The Harmony Company of Chicago, IL was one of the largest American musical instrument manufacturers. Harmony has the historical distinction of being the largest "jobber" house in the nation, producing stringed instruments for a number of different wholesalers. Individual dealers or distributors could get stringed instruments with their own brand name on it (as long as they ordered a minimum of 100 pieces). At one time the amount of instruments being produced by Harmony made up the largest percentage of stringed instruments being manufactured in the U.S. market (archtops, flattops, electric Spanish, Hawaiian bodies, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, violins, and more).
Harmony was founded by Wilhelm J.F. Schultz in 1892. Schultz, a German immigrant and former foreman of Lyon & Healy's drum division, started his new company with four employees. By 1884, the number of employees had grown to forty, and Shultz continued to expand into larger and larger factories through 1904. Shultz built Harmony up to a 125 employee workforce (and a quarter of a million dollars in annual sales) by 1915.
In 1916, the Sears, Roebuck Company purchased Harmony, and seven years later the company had annual sales of 250,000 units. Max Adler, a Sears executive, appointed Jay Kraus as vice-president of Harmony in 1925. The following year Kraus succeeded founder Wilhelm Schultz as president, and continued expanding production. In 1930, annual sales were reported to be 500,000 units, with 35 to 40 percent being sold to Sears (catalog sales). Harmony had no branch offices, territorial restrictions, or dealer reps - wholesalers purchased the musical instruments and aggressively sold to music stores.
Harmony bought several trademarks from the bankrupt Oscar Schmidt Company in 1939, and their Sovereign and Stella lines were Harmony's more popular guitars. In 1940, Krause bought Harmony by acquiring the controlling stock, and continued to expand the company's production to meet the market boom during the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Kraus remained president until 1968, when he died of a heart attack. Charles Rubovits (who had been with Harmony since 1935) took over as president, and remained in that position for two years. Kraus' trust still maintained control over Harmony, and trust members attempted to form a conglomerate by purchasing Chicago-based distributor Targ & Dinner and a few other companies. Company (or more properly the conglomerate's) indebtedness and the cheap mid-grade guitars that were being imported from Asia, led to a liquidation auction to satisfy creditors - although Harmony continued to turn in impressive annual sales figures right up until the company was dissolved in 1975.
In the late 1970s, the Harmony trademark was sold and licensed for use on a line of Asian-built guitars. From the late 1970s through the 1990s, Harmony was mainly used on cheap entry-level guitars that were often sold through mass merchandisers. The trademark and licensing agreements were also bought and sold several times throughout this period. In 2000, MBT International began to distribute Harmony guitars with a line of acoustic and electric instruments mainly based on popular American designs; however, by 2001, this licensing agreement was dissolved.
Current Harmony president Charlie Subecz bought the Harmony trademark in the mid-1990s, and by the mid-2000s, he decided to reintroduce the Harmony guitar line. Instead of using Harmony as simply a budget brand of copied models, Subecz went to work on offering vintage Harmony guitars that were reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, no blueprints or records existed on Harmony's vintage guitars, so Subecz and his crew had to obtain physical examples of these guitars. Examples were then sent to Korea where they were precisely duplicated and readied for production.
Harmony currently offers a line of vintage reproduction guitars as well as a custom line of guitars that feature newer designs and technology. For more information, visit Harmony's website or contact them directly.
Harmony company history courtesy Tom Wheeler, American Guitars, Harmony model information courtesy John Kinnemeyer of JK Lutherie, Ryland Fitchett of Rockohaulix, Ronald Rothman of Rothman's Guitars.
Instruments currently produced in China and Korea since 2007. Previously produced in the Chicago, IL area between the 1890s and 1975, and in various Asian countries including Korea from the mid-1970s through the early 2000s. Distributed by The Original Harmony Guitar Company, Inc. in Palatine, IL. See Chapter on House Brands.

HARMONY Electric Guitars Models

HARMONY H 62 BLONDE (GRAND AUDITORIUM SIZE) Image

HARMONY H 62 BLONDE (GRAND AUDITORIUM SIZE)

- single cutaway body, laminated curly maple top/laminated spruce back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, heavy shell edge binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/metal...

HARMONY H 37 Image

HARMONY H 37

- arched top hardwood body, 2 f-holes, 20-fret fingerboard with gold block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, raised black pickguard, DeArmond pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Metallic G...

HARMONY H 70 METEOR Image

HARMONY H 70 METEOR

- single cutaway body, bound laminated maple top/spruce back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, raised black pickguard, 2...

HARMONY H 81 REBEL Image

HARMONY H 81 REBEL

- offset dual cutaway hollow body, laminated maple top/back/sides, celluloid body binding, hardwood neck, 20-fret ebonized maple fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-on-one-side Waverly tuners, adjustable metal bridge/tailpiece with chrome...

HARMONY H 53 ROCKET I Image

HARMONY H 53 ROCKET I

- single cutaway hollow hardwood body, celluloid body binding, two f-holes, 20-fret ebonized maple fingerboard with white dot markers, three-per-side Waverly tuners, adjustable bridge/tailpiece, raised white pickguard (marked Harmony), sing...

HARMONY H 57 ROY SMECK (SINGLE PICKUP) Image

HARMONY H 57 ROY SMECK (SINGLE PICKUP)

- arched auditorium-sized body, celluloid binding, laminated spruce top, 2 segmented f-holes, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, black peghead marked ´Roy Smeck´, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/r...

HARMONY H 45 STRATOTONE MARS (SINGLE PICKUP) Image

HARMONY H 45 STRATOTONE MARS (SINGLE PICKUP)

- single cutaway hollow laminated body, white celluloid body binding, hardwood neck, 20-fret ebonised maple fingerboard with white dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, white pickguard, GoldenTon...

HARMONY H 60 METEOR (ULTRA THIN DOUBLE CUTAWAY) Image

HARMONY H 60 METEOR (ULTRA THIN DOUBLE CUTAWAY)

- dual cutaway hollow bound body, laminated maple top, laminated maple back/sides, 2 bound f-holes, 20-fret ebonized maple fingerboard with white block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, adjustable bridge/metal tailpiece, raised black pickguard, 2 p...

HARMONY H 22 HI-VALUE Image

HARMONY H 22 HI-VALUE

- single cutaway semi-hollow body, laminated maple top/back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, 30" scale, celluloid body binding, 20-fret ebonised maple fingerboard with white dot inlay, 2-per-side Waverly tuners, adjustable rosewood bridge/covere...

HARMONY H 58 ROY SMECK (DOUBLE PICKUP) Image

HARMONY H 58 ROY SMECK (DOUBLE PICKUP)

- similar to the H 57 Roy Smeck, except has 2 pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-way switch (mounted on diamond-shaped pickguard on lower treble bout), raised white pickguard marked ´Harmony,´ available in Natural top/Black back...

HARMONY H 53/1 Rocket I Image

HARMONY H 53/1 Rocket I

- similar to H 53 Rocket I, except features a GoldenTone exposed pole piece pickup, available in Red or Sunburst finish, length 40.5 in., body width 15 .75 in., body thickness 2", mfg. 1969-1972 (as H 53/1), 1973-75 (as H 654).

HARMONY H 82 REBEL (H 682) Image

HARMONY H 82 REBEL (H 682)

- offset dual cutaway hollow body, laminated maple top/back/sides, celluloid body binding, hardwood neck, 24.25 in.scale, 20-fret ebonized maple fingerboard with white dot inlay, 6-on-a-side Waverly tuners, adjustable metal bridge/tailpiece...

HARMONY H 39 Image

HARMONY H 39

- arched top hardwood body, 2 f-holes, 20-fret fingerboard with white block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, raised black pickguard, DeArmond pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Shaded Br...

HARMONY H 22/1 Hi-Value Image

HARMONY H 22/1 Hi-Value

- similar to the H 22 Hi-Value, except features dual cutaway semi-hollow body, available in Sunburst finish, length 44.5 in., body width 15 .75 in., body thickness 2 in., mfg. 1969-1972.

HARMONY H 14 V Bob Kat (H 14 Silhouette) Image

HARMONY H 14 V Bob Kat (H 14 Silhouette)

- similar to the H 14 Silhouette, except features an adjustable bridge/No. 1750 (Type G) vibrato tailpiece, available in Shaded Walnut Wood finish, length 36 .75 in., body width 12 .75 in., body thickness 1.5 in., mfg. 1966-circa 1971.

HARMONY H 63 ESPANADA Image

HARMONY H 63 ESPANADA

- similar to H 62 Blonde, except features a 14/20-fret ebonised hard maple fingerboard with pearlette inlay, white body binding, raised white binding, available in Black finish, length 41.25 in., body width 16.25 in., body depth 2.75 in., d...

HARMONY H 60 LH Meteor Image

HARMONY H 60 LH Meteor

- similar to the H 60, except features a left-handed configuration, available in Shaded Sunburst finish, length 40.5 in., body width 15.75 in., body depth 2 in., mfg. circa 1968-circa 1970.

HARMONY H 15 BOB KAT (H 15 SILHOUETTE) Image

HARMONY H 15 BOB KAT (H 15 SILHOUETTE)

- slightly offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on hardwood neck, 24.25 in. scale, 20-fret ebonized maple fingerboard with white dot inlay, 6-on-a-side Waverly tuners, adjustable bridge/tailpiece with chrome cover, white pickguard, 2 DeAr...

HARMONY H 25 SILHOUETTE DELUXE BASS Image

HARMONY H 25 SILHOUETTE DELUXE BASS

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on hardwood neck, 30 in. scale, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 4-on-a-side Waverly tuners, adjustable metal bridge/string damper/tailpiece with chrome cover, Golden Tone p...

HARMONY H 66 VIBRA JET Image

HARMONY H 66 VIBRA JET

- bound modified single cutaway body, laminated maple top/back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, raised bound black pickgua...

HARMONY H 47 STRATOTONE MERCURY Image

HARMONY H 47 STRATOTONE MERCURY

- single cutaway hollow body, laminated curly maple top/back, white celluloid body binding, hardwood neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white pearlette block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece...

HARMONY H 73 ROY SMECK ELECTRIC Image

HARMONY H 73 ROY SMECK ELECTRIC

- arched semi-hollow single cutaway body, celluloid binding, laminated maple top, 2 f-holes, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, blackface peghead, ´Roy Smeck´ logo on upper bass bout, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adju...

HARMONY H 54 ROCKET II Image

HARMONY H 54 ROCKET II

- similar to the H 53 Rocket I, except has two covered pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), pickup selector switch mounted on a diamond-shaped plate on upper treble bout, disc. 1968.

HARMONY H 82 G Image

HARMONY H 82 G

- similar to the H 82, available in Shaded Avocado finish, length 38 in., body width 14 in., body thickness 1.75 in., mfg. 1969-circa 1972.

HARMONY H 41 Image

HARMONY H 41

- similar to the H 39, except has 2 DeArmond pickups, raised white pickguard, pointer control (pickup blend), disc. circa 1968.

HARMONY H 27 THIN HOLLOW DOUBLE CUTAWAY BASS Image

HARMONY H 27 THIN HOLLOW DOUBLE CUTAWAY BASS

- dual cutaway hollow body, bound laminated curly maple top, laminated maple back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, 30 in. scale, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 4-on-a-side Waverly tuners, adjustable metal bridge with ni...

HARMONY H 61 LH Meteor Image

HARMONY H 61 LH Meteor

- similar to the H 61, except features a left-handed configuration, available in Shaded Sunburst finish, length 40.5 in., body width 15.75 in., body depth 2 in., mfg. 1971-73.

HARMONY H 54/1 Rocket II Image

HARMONY H 54/1 Rocket II

- similar to the H 53/1 Rocket I, except features 2 Goldentone pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-way pickup selector switch (mounted on diamond-shaped plate on lower treble bout), length 40.5 in., body width 15.75 in., body thickness 2 i...

HARMONY H 68 DEEP BODY CUTAWAY ARTISTS Image

HARMONY H 68 DEEP BODY CUTAWAY ARTISTS

- single cutaway hollow body, bound arched spruce top, 2 bound segmented f-holes, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearlette block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/metal tailpiece, raised black pickguard, 2 DeAr...

HARMONY H 15 V Bob Kat (H 15 Silhouette) Image

HARMONY H 15 V Bob Kat (H 15 Silhouette)

- similar to the H 15 Silhouette, except features an adjustable bridge/No. 1750 (Type G/Type W) vibrato tailpiece, available in Shaded Walnut Wood finish, length 36 .75 in., body width 12 .75 in., body thickness 1.5 in., mfg. 1966-circa 197...

HARMONY H 64 DOUBLE CUTAWAY ELECTRIC (H 661) Image

HARMONY H 64 DOUBLE CUTAWAY ELECTRIC (H 661)

- dual cutaway hollow body, bound arched laminated maple top, laminated back/sides, 2 bound segmented f-holes, celluloid binding, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/Bigsb...

HARMONY H 74 NEO-CUTAWAY (WITH BIGSBY VIBRATO) Image

HARMONY H 74 NEO-CUTAWAY (WITH BIGSBY VIBRATO)

- modified single cutaway body, laminated maple top/back/sides, 2 segmented f-holes, celluloid edge binding, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/Bigsby tailpiece, raised b...

HARMONY H 71 Image

HARMONY H 71

- double cutaway body, laminated maple top/back/sides, 24.25 in. scale, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, 3-per-side Waverly tuners, Bigsby tremolo/adjustable bridge, 2 Harmony pickups, volume/tone controls, pickup selector switch, available in...

HARMONY H 56/1 Rocket VII Image

HARMONY H 56/1 Rocket VII

- similar to the H 54/1 Rocket II, except features a vibrato tailpiece, length 40.5 in., body width 15.75 in., body thickness 2 in., mfg. 1969-1972 (as H 56/1), 1973-75 (as H 656).

HARMONY H 49 DELUXE STRATOTONE JUPITER Image

HARMONY H 49 DELUXE STRATOTONE JUPITER

- single cutaway hollow body, laminated spruce top/curly maple back, white celluloid body binding, hardwood neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white block inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, adjustable bridge/raised tailpiece, b...

HARMONY H 17 SILHOUETTE Image

HARMONY H 17 SILHOUETTE

- similar to the H 15 Silhouette, except features an adjustable bridge/Type G vibrato with flat metal vibrato arm, available in Shaded Cherry Red finish, length 36.75 in., body width 12.75 in., body thickness 1.5 in., mfg. 1963-66.

HARMONY H 59 ROCKET III Image

HARMONY H 59 ROCKET III

- similar to the H 53 Rocket I, except features three covered pickups, six knobs (three volume and three tone controls in a single row along lower treble bout), four-way pickup selector switch on upper treble bout, disc. 1968.

HARMONY H 19 DE LUXE SILHOUETTE Image

HARMONY H 19 DE LUXE SILHOUETTE

- similar to the H 15 Silhouette, except has larger body dimensions, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearlette block inlay, black pickguard, adjustable bridge/Type H (No. 1749B) vibrato, available in Cherry Red or Sunburst finish, 3...

HARMONY H 59/1 Rocket III Image

HARMONY H 59/1 Rocket III

- similar to the H 53/1 Rocket I, except features 3 Goldentone pickups, 3 volume/3 tone controls, 4 way pickup selector switch (mounted on lower treble bout), length 40.5 in., body width 15.75 in., body thickness 2 in., mfg. 1969-1970.