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HARMONY | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Harmony advertisement (1965)

The integrity of the Harmony guitar is known by the integrity of its maker

Harmony H77, Harmony 1260 acoustic

Mid sixties Harmony adverts for two instruments. The semi-acoustic H-77 and the 1260 acoustic

Harmony advertisement (1965) The integrity of the Harmony guitar is known by the integrity of its maker

Other related vintage advertisements

Harmony H77 - Harmony guitars
Harmony H77 - Harmony guitars
Mid sixties Harmony advert, showing a solid-body (H19), an acoustic (1260), and an electric semi-acoustic (H75)
Harmony 1260 - Here are Harmony
Harmony 1260 - Here are Harmony's Big 3
Mid sixties advertisement for three of Harmonys best selling instruments: the H19 solid body, H76 thinline hollow-body and the 1260 flat top acoustic. These three instruments appeared in numerous H...
Harmony 1260 - Now Hear This
Harmony 1260 - Now Hear This
The three instruments appearing in this mid-60s advert are the H19 solid body, H76 thinline hollow-body and the 1260 flat top acoustic. These were Harmony's big-3 instruments and were promoted widely.
Harmony 1260 - The Crafstmen Come From Here
Harmony 1260 - The Crafstmen Come From Here
In 1967, the American guitar market was under attack. Skilled luthiers at Gibson and Guild were safe, even those these companies had their problems to overcome, but at the lower end, where guitars ...
Harmony H77 - Harmonys Fine Electric Guitars
Harmony H77 - Harmonys Fine Electric Guitars
Harmony advertisement showing a number of hollow-body electric guitars. There are three newer models, all launched the previous year: the H-72, H79 twelve string and H27 bass, and three older model...
Harmony 1260 - Want To Take A Harmony Guitar Apart
Harmony 1260 - Want To Take A Harmony Guitar Apart
Mid sixties advert highlighting some of the features of a Harmony guitar: the slim necks, truss rod, hollow body construction and De Armond pickups. The fact that Harmony was an American company (f...
Harmony H77 - You plug it in, it turns you on
Harmony H77 - You plug it in, it turns you on
The title of this advertisement, of course, is a play on Dr. Timothy Leary's 'Turn On, Tune in, Drop out' suggestion, so current amongst the youth of late 1960s America; Harmony new their market. U...

Harmony H77, Harmony 1260

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1960s Harmony H1213 Archtone Archtop Guitar (1 of 2)

1960's Harmony H1213 'Archtone' Archtop Guitar (1 of 2)

Miller Place, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$590

1960's Harmony H1213 Archtone Restored Made in USA
Beautiful, nicely restored example. When it came in to us the action was a mile high and we called it 'the slide guitar'. We decided to pull all the frest and sand the fingerboard level (no truss rod) and found a beautiful maple fingerboard under the terrible brown stain they originally used in the factory. We refretted it and tweaked everything to perfection!!
New leveled fingerboard, new frets, all new glue joints; setup with silk and ... more
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Vintage Harmony H-666 "V2" Flying-V Clone, Solid Mahogany Body Electric Guitar

Vintage Harmony H-666 "V2" Flying-V Clone, Solid Mahogany Body Electric Guitar

Florence, Kentucky, 410**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$250

Good working condition guitar that needs a tone pot and control knob but does not impact playing or sound. You just can't adjust the tone
This vintage Harmony H-666 is a unique electric guitar, crafted with a solid mahogany body. The guitar's design was inspired by the iconic Gibson V2, and it features a 6-string configuration that is perfect for right-handed players. The guitar was manufactured in Korea back in 1981, making it a true vintage piece
The Harmony H-666 boasts a beautiful ... more
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1960??s HARMONY-MADE ALDEN TUXEDO STRATOTONE SEMI-HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR H45 Vtg

1960??s HARMONY-MADE ALDEN TUXEDO STRATOTONE SEMI-HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR H45 Vtg

Parsons, Kansas, 673**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$395

Cool old guitar that??s been sitting around for a while. Don??t know much about it , Took a lot of pictures, everything seems straight and good, but the white plastic pick guard is cracked with some screws heads broke off, but the Pick guard. Holds in place. Don??t have an amp to test it out

Artificial intelligence writes:
??This vintage 1960's electric guitar by Alden Harmony is a true gem for any music enthusiast. With a brand name that speaks for itself, this Alden ... more
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1966 Harmony H49 Stratotone Jupiter

1966 Harmony H49 Stratotone Jupiter

DeKalb, Illinois, 601**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2200

Offered here by Aurora Music Co. in DeKalb IL. is a 1966 Harmony H49 Stratotone Jupiter
Made in Chicago in 1966, This H49 is very late production. The last time Harmony listed them in the catalog was 1965 and this one is dated 1966. The pickups have a stamped date of April, 11 1966 and it is stamped S-66 KM inside the cavity. Another very unusual thing about this guitar is that the top is flamed maple. I have owned 10 or so of these and every other one i??ve had has had a spruce top. This is ... more
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1960s Harmony 415 2x12 Combo Amp

1960's Harmony 415 2x12 Combo Amp

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1301

Up for sale is a squeaky clean 1960's Harmony 415 2x12 Combo Amplifier. Two twelve inch Jenson speakers pushing 18 watts. Speakers are coded 220650 dating to the 50th week of 1966. Sounds great if you're going for the clean head room, or push the amp into crunch land for some heavenly tone. No footswitch but condition wise this amp is clean!





... more
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Original Waverly Tuners for 1950??s, 1960??s Guild, Harmony Guitars

Original Waverly Tuners for 1950??s, 1960??s Guild, Harmony Guitars

Hendersonville, North Carolina, 287**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$110

Original Waverly Tuners for 1950??s, 1960??s Guild, Harmony Guitars
Made in USA original Waverly tuners, original to some Guild models M-20, etc , and pretty much all American Harmony guitars with three on a plate tuners after 1952, and until 1972.
This set is in beautiful condition, with good original knobs. Please see photos
Selling as is. Thank you for looking!
... more
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Vintage Harmony H162 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage Harmony H162 Acoustic Guitar

Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$150

Great classic solid wood guitar, solid spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides. I believe the neck is poplar.

This is a fun classic acoustic guitar and has a great sound to it. Made in the USA.

There??s some wear to it including a dent in the back which doesn??t seem to impact the sound at all. Happy to provide more photos as needed

Would like to do local pickup but if you want it shipped message me and we can see what we can do
... more
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Vintage Stella Harmony H6137 Acoustic Parlor Guitar USA Made (1972-75)

Vintage Stella Harmony H6137 Acoustic Parlor Guitar USA Made (1972-75)

Wayne, New Jersey, 074**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$140

Vintage Stella Harmony H6137 (1972-75) Acoustic Nylon Guitar
Stamped inside #6989H6137 and 5-72
Up for sale we have a Stella Harmony Acoustic Nylon Strung Guitar, this Guitar model is a H6137, it was made throughout the years of 1972 till 1975
Here is an excerpt from the Harmony Catalog from 1974
??Harmony in a resounding Stella(tm) guitar with nylon strings
Easy fingering, fabulous tone. It plays greater than ever because nylon is softer to the touch. Spruce grained top and two ... more
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Vintage 1960s Stella Harmony Acoustic Guitar 6 STRING Parlor 32"

Vintage 1960's Stella Harmony Acoustic Guitar 6 STRING Parlor 32"

Buffalo, New York, 142**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$180

This is a nice guitar. Has wear and tear. Missing the pick guard. This was set up and strung. The action was pretty good and is a playable guitar. These guitars rarely play. or are hard to tune. has checking and scratches. sold as is. no returns no international shipping.... more
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Vintage Kay Harmony Blonde Wood Banjo, 1950s-60s.

Vintage Kay Harmony Blonde Wood Banjo, 1950s-60s.

Red Lion, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$79

This is a really cool 60+ year old banjo
Blonde wood with a nice pattern design on back
Face drum in good condition
Neck good
Needs restrung and bottom (sting fastener?) Attached
String tensioner knobs could be replaced as well
Best value on the web
... more
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Vintage 1969 Stella Harmony H929 Parlor 6 String Acoustic Guitar Guaranteed

Vintage 1969 Stella Harmony H929 Parlor 6 String Acoustic Guitar Guaranteed

Kansas City, Missouri, 641**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$300

Vintage 1969 Stella Harmony H929 Parlor 6 String Acoustic Guitar Guaranteed. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.... more
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1973 Harmony H6340 Acoustic Guitar

1973 Harmony H6340 Acoustic Guitar

Franklin, Indiana, 461**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$99






























You are buying a 1973 Harmony H6340 acoustic guitar in as found condition, other than the cig burn guitar looks very nice, will need cleaned up and new strings comes with chipboard case Stand NOT included
Track Page Views With
Auctiva's Counter
aucCounter ... more
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Vintage 1960 Silvertone 1429 By Harmony Sunburst

Vintage 1960 Silvertone 1429 By Harmony Sunburst

Los Angeles, California, 900**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1256

This rare beauty has it all. The three DeArmond silver foil pickups have amazing tone, and with the three toggle switches they get an amazing amount of tonal variation. Has modern tuners that work very well. The action is great and plays like a dream. The finish maintains its luster while having some crazing. There are a few scuffs and dings to note though and I did my best to get detailed photos of them. Feel free to ask any questions. Thanks!
... more
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VINTAGE USA HARMONY MONTEREY ARCTOP ACOUSTIC GUITAR 60??S

VINTAGE USA HARMONY MONTEREY ARCTOP ACOUSTIC GUITAR 60??S

Morgantown, Indiana, 461**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$380

Finish has been played off the back of the neck. Had a professional setup done a couple week ago. Plays really good.... more
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Vintage 1960??s Harmony Bobkat Silvertone Airline Guitar Case

Vintage 1960??s Harmony Bobkat Silvertone Airline Guitar Case

Chilmark, Massachusetts, 025**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$60

Up for sale is a Vintage 1960??s Harmony / Silvertone Bobkat guitar case. latches and the handle work as they should. This one is in good used condition and is nicer than I usually see these. Perfect for your vintage guitar!
I??m always happy to accept returns if an item is not as described. I ask that you please study the photos and contact me with any questions. I??ve been selling on eBay for over 24 years with excellent feedback so bid with confidence.
... more
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Vintage 1970s  Stella Harmony H-6128 Acoustic Parlor Guitar in Natural USA

Vintage 1970's Stella Harmony H-6128 Acoustic Parlor Guitar in Natural USA

Spokane, Washington, 992**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$280

Some cosmetic wear due to age and use, some damage to the headstock and wear on the binding. Please see pictures.
This acoustic guitar has painted feet markers, skinny brass frets and pressed metal tailpiece was only made between 1972-1975. Rare find for Stella Harmony guitars. This guitar features the Stella logo with the star above the 'E' and 'steel reinforced neck' stamp on the headstock.
The guitar plays Great Pre-owned condition and sounds, everything is original nothing has been ... more
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1960 Harmony Stratotone Mars H45 Electric Guitar Sunburst w /  DeArmond Pickup

1960 Harmony Stratotone Mars H45 Electric Guitar Sunburst w / DeArmond Pickup

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$700

Up for sale, a 1960 Harmony Stratotone Mars model H45 in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A simple and straightforward vintage Stratotone model, this USA-made Mars H45 features a Volume and Tone control for the single original DeArmond-made "Hershey Bar" pickup. A fully hollow maple bodied instrument with a wooly bark and clear treble cut when strummed acoustically, these tonal properties translate through the pickup with great accuracy. The pickup has a rich, warm sound and a ... more
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Set of 2 Vintage Harmony H70 Guitar Pick-Ups

Set of 2 Vintage Harmony H70 Guitar Pick-Ups

Hebron, Kentucky, 410**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$75

Set of 2 Vintage Harmony H70 Guitar Pick-Ups
Both pick-ups have 3 wires coming off of them - 1 red, 1 white and bare stranded wires around the red and white. Resistance of 1st pick-up - 8 15 KOhms Red to White Wire, 8 03 Kohms off white and bare wires and 16 21 kohms off red and bare. Resistance of 2nd pick-up -7 99 KOhm Red to White Wire, 8 27 kohms white to bare wire and 16 28 kohms red to bare wire. See photos. Sold AS IS
Combined Shipping
Many items can be combined to SAVE on ... more
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1957 Harmony H44 Stratotone

1957 Harmony H44 Stratotone

Franklin, Ohio, 450**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2989

1957 Harmony Stratotone H-44 first year production, solid body neck thru vntage & rare, not a reissue, coolest of the cool, full scale, fast, big super comfortable neck, rosewood fretboard & bridge, super light weight and comfortable, newer hard case included. Sustain . Made famous by some of the best. Tom Waits, Richie Valens & Howlin Wolf. For the collector, stage & investor
AT DAYTON VINTAGE GUITARS & AMPS
YOUR GUITAR WILL BE PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED AND SETUP ... more
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Vintage 1950??s Wooden Harmony Patrician Archtop Guitar 40??

Vintage 1950??s Wooden Harmony Patrician Archtop Guitar 40??

Akron, Ohio, 443**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$350

Vintage 1950??s Wooden Harmony Patrician Archtop Guitar 40??.
Found at an estate sale and left in original condition
See photos for details
Smoke free
Ships next day
Thanks for shopping!
... more
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Find more Harmony H77, Harmony 1260 at vintageguitarsforsale.co

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1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass Rose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner Zambesi This very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super Ace The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New Escort The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin Care Catalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger Folk The Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalog Hagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner President The President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.

1971 Gibson Les Paul Recording guitar owners manual

1971 Gibson Les Paul Recording guitar owners manual The newly designed Les Paul Recording guitar was released in 1971, in many ways as an updated version of the Les Paul Professional that had debuted two years earlier in 1969. The new guitar came with a new owners manual explaining the (somewhat complicated) controls, their operation, and giving other specifications, including recommended strings, action and control settings. Compare with the broadly similar owners manual for the Les Paul Personal / Professional