Members Kerouac Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Well, I posted about it a bit over a month ago, and today I finally picked it up from the layaway! It is pretty damn amazing... needs some new strings for sure and I'm going to trip to a luthier soon for a new nut and through checking out. I'd really like to instal ebony bridge pinds and black locking tuners, but will only do so if I don't have to drill the headstock for that... while I don't plan on selling, I would like to keep it as original as possible. And now, onto the pics... Not my foot, btw. A bit more closeup. That beautiful headstock... tortoise shell overlay! Pickguard... look at all those screws! Probably the most extreme example of wear on the guitar, and it's almost by the heel. Right side of nut, and minor wear. Left side of nut. So, that my "new" baby. It's a '69 Fender, and apparently it was built for them by Harmony. Nice round neck... larger than any of my other 15 guitars (minus basses) but fingerboard isn't very wide. Thing sounds like a cannon, almost like your playing bass. Kinda scooped mid-range and a bit brash treble, but I'm hoping some new strings will help out on that a bit. Not very loud per se, especially when fingerpicking, but it'll be a WONDERFUL recording guitar. Not sure yet if I have the cajones to play out with it, but it'll definitely be a great guitar for my style. As soon as we get the studio set back up, clips will be forthcoming. GT 55 mic > Distreesor (compressor) > Germanium Pre > Digital Performer.... :drools:
Members babablowfish Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Very nice. Very pretty headstock. If it was built by Harmony then it possibly is a variation on the Sovereign. What does the back look like?
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Pretty cool! I had a friend in High School that had one of those...had the perfect tone for playing blues w/ a slide! Looks to be in surprising good condition, too...a trip to the luthier for set-up and it should really sing...enough to where there'll no question about your cojones (that baby drips mojo in excelsis)!
Members Kerouac Posted May 23, 2007 Author Members Posted May 23, 2007 Very nice. Very pretty headstock. If it was built by Harmony then it possibly is a variation on the Sovereign. What does the back look like? Lookslike rosewood, and it;s in great shape. The pics didn't capture it, but there is a bit of pick wear on the left side of the sound hole wehre there is no pickguard, but pretty minor. It IS almost 40 after all!
Members babablowfish Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Is the back one solid piece or joined in the middle with a seam? Got any pics of the back?
Members AK47 Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 I had a friend that had one of those in HS too. I remember it being a really nice guitar. I think he glued a piece of felt on the back of the pickgaurd claiming it had a tendencey to buzz.. I had a Gibson LG0 at the time with a screw on pickguard and mine didn't buzz at all. Who knows? Congrats!! Great find, enjoy the MOJO.
Members T.B. Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Cool guitar. A coup-la of weeks ago, someone was selling that very same Fender model you own on eBay. I remember cuz I was struck by the beautiful/unusual headstock, for a Fender that is. I agree with Baba's, that headstock does have that Sovereign design. Are those open back STA-TITES on your Fender now? I would think Grover "Vintage-Style" nickel open backs would set her off nicely, but that just my opinion. Congrats on an amazing find. Trina P.S. Oh. A regular on Acoustic Guitar Magazine forum member (Gear) owns a Harmony Sovereign he's named it "Black and Tan". He has what looks like open gear tuners with ebony buttons, they look really fine. He posts pictures of his guitar often or if anyone inquires about Harmony guitars. You may want to check-it-out.
Members Kerouac Posted May 23, 2007 Author Members Posted May 23, 2007 Is the back one solid piece or joined in the middle with a seam? Got any pics of the back? I do not have any back pics... I don't own a camera because I hate being photographed and would only take pics of guitars and tattoos anyway, so why not go to a friend when I need those done? Anyway, the back IS a one piece MAHOGANY and the sides are mahogany as well.
Members babablowfish Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 I do not have any back pics... I don't own a camera because I hate being photographed and would only take pics of guitars and tattoos anyway, so why not go to a friend when I need those done?Anyway, the back IS a one piece MAHOGANY and the sides are mahogany as well. Then your guitar is a spruced up version of the Harmony Soveriegn 1206 - the finest acoustic guitar Harmony made, a real piece of American history and the guitar Jimmy Paige played on Stairway to Heaven. Congratulations!
Members T.B. Posted May 23, 2007 Members Posted May 23, 2007 Then your guitar is a spruced up version of the Harmony Soveriegn 1206 - the finest acoustic guitar Harmony made, a real piece of American history and the guitar Jimmy Paige played on Stairway to Heaven. Congratulations! I didn't know J.Paige played a Harmony S-1206 on Stairway ........ Hoping I wasn't too forward on cosmetic suggestion for YOUR guitar Kerouac. Kinda got excited ....... I would love to get my hands on a Soveriegn though. Trina
Members Kerouac Posted May 23, 2007 Author Members Posted May 23, 2007 I was rocking out a little bit of Metallica's "Battery" earlier, and damn would this thing sound great through a Mark IV!!! When I pay off my Avalon I think I'll have just about the perfect set of 6 string acoustics. Only thing I'm really missing at this point is a nice 12 string and MAYBE a Parlor, although my original version of the Martin Backpacker sounds pretty Parlor-ish.
Members guit30 Posted May 24, 2007 Members Posted May 24, 2007 how much was it? remember playing one 20 years ago?Jim
Members guitarist21 Posted May 24, 2007 Members Posted May 24, 2007 I didn't know J.Paige played a Harmony S-1206 on Stairway ........ Hoping I wasn't too forward on cosmetic suggestion for YOUR guitar Kerouac. Kinda got excited ....... I would love to get my hands on a Soveriegn though. Trina I played a Sovereign for the first time at this guitar show in St Charles, Illinois, I went to this weekend. It was nice, had a good sound and such, but the neck was a baseball bat. A huge, thick "D" shape. I could probably get used to it (like I got used to the deep "V" of my Epi Masterbilt) but I can't justify getting another acoustic right now. Ellen
Members T.B. Posted May 24, 2007 Members Posted May 24, 2007 I played a Sovereign for the first time at this guitar show in St Charles, Illinois, I went to this weekend. It was nice, had a good sound and such, but the neck was a baseball bat. A huge, thick "D" shape. I could probably get used to it (like I got used to the deep "V" of my Epi Masterbilt) but I can't justify getting another acoustic right now.Ellen Can you recall how much the wanted for the Sovereign? I'm trying to get a general idea of the market/price. Thanks. Trina
Members Kerouac Posted May 24, 2007 Author Members Posted May 24, 2007 Well, a Fender like mine went on the bay a moth or so ago for over a grand... Mine was between 200-350 we'll just say...
Members babablowfish Posted May 24, 2007 Members Posted May 24, 2007 I just did a search of completed sales on ebay and the selling prices run from $200.00 to $800.00 with a lot of range in condition.
Members Dan Hall Posted May 25, 2007 Members Posted May 25, 2007 I played a Sovereign for the first time at this guitar show in St Charles, Illinois, I went to this weekend. It was nice, had a good sound and such, but the neck was a baseball bat. A huge, thick "D" shape. I could probably get used to it (like I got used to the deep "V" of my Epi Masterbilt) but I can't justify getting another acoustic right now.EllenThat's the way I remember them too. If memory serves they sound best with mediums or heavys and a great big stiff pick. Strummed not picked.
Members Krash Posted May 25, 2007 Members Posted May 25, 2007 The Fender 1060 (http://harmony.demont.net/brandmodel.php?id=47) was basically a Sovereign 1260 with different bridge, tuners, & pickguard. I believe it was the 1260, not 1206, that was used on Stairway. It's a jumbo, and is very bassy with medium strings. I'm using .011-.052's on my 1260, and I find the tone to be more balanced from bass to treble. Interesting comment about the pickguard buzzing. My pickguard came loose when the guitar was fairly new, and I pulled it off because it seemed to be buzzing. Looks better without it, IMO. Great guitar - enjoy it!
Members STEELSTRINGS Posted May 25, 2007 Members Posted May 25, 2007 Congrats! it looks like you got yourself a nice old guitar:thu:
Members babablowfish Posted May 25, 2007 Members Posted May 25, 2007 The Fender 1060 ( http://harmony.demont.net/brandmodel.php?id=47) was basically a Sovereign 1260 with different bridge, tuners, & pickguard. I believe it was the 1260, not 1206, that was used on Stairway. It's a jumbo, and is very bassy with medium strings. I'm using .011-.052's on my 1260, and I find the tone to be more balanced from bass to treble. Interesting comment about the pickguard buzzing. My pickguard came loose when the guitar was fairly new, and I pulled it off because it seemed to be buzzing. Looks better without it, IMO. Great guitar - enjoy it! D'oh! I meant 1260, not 1206 - damn lesdyxia again!
Members KATMAN Posted May 26, 2007 Members Posted May 26, 2007 Nice catch! I'd like to find an older vintage guitar,for a not so vintage price someday! Hope you enjoy it,treat it well.
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