Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1963)
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Item # 8935
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1963), made in Chicago, serial # 4811H22, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body. maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the giant Chicago company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog, and it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway.
This bass is from the first couple of years of production (the stamp under the bass f-hole indicates 1963) and features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is chunky but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This early example has a block rosewood tailpiece covered by a chrome handrest (that incidentally was designed for Gibson steel guitars in the 1930s). The most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which certainly gives it an unmistakable look! Controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and large "klunk" switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone".
The H-22 was used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group, Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, and a host of lesser known garage band players, and 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 one of the best playing H-22s we have had, with a great straight neck and smooth-operating truss rod to keep it that way! There is a long crack to the treble side of the body on both sides of the jack area; this is fully sealed up solid but visible with only some light topical touch-up. Other than this, the bass is original and unaltered except for a couple of small touched-up spots on the top above the pickup where the finger rest was once relocated. The finish has dings and dents overall, with the lacquer rubbed off the back of the neck in the lower positions. Overall an excellent gigging example of this once again very popular bass. Very Good + Condition.
One of the 1960s' finest bass bargains, the Harmony H-22 "Hi Value" Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the giant Chicago company's first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony's 1962 catalog, and it remained pretty much the same into the late '60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway.
This bass is from the first couple of years of production (the stamp under the bass f-hole indicates 1963) and features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is chunky but comfortable, with a 30" scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This early example has a block rosewood tailpiece covered by a chrome handrest (that incidentally was designed for Gibson steel guitars in the 1930s). The most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which certainly gives it an unmistakable look! Controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and large "klunk" switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone".
The H-22 was used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group, Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, and a host of lesser known garage band players, and 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 one of the best playing H-22s we have had, with a great straight neck and smooth-operating truss rod to keep it that way! There is a long crack to the treble side of the body on both sides of the jack area; this is fully sealed up solid but visible with only some light topical touch-up. Other than this, the bass is original and unaltered except for a couple of small touched-up spots on the top above the pickup where the finger rest was once relocated. The finish has dings and dents overall, with the lacquer rubbed off the back of the neck in the lower positions. Overall an excellent gigging example of this once again very popular bass. Very Good + Condition.