Here’s a lovely piece – from the early 1930’s, an SS Stewart Model 4024 archtop guitar, built by either Regal or Harmony and sold through Buegeleisen and Jacobson, owners of the Stewart brand. The SS Stewart company, named for Samuel Swain Stewart was a major producer of banjos between 1878 and 1904, and was bought by B&J (Buegeleisen and Jacobson) a few years after Stewart’s death. Over the years, B&J shifted to producing mostly guitars with the brand, had many companies build the actual instruments including Chicago Musical Instruments, who also built Harmony, Kay, and Silvertone brands.
Harmony
Built during the mid 1930s, the Oahu Style 71K Hawaiian square neck guitar expressed the popularity of Hawaiian music and steel guitar. Oahu was perfectly placed as they were also a major music publisher. This Oahu Style 71K Hawaiian square neck was likely built by Kay around 1935, and features a solid Spruce top, X-braced, with laminate Maple for the sides and back. The neck is Mahogany, with Rosewood used for the bridge and the bound fingerboard. The finish is Sunburst, executed in nitrocellulose lacquer, and sports an elaborate gold-coloured, stencil design on the top.
The new Harmony Rebel solidbody electric marks the return of what was at one time of the world’s largest instrument manufacturers. Harmony dates back to 1892, was purchased by Sears, Roebuck & Co, in 1916 and were based in Chicago, Illinois. From the 1940s until closing in 1975 Harmony built millions of guitars, mandolins, banjos ukuleles and other instruments in the low, mid and professional ranges. These instruments were sold under a host of brand names including Silvertone, Stella, Harmony and Vogue.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here’s the new Harmony Jupiter in a cool Champagne nitrocellulose lacquer finish – a retro solidbody guitar built in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Harmony Jupiter’s classic looks and well-rounded tonality make it a perfect match for any style or genre. It uses premium body material – genuine mahogany – known for its deep and warm sound qualities; specially sourced for this guitar.
This instrument has sold
MORE →The new Harmony Silhouette offset solidbody electric marks the return of what was at one time of the world’s largest instrument manufacturers. Here we’re looking at a new offset body Harmony Silhouette in a lightly metallic Slate nitrocellulose lacquer finish on the body, while the neck has a natural clear coat. It uses a bolt-on neck construction, with the contoured body built of Alder and the neck of Maple.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Built from 1958 to 1966, the Harmony Meteor H70 thinline archtop electric was mass produced in Chicago, and popular with many amateur and rising musicians – even appearing on Rolling Stones stages in the hands of Keith Richards. The Meteor H70 was also available as the Meteor H71 – the same guitar, but with a Natural finish instead of sunburst. The largest difference between the Meteor H70 and models like the Rocket H54 is the use of Spruce laminate for the top instead of Maple. This choice gives the guitar a more complex, warmer tone than the Maple top models.
This instrument has sold
MORE →