Dazzling 1927 Harmony Supertone Artist parlor guitar, rare 14” body, all orig, koa, orig case.
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Listed:6 years ago
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Walpole, NH, United States
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Near 100 years old and as dead-straight original as the day it was made, with never a crack, break, or repair ever.
Do you know how rare that is? I've never even seen another vintage Supertone without a repaired top crack. This guitar has been so well taken care of, from one generation to the next, it's simply amazing.
But even better is this Supertone's sound. This is the very rare big Supertone Artist, with the full 14” body (versus the more common 12” & 13” versions). As soon as you pick it up and strum it you’re bewitched by the tone -- from sweet & melodious to a full ringing bark normally reserved for guitars much larger. The dazzling koa back and sides, combined with the spruce top, resonate like a bell, with a phenomenal sustain.
Whether you’re into open chords, or finger blues, the sound is so spirited I felt like I was transported to a 1920’s roadhouse. And for bottleneck-slide the guitar just kills (think Blind Willie Johnson and you’ll get the idea).
From the delta, to the Appalachians, to the Manhattan brownstones of the wealthy, in the roaring ‘20s parlor guitars were the jam. And none more so than the everyman Supertone. The guitar was designed for Harmony by wizard luthier Oscar Schmidt.
And of these now rare Supertones, none is more desirable than the deluxe Artist model that you see here. Check out the stunning abalone inlay all around both the body & the soundhole, the bookmatched & figured koa back, the pearl star & symbols fret inlay, the ebony fingerboard, tortoise-shell body & neck binding, slotted headstock & fancy tuners, and all else. The guitar is simply a treasure of vintage American craftsmanship.
Incredibly, the guitar is now celebrating its 93rd birthday this year, yet it’s condition is extraordinary. All original from the headstock to the tail-pin and everything in between, including the still-gleaming finish. Just some small dings & scratches, that’s it. It also blacklights perfectly from top to bottom.
And at just 3.5 lbs, what a pleasure to play! The fat chunky V-profile mahogany neck is runway-straight, the action silky smooth. My fingers flew. The neck pitch on this guitar is perfect. In fact, even at the 12th fret the height from low-E string to top of fret is just 3/32”. You just can’t get better than that in an acoustic guitar, especially one from 1927! Plus its parlor size makes it perfect for travel, studio work, or moonlight serenades in your bedroom.
Check out the page of the actual 1927 Sears catalog (the page, in a clear protector sleeve, is included with the guitar). The koa Artist model was their finest, most deluxe & expensive guitar. You can see it on the top of the catalog page, furthest to right.
Whether you are a musician, a collector, or investor, you’d search a long time before finding a genuine 1920’s Supertone as breathtakingly fine or as magically potent as this one, that’s for certain. Complete with its original black case with felt lining, very rare.
Was $3,795, now $2,795 or best offer. Save $1,000.
$75 shipping (very far & int’l locations may require add’l charge).
The 1927 Harmony Supertone Artist parlor guitar:
I also pack well. Your Supertone will arrive to you safe, sound, and ready to play.
Near 100 years old and as dead-straight original as the day it was made, with never a crack, break, or repair ever.
Do you know how rare that is? I've never even seen another vintage Supertone without a repaired top crack. This guitar has been so well taken care of, from one generation to the next, it's simply amazing.
But even better is this Supertone's sound. This is the very rare big Supertone Artist, with the full 14” body (versus the more common 12” & 13” versions). As soon as you pick it up and strum it you’re bewitched by the tone -- from sweet & melodious to a full ringing bark normally reserved for guitars much larger. The dazzling koa back and sides, combined with the spruce top, resonate like a bell, with a phenomenal sustain.
Whether you’re into open chords, or finger blues, the sound is so spirited I felt like I was transported to a 1920’s roadhouse. And for bottleneck-slide the guitar just kills (think Blind Willie Johnson and you’ll get the idea).
From the delta, to the Appalachians, to the Manhattan brownstones of the wealthy, in the roaring ‘20s parlor guitars were the jam. And none more so than the everyman Supertone. The guitar was designed for Harmony by wizard luthier Oscar Schmidt.
And of these now rare Supertones, none is more desirable than the deluxe Artist model that you see here. Check out the stunning abalone inlay all around both the body & the soundhole, the bookmatched & figured koa back, the pearl star & symbols fret inlay, the ebony fingerboard, tortoise-shell body & neck binding, slotted headstock & fancy tuners, and all else. The guitar is simply a treasure of vintage American craftsmanship.
Incredibly, the guitar is now celebrating its 93rd birthday this year, yet it’s condition is extraordinary. All original from the headstock to the tail-pin and everything in between, including the still-gleaming finish. Just some small dings & scratches, that’s it. It also blacklights perfectly from top to bottom.
And at just 3.5 lbs, what a pleasure to play! The fat chunky V-profile mahogany neck is runway-straight, the action silky smooth. My fingers flew. The neck pitch on this guitar is perfect. In fact, even at the 12th fret the height from low-E string to top of fret is just 3/32”. You just can’t get better than that in an acoustic guitar, especially one from 1927! Plus its parlor size makes it perfect for travel, studio work, or moonlight serenades in your bedroom.
Check out the page of the actual 1927 Sears catalog (the page, in a clear protector sleeve, is included with the guitar). The koa Artist model was their finest, most deluxe & expensive guitar. You can see it on the top of the catalog page, furthest to right.
Whether you are a musician, a collector, or investor, you’d search a long time before finding a genuine 1920’s Supertone as breathtakingly fine or as magically potent as this one, that’s for certain. Complete with its original black case with felt lining, very rare.
Was $3,795, now $2,795 or best offer. Save $1,000.
$75 shipping (very far & int’l locations may require add’l charge).
The 1927 Harmony Supertone Artist parlor guitar:
- Serial number: none (the earliest first-year Supertones, like this one, had no s.n.s).
- Condition: excellent.
- Mfg’d by: Harmony, Chicago, IL.
- Color: natural.
- Body: figured and bookmatched koa back & sides, with Adirondack spruce top.
- Inlay: genuine abalone around top & soundhole rosette.
- Body binding: tortoiseshell.
- Neck: solid mahogany w/ tortoiseshell binding.
- Headstock: mahogany w/ rosewood veneer.
- Nut width: 1 & 7/8”, perfect for finger picking and slide.
- Tuners: original deluxe, with white buttons.
- Fretboard: original ebony with pearl inlay.
- Frets: 18 total, 12 to the body, all with plenty of life left.
- Scale length: 24¼”.
- Label in soundhole: original “certificate” design Harmony/Sears Roebuck label is the earliest version (by 1930 the certificate style was gone).
- Bridge: original ebony, with ebony & abalone string-pins.
- Approx. guitar dimensions: 14” wide x 37½” long x 4” deep. Weight: 3.5 lbs.
- Includes: original 1927 parlor guitar case, very rare, plus the Supertone page from an actual 1927 Sears catalog, showing this very guitar.
I also pack well. Your Supertone will arrive to you safe, sound, and ready to play.
| Listed | 6 years ago |
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| Condition | Excellent (Used) Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more |
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