Harptone S-6NC Sultan guitar Sam Koontz vintage 1960s 1970s Vintage arched back cutaway

Vintage Harptone S-6NC Sultan guitar, made by Sam Koontz in either the late 1960s or early 1970s. (The serial no. is 2020-34; no idea of that helps date it at all. Koontz is chiefly esteemed for his archtops, and this, like his other flattops, has an arched back. As far as I can tell, the Sultan was his only cutaway flattop, and not many were made.

Though a little-known brand, Harptone guitars were played by George Harrison, David Bowie and other notables. The Sultan is a good design, and made when few companies were doing cutaway flattops. The build quality isn’t remarkable: I’d put this one somewhere between a lower-level Guild and an upper-level Harmony. It sounds good and plays well, but for its high action. The top is somewhat bellied, and the adjustable bridge is set as low as it goes. The saddle has enough height that is could be filed down for a lower action, or, better, replace the adjustable contraption with a solid saddle, since—as some ‘60s Gibson flattops proved—adjustable bridges can impede tone.

Aside from minor wear, bonks, some weatherchecking and minor bonks, there is a 1” split in the maple laminate on the side of the cutaway (see photo). It hasn’t gotten worse, and can possibly be glued, but there it is. I also just noticed a small crack in the wood at the soundhole near the treble end of the fingerboard.

The arched back and sides are maple laminate. The top is solid spruce. The fingerboard looks like Brazilian to my, but I’m not sure of it. Whatever the tuners are, they’re stock, they’re cheap and the guitar deserves better. The body is 16” across. The string scale is 24 ¼”.

It sounds pretty darn glorious. The individual notes of chords blend in a warm, distinct way. I have heavy gauge strings on it and keep it tuned to D (I do a lot of songs in D). You’ll likely want it at concert pitch, in which case I’d advise lighter strings.

It comes with a pretty hard soft shell case, which may be original to the guitar.