Harmony: The People's Guitar, 1945–1975

by Ron Rothman

The American-made instruments from the Harmony Guitar Company receive long-overdue recognition and credit in this volume through detailed text, color photographs, and catalog information. Produced between 1945 and 1975, many musicians, both amateur and professional, began their musical experiences playing Harmony guitars. Rockets, Stratotones, Rebels, Sovereigns, and Stellas are examples included in this book, with specific model information and catalog reprints, along with detailed photos. Basses and the other Harmony instruments are also represented. Well-known players such as Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, and Dave Davies have had experiences with Harmony guitars, which are shared in this book. Read about the guitars that Harmony fans have come to love. See how Harmony grew to be one of the most prolific manufacturers of guitars in this country before their fall from grace in the mid-1970s.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published June 28, 2018

Reviews

[Daniel Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harmony closed shop long before I was born. Despite being the world's most prolific guitar maker at one time, it has been very difficult to find good historical resources about this company and the instruments it made. This book is a great step in that direction! Lots of great photos of the various Harmony models, old catalogue snippets, and anecdotes galore. It isn't comprehensive (far more of the book is photos than text, so I left feeling hungry for more info), but it is a great effort at telling the story of Harmony for the next generations of guitar players.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good photos, thin text that would benefit from better editing.