This is a guitar that came back to us this past Spring from one of our customers.  Like many guitars this past winter, lack of proper humidification had done a number on this Harmony H165, leaving the strings laying flat on the fretboard as the top settled downward.  We have been carefully rehydrating the guitar for the past three months and it is very close to where it was when we originally sold it.

In addition to rehydrating the guitar, we replaced a missing dot marker and glued a loose back brace, leveled and crowned frets, adjusted the nut slots and made a new saddle to get the action just right.

It may be the case that the guitar will continue to hydrate naturally, as the Summer progresses (it has been a dry Spring, here in Pennsylvania).  With that in mind, we have also included the original saddle, in the case compartment.  Should the action grow to be too high, that original saddle will lower it, and then the new saddle can be kept on hand for next Winter.

At this point, the guitar plays beautifully.  The Low E does buzz at the 15th fret, and with a hard picking or strumming action, there is a slight buzz across the 16th fret.  Beyond that, she’s great.

The photos with the listing, and the accompanying video, are both new.

Here is the text from the Original Listing:

Okay, gang, here it is.  Among the most sought after vintage acoustic guitars on the market today, here is a Harmony H165, the “Poor Man’s Martin,” that has been painstakingly converted to X-Bracing, with a pinned bridge, new Gotoh Tuners, and set off with a brand new MojoTone NC-1 Quiet Coil Pickup.  This guitar is in Excellent playing condition, with a sound to rival that of the finest Mahogany guitars you’ll find, anywhere.

The Harmony H165 was produced from 1944-1971 and features solid Mahogany construction (top, back, sides and neck), with a Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge. Note: The replaced bridge on this guitar is Rosewood, but not Brazilian, due to CITES policies.

The H165 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.”

This particular model lacks a date stamp, but the shape of the body, lack of an adjustable truss rod, and G Clef headstock logo, put it between 1958 and 1968.

In construction of course, the original Harmony guitars were ladder braced, while the Martins are X-braced.  Each has is own, distinctive sound.  These Harmony guitars are often referred to as the “Poor Man’s Martin,” and have a fantastic tonal quality, that is clear, ringing and yet warm.  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.  The great news here, is that the work has been done for you!

This darlin’ is light as a feather, but with a big, warm voice and a comfortable neck that you’ll want to play for hours on end.  The action is 5/64ths at the twelfth fret of the Low E, and 1/16th on the High E.  The original pick guard has been removed, and the guitar has been refinished, all part and parcel of having had the back off to complete its X-Bracing transition.

The addition of the MojoTone NC-1 Quiet Coil Pickup completes the package.  Voiced like a condenser microphone, the NC-1 gives a rich and complex acoustic sound that truly transforms this guitar from a parlor instrument to one built for the concert stage.  

The original Harmony chipboard case has been lost to time, but the guitar will ship in a vintage TKL hard case that is a little rough on the exterior, but in excellent condition on the interior, and fits the H165 beautifully.

Please check the photos carefully and zoom in for detail.  I have tried to capture this guitar from every angle.

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

Serial Number: 3413H165

Price: $1450 + $145 shipping (Lower 48 USA only)