Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $1,475
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1201+
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High-end
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Description
Step into the world of vintage charm and contemporary versatility with the Harmony H78, a semi-hollowbody electric guitar that has captured the hearts of musicians since its inception in the 1960s. Revered for its classic design and rich tonal palette, this guitar is a testament to Harmony's top-tier craftsmanship. The sleek double-cutaway body is crafted from laminated maple, offering a resonant sound that complements its visually striking aesthetic.
What truly sets the Harmony H78 apart is its trio of DeArmond foil pickups, each with independent controls and on/off switches, allowing for an extensive range of tonal possibilities. Whether you're channeling the gritty blues of Dan Auerbach or crafting your own unique sound, this guitar is versatile enough to meet your needs.
The mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard ensure smooth playability, while the vintage-style Bigsby B3 tailpiece offers that classic vibrato flair. Whether you're on stage or in the studio, the Harmony H78 stands as a reliable companion for any musical journey.
Embrace the legacy and bold character of the Harmony H78, a guitar that is as much a piece of art as it is an instrument.
Key Features:
- Body: Laminated maple
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: DeArmond foil (3) with individual controls
- Tailpiece: Bigsby B3
- Scale: 24"
- Comes with a hard shell case
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Harmony H78.
Value and pricing
Use cases and applications
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Some owners note the Harmony H78's sound is distinctively '60s, appealing for vintage music styles but potentially lacking in versatility for modern tones.
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Comparisons
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The Harmony H78 is compared to guitars like Gretsch hollowbodies and Hagström HJ500s, which are noted for their quality and tonal variety, suggesting alternatives for broader musical applications.
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The Harmony H78, Silvertone 1429, Airline, and Heath are essentially identical, made in the same factory with the same specifications. Differences lie mainly in branding.
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User experience
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Long-term owners report offers ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, indicating substantial interest and recognition of the guitar's unique appeal despite its original entry-level status.
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4.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 17 Ratings
One of the Nicest Guitars ever.
I am luck enough to own an all original, mint condition H-75 from 1964, which essentially is identical to the H-78, however does not come with a bigsby, and I must say it is absolutely fantastic. Not only is it extremely versatile with it's 3 DeArmond Gold Foil Pickups, it comes with a volume and tone for each pickup as well as three on/off switches for each; allowing you to discover a whole variety of tones as well as providing it with that quirky 60's guitar look which I simply adore, and being a completely hollow guitar, it just roars! The neck is superb with easy access to all 20 frets, considering it's a catalog guitar too, it is made exceptionally well. I honestly do not understand why these instruments do not sell for more considering their rarity, collectability and playability. I am not parting with mine any time soon! I could not recommend a better vintage guitar to add to your collection.
41029
actually they are NOT rare at all, that's part of the low value (though that is beginning to change), they are also VERY inconsistent and while yours may be magical, not every Harmony of the era will be up to that standard...
Artist usage
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Premier Guitar meets up with Dan Johnson - guitar tech to Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and pulls out the Harmony H78 at 13:29, "This is probably the one that people are going to be most familiar with. It's a Hamony H78. And he's been playing this for several years. Boy, maybe five years or something. This is what he still uses in the middle of the set when they do a few songs as just a two-piece again. Even though they have a bass player and keyboard player that are playing with them now, they walk off for four songs or more. And he plays this guitar because it has a very distinctive sound because it's totally hollow and has these kickin' pickups in it. I've seen a lot of guitars that have this model of them in it but this one in particular sounds amazing. I don't know what model they actually are but they are usually referred to as Gold Foils because they came in so many different guitars. But this guitar has three switches, one for each and volume and tone for each. We've never really used anything but the bridge pickup. He's always collected guitars so he's had quite a lot of them over the years, but this one he's had in his operation for some time. He bought it from one of my helpers at the guitar shop in Akron. I had a guy helping me working on this thing and it needed a little bit of work. He wasn't working on it at the time because we had other things to work on. Then Dan came in one day and saw it and said 'Woo, how much for that one?' So he didn't buy it that day, but we got it ready for the next time he came by - and he sure did. So he's been playing that for quite a while."
You can see and listen to Dan Auerbach playing the Harmony H78 during this live performance for SiriusXM.
An interesting interview with Dan Johnson - Dan Auerbach's guitar tech.
Photos of Auerbach with H78: Unknown, 2009, Dauwpop, 2009, Islington Assembly Hall, 2023.
Perfromances of Auerbach with H78: "ThickFreakness", BBC Radio 1, 2012, "Same Old Thing", Governor's Ball, 2015, "Have Love Will Travel", NOS Alive, 2023
Hozier can be seen using this Harmony H78 guitar regularly and in this video of him at the BBC Live Lounge.
''Back when he was living in Los Angeles in the 80's and 90's, Anton also was able to collect many rare, vintage guitars at a time when no one cared about them - including models which inspired some of our range, such as the Airline Swingmaster and the Harmony H78 (which we brought back as the Airline H78).''
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Harmony H78, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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