Guitar: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?

Subject: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 10:34 AM

My mate Mike has a mid 60's Harmony Sovereign he is thinking of selling. Anyone who had been to Swinton Folk Club or the Mudcat gathers where I have brought Mike will like as not have seen it. It has seen some life but, as far as we know, is eminantley playable and sounds lovely. Other thing is it is right handed but Mike is a 'leftie' so all the wear and tear will be on the opther side to anyone who strings it right way up:-)

Big question is how much should he sell it for? He is a bit reluctant to have it priced by a shop as the suspicious bugger thinks they will just try to rip him off! Is it worth suggesting ebay? Would it sell better remaining here in the UK or might any transatlantic Harmony efficionado be interested?

No skin off my nose either way realy - Just trying to advise a mate!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Once Famous
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 10:56 AM

The Harmony Sovereigns were extremely under-rated guitars. I own one from 1963 that is extremely precious.

If your is a 1260 model (look inside the soundhole) it was the top of the line model built in Chicago out of all solid woods, spruce top with mahogany back and sides. These were not X-braced, but ladder braced and had tons of volume coming out of the oversized lower bout.

These guitars solid for about $85 new.

Many do need neck resets and the action on the fat nexk can be somewhat cumbersome, but vintage affecionados know these guitars had fabulous sound and overall playability, quite unlike most everything else Harmony produced.

Depending on condition which sounds like it has some pick wear and who knows what kind of belt buckle marks, I would put this on ebay with an initial reserve of $400-450. Good ones can bring about $600 and superb ones somewhat more.

There are players who want these. Selling it to a store means they have to pay something on it to allow for some profit upon resale.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:01 AM

I'll get him to have a look - Thanks Martin.

Are you going to add a middle name now btw? Martin Harmony Gibson;-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: breezy
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:03 AM

So if Iwant to try it I'll have to play it upside down!!

Difficult question, friend of mine has one , just as old, but rarely uses it since he bought a D 28.

I wouldnt pay more than £200.

Perhaps that'll start the bidding

Some guitar shops will sell it on a commission basis.

Put the word out, Harmony for sale.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:08 AM

Hard to say for sure as there were many different Sovereign models. Mine is a ply top but the good ones are solid. The one in question is likely a 25.25" scale though there was some variation. Original retail prices appear to be ranged from 100 to 175 dollars give or take. I've seen good examples go for triple that in Canada. I would suggest watching eBay for a better indication of price.

Cool funky guitars, great vibe.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:09 AM

Incidentaly one of the biggest annoyances of my recent life was my Dad giving away his old small bodied Harmony to his step-grnadson who didn't have a clue aboout about it! Not much of guitar and in need of lots of TLC but my old feller bought it 2nd hand in the 1950s. Guessing it was pre-war. Possibly 30's and sounded great when played by someone who could realy do the proper bottlneck stuff. I never played very well but it was the box I learnt to play 'House of the Rising Sun' on:-)

Thanks breezy. You could either play it upside down or we could dangle you by your feet...

Cheers and keep 'em coming.

:D

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Once Famous
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:27 AM

See this cool website to help you ID your sovereign.

sorry, but I continue to be blue clicky challanged.

http://www.broadwaymusicco.com/Harmony1.htm

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:40 AM

Thanks again, Martin. I had seen that site before but forgoten all about it! I used it trying to date and place my Dad's old box but didn't have much luck with that one. As Mikes is more recent I am sure we will have more luck.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: mooman
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 12:09 PM

Dear Dave,

I'd drop Bill Sables a PM if I were you. He has two nice Harmony Sovereigns himself and might be able to give you an idea of current UK market value and possibly help you find a buyer.

All the best,

Richard (moo)

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 12:11 PM

Ta Richard - I'll give him a bell later. Not spoke to Bill for ages.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 05:20 PM

I got a little harmony from the early sixties for banging around the pottery shop .. Smaller then a Soverign I think .. It was $50.00 at the local music shop.. Its great for slide work but I wouldnt spend more then $100.00 for one .. All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Once Famous
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 05:36 PM

The Sovereign models especially the 1260 was significantly different in quality and construction than all other Harmony acoustic models. Harmony was definately made as lower end instruments, many with plywood tops and laminated back and sides.

However the 1260 Sovereign by Harmony was all solid wood spruce and mahogany and were very stunning in appearance and sound.

Comparable guitars today that are made in the USA out of solid wood materials are quite expensive, hence the extreme collectibility and fine reputation that the Sovereign 1260 from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s has.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 05:44 PM

First dam' guitar I ever owned. As I recall, I bought one for $25 back in 1949. Presentable instrument.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 12:30 AM

First guitar I owned was a $10.00 Stella. Next I got a Harmony Sovereign from a catalogue my uncle had---for $35.00 new qnd cardboard case included.---This was the big beautiful one with a shiny finished spruce top like a Martin that had a depth you could stare down into like a pool of clear water. I loved that guitar and owned it until I walked into something and put a crack in the mahogany side that went half way around. Next I got a Martin 000-18.--------But I did love that old Harmony.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST,m forrest
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:05 PM

I have one of these If a USA made guitar could be worth £250

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:48 PM

My Harmony Sovereign has seen some action but it still sounds good. Solid top, mahogany back and sides, US made, bought new for 35 guineas at Len Styles shop in Lewisham, SE London in 1963. I still have the booklet from Harmony that came with it but there is no reference anywhere I can see that describes it as model 1260, just the serial no inside the body,"781d7032". Perhaps a special batch was made for the GB market then.Who knows.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 09:41 PM

I thank you for your input. I just turned sixty and got one for my fourteenth birthday. Loved it. Felt blessed that they would spend "all that money"!!!

Subject: RE: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 10:02 PM

Canadian musicians Ian Tamblyn and Washboard Hank both play these guitars at times. Ian often brings two on stage with him, one in Nashville tuning and the other in an alternate tuning. Hank uses his when the Martin's in the shop.
Jimmy Bowskill also plays one sometimes.
John Sebastion played a Harmony Sovereign in the Woodstock movie.
I used to see them for about $350, but they seem to have gone up to near $600 these days - still a good deal.

Subject: RE: Guitar: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 12:17 PM

Mungo Jerry plays one. And Pete Townshend gave one, many moons ago, to the iconic Welsh singer/songwriter Meic Stephens which he used to compose some of his greatest hits. That guitar is now in a glass case in the Museum of Welsh History ("St Fagan's Folk Museum" as was). I've got the exact same one; bit spooky to see your every-day guitar on display as a historic artifact ...

sian

Subject: RE: Guitar: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: Melissa
Date: 24 Sep 11 - 03:55 PM

I just bought a (made in China) Sovereign and I'm trying to find a vague age for it..no luck so far. I haven't found anything about China Harmony.

If it's a knock-off, it's certainly a pleasant one to play!

Does anybody know a site for me to try getting an estimated date for this guitar?

thanks,
M

Subject: RE: Guitar: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 19 Aug 13 - 10:58 AM

Looking for information on a serial number S0201.

Subject: RE: Guitar: Mid 60's Harmony Sovereign - How much?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 11:55 PM

THey reissued Harmony Sovereign model in the 1970s. DOnt know if they are worth anything