~1930 Harmony Aero Tobacco Sunburst

Harmony Aero Bridge Arch Top c 1930 | $1975 | (v2148) If Harmony would have stopped production after issuing its Vitatone/Aero bridge line of guitars, their products would be spoken of in guitar circles in hushed, hyperbolic tones. But they didn't, and went on to manufacture zillions of 'other' guitars that today elicit more of a 'meh' than a 'wow'.

In the 1920s, multi-instrumentalist Roy Smeck was the 'Wizard of the Strings', extremely popular, and signed to an endorsement deal with Harmony to market the Vitatone line of instruments. These instruments featured the unique aero bridge, its patent was filed in 1928 and issued in 1930. The purpose of the new bridge was to provide more gluing surface, thereby creating a solid connection between bridge and top, producing better tone. Whether that tone was realized is debatable, but one thing is certain, the guitars produced in that run of a few years are surely the aesthetic zenith of Harmony instruments.

This particular round-hole archtop acoustic (this is the second one we've offered for sale, but we've not seen a catalog entry for the model) is among the most eye-pleasing of the Harmony line, and stands as evidence that the factory could produce instruments of high quality. The back and sides are what appear to be Cuban mahogany. The top is a high grade of spruce. Both back and top are heat-pressed into an arch and left unbraced. The bridge is rosewood and profiled to reflect an airplane of the period. Some will call it a Lindbergh bridge based on his epic flight across the pond in 1927, but the patent was actually filed a number of months before that flight took place, and Harmony never makes mention of it in any extant advertising. The neck is mahogany with a dyed maple fingerboard. The board exhibits multiple fancy pearl position markers. The head stock is overlaid in Brazilian veneer. The tuners are a fancier grade than stock tuners. The back, top and sound hole are bound in b/w/b/w celluloid binding. The fingerboard is bound in faux-tortoise and white celluloid. The top, back, neck and head stock veneer are finished in a handsome tobacco sunburst finish. All these details add up to an understatedly beautiful guitar.

The lower bout measures 14 1/2" across at the widest. Scale length is 25 1/4". The neck is carved in a very comfortable soft 'V', measuring 1 7/8" across at the nut and 2 1/4" across at the saddle. Action is set at 5/64".

The guitar appears to be original but for a missing pick guard and new bridge pins. Previously, the neck was reset; a few top cracks were glued and cleated; a support brace was added under the fingerboard extension.

The guitar is light in weight, plays easily and produces a melodic, airy tone with good sustain, skewing more toward the sound of a flat top as opposed to an archtop. A great finger picking guitar, and a chance to own a piece of guitar history.

Comes with an older hard case.

Check out the sound clip!