Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Chicago, serial # 9935H22, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original grey 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) which was still a very good deal even by the standards of the day!
This 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 no visible factory date stamp in the body but the DeArmond pickup is dated June 16, 1966 on the base.
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 very nice all-original bass that has survived since the mid-'60s with only light wear and tear. The all-original finish shows a few minor dings, dents and scrapes but is really pretty clean for nearly 60 years old. The back of the neck has a few small feelable dings dents into the wood, and there are some scuffs and dings to the finish overall.
The hardware is all original and complete including the oft-missing "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons, "cupcake" knobs, small barrel strip tuners and rosewood adjustable bridge. All these are intact, as is the lever-action "clunk" switch which for once works exactly as intended. This bass is also a very nice player, amazingly still set up with the original small-ballend flatwound strings. This one really encapsulates the classic H-22 look and sound and includes a quite functional original grey 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) which was still a very good deal even by the standards of the day!
This 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 no visible factory date stamp in the body but the DeArmond pickup is dated June 16, 1966 on the base.
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 very nice all-original bass that has survived since the mid-'60s with only light wear and tear. The all-original finish shows a few minor dings, dents and scrapes but is really pretty clean for nearly 60 years old. The back of the neck has a few small feelable dings dents into the wood, and there are some scuffs and dings to the finish overall.
The hardware is all original and complete including the oft-missing "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons, "cupcake" knobs, small barrel strip tuners and rosewood adjustable bridge. All these are intact, as is the lever-action "clunk" switch which for once works exactly as intended. This bass is also a very nice player, amazingly still set up with the original small-ballend flatwound strings. This one really encapsulates the classic H-22 look and sound and includes a quite functional original grey chipboard case Overall Excellent - Condition.