1970 Harmony H81 Rebel Hollowbody Electric Guitar
Harmony Rebels aren't all that common and they're even harder to find in this simplified, one-pickup version. This one was dropped-off by a local consignor and it arrived in good shape but needing the usual going-through. Now that it's back to rights it's a pretty addicting guitar.
The DeArmond pickups in these things have an unusual tone to them -- they're articulate and balanced when played clean but as soon as they're driven even a little it's like turning on afterburners and heading into a beautiful, slightly-fuzzy sunset. Most of them clock around 10k ohms on a multimeter and so they can easily drive an amp's front-end like a P90.
It's all-original except for some homespun "position markers" done on the side of the neck via a reverse-spun 3/16" drill bit, it looks like -- just enough to leave a divot in the poplar. The whammy actually works alright but it is not intuitive to use, so I'd think of it more as a neat diversion rather than something one would want to use much. The original tuners are also only OK. If I were gigging this guitar I'd spring for Gotoh Kluson-style units (Fender-looking) to replace them but the originals are fine for a casual player or recording instrument.
Repairs included: fret level dress, restring, move/realign bridge, added ground wire to tailpiece from harness (why didn't Harmony ever seem to do that?), electronics cleaning, setup.
Made by: Harmony
Model: H81 Rebel
Made in: Chicago, IL, USA
Serial number: F-70 date stamp
Body wood: birch
Bridge: Teisco-style import, adjustable
Fretboard: ebonized hardwood
Neck wood: poplar
Pickups: 1x DeArmond polepiece goldfoil
Neck shape: medium C
Board radius: ~10"
Truss rod: adjustable
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: medium-smaller
Scale length: 24 1/8"
Nut width: 1 3/4"
Body length: 16 1/2"
Body width: 14"
Body depth: 1 7/8"
Weight: 5 lbs 1 oz
Condition notes: it's all-original throughout, but there are added "side dots" drilled lightly into the side of the neck. I moved the bridge a little to allow for good intonation and to give it a little more adjustment room. There's an average amount of light playwear throughout but overall it looks really dang clean for its age.
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