Harmony / Alden H45 Mars Stratotone 1963 / A Blues Machine!

Here is a funky, fun, nearly impossible to put down Alden “Tuxedo" 9908, yet another version of the H45 Harmony Stratotone Mars, dating from 1963. It has a lot of honest play wear in terms of nicks and scratches, but is in great shape overall, with only a few minor dings. The electronics are all original, function without any noise, and the guitar really sings through its DeArmond Hershey Bar pickup. This will be a great guitar for soulful electric blues.  

This is a chambered body guitar, with no open holes on the body. It is very light, with a chunky neck. It intonates perfectly and plays without buzzing, up and down the neck (there is a slight buzz on the D string at the 14th fret). The action is a low 3/32nds on the low E and 5/64ths on the high E, both measured at the body. When it arrived in the shop, the original pick guard was broken and missing a significantly sized chunk.  That original pick guard was white, which is what gave this guitar the moniker of “Tuxedo.” We decided to fashion a new pick guard in a black / white / black motif, to give the guitar a classy look (hey, we’re stylin’ over here!). 

In addition to the pick guard and endpin, we treated all of the electronics with DeOxit, repaired a few deep divots in the fretboard, lubricated the tuners, leveled and crowned the frets, and treated the fretboard and bridge with lemon oil.

Other than the replaced pick guard and an endpin, everything else is original. The guitar will ship in a newer Fender gig bag. It is strung with a fresh set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys (10-46).

The guitar is 38 inches long, with a 24 1/4” scale. It is an absolute delight to play, and one which you could hang around your neck for hours at a time without tiring (it really IS that light).

Hey, what’s with the switch on a single pickup guitar? If you haven’t played one of these before, this feature might seem a little confusing. The function of the switch is to cut the tone control entirely out of the signal path. Any tone control offers some resistance and bleed to the treble signal, even when dialed up to 10. On many of these single pickup guitars from the late 50’s, early 60’s, particularly the Chicago built instruments, you’ll find a switch to bypass the tone control entirely and let the pickup ring out at “full throat.” Many players will use the combination of the volume and tone controls to set their “rhythm” setting, and then throw the switch for some extra punch as a lead setting. When the slider switch is up, the tone control is engaged. Down, it is out.

Study the photos carefully and check out this really cool example of a Harmony made Stratotone. Alden was a brand name used by the big catalog company, Montgomery Ward, and many, if not most of the Alden guitars were made by Harmony. 

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

Price $750 + $125 shipping (Lower 48 USA only)