Harmony classical values

[mc84]

Hello,
I am a long time reader of this forum and lifelong Chet and Jerry fan. I finally decided to register. I have been searching for a Harmony classical for some time now. I recently found a H174 in good shape, the guy wants 300.00+ for it. I haven't been able to find any recent values on these guitars. Is this a reasonable price? I know someone on here can give me the straight scoop.
Thanks,

[thenorm]

I've never played one but 300.00 is a lot of money to pay for a guitar that topped at 95.00 new

http://harmony.demont.net/guitars/H174/100.htm

But if you like the sound of it....

[bill park]

A value increase of 200-300% over the original price of a 60's guitar is not that high, but unless that Harmony is in really good shape with a straight, well-angled neck that would allow for a very low action, I'd say $300 was a bit high. I'd expect to pay more like 150-200.

[PhilHunt]

Bill took the words right out of my mouth. If it was a H-174 in mint condtion, I'd probably pay up as much as $250 for it. But the neck better be good on it.
With those guitars in particular, people years ago were famous for putting on steel strings and warping the neck.
Some of them I have seen in the past on ebay have had actions that were a little high, but this was because the saddles in the bridges looked like they were an inch high.

Bill's right $150-$200 is a good range. If you see one for $300...walk away...it ain't worth it. Remember, it's just a Harmony. Think about it...The original Baldwins were only a couple hundred dollars when they first came out and they were basically a Harmony guitar with a Prismatone pickup.Oh, and a 3rd ring around the soundhole......forgot that.

[PhilHunt]

Take a look at that Harmony H-173 on ebay right now....here's a prime example of the differences. First of all it's an H-173 a very basic model (the H-174 was a step up and the closest thing to a Baldwin). The headstock is squared off...it only has one ring around the soundhole....and metal rollers on the tuners....and a flat finish. The only thing this guitar has in Common with a Baldwin 801 is the body shape....that's it. Oh, and maybe the clubby neck.
Now, don't get me wrong....the H-173 is a great little guitar and would work perfect for Reed stuff and to mount a Prismatone.
But $499??? Come on!

[mc84]

Thanks Guys,

That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I was thinking more along the $100-200 dollar range myself, but I have seen a few of the H173's in the high $300 dollar range. Not to mention the one for $499. I think I will pass on this one. I will just keep looking.

[mc84]

I am looking to get close to Jerry Reed's sound. I love that stuff. I have read about the prismatone 2 and thought about finding a cheap classical to put it in. I also have read about the Clawmaster guitar. I would like to get one, but am afraid it would be out of my budget. I would like any information you guys could provide on these options. I have an Ibanez classical I have been playing for years. I got Jerry to sign it when he was in town once. He signed with a sharpie marker, which rubs off easily. I am ready to hang it up before it rubs off completely.

[bill park]

I am looking to get close to Jerry Reed's sound...

I don't think the guitar itself is as important as the pickup and how the guitar is set up. A Prismatone pickup in a short-scale classical guitar with incredibly low action will go a long way in producing "Jerry's sound". The action on Jerry's Baldwin was so low you could hardly get a matchbook cover between the strings and frets. And although the Baldwin is most known as his "favorite", he also used Gibson, Guild, Barbero, Ovation, and Haile classicals during the 60's/70's.

[mc84]

Thanks Bill,

I know that the Baldwin had a short scale. Is there a modern production guitar with the same scale? Any idea of the cost of the prismatone 2?

[bill park]

The Baldwin (and Harmony H174) scale is 638mm (25 1/8") - pretty short for a classical. The Gibson C-1 is 643mm and the Guild Mark3 is 648mm (two other classicals like Jerry used). Most "modern" production classicals are around 650 scale - that seems common. Concert instruments (like Ramirez, etc) can be as long as 670mm.

Sam Kennedy should be able to quote you a price for a Prismatone. Getting it installed is another issue, though - it's a major task.