Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $200

Budget/Beginner

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Introducing the Harmony H-802, a guitar steeped in rich history and vintage appeal. This electric guitar truly embodies the soulful sound and craftsmanship of the '70s, from the era where many Harmony guitars were produced in Japan, alongside other notable brands like Teisco. The H-802, a popular model of its time, paved the way for its successor, the H-804, in the '80s. Its double-cutaway solid body design not only provides unique aesthetics but also contributes to its distinctive, resonant tone. Let the Harmony H-802 take you back in time and inspire your creativity with its timeless character.

Key Features: - Vintage '70s design - Made in Japan, alongside brands like Teisco - Double-cutaway solid body - Predecessor to the H-804 model

Product specs

Brand Harmony
Model H-802
Finish Sunburst
Year 1970s
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Stop-Bar
Color Family Brown
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration SS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed

FAQs

What kind of music genres is the Harmony H-802 suitable for?

The Harmony H-802, with its solid body and SS pickup configuration, is versatile for genres like rock, blues, and garage rock, providing a raw and punchy tone that suits these styles well.

How does the bolt-on neck construction of the Harmony H-802 affect its playability?

The bolt-on neck construction of the Harmony H-802 offers a snappy response and makes it easier to adjust or replace the neck if needed, enhancing its playability and maintenance.

What is the neck profile of the Harmony H-802 like?

The Harmony H-802 typically features a slim neck profile, which is comfortable for players with smaller hands and allows for fast playing across the fretboard.

Is the Harmony H-802 a good choice for beginner guitarists?

Yes, the Harmony H-802 is a solid choice for beginners due to its straightforward design, comfortable playability, and affordable vintage appeal, making it easy to learn and grow with.

Does the Harmony H-802 offer good tuning stability?

The Harmony H-802 provides decent tuning stability for its era, but upgrading the tuners or ensuring proper setup can enhance its performance, especially for more demanding playing styles.

TheFMBG

TheFMBG

Harmony H802 - Demo

Video thumbnail for Harmony H802 - Demo by TheFMBG

Harmony H802 - Demo

TheFMBG

TheFMBG

Video thumbnail for 1970s Harmony H-802 (Japan) electric guitar by Jake Wildwood & Co

1970s Harmony H-802 (Japan) electric guitar

Jake Wildwood & Co

Jake Wildwood & Co

Video thumbnail for Vintage Harmony H-802 Electric Guitar by johnnyangel69

Vintage Harmony H-802 Electric Guitar

johnnyangel69

johnnyangel69

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Harmony H-802.

Setup and maintenance

  • The bridge lacks intonation adjustment, requiring potential setup by a luthier for optimal playability.

    Source
  • It's noted that replacing tuners with modern sealed variants, costing around $25, can significantly improve playability. Ensure they match existing hole sizes before installation.

    Source
  • Installing a pre-slotted nut, available for about $15, may require minor slot adjustments for optimal setup.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Upgrading the bridge is recommended by several owners for improved performance; many report significant improvements after this modification.

    Source
  • Owners recommend replacing the original bridge with a tune-o-matic bridge for improved tuning stability and playability above the seventh fret.

    Source
  • P90 pickups, with shaved-down bobbins to fit the original enclosure, are favored by some for enhanced sound over stock pickups.

    Source
  • Consider a wraptail or Badass Bridge for mounting on existing pegs, enhancing string tension and overall playability.

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Use cases and applications

  • The guitar is praised for its lightweight body and ease of play, making it appealing for casual playing and experimentation.

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User experience

  • Owners describe the neck as comfortable and the guitar as more lively than many mid-priced alternatives.

    Source
  • Described as sounding like a garage band guitar, the Harmony H-802 provides a nostalgic sound ideal for distortion and fuzz effects, often associated with Nirvana-like modulation.

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  • An owner, experienced in car restorations, found guitar restoration similarly addictive and rewarding, highlighting its appeal to hobbyists.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Some owners suggest negotiating the price to $100, considering potential setup and modification costs.

    Source
  • The rising popularity of the Harmony H-802 has increased its value, with some owners hesitant to pay $400-$700 for similar models like the Teisco.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The original pickups on the Harmony H-802 are praised for offering a unique clean tone with substantial low end when used with distortion, and zero feedback issues compared to an SG.

    Source

Build quality

  • Early models featured Kawai-style witch hat knobs, later replaced by black Strat-style knobs, aiding in dating the guitar's production era.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 5 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
S

A fantastic vintage guitar

Unlike the later models, the H-802 feature pickups that are closer to P90s than they are to single-coils. Both pickups are engaged at all times, and create little noise. There's a single volume and tone pot that control both pickups simultaneously. The pickups are perfect for Alternative-Rock, as well as Blues and Country, if that's your thing.

The guitar's body is extremely small, thin, and lightweight, however it produces a lot of bass. The thickness of the guitar's neck is closer to that of an Epiphone Les Paul, however the width is thinner than that of a Stratocaster, which creates a nice balance that makes it easy to play on.

I recommend this guitar for anyone that enjoys small, and lightweight guitars that produce a big sound. If you can find one for cheap (under $250 as of writing this), I would definitely pick one up!

Preferred Settings + Usage:

High treble, a little bit of a mid-boost, and some gain work perfectly for soloing and blues on this guitar!

From Gear Setup
mizrahy

Bright and light offset

I obtained this guitar purely by coincidence at a discount store, and I was immediately drawn to it by many things. First, the pickups aren't normal single coils, nor are they p-90's but somewhere in between. It is a very small guitar in comparison to the other guitars I have, but I really like the sharper sound of it. Definitely use as a backup, but maybe with a few mods it can be a main!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Ryan Ross uses Harmony H-802

Ryan Ross

Composer, Guitarist

Panic! at the Disco

...
Verified via YouTube

he can be seen recording with the guitar at 0:56

See how Connan Mockasin uses Harmony H-802

Connan Mockasin

Singer, Guitarist

Connan and the Mockasins

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Connan can be seen playing a slightly modified Harmony H802 with a Fender-looking tailpiece.

See how Dave Dederer uses Harmony H-802

Dave Dederer

Guitarist

The Presidents of the United States of America

...
Verified via Photo

According to this guitar rig diagram, posted on Guitar Geek, Dave Dederer uses a Harmony H-802.

Album Usage

The Harmony H-802 has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Harmony H-802, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

Show yours
memoryloop

memoryloop

Gear IQ 1633

S

smashing_revolver

Gear IQ 88

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