SOLD - Harmony H44 Stratotone – USA 1955

SOLD

Here’s an all-original vintage 1955 Harmony Stratotone H44 Electric Guitar. These were made by Harmony for the Alden Department Store chain. This version of the H44 Stratotone guitar features a big solid neck and a DeArmond pickup.  

The body is solid with no cracks, breaks, or repairs. There are some light scratches and a few dings and dents, but overall is in good condition for a guitar over 60 years old. 

This is a real blast from the past, when many affordable guitars were bought via mail order catalogue from the big city. We imagine half the fun was waiting the few weeks for the delivery truck to come rolling around the corner to Sleepy Hollow. 

A bare-bones model, the Stratotone features a single neck pickup, a volume & tone control, and a tone bypass switch - because why not? Typical older Harmony models sometimes show signs of abuse, and often a big bow in the neck. But this one DOES NOT. It actually plays very well, the action is fine and the pickup has that nice, raw “holler”. 

The solid body is in great shape, and while there is no truss rod, there’s enough heft in the neck timber to resist light to medium strings. 

Features: 

Trapeze tailpiece and height adjustable rosewood bridge. Action is fine with lots of life left in the frets. But this would certainly be a screaming slide machine. 

Is the intonation perfect? Nah, it's a Harmony. Is it completely tuning stable? Nah, it's a Harmony. Is it fun to play? Oh yeah, it's a Harmony! If you want to play something NONE of the other kids on the block have, that looks and sounds unique, give this one a spin. 

Jack White said it well - you have to fight these old guitars, work with their quirks, but the tone is worth it!  

Comes in old cardboard-ish case, which looks to be original, but is certainly age appropriate.

Video demo played by owner : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9aObxlMq8