1960s Harmony H929 Stella Electrified Rubber-Bridge Parlor Guitar

Another one! Rubber bridge guitars are still popular as ever out there in the wide world. This is maybe the third or fourth Stella like this that I've converted over for folks. This one, however, was mostly done-up by my buddy Andy who's been learning to fix gear:

Lots of folks ask me for these instruments and so he's going to do a few more of them up this way to mix some learning in with the demand and my huge amount of backed-up consignment parlor guitars that have haunted the shop for years.

Aside from the work to get it playing spot-on (it plays fast with 1/16" overall action at the 12th fret), this also got the extras of a wiring harness install (500k Bourns pots, Orange Drop cap, Switchcraft jack, Tele-style Alnico-magnet railbucker) and the rubber bridge conversion/setup. I had a fresh set of flatwound 11s on hand as well, so it got that upgrade as well vs. normal roundwound nickel 11s.

Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, brace and seam repairs, new nut, wiring harness install, pickup fitting, rubber bridge conversion.


Top wood: solid birch

Back & sides wood: solid birch

Bracing type: ladder

Bridge: ebonized maple

Fretboard: painted hardwood

Neck wood: poplar

Action height at 12th fret:
1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 50w-11 with wound G, flatwounds

Neck shape: bigger soft V

Board radius: flat

Truss rod: non-adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium-low


Scale length: 24"

Nut width: 1 3/4"

Body width: 13 1/4"

Body depth: 3 3/4"

Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz


Condition notes: oh, my, it's a bit beat-up. While it doesn't have cracks, it does have a number of seams that had sprung and were mismatched after gluing-up. Andy shaved those down to match the sides. There were also a number of loose back braces that needed regluing and the top brace (nearest the pickup) is a replacement, wider one. The fretboard's "finish" shows some wear and the fretboard extension (over the body) dips down a little and has some patches of touch-up/fill along its edges. It's all not obvious, though. The nut is new and bone (and, now that I've taken photos, doesn't have bone dust buildup around it (haha) and the bridge has been modified. The bridge's string patch is slightly off-center so it's a little "longer" on the bass side. The new wiring harness is top-mounted so it's easy to get to (and avoids the "break the sides" jack placement, for that matter) and has vintage-style cupcake knobs. Side dots have been added (non-original) and two Gibson-style strap buttons are added as well. The soundhole edge near the board was cut to accept the pickup. What else? Oh, yes -- there's plenty of finish wear and tear, as pictured, but overall it's not too bad.


It comes with: no case, sorry!


















Comments

McComber said…
I confess I was reluctant, at first, about these conversions, but after hearing the results and realizing that Jennings and I have also got an old birch harmony that's just been hanging lonesome on the wall for a looong while, it makes sense to get them back into the sonic atmosphere. I can imagine a favorite Bonnie Guitar tune that would sound extra otherworldly on one of these. Sign me up.
McComber said…
Plus, where I grew up we'd probably call these a bog marsh bridge - talk about a heavenly mud bath.