c.1934 Supertone by Harmony 14-fret OO Guitar

Fun guitar -- with the 14"+ lower bout, 14-fret neck, and proportions of a Martin OO-size model from the same era. It's got a spruce top, birch back, sides, and neck, sunburst finish, and is bound in cream celluloid on the top and soundhole. Fun stencil position markers, decent Kluson-esque tuners with original buttons... and a quirky typically-Harmony pickguard. Oh, right... these were made by Harmony for Sears who branded them "Supertone" and sold them out of their catalog.

This is a customer's instrument and I did a fret dress, cleaning, and installation of a quite short replacement bridge (the original was cracked and too high). The guitar's neck was set nicely and the board and extension were straight, but because of (probably) medium strings and a lightly braced top, the top had domed making the original bridge and saddle far too high. Unfortunately I couldn't get it perfect without a neck set to compensate for the top change, but I did get it to play nicely in the 1/8" to 3/16" zone at the 12th/14th fret area...

What I love about this guitar is its loud, bright, woody, and direct tone... plus the Harmony necks from this period feel great! While the workmanship and fit & finish is not as details as competitors Regal or Kay, the necks are much more modern feeling and faster...

Original bone nut.


Original brass frets. Dyed hardwood fretboard.

This is a 1/8" thick ebonized cherry bridge I made in the style of the old fret-saddled Harmonies from the 1920s and 30s, to look the part.

Label. Not sure on this model... it's very much like the Gene Autry "Round Up" guitar from c.1936 and on (the better version), but minus the natural-finished top and stencil.

The finish is in great shape and is a simple satin look.

Tuners oiled up and ready.


Good heel join.