Harmony H1270 12-String c 1966 | HOLD | (v2505) Harmony in Chicago was one of the first to begin again the manufacture of 12-string guitars post WWII. The Harmony ‘Stella’ H912 12-string was an all-birch bodied workhorse of a guitar during the baby-boom bubble and ‘folk’ era. By the mid-sixties, Harmony came out with the H1270 line of 12-strings, and they were a step up from the budget H912. The back, sides and neck were made from choice 'ribbon' mahogany, with the body bound in multi-ply b/w celluloid and the neck in white celluloid. No painted ornamentation on this version! The H1270 body shape is ‘jumbo’ in size, but is a bit truncated on the upper bout when compared to its H912 kin. One of the finer guitars Harmony produced post WWII.
The back and sides are made from a stash of choice mahogany that Harmony sourced at some point after the war. The top is a nice grade of spruce. Top and sound hole are adorned with b/w/b purfling, and bound in white celluloid. The neck, too, is a choice grade of mahogany featuring a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard bound in white celluloid, Brazilian head stock overlay, and an adjustable truss rod(fully functioning). This iteration of the 'trapeze' tail piece appears on the 1270s in the mid-sixties, but later in the decade Harmony went to a fancier version, so the tailpiece helps to date the guitar somewhat. The typical Harmony date stamp inside is illegible. The 'floating' bridge is rosewood.
The body measures a full 16 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25 3/16". The neck measures 1 15/16" at the nut with string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The guitar came to us with a replaced pick guard and the binding along the finger board extension reglued. We recently: reset the neck; filled the 'extra' saddle slot and made a new, slotted, saddle; leveled and dressed the fingerboard. There are some nicks and dings in the finish but no cracks. A mostly original guitar in excellent condition.
We've had a number of the 1270s over the years and they never disappoint .. quality materials, good construction, great sound. This particular example is among the loudest we've played, a great fingerpicking 12-string for anything country blues or country/folk music.
Comes with a 50s/60s era soft case in excellent condition.
Check out the sound clip!
The back and sides are made from a stash of choice mahogany that Harmony sourced at some point after the war. The top is a nice grade of spruce. Top and sound hole are adorned with b/w/b purfling, and bound in white celluloid. The neck, too, is a choice grade of mahogany featuring a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard bound in white celluloid, Brazilian head stock overlay, and an adjustable truss rod(fully functioning). This iteration of the 'trapeze' tail piece appears on the 1270s in the mid-sixties, but later in the decade Harmony went to a fancier version, so the tailpiece helps to date the guitar somewhat. The typical Harmony date stamp inside is illegible. The 'floating' bridge is rosewood.
The body measures a full 16 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25 3/16". The neck measures 1 15/16" at the nut with string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle.
The guitar came to us with a replaced pick guard and the binding along the finger board extension reglued. We recently: reset the neck; filled the 'extra' saddle slot and made a new, slotted, saddle; leveled and dressed the fingerboard. There are some nicks and dings in the finish but no cracks. A mostly original guitar in excellent condition.
We've had a number of the 1270s over the years and they never disappoint .. quality materials, good construction, great sound. This particular example is among the loudest we've played, a great fingerpicking 12-string for anything country blues or country/folk music.
Comes with a 50s/60s era soft case in excellent condition.
Check out the sound clip!