1960s Harmony H417 Monterey A-Style Archtop Mandolin

I worked on one of these just before the holidays last year, and this one is much the same as that -- a good, dry, choppy, barky, bitey, snappy little thing that won't compare volume-wise to a good carved-top instrument (these are pressed-top, not carved) but it definitely gets the job done. I'd rate it similar to an old '40s or '50s Strad-O-Lin, though the Strads tend to have a little more "spring" in their step. That's the only way I know how to describe it. These Harmony A-styles just go ka-pop, bluegrass-fashion.

This one's here (presumably) for consignment and it's pretty clean overall, though someone reglued the top center seam in the past (it's a little visible when you're looking for it) as well as the seam near the endblock. It arrived nearly-playable but needed just a little bit to make it get-up-and-go the way I like them.

Post-repairs it plays slick and fast and has a quick, easy-handling neck that reminds me of Gibson A-50s but with a bit more of a round cut to the back of the neck. I like how Harmony kitted these out with 18:1 tuners at the headstock -- something you just don't see on most mandolins from the time but makes it easy to tune-up without overshooting the mark.

Repairs included: fret level dress, minor mod to bridge, cleaning, setup.
Made by: Harmony
Model: H417 Monterey
Made in: Chicago, IL, USA

Top wood: solid spruce (pressed-top, not carved)
Back & sides wood: solid maple
Bracing type: tonebar
Bridge: rosewood
Fretboard: rosewood
Neck wood: maple
Tone: clean, bright, percussive, snappy, poppy

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (low, quick) w/adjustment room
String gauges: 36w-10 lights
Neck shape: medium C/very-lightly-soft V
Board radius: flat
Truss rod: non-adjustable steel rod
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: small

Scale length: 13 7/8"
Nut width: 1 3/16"
String spacing at nut: 1"
String spacing at bridge: 1 5/8"
Body length: 12 1/2"
Body width: 10"
Body depth: 1 7/8"

Weight: 1 lb 13 oz

Condition notes: it's original save for strap-button add-ons. The finish is clean and looks good, too. The top's center seam has a slim dark line of fill/repair down the middle which is associated with an earlier repair. It's stable, but you can see it if you're looking (I took a photo with glare so it'd show-up). There's also a slightly mismatched reglue of a back/side seam right next to the endblock and near a strap button. It's good to go, too.

It comes with: a recent f-style hard case that works just fine.