Here is a freshly restored Harmony H165, in Very Good Plus condition, sporting a neck reset and a new, bone saddle, a fast action and a wonderfully warm and focused sound.  Called the “Poor Man’s Martin,” by many, these ladder braced guitars have the warmth and tone of the great Martin Mahogany body instruments, at a fraction of the price.

As part of the restoration, the neck was removed, the heel angle corrected, the neck pocket properly shimmed, and the neck reglued. A new bleached bone saddle was made.  When the guitar arrived in the shop, the bridge had pulled free, taking a little of the top with it.  The bridge has been reattached and the damaged areas of top filled and touched up with lacquer. The tuners were cleaned and lubricated, some minor dings touched up with lacquer, the frets were crowned and leveled, and the fretboard and bridge were cleaned and treated with lemon oil.   This guitar is set up with D’Addario Silk and Steel strings (11-46) and just sounds stunning.  The action measures 3/32nds on the low E at the twelfth fret, and 1/16th on the high E.  Aside from the work that was done, everything else about this 1967 vintage guitar is completely original.  There are no cracks, splits or open seams.

Some important specs:

Top, Back, Sides and Neck are Honduran Mahogany

Fretboard and Bridge are Brazilian Rosewood

Body Width - Lower Bout - 15 1/4”

Body Depth - 3 3/4”

Nut Width - 1 13/16”

Scale Length - 25 1/4”

Action - 3/32” Low E, 1/16” High E

The Harmony H165 was produced from 1944-1971 and features solid Honduran Mahogany construction (top, back, sides and neck), with a Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge.

The guitar was designed to capitalize on the popularity of Martin’s all Mahogany guitars, and was originally built with a more hour-glass or figure 8 shape of body, but by the early 1960s it had been retooled to most closely resemble a Martin 00-17.  However, the Harmony H165 is actually more of a 000 shape, with a lower bout width of 15 1/2 inches, a body length of 19 1/8” and a scale length of 25 1/4.”

In construction of course, the Harmony guitars are ladder braced, while the Martins are X-braced.  Each has is own, distinctive sound.  Many guitarists today, purchase these guitars specifically to have them converted to X- bracing, and wind up with the tonal quality of a Martin at a fraction of the price.

Personally, I like the ladder bracing and the unique voice of the Harmony H165s.  They almost always need neck resets, which I undertake if they have not already been done.  Bone saddles are always installed.

These guitars are quite possibly the biggest bargain in the world of vintage acoustic instruments, today.  The Harmony name puts a ceiling on what they’ll fetch, but the sound they produce is worthy of a price thousands higher.

Please be sure to check out the photos carefully, as I have tried to capture this guitar from every angle.

This Harmony H165 is sold “AS IS,” and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed, here.

Serial #: 8750H165  (Fall 1967 manufacture)

Comes in a nearly new, perfectly fitted hardshell case

Price: $825 plus $125 shipping (Lower 48 USA, only)