Tech: Sloppy builds common on Harmony H625?

Subject: Tech: Sloppy builds common on Harmony H625?
From: Vonhoother
Date: 11 Nov 23 - 04:39 PM

I'm restoring my dad's old Harmony H625, specifically replacing the bridge. The luthier I took it to (Todd down at Capital City Guitars in Olympia) said the original bridge was set so far out of the fretboard's scale he didn't feel confident working on it--if he put the new bridge where the old bridge was, the intonation would be faulty, and if he fudged and put in an extra-wide bridge, there'd be so much distance between the pegs and the saddle the strings would probably buzz.

The scale problem is proved by measurement: even with compensation, the saddle needs to be about 1/4" closer to the nut than its original location.

Is this a common problem with Harmony guitars, or the H625?

Subject: RE: Tech: Sloppy builds common on Harmony H625?
From: gillymor
Date: 12 Nov 23 - 10:11 AM

Perhaps Orphan Instruments can help you out. If you scroll down and read the text the repair person gives a fairly detailed description of the work he did on a H625, including repositioning a new bridge and installing a new compensated saddle.

Subject: RE: Tech: Sloppy builds common on Harmony H625?
From: gillymor
Date: 12 Nov 23 - 09:58 AM

Is there enough room on the bridge to cut a new slot for the saddle   closer to the nut and rebore the peg holes closer to the saddle in it's new position.