Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1967)
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1967), made in Chicago, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog; it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway. By 1967 the price had risen to $109.50 (plus $18 for the case) still a very good deal even by the standards of the day!
This very clean original bass features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is thick but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is a factory date stamp in the body indicating it was made in 1967.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard. This has limited function, but certainly contributes to an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that bypasses the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US and UK and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, where its aggressively thumpy tone can be clearly heard on many recordings. Popular up into the late 1960s, the H-22 has recently again become a much used and sought-after item with new generations of players discovering its quirky charm, extremely easy handling, and excellent sonic qualities.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a super nice all-original bass with minimal wear and tear. The all-original finish shows a few minor dings, dents and scrapes but is really very clean for 55+ years old. The back of the neck has several feelable dings dents into the wood, really the only seriously noticeable wear to the instrument. The hardware is all original including the oft-missing eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap button, "cupcake" knobs, small barrel strip tuners and rosewood adjustable bridge. All these features are intact, as is the lever "clunk" switch which for once works exactly as intended. This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck set up with low-tension LaBella flatwound strings. This one really encapsulates the classic H-22 look and sound and includes a quite functional original alligator chipboard case Overall Excellent Condition.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog; it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway. By 1967 the price had risen to $109.50 (plus $18 for the case) still a very good deal even by the standards of the day!
This very clean original bass features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is thick but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is a factory date stamp in the body indicating it was made in 1967.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard. This has limited function, but certainly contributes to an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that bypasses the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US and UK and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, where its aggressively thumpy tone can be clearly heard on many recordings. Popular up into the late 1960s, the H-22 has recently again become a much used and sought-after item with new generations of players discovering its quirky charm, extremely easy handling, and excellent sonic qualities.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a super nice all-original bass with minimal wear and tear. The all-original finish shows a few minor dings, dents and scrapes but is really very clean for 55+ years old. The back of the neck has several feelable dings dents into the wood, really the only seriously noticeable wear to the instrument. The hardware is all original including the oft-missing eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap button, "cupcake" knobs, small barrel strip tuners and rosewood adjustable bridge. All these features are intact, as is the lever "clunk" switch which for once works exactly as intended. This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck set up with low-tension LaBella flatwound strings. This one really encapsulates the classic H-22 look and sound and includes a quite functional original alligator chipboard case Overall Excellent Condition.