Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Item # 9289
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Chicago, serial # 9928H22, 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.
This 1966-made 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 date stamp of "S-66" in the body under the F-hole indicating it was built in the first half of 1966. The pickup is dated to June 16 that year.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which has limited function, but certainly has an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, 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 a super nice original bass with very little wear and tear overall-a few tiny finish dings and scrapes and a small metal jack plate assed to cover a typical jack pull in that area. The finish and hardware are original including oft-missing parts like the eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons and lever "clunk" switch. The only alteration original pickup has been expertly rewound to the correct original spec. by coil & wire guru Tom Brantley and sounds great. This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck just given a bit of fretwork and set up with flatwound strings for the classic H-22 look and sound. Includes the original chipboard case, which is a bit battered but still functional. 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.
This 1966-made 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 date stamp of "S-66" in the body under the F-hole indicating it was built in the first half of 1966. The pickup is dated to June 16 that year.
The bass' most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center pickguard, which has limited function, but certainly has an unmistakable look! The controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large white plastic "klunk" lever switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to "baritone."
The H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands and also used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, 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 a super nice original bass with very little wear and tear overall-a few tiny finish dings and scrapes and a small metal jack plate assed to cover a typical jack pull in that area. The finish and hardware are original including oft-missing parts like the eccentric "batwing" pickguard, rosewood finger rest, plastic strap buttons and lever "clunk" switch. The only alteration original pickup has been expertly rewound to the correct original spec. by coil & wire guru Tom Brantley and sounds great. This bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck just given a bit of fretwork and set up with flatwound strings for the classic H-22 look and sound. Includes the original chipboard case, which is a bit battered but still functional. Excellent Condition.