Post by CTGull on Sept 9, 2018 20:30:28 GMT -5
After finding the article on converting old Harmony's from ladder bracing to X bracing, I did a check of the local CraigsList to see what was out there. And I found this guitar.
He was asking $150, I offered $100, he countered $120. He said he had other people interested but he'd rather deal with me since I told him I fixed old Yamaha's and I'd like to fix old Harmony's too. I explained I had to figure out how to sneak out to get it. When I took my daughter to work I just kept on driving, for another half hour each way.
It was made in the second half of 1969, 2 years before they stopped making this model. harmony.demont.net/guitars/H1260/44.htm This page says it sold for $95 in 1969, although I don't know if that was list or retail.
This model is ALL SOLID WOOD! This guitar has no cracks!
Unlike vintage Yamaha's of the same era, it has a wider nut and string spacings. The nut is 1.75", nut string spacing 1.48", and saddle string spacing 2.20". This is a fingerpickers dream!! At least compared to vintage Yamaha's with the very narrow string spacing.
It's in excellent condition. The only blemish is a little "chew" mark at the base of the headstock. And it sounds real good too!! Lots of tone and sustain! Hopefully I'll do a comparison to some FG's tomorrow. But the H1260 they had at Sam Ash last month sounded very similar to the FG-180 I had brought. And they wanted $900 for it!!
Even though this could probably be made to sound better with the X brace conversion, I think I'll wait until I've done 5 or 10 before attempting it on this one. It's too nice to possibly screw up. It'll go in line for a neck reset.
Oddly, inside the cardboard case where 3 printed pages from Reverb showing a range of prices on the H1260, ranging from $425 to $950. I don't know why they put it up so low, other than knowing the action is very high and the area behind the bridge is slightly bellied.
They have few guitars they are selling. He brought out a Taiwan Yamaha FG-75. The fretboard is moldy, and the action is high enough to stick a pencil under the strings. I told him it was the highest action I'd ever seen!! I made what I thought was a generous offer of $20. I explained that guitar was the bottom of the line at the time, and probably worth $100-$150 in excellent condition and playable. In its current condition it's basically worthless. It badly needs a neck reset, costing $400. He turned down my offer. Oh well, I didn't need it anyway.
With my upcoming surgery and many Yamaha projects, I don't know when I'll be getting the fixing this Harmony.
He was asking $150, I offered $100, he countered $120. He said he had other people interested but he'd rather deal with me since I told him I fixed old Yamaha's and I'd like to fix old Harmony's too. I explained I had to figure out how to sneak out to get it. When I took my daughter to work I just kept on driving, for another half hour each way.
It was made in the second half of 1969, 2 years before they stopped making this model. harmony.demont.net/guitars/H1260/44.htm This page says it sold for $95 in 1969, although I don't know if that was list or retail.
This model is ALL SOLID WOOD! This guitar has no cracks!
Unlike vintage Yamaha's of the same era, it has a wider nut and string spacings. The nut is 1.75", nut string spacing 1.48", and saddle string spacing 2.20". This is a fingerpickers dream!! At least compared to vintage Yamaha's with the very narrow string spacing.
It's in excellent condition. The only blemish is a little "chew" mark at the base of the headstock. And it sounds real good too!! Lots of tone and sustain! Hopefully I'll do a comparison to some FG's tomorrow. But the H1260 they had at Sam Ash last month sounded very similar to the FG-180 I had brought. And they wanted $900 for it!!
Even though this could probably be made to sound better with the X brace conversion, I think I'll wait until I've done 5 or 10 before attempting it on this one. It's too nice to possibly screw up. It'll go in line for a neck reset.
Oddly, inside the cardboard case where 3 printed pages from Reverb showing a range of prices on the H1260, ranging from $425 to $950. I don't know why they put it up so low, other than knowing the action is very high and the area behind the bridge is slightly bellied.
They have few guitars they are selling. He brought out a Taiwan Yamaha FG-75. The fretboard is moldy, and the action is high enough to stick a pencil under the strings. I told him it was the highest action I'd ever seen!! I made what I thought was a generous offer of $20. I explained that guitar was the bottom of the line at the time, and probably worth $100-$150 in excellent condition and playable. In its current condition it's basically worthless. It badly needs a neck reset, costing $400. He turned down my offer. Oh well, I didn't need it anyway.
With my upcoming surgery and many Yamaha projects, I don't know when I'll be getting the fixing this Harmony.
