Harmony H-44 Stratotone Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954)

Harmony  H-44 Stratotone Solid Body Electric Guitar  (1954)
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Item # 10859
Prices subject to change without notice.
Harmony H-44 Stratotone Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Chicago, copper lacquer finish, hardwood body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case.
 
Overall length is 36 7/16 in. (92.5 cm.), 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).

This is a naturally lightly "Relic'ed" but all original example of Harmony's primal slab-O-wood solidbody, the H-44 Stratotone. The electronics rig is untouched with pots dated the 51st week of 1953, so this is a fairly early production model likely assembled and sold in 1954. The copper metallic lacquer finish shows moderate wear overall with dings, chips, and scrapes, most notably to the sides especially the lower edge. The back of the neck is wearing down through the topcoat, but in general is cleaner than most, as the metallic overcoat usually wears quickly from contact with the hand. An areas on the upper part of body is similarly worn down a bit from arm contact, but not through to the primer.

This guitar remains all original...even the fragile plastic pickguard is intact, and these have been cracked. The single-layer plastic jackplate has a couple stress cracks is solid. The neck is very chunky and straighter than most of these. The original frets have some light wear but this guitar still plays quite well, at least by H-44 standards. This is a great-sounding early example of this super cool, funky, and now much sought-after first-generation solidbody guitar. Overall Excellent - Condition.