This is a 1964 Harmony Broadway guitar in excellent condition. It is all original except for missing it's pickguard. It features a solid birch body with a heat pressed archtop, a gorgeous Black, Red, Yellow sunburst, black and white checkerboard binding, original Waverly tuners, an ebonized maple fingerboard, original bone nut, orignal rosewood bridge, and original tailpiece and end pin. Based off the the inked stamp inside (F-64) this guitar dates to the fall of 1964.
A classic Harmony archtop from one of the longest production runs of their history. This is a beautiful example in outstanding condition. Its excellent condition is due to the owner having strung it up with nylon strings.
WORK DONE: This DID NOT need a neck re-set and has only minor scratches and play wear. I cleaned and lubricated the tuners, removed the sanding marks on the ebonized maple fingerboard (Harmony always left them rough sanded), treated the fingerboard with bees wax and orange oil, polished the frets, buffed out the metal tailpiece, cleaned, buffed and polished the body, re-seated and adjusted the original rosewood bridge, and put on a new set of John Pearse Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge strings (12-53). It set up perfectly with string height at 3/32/ at the low E, 12th fret and 2/32 at the high E 12th fret. It has a clear punchy and articulate tone, great playability and intonation. No buzzes anywhere up the neck. Comes with a well padded gig bag and will be well packed and fully insured.
If you are looking to add a vintage archtop to your collections, this is a great candidate!
Comes with a padded gig bag and will be well packed and insured. This is one of the best examples of a Harmony Broadway I have come across. My price, $675.00
Some backstory... Harmony began in 1892 when Wilhelm J.F. Schultz and four employees began production at the Edison Building at Washington and Market streets in Chicago. Starting modestly with a sale of two guitars to the Chicago Music Company, Schultz's company grew quickly. In 1915, Harmony became the first large-scale ukulele manufacturer. By the following year, Sears and Roebuck bought the company to utilize this massive production. Sales grew through to the late 1960s, when the growth of imported instruments forced Harmony into debt and eventually liquidation. Harmony Guitar Company was revived in 2008 when Charlie Subecz launched a series of 1950s and 1960s reissues.
Here’s the Broadway model description from the 1965 catalog:
Harmony Broadway Archtop Guitar: Arched top Model, made of selected hardwoods (that usually means Birch) beautifully finished in reddish Mahogany with large warm yellow sunburst effect. Highly polished. Edges are bound, top edge inlaid with distinctive black and white block design. Large headpiece. Ovalled hard maple fingerboard (radiased) and adjustable bridge. Celluloid pick plate. Original price, $57.50.
