I can send you photos and even a video I recorded using it 17 years ago. It is in great condition except for dirty rocker switches. Does anyone know what year it may be or what it might be worth. It was in my grandmothers attick,It is a six sting and the model Is 12531. The back of the headstock had a small metal Made in Japan tag held on with tiny nails. Recently came across a small Harmony Stella acoustic guitar. It has the Guyatone G logo on the headstock and the truss rod cover says Tokoyo Sound Co. Where it is different from all the others I have seen is the two 3 position rocker switches on the upper horn. It has 2 single coil pickups with massive slugs, trem arm, 1 vol and 1 tone knob in the usual spot. I am wondering if I have one that was not mafe for export. I have been searching the web for a couple weeks, and can’t find a single photo, drawing or ad for this one. I am trying to identify a Guyatone that I got at a swap meet in the S.F. I have had many guitars over the last 47 years. Even in its original state its value is only about 1,500 at best. An acoustic guitar need not be a simple brown box with a neck attached. Now before someone has a hissyfit that i’ve ruined a “vintage” guitar, and diminished it’s value, remember it had already been painted five times before. An outstanding job! Shoot, ol Wilson Picket hisself played this guitar back in 66 or67. I just wish he could have seen the finished guitar. passed and he did get to see the oak veneer and he really liked it. I had started the refinish project before Charles.
Never stripped! Just sanded and a new color applied. This guitar had been re-painted five times previously. I replicated the pickguard in carbon fiber. I refinished the guitar by veneering the top in oak and a sunburst finish was added. I’m a short fella, as are my extremities. I’ve been aquainted with this guitat since 1965. Let us know what Neil says and what you see when you look at it.I have (and cherish) a1957 Fender Duo-Sonic, that was “willed” to me by a very dear friend who passed on a few years ago. If it needs any of the work (and you are going to have to pay someone to do it) then either negotiate a significant price reduction or avoid it.
My general feeling is that if it needs none of the above (unlikely) then it might be a funky little guitar to pick up. Harmony History H1415 - go here How can I date my Harmony guitar from the serial Q - I have a Harmony Rocket that is labeled Harmony made guitars were not intended as real serial numbers. Its very hard to judge that guitar by the pictures or to tell you if its worth what they are asking. They don't have truss rods so if the relief is excessive the f/b will need to be planed - that can be done when its refretted. All of the other things apply - frets, fretboard, tuners. You will need a small mirror to locate the stamp if this is the case. Some models have it stamped on the inside of the top of the guitar, near the neck. This is usually located inside the sound hole or cutaway. Find the date stamp on the inside of the guitar. They have dovetail neck joints so a reset is straightforward - figure about $300. 1892' are located under the word 'Harmony,' it is an Asian-made guitar. They can also suffer structural failures - be sure to evaluate that carefully. Most of the pre-Harmony Stellas were ladder braced which is one of the things that gives them their distinctive sound. What I can tell you is that Robert Johnson probably never played a Stella (what he played isn't well documented but the iconic picture is an L-00 Gibson). Neil Harpe is one of the true experts on old Stellas - I would give him a call.