Harmony H1260-1 Sovereign 1970 / An Old Favorite With A Twist

Don’t Blink. Don’t wait on this one, gang. Here is a very rare Harmony Sovereign H1260-1, in Excellent Condition, sporting a fresh neck reset and a fast action.  It might be the most beautiful Harmony Sovereign I have yet seen and, as much as you’ll regret missing it, I’m already regretting letting it go.  This was their flagship flattop, Harmony’s classic jumbo, with that big, warm bottom end and clear, ringing treble.  The tone is instantly recognizable and the aesthetics of this particular example, absolutely captivating.  That top alone, is worth the price of admission.

The H1260 Sovereign was the top-of-the-line of the Harmony Acoustic Flattops, made from 1958 to 1971.  This particular example dates from 1970.  It has very few signs of use, most notably some minor scuffing to the finish on the back and the back of the neck, the kind you see on guitars that have been left in a case with strap under them.  It requires just the right angle of light to see it. The guitar is truly beautiful. The action is very quick and responsive, the sound warm in the bass and midrange, and crisp in the treble. 

What makes this one so special is that it is an H1260-1.  The “dash 1” on a Harmony model indicates a limited edition run of that guitar, with some  changes, often subtle, to the more well known designs.  In this case, the guitar is different from a standard H1260 in two ways. The tuners (original) are individual open back tuners, not the standard three on a strip style.  But most noteworthy is the color of the top, a much deeper amber than you’ll ever find on another Harmony Sovereign.  It positively glows. I am absolutely in love with the finish on this guitar.

Coming into the shop, this H1260 needed a neck reset, and was missing a pickguard and heel cap. In addition to a full neck reset, we set it up with an Unbleached Bone Saddle, leveled and crowned the frets, adjusted the nut slot depths, lemon oiled the fretboard and bridge, attached a clear replacement pickguard, made a new heel cap, and cleaned and lubricated the tuners.

The Action at the twelfth fret is 5/64ths on the Low E and 1/16th on the High E.  The guitar plays without any buzzing, up and down the neck.  We’ve set it up with a fresh set of D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Lights and cleaned up what we presume is the original, lined chipboard case.

Here are the guitar’s important specs:

Scale: 25 1/4”

Top: Sitka Spruce

Back and Sides: Solid Honduran Mahogany 

Neck: Honduran Mahogany

Fretboard and Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood

Lower Bout: 16 1/8”

Upper Bout: 12”

Body Depth: 4 1/2”

Nut Width: 1 3/4”

String Spacing at Bridge: 2 1/4”

Fretboard Radius: 12”

Action at 12th fret: Low E - 5/64”, High E - 1/16”

Harmony guitars were made with solid tone woods throughout; the top is solid Spruce, the back, sides and neck, Quarter Sawn Honduran Mahogany (check out the gorgeous, one piece back!), and the Fretboard and Bridge Brazilian Rosewood.  The frets and fretboard are in Excellent condition.

When you are buying a vintage acoustic guitar, always look for three things: great tone woods, build quality and a classic design.  This beauty has all three.  One of the consistent surprises (though it shouldn’t be) with Harmony guitars is the quality of the tone woods.  Remember, Harmony was the largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the world, absolutely dwarfing companies like Gibson and Martin. But of course, none of those companies harvested their own lumber.  They relied on suppliers of tone woods, and those suppliers certainly wanted the volume of sales they would get out of that Harmony account! 

The Harmony Sovereign features ladder bracing and has a big, open sound.  This is a guitar equally at home in folk, blues or rock, finger style or flat picked.  As many know, Jimmy Page played the acoustic intro to “Stairway to Heaven” on a Harmony Sovereign H1260, just like this one.  

These Sovereigns are not to be overlooked; they stand up against Gibsons and Martins and carve out a sound that is all their own. In my own flattop collection, I play a Gibson J100, J200, Lowden F23, Guild JF-65, and a Harmony Sovereign H1260.  I wouldn’t part with it.

Please be sure to check out the photos, as I have tried to capture the Sovereign from all sides.

Serial Number: 5633H1260-1

This Harmony Sovereign is sold, AS IS and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed.

Price: $1800 plus $145 shipping (Lower 48 USA only)