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Does anyone heard about bass brand "Harmony"??
- Thread starter sobemtv
- Start date
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
The Harmony Company was an American company that, in its heyday, was the largest musical instrument manufacturer in the USA. They made many types of stringed instruments, including ukuleles, acoustic and electric guitars, and violins.
Harmony was founded in 1892 by Wilhelm Schultz. In 1916, Sears, Roebuck and Co. purchased it, in part to corner the ukulele market. In 1928, Harmony introduced the first of many Roy Smeck models, and went on to become the largest producer in the U.S. They sold 250,000 pieces in 1923 and 500,000 in 1930, including various models of guitars, banjos, and mandolins.
In the late 1930s, the firm began making violins again after a 19 year hiatus. They also bought brand names from the bankrupt Oscar Schmidt Co.—La Scala, Stella, and Sovereign. They sold not only Harmony products, but instruments under the Sears name, Silvertone, and a variety of trade names—Vogue, Valencia, Johnny Marvin, Monterey, Stella, and others.
The company peaked in 1964-1965, selling 350,000 instruments, but low-end foreign competition led to the company's demise 10 years later. Between 1945 and 1975, the Chicago firm had mass produced about ten million guitars. The company reduced their output over the years, later focusing on student models sold through JCPenney.
The Harmony Guitar Company ceased in 1975,[1] and sold the Harmony name. The name is now used by an unrelated company, the Westheimer Corp., based in Lake Barrington, Illinois that imports "reissue" guitars from Asia.
Harmony was founded in 1892 by Wilhelm Schultz. In 1916, Sears, Roebuck and Co. purchased it, in part to corner the ukulele market. In 1928, Harmony introduced the first of many Roy Smeck models, and went on to become the largest producer in the U.S. They sold 250,000 pieces in 1923 and 500,000 in 1930, including various models of guitars, banjos, and mandolins.
In the late 1930s, the firm began making violins again after a 19 year hiatus. They also bought brand names from the bankrupt Oscar Schmidt Co.—La Scala, Stella, and Sovereign. They sold not only Harmony products, but instruments under the Sears name, Silvertone, and a variety of trade names—Vogue, Valencia, Johnny Marvin, Monterey, Stella, and others.
The company peaked in 1964-1965, selling 350,000 instruments, but low-end foreign competition led to the company's demise 10 years later. Between 1945 and 1975, the Chicago firm had mass produced about ten million guitars. The company reduced their output over the years, later focusing on student models sold through JCPenney.
The Harmony Guitar Company ceased in 1975,[1] and sold the Harmony name. The name is now used by an unrelated company, the Westheimer Corp., based in Lake Barrington, Illinois that imports "reissue" guitars from Asia.
Nice copy/paste from Wikipedia. Don't try that in school. Automatic F, possible expulsion. Maybe not in Jr High though.
The Harmony anything are cool in a kitschy kind of way.
The Harmony anything are cool in a kitschy kind of way.
Obviously it was a cut/paste, but a perfect answer to the OPs question.
I'd like to add something.
There is another Harmony company. I don't know much about it (I've written it down, but I can't find my notes..). Anyway, Harmony was an ex-Yugoslavian company producing basses, guitars and much more. It started in 1964 and lasted till 90's. They were using mostly German made hardware, so the quality is top. I don't know much more, but I know that they were producing a short scale bass which had same pickups and pre as old Hofner basses (yay, beatles
)
There is another Harmony company. I don't know much about it (I've written it down, but I can't find my notes..). Anyway, Harmony was an ex-Yugoslavian company producing basses, guitars and much more. It started in 1964 and lasted till 90's. They were using mostly German made hardware, so the quality is top. I don't know much more, but I know that they were producing a short scale bass which had same pickups and pre as old Hofner basses (yay, beatles
)
Thanks for extra info. So do you have any idea where and when this P bass made from? Japan? America? Or Yugo?
Hi sobemtv I would guesstimate it was Probably built between 1975 and 1981. It was around 1981 that the "lawsuit" era began really affecting these manufacturers, and quality of Japanese copies began to noticeably suffer. I have one just like yours but it's in black with all brass hardware, so I'm guesstimating that mine was built around '76. That was the peak of the "brass is boss" craze and many people were loading their guitars with it. Mine is a plywood body, but they got the weight right...it's just as heavy as a real P bass (and then some with the brass) I can't tell from the photo if yours is solid or ply, but it's very nice! -you really can't hardly beat these old Harmony copies for the price and quality. I got mine for $40, and honestly...if I found another one in the $150 range, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. People are starting to realize these are worth it, and how good they are for beginners as well as being a nice platform for hot rod/mods, PBJ, etc. and now that so many parts are so easily available for so cheap, and just a click away, you almost can't lose. The P basses are probably the easiest wiring job in the guitar kingdom too. There is a Harmony owners club, there's a Harmony database too....I don't have the link handy, but you can google it....just like Teisco and other mass produced Japanese brands of the 60's and 70's, they weren't always so great at keeping records and giving us serial numbers. They were really all about just cranking out decent (rip-off!) cookie-cutter guitars for financially challenged musicians and beginners, and for that...I am thankful! -peace
Hi @Econoroller cool avi pic! If you click on someone else's avi or just their screenname you should get a window pop up which'll tell you when they last logged in. Sobemtv hasn't been around in quite a while.
Ha ha ha! thanx Mattzilla....I'm glad I didn't write an A.D.D. novel-length reply like I usually would. I'm new here as you probably know, thank you again for letting me know I can click on the profiles, and for letting me know I was talking to someone who isn't here anymore. P.S. I just came back from getting some new brass scratch guard screws to match the all brass hardware for my ol' Harmony P bass. It's gonna look nice when I'm done...
