plays well enough and has a surprisingly strong sound, with some of the bluesey "bark" of an old Stella in a 1960's package.
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar remains clean overall, and all original. The finish shows some minor dings and dents but no heavy wear except one deep scrape on the back. The neck has been neatly reset, and the frets show some minimal wear. This is a very playable example of this modest Harmony classic with a good sound. Excellent Condition.
This c. 1962 Harmony H-165 is a surprisingly good guitar considering its budget status, and while never offering serious competition to the likes of Martin is considered something of a classic in its own right. This wider-waisted H-165 design was a direct descendant of an older, rounder-bout version that had been in production since the 1940s. By around 1960 the folk boom was on, and the H-165 was redesigned to generally resemble the Martin 00-17, with the same all-mahogany construction but of course less finesse and the Chicago company's typical ladder-braced top.
The rosewood bridge is a pinless string-through design and decoration on the instrument is minimal. In the mid-60's this model was given an adjustable truss rod that definitely adds to the playability factor. In general this guitar is one of the nicer budget Harmony flat tops of the era, plain to look at but built well of a good grade of solid mahogany. Through the '60s this model was described as a "Strong value" in a folk guitar Harmony's catalogs, and indeed retailing under $50 for most of the decade they weren't wrong! It plays well enough and has a surprisingly strong sound, with some of the bluesey "bark" of an old Stella in a 1960's package.
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar remains clean overall, and all original. The finish shows some minor dings and dents but no heavy wear except one deep scrape on the back. The neck has been neatly reset, and the frets show some minimal wear. This is a very playable example of this modest Harmony classic with a good sound. Excellent Condition.