Harmony H-22 Electric Bass Guitar (1967)
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Item # 9903
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Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1967), made in Chicago, serial # 3915H22, 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 1967-made bass 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 one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is no Harmony factory date code visible in the body on this one but May 17 1967 is stamped on the underside of the pickup.
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."
When new the H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US. It was used extensively in England during 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 classic 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. This is the cleanest, most original H-22 we have had and a real gem of a player as well.
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 superb original bass, really the nicest of these we have ever had. Overall it shows very little wear and tear, with a scattering of tiny finish dings and scrapes and some general checking most noticeable on the back. 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. This bass even still has the factory original small-ballend flatwound strings still intact, you can't get any more authentic than that!
Aside from its extremely well preserved state, this bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck just given a bit of fretwork and set up. It offers the classic H-22 look and sound, which has become a recent standard in vintage bass 50 or so years after its original heyday. This bass still lives in the original chipboard case, which has somewhat more wear than the bass but still is cleaner and solider than most. 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 1967-made bass 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 one has the later single-piece stamped metal tailpiece unit -- otherwise, it is identical to earlier models. There is no Harmony factory date code visible in the body on this one but May 17 1967 is stamped on the underside of the pickup.
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."
When new the H-22 was very popular with teenage garage bands in the US. It was used extensively in England during 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 classic 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. This is the cleanest, most original H-22 we have had and a real gem of a player as well.
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 superb original bass, really the nicest of these we have ever had. Overall it shows very little wear and tear, with a scattering of tiny finish dings and scrapes and some general checking most noticeable on the back. 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. This bass even still has the factory original small-ballend flatwound strings still intact, you can't get any more authentic than that!
Aside from its extremely well preserved state, this bass is also a superb player, with a near-perfect neck just given a bit of fretwork and set up. It offers the classic H-22 look and sound, which has become a recent standard in vintage bass 50 or so years after its original heyday. This bass still lives in the original chipboard case, which has somewhat more wear than the bass but still is cleaner and solider than most. Excellent Condition.