Harmony H-35 Hollow Body Electric Mandolin (1968)
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Harmony H-35 Model Hollow Body Electric Mandolin (1968), made in Chicago, serial # 0110H35, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
This is unusual and rather fancily styled electric mandolin dates to the later days of the illustrious Harmony company. The H-35 was a very distinctive model, instantly recognizable with a single-bound scooped double cutaway body sporting an extended upper horn and eccentrically shaped sound holes. The maple neck has a bound, block inlaid rosewood fingerboard and a headstock shape mirroring the body profile. The Harmony logos on the headstock and pickguard were made by etching through the black top layer of plastic tom the whiter beneath, a cool if somewhat old-fashioned method even at the time.
The now much celebrated DeArmond "Golden Tone" pickup is centrally mounted on the body with tone and volume controls on the lower bout. This unit gives the H-35 quite a powerful electric sound, without either the muddiness or overly shrill character that sometimes plagues amplified 8-strings. The sound can be effectively dialed back for a more acoustic-y character, or played flat-out with a nice bite.
This H-35 lacks the Harmony factory date stamp inside the body but the DeArmond pickup is ink stamped May 8 1968 on the underside, marking it as an early example of this model. It was one of the best electric mandolins of the time although to be fair, there weren't a lot of other choices in the late 1960s. It was the favored instrument of Blues mandolin legend Yank Rachell in the later stages of his career and can be seen in numerous pictures of him. For blues or beyond this is an excellent playing and sounding example of this cool and funky 8-string, a classic in its own right if admittedly a relatively obscure one!
Overall length is 27 3/8 in. (69.5 cm.), 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This now 55+ year old Harmony shows some visible play wear but remains a solid player and all original. The finish shows light wear overall, with minor scuffs and dings. The lacquer on the back of the neck has a slightly rough feel in the center but is not worn through at all. There are a few noticeable dings to the top on the tip of the upper horn. The back of the body and the headstock edges have a few small chips.
The hardware is original, complete and also relatively clean; the oft-missing he bridge cover is intact with some noticeable plating wear. The nut has been replaced with a plastic one similar to the original. This H-35 is an excellent player with a better-then-average straight neck and polished out original frets making for an excellent gigging example. It resides in the original black chipboard case, which is a bit dirty but fully solid with a nice collection of old string packets in the pocket. Very Good + Condition.
This is unusual and rather fancily styled electric mandolin dates to the later days of the illustrious Harmony company. The H-35 was a very distinctive model, instantly recognizable with a single-bound scooped double cutaway body sporting an extended upper horn and eccentrically shaped sound holes. The maple neck has a bound, block inlaid rosewood fingerboard and a headstock shape mirroring the body profile. The Harmony logos on the headstock and pickguard were made by etching through the black top layer of plastic tom the whiter beneath, a cool if somewhat old-fashioned method even at the time.
The now much celebrated DeArmond "Golden Tone" pickup is centrally mounted on the body with tone and volume controls on the lower bout. This unit gives the H-35 quite a powerful electric sound, without either the muddiness or overly shrill character that sometimes plagues amplified 8-strings. The sound can be effectively dialed back for a more acoustic-y character, or played flat-out with a nice bite.
This H-35 lacks the Harmony factory date stamp inside the body but the DeArmond pickup is ink stamped May 8 1968 on the underside, marking it as an early example of this model. It was one of the best electric mandolins of the time although to be fair, there weren't a lot of other choices in the late 1960s. It was the favored instrument of Blues mandolin legend Yank Rachell in the later stages of his career and can be seen in numerous pictures of him. For blues or beyond this is an excellent playing and sounding example of this cool and funky 8-string, a classic in its own right if admittedly a relatively obscure one!
Overall length is 27 3/8 in. (69.5 cm.), 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 14 in. (356 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This now 55+ year old Harmony shows some visible play wear but remains a solid player and all original. The finish shows light wear overall, with minor scuffs and dings. The lacquer on the back of the neck has a slightly rough feel in the center but is not worn through at all. There are a few noticeable dings to the top on the tip of the upper horn. The back of the body and the headstock edges have a few small chips.
The hardware is original, complete and also relatively clean; the oft-missing he bridge cover is intact with some noticeable plating wear. The nut has been replaced with a plastic one similar to the original. This H-35 is an excellent player with a better-then-average straight neck and polished out original frets making for an excellent gigging example. It resides in the original black chipboard case, which is a bit dirty but fully solid with a nice collection of old string packets in the pocket. Very Good + Condition.