Here is a freshly restored Harmony H165, in Excellent Condition, with a fresh neck reset, fret dress, level and crown, and a new bone saddle. These guitars are noted for their 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 everything glued back together. A new, bleached bone saddle was made.  We also cleaned and lubricated the tuners, cleaned the body and fretboard, and lemon oiled the fretboard and bridge

This guitar is set up with D’Addario Silk and Steel strings (.011-.047) and sounds great.  The action measures 3/32nds on the low E at the twelfth fret, and 5/64ths on the high E.  Aside from the work that was done, everything else about this vintage guitar is completely original.  The guitar’s date stamp is no longer readable, but the body shape, Clef headstock logo and lack of a truss rod put it somewhere between 1958 and 1967.  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 1/2”

Body Depth - 3 3/4”

Nut Width - 1 13/16”

Scale Length - 25 1/4”

Action - 3.5/32” Low E, 3/32” 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.

We like the ladder bracing and the unique voice of the Harmony H165s.  They almost always need neck resets, which we 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 we 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 #: 2397H165  (1958-1967 date range of manufacture)

Comes with a newer, padded Gig Bag

Price: $725.00 plus $145 shipping (Lower 48 USA, only)