Help identifying an old Harmony

[guitarist21]

I thought about posting on the electric forum, but that didn't look promising...

 

I bought this guitar for next to nothing at a little shop. I thought a little fixing up and maybe a new neck and this guitar would be awesome. Sounds great, but does not stay in tune anywhere. After a lot of research looking for a Harmony Marquis Semi-Hollowbody (what it says on the headstock), I can't find anything other than Harmony made an acoustic called "Marquis".

 

Here are some pics:

 

The whole guitar:

 

 

The body:

 

 

The body as seen from the back:

 

 

The headstock:

 

 

The headstock from the back. Note the sticky residue where a sticker probably once was:

 

 

The neck plate and back of body. Note the four holes on the plate and five on the heel. Note also more sticky residue:

 

 

The pickups:

 

 

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! I'm tired of trying to figure out what it is.

 

Ellen

[Roy Brooks]

That guitar was made in the mid-seventies in Japan.

A friend of mine has an acoustic that has Marquis on the headstock. It is also Japanese and from that same era. His looks like a D-45.

[guitarist21]

Okay. Why did they use the same name for the dread as they did for this guitar?

 

And, where could I find a serial number? Or does it have one at all?

 

Ellen

[Roy Brooks]

 

Originally posted by guitarist21 Okay. Why did they use the same name for the dread as they did for this guitar? And, where could I find a serial number? Or does it have one at all? Ellen

 

 

Although I already answered your question, that was the name of their line at the time. They had Marquis electrics and acoustics. On the acoustic I believe they just put Marquis up there because it just happens to compliment the look of that particular guitar.

[guitarist21]

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

Should I replace the neck? Or maybe just have it set up and see what the set up guy thinks? I took a bunch of measurements and it is not the size of stock Fender, Gibson, or anything else I can find, so a replacement would be costly.

 

Ellen

[Roy Brooks]

 

Originally posted by guitarist21 Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. Should I replace the neck? Or maybe just have it set up and see what the set up guy thinks? I took a bunch of measurements and it is not the size of stock Fender, Gibson, or anything else I can find, so a replacement would be costly. Ellen

 

 

What is wrong with the neck? I don't see any issues in the photo.

[guitarist21]

The action from the 10th fret up is ridiculously high. It high enough so that it is causing intonation problems. I tried some truss rod adjustments, but it was not enough. Also, the bridge is adjustable, but it is already as low as it goes.

 

Ellen

[Roy Brooks]

 

Originally posted by guitarist21 The action from the 10th fret up is ridiculously high. It high enough so that it is causing intonation problems. I tried some truss rod adjustments, but it was not enough. Also, the bridge is adjustable, but it is already as low as it goes. Ellen

 

 

You might want to try shimming the neck. I would imagine that a few small squares of credit card material would do the trick. Or maybe a thin wooden wedge that you could probably make yourself. It just might take a little experimenting and time until you get it right.

 

As for the serial number, it may not have one. Dating it to the exact year may be difficult. But I can pretty much guarantee that your guitar is from the mid to maybe late seventies. But since it is a Japanese Harmony I can't really see it being any older than about 1972.

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by Roy Brooks You might want to try shimming the neck. I would imagine that a few small squares of credit card material would do the trick.

That'll do it.

 

Guit21, cool find. But I would'nt sink a lot of money into it. I'd get it set up, check the electronics, and stop there.

[guitarist21]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to get it set up on Friday, I think.

 

Ellen