HARPTONE 420 1969 2-Tone Cherryburst. This is a Standel guitar rebranded. Built by SAM KOONTZ.

HARPTONE

GUITAR

aka

Standel.

1969

Another fantastic STANDEL guitar by SAM KOONTZ from my collection. As I have repeatedly said: “Standel guitars are among the most underrated and undervalued guitars in the vintage marketplace.”

This is a fantastic playing ES-335 style guitar. It is not heavy and is very well balanced. Easy to play standing up and sitting down. I personally like the tone and sound balance coming from this thin line acoustic body matched up with the legendary Rowe/DeArmond Single Coil pickups.

ABOUT THIS GUITAR. Note, this was one of the factory inventory guitars that remained at Harptone after the “Standel” branding ended that was rebranded as “Harptone”-more info below. It is a Model 420 in the Standel catalog.

Standard Features:

Arched Maple Top and Sides.

Flamed Maple Back.

Tuners are Grover (were changed but then changed back).

Two Rowe Pickups.

3 Way Pickup Toggle Switch.

Rosewood Fingerboard.

Pearl Dot Inlays.

3 Ply Binding on Body.

1 Ply Bound “F” holes, neck, and headstock.

Adjustable compensating roller bridge.

Cherry Burst Finish.

Double Rounded Cutaway.

NUT WIDTH: 1 11/16”

LOWER BOUT WIDTH: 16’

BODY DEPTH AT SIDE: 1 3/4”

NECK: Mahogany (very slim-fast player)

BIGSBY TREMOLO has been retrofitted to this guitar.

This guitar is in GOOD CONDITION. It has dings, dents, scraps etc. from its years of playing. Frets are very good. Finish has lots of checking and binding has the usual line cracks but is all intact. Tuners have been changed and there are several areas where finish has faded.

Comes with case.

THE STANDEL GUITAR STORY. (Gathered from online and other reference sources).

“STANDEL” is still most widely known for its amplifiers. Robert “Bob” Crooks stared his company, Standard Electronics (soon to be shortened to “STANDEL”) in 1953 in Temple City, California. During his career, Bob and STANDEL were associated with several guitar builders including Paul Bigsby (MAGNATONE), Semie Mosely (MOSRITE), and Sam Koontz.

The Moseley/STANDEL guitar was short lived with the most popular model being the solid body with the “Fender XII paddle head stock”. After that initial attempt, Bob met up with Sam. As in Sam Koontz.

“Prior to setting up his own shop in Linden, N.J. (1970) Sam worked as a shop foreman for the Framus line importer; later he designed guitars for the Framus factory while working for Philadelphia Music Co. Design work was also done for Martin Co. during this tenure. “

“Sam, was commissioned by HARPTONE GUITARS COMPANY to design and develop a ‘new’ STANDEL electric guitars including the manufacturing procedures. In some cases, he even designed the machinery which was used to manufacture the instruments.”

Based on his early background in designing and building hollow body (acoustic/semi-acoustic) guitars, Sam came up with a line of STANDEL branded guitars that were styled after then popular guitars from Gibson (ES-335), Gretsch, Guild, etc. but were not only comparable to these popular brands but exceeded them in quality and workmanship. If nothing else, it can be said that Sam Koontz started the first “custom guitar shop” while at HARPTONE and the STANDEL guitars were his hand built masterpieces. As noted before, Sam developed much of the “custom” machinery to build the “custom” STANDEL guitars so they could easily be classed as some of the first “boutique” guitars, i.e., taking an existing popular guitar design and making it much better. Among the STANDEL models were single and double cutaways, full body acoustics, and semi-acoustic “thin lines”. One design feature of the KOONTZ STANDEL guitar that was unique was the headstock featuring a center “valley” with inlay.

All of the KOONTZ STANDEL guitars feature a MAHOGANY BODY, MAPLE LAMINATED TOP, MAHOGANY NECK, INDIAN ROSEWOOD FRETBOARD, KLUSON/GROVER TUNERS, and DEARMOND pickups.

As before, STANDEL once again did not succeed in the guitar business and the KOONTZ STANDEL line ended but some of the guitars continued to be sold by HARPTONE after being rebranded “HARPTONE” (these are rarer than the STANDEL branded pieces).

I own all of the comparable guitars (Gibson, Guild, Gretsch, etc.) in my collection and can fairly and openly say that the KOONTZ STANDEL guitars sound better acoustically, are higher quality in terms of materials and construction, and play a whole lot better.

And of course this was only the beginning of the fame that SAM KOONTZ justly earned as a guitar builder. Each and every remaining “KOONTZ” branded guitar carries an extremely high price simply due to the creative genius and craftsmanship of SAM KOONTZ. For that reason alone, a KOONTZ STANDEL is considered to be highly collectible and playable.

 MY TRY IT OUT POLICY.

Understanding the normal hesitation of buying a guitar without first playing it, I want to make sure these guitars make you happy. To accomplish that, I want you to try them for 72 hours (three days). Play them, hold them, walk around with them on your back, sleep with then-whatever it takes for you to make sure these are the ones for you. During that time, you can return them for a full refund of your payment price (but of course they need to be treated well while you have them, as I expect you will) less shipping cost and you must pay the cost to ship it back to us.

If it arrives damaged, please let me know immediately by email. Be sure to hold onto all packing material and the box. I will contact the shipper for an inspection. Remember that this can take up to a couple of weeks but I will rush it along.

Minor problems. If there is a problem with one of the guitars when it arrives, e.g., loose wires etc. then I will work with you to get it repaired by someone in your area.  

OTHER POLICIES.

A. Payment Policy: PAYMENT DUE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE.

B. Shipping Policy: Buyers outside USA must contact me for shipping quote prior to buying this guitar.

C. Return Policy:

1. Returnable for total refund within 3 days of delivery. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer pays all return shipping costs.

2. Returns of undamaged and unmodified instruments may allowed after the 3 day “try it out” period, with permission of Seller, for a period of up to 14 days following delivery but will be subject to a 20% restocking fee. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs.

D. Refunds: Buyer receives a full refund in their original payment method less any shipping charges and restocking fees if appropriate.

E. The guarantee:

1. The guitar is in the cosmetic condition as described in this ad. Used guitars will all have signs of use to include dings, dents, scratches, smudges, etc.

2. The guitar is in fully operational condition.        

3. Buyer has 72 hrs. to inspect the guitar or have it inspected. Any defects, damage, misrepresentations or other problems must be reported within that time period in writing to the Seller.

4. In the case of damage during shipment, Buyer shall immediately inform seller of such damage and will maintain all original packing materials and box for inspection by the transportation company.

5. If other problems are discovered, Seller will either arrange for repair etc. at a location near the Buyer or request that the Buyer return the guitar to the Seller. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs.

Seller will correct indicated problems and ship the guitar back to the Buyer within 7-10 days of receiving it.

6. Refund Procedure.

 a. In the event that the guitar cannot be repaired or replaced with a similar item from Seller’s inventory, the Seller will provide a full refund in their original payment method less any shipping charges and restocking fees if appropriate.

  b. During this 72-hour evaluation period, the Buyer may return the guitar for any reason by notifying Seller and receiving a Return Authorization number. Guitar must be in the same condition as received by the Buyer. Buyer pays cost of shipping guitar back to Seller.

  c. Returns may be allowed, with permission of Seller and issuance of RA#, after the 72 hour evaluation period for up to 14 days total but a standard 20% Restocking Fee will be charged for the return. Guitar must be in the same condition as received by the Buyer. Buyer pays cost of shipping guitar back to Seller.

NOTE: I want each Buyer of a guitar from my collection to be pleased and happy with his/her purchase so let me know immediately of any problems with your purchase so that we can work it out. Thanks.

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