1942 Encore Symphony (Harmony H906) Tailpiece Parlor Guitar

Overview: This wartime, Harmony-made guitar is similar to the venerable Stella H929 model but features a faux-woodgrain paintjob and a metal-saving, wooden tailpiece. It's a great-looking version of the generic Harmony student-level guitar and I haven't seen another like this one in the shop before, though a few pop-up online in other places. 


Interesting features: First of all, it's in pretty great shape for an old guy, with crisp stencil graphics and a body paintjob and sunburst that pops. Next, while its overall design and build may be very familiar to Harmony collectors and enthusiasts, there are details that are interesting -- it has Kluson-style tuners, for one, and a wooden tailpiece that's mounted/hithed with a single screw that runs into the endblock. Jose made a beautiful custom bridge for it, too, with a compensated bone saddle.


Repairs included: Jose gave it a neck reset, fret level/dress, fit side dots, made a new bridge for it, cleaned it up, and set it up.

  • Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
  • Scale length: 24 1/8"
  • Nut width: 1 3/4"
  • Neck shape: medium-big V
  • Board radius: flat
  • Depth at first fret: 1 1/16"
  • Depth at seventh fret: 1 1/8"
  • Body width: 13 1/4"
  • Body depth: 3 3/4"
  • Top wood: solid birch
  • Back & sides wood: solid birch
  • Bracing type: ladder
  • Bridge: maple with bon saddle
  • Fretboard: ebonized maple or pearwood
  • Neck wood: poplar
  • Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
  • String gauges: 50w-11
  • Neck relief: straight
  • Fret style: lower/narrow

Condition notes: It has some mild wear and tear throughout but is overall in great shape. There are a couple of tiny hairline cracks on the top hidden under the tailpiece but they're filled and in good order. There are scratches, scuffs, and small dings here and there throughout the finish but they're not distracting.


It comes with: Sorry, no case.


Consignor tag: MULK














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Comments

Nick R said…
Kluson made tuners for all the big firms pretty quickly after entering the market in 1936. Kluson actually helped Harmony's management to buy the company from Sears- which went through in 1941 and Harmony began using Kluson tuners in 1940 it is reckoned. Part of the deal was Kluson also took over Harmony's metal shop- probably because it had such big demand- then WW2 and metal shortages began- hence the riveted gears on this guitar and wooden tailpiece.
February 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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