Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?

Subject: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 12:05 PM

I bought a made-in-china Sovereign a couple days ago and can't seem to find anything online to give me a vague idea of when it was made. I'd like to have some idea of when this model (01016) was made and I would also like to know whether Harmony/China is a Harmony or a knock-off.

Do you know a site for me to check?

Thanks,
M

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:15 PM

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:24 PM

Try a google of the following:

Harmony guitars database

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:30 PM

thanks, 999

The model I have doesn't show up on any of the Harmony sites I could find..including Harmony Guitars Database. That's what has me mostly convinced that I may have a knock-off (which I can't find info on either)

It's a surprisingly nice guitar to play..and horrid to look at.

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:31 PM

I'll dig around, Melissa.

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:36 PM

I'd sure appreciate that..
Thank you



here's one on ebay
(auction ended, pic probably won't be there long)

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:39 PM

I found this on Harmony Database:

1016 (2000 (approx)) - Buck Owens reissue - Acoustic flatop - Red, white, blue - 10
Reissue in years 2000 of the "Buck Owens" model sold by Sears & Roebucjk catalog in 1970 (See model 3219 under the Silvertone brand). Apart from the color scheme, this reissue is very different, and doesn't wear the Buck Owens name on the head, where you can read "Harmony Sovereign", without the usual "est 1892" specific to asian made guitar. This was proposed by the "MBT International" company. - (based on Harmony 3219)

_____
Does it mean that mine was made in the 2000s since it doesn't have "Buck Owens" on the head?
It sure doesn't smell like it's that new..

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:45 PM

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/4/6/3/0/9/2/webimg/484102331_tp.jpg

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:47 PM

I have a guitar that smells like dirty socks when I take it out of the case. That's because I keep it humidified in the case. Often, the nose knows, but not always.

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:48 PM

PS The guitar is not yet five years old.

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Melissa
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 07:54 PM

yup, that matches my label!

My mother has a new Martin that smells like a poorly tended porcupine hide..bleh. Maybe I'll get her a dirtysock humidifier for christmas for a nice change.

Why in the world would anybody do a recent reissue Buck Owens?
..and why is it such a decent guitar??

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 05:38 PM

Harmony Soveriegns were nice guitars. In England,in the early 60's they were the cheapest "good" guitars you could get - ie full-size, all solid wood, US-made. They retailed in England at 35 "guineas" (about $100 then) when they were about $60 in the US Sears catalogue. I've got a batterd old one than I bought a couple of years ago for £450 (about $720 now)- best guitar I've got...

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: GUEST,Guest BS
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 04:18 PM

I bought one in UK in 1962 for £47. It was the best in the shop. I've still got it and it has improved with age.

Subject: RE: Harmony Sovereign (china) How Old?
From: Mooh
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 05:36 PM

There's a lot of difference between guitars from different decades and different countries of origin, but still badged with the name Sovereign. Many of them are as different as any two other guitars could be.