c.1955 Harmony H162 3/4 Terz Guitar

While Harmony marketed this model (click here for info link) as a 3/4 size children's or lady's guitar, it's really a nicely-made, serious instrument with exactly the same scale and body size as old turn of the century and late 1800s "terz" guitars, meant to be tuned up from E to G or A depending on preference. This one sounds great in G or A tuning, but I prefer it in quart (A) tuning... ie, ADGCEA exactly in uke range.

Materials are great: solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, a dark-stained maple?? neck. Bound in tortoise front and back with inlaid b/w/b purfling.

I installed a new bone nut and saddle. Original tuners.

Fretboard is dyed maple with faux-MOP dots.

Rosewood bridge w/bone saddle and original pins. Note the two pearl dots -- this came stock from the factory with some bolts through the bridge... I took them out as they were redundant and popped these MOP dots to close up the hole.

This guitar has an attractive feel... has the cool old parlor-body look (12 fret join) and sits really cozily in your lap. While you can tune these to standard tuning with medium or heavier strings, they sound best tuned up. I tried E on this, however, and it sounded better than the average terz does in E.

Good mahogany back!

A conveniently located strap button let me also reinforce this neck join with a bolt that goes through into the neck block. Harmony necks tend to lift over time and this'll reinforce that joint nice and tight.

Here you can see the nice 'hog in the sun!


A winner! I love fingerpicking this guitar. Sweet tone!