Re: Harmony mandolin

: : : i am looking for any information on a Harmony mandolin i bought new in the 1970's. It is sort of a copy of and F-5, but it has a cutaway on the top and bottom. It really looks fancy and was top of the Harmony line. I have never seen another one like it. I know when I purchased it I had to buy a case for the F-5 Gibson because it would not fit into a regular case.

: : : I would just like to know what the model number is and if it has any value. It plays good, and has an excellent sound. It is sunburst finished and has inlays in the neck instead of the normal dot. The headpiece is fashioned somewhat like a Gibson with the Harmony logo on top. It also has a nice pickguard with Harmony on it also.

: : : Can anyone help me????

: : : Thanks

: : : Frank

: : Hi Frank
: : You took the words out of my mouth when I read your posting.
: : It appears that I have the same mandolin. Inside the body is printed S-72-A, Made in USA. There is also a number 29 in quite large print.
: : I purchased mine from The House of Sounds in Kingston Ontario in the mid 70's. The description of your instrument matches mine, right down to the case.
: : I have been searching for the last number of years for any information regarding this instrument
: : I have just moved back to Canada from Texas and now have enough time on my hands to continue researching this instrument.
: : Kingston has a number of very good music shops that specialize in older instruments. If I come up with anything I'll send you a note.
: : Since they are USA made, I'm sure they are worth a few bucks.
: : Vintage Guitar Magazine did an article on Harmony instruments that included mandolins. This one did not show up. I wonder if it was one of the last USA built instruments.

: : Regards

: : Tom

: Hello Frank and Tom:
: I just came across your requests for model information on your Harmony Mandolins, which I believe are either H8025 Harmony Baroque Model acostic mandolins, or the original H35 Harmony Electric mandolin Models, introduced in the late 1960's. You can see the electric model on the emando.com data base under the inactive builder Harmony listing, while Elderly Instruments once had a H8025 Barogue model listed some time ago, but the photos are still available. Just type Harmony Baroque Mandolin into your search and it should come up. I have owned a couple of these mandos previously, and they are often seen on eBay where they are called the "BATWING" models, referring to the shape of the headstock and pickguard. I hope that this is helpful in your search for information on your mandos.
: Regards,
: Terry Calvert
: Churchill, Ontario

The S-72-A inside the instrument refers to manufactured date.
S- summer
72- year of manufacture
A- afternoon shift

Rather bizarre catalog method, but that's how they did it.

Hope this helps a bit.
Roger
Ruthven, Ontario

This popular thread has been given its own page : Re: Harmony mandolin

This popular thread has been given its own page : Re: Harmony Mandolin

My understanding, the source of which I don't remember,(perhaps http://www.broadwaymusicco.com/HARMONY.htm, or http://members.aol.com/Rothguitar/Rothguita30.html) is that the <<S72A>> number is the old Harmony Co of Chicago's code for the date of manufacture- The summer of '72. I'm not sure what the <<A>> means. Hope this helps.

I suffer from MAS. I just bought one of these puppies on eBay and am anxiously awaiting its arrival at my doorstep.

Probably the most famous player of these mandos, in the electrified version, is Yank Rachell. Also, on some numbers, I understand that Led Zeppelin incorporates one of these, played by Jimmy Paige and/or John Paul Jones.

They are selling for between $265 and $400 on eBay, depending on who knowsw what. I understand the thing is rather large. They tend to be housed in their original chipboard cases. I hope I can find something better that doesn't cost more than the mando.