1970 Silvertone 1227 (Harmony) 12-String 000-Size Guitar

I've worked on too many of these guitars -- ones from the early '60s right up until Harmony went belly-up in the mid-'70s. This style of 12-string made by Harmony had a good run, at least!

While most of these guitars are solid birch in the body, I'm pretty sure this one is ply-birch in the top and back at least. I have noticed that the Sears-sold Silvertone models (with the '70s logo) from '70 and '71 (this has a '70 date stamp inside) seem to have ply birch as opposed to the Harmony/Stella versions of the same thing which tend to still have the solid birch as seen in the '60s during the same years.

Is this bad? Well, heck no! It still sounds largely the same as the older models but it's a little brighter, chimier, and punchier but still has that woody clunk and chunk. It's also more durable and functional -- especially if you plan to take a guitar like this all over the place and thump on it, Leadbelly-style.

Post-repairs, it's been stable in service, plays great, and is ready to serve. The giant neck and flat fretboard may be a turnoff if you're not into, erm -- a classical feel? -- but I don't mind the wide spacing and style when using these guitars in the open tunings they're suited-for. I gauged the strings up a notch vs my normal 46w-10 set so that it can handle detuning a bit with the set that's on it.

Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, new rosewood fully-compensated bridge, new bone nut, cleaning, and setup.

• Weight: 4 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/8"
• Nut width: 2
• Neck shape: medium-big D
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 15 1/4"
• Body depth: 3 3/4"
• Top wood: birch (possibly ply)
• Back & sides wood: birch (possibly ply)
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood, fully-compensated
• Fretboard: ebonized maple or similar
• Neck wood: poplar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 24w/48w, 16/38w, 11/28w, 8/22w, 14/14, 10/10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: it's in pretty good shape for its age but does show minor usewear, scuffs, small dings, and scratches, and whatnot throughout the body and neck. The bridge, nut, and truss rod cover are replacements.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: MM