53 Harmony Tenor

[MikeEdgerton]

If you're talking about the picture in the first post it's a DeArmond.

[AndyV]

Not sure, but looks like a Rythm Chief 1100. He scored!

[ajh]

If you are referring to the original picture, I looked into the DeArmonds at the time and it was a "Guitar Mike" with a 53 stamp on the body. I think the whole works wound up with Jake Wildwood on a trade....but am not positive. I loved the sound of it plugged in, but the scale just didn't work for me as I prefer the old Regal 21" scale. That was a nice tenor.

[AndyV]

If you are referring to the original picture, I looked into the DeArmonds at the time and it was a "Guitar Mike" with a 53 stamp on the body. I think the whole works wound up with Jake Wildwood on a trade....but am not positive. I loved the sound of it plugged in, but the scale just didn't work for me as I prefer the old Regal 21" scale. That was a nice tenor.

I just learned that Harmony referred to the 21" scale of the 1502 as "amateur scale".

I'm fine with 21 to 23, but the 25" scale of my Paul Beard 4-string is too much reach.

[Irénée]

Hello !
Some years ago, I had had one with 5 strings...
... and restaure it conscienciousely
The span of the musical possibilities was larger than an ordinary 4 strings

It was wonderful

You will find some pictures below
, , , , ,

I tuned it in CGDAE or GDAEB with Grover tuners


... and Mandocello string from D'Addario...


... but lighter gauges are also possible (suitable) especially the 150 New Standard (NST) from John Pearse http://www.jpstrings.com/brstring.htm

I have sold it because as Mandolinist (on all kind and sizes mandolins) it was hard for me to play with a correct "tremolo" on single string, and the size of the body was too big for me in classic orchestra executions...
But the sound was very good in volume and tone...
Sometimes, I regret

[Verne Andru]

That looks like a beaut, Irenee. Spruce top instead of birch and there is enough string spacing to stuff a fifth string in there, so it must have played very well.

[AndyV]

That looks like a beaut, Irenee. Spruce top instead of birch and there is enough string spacing to stuff a fifth string in there, so it must have played very well.

That's a birch top with faux grain finish. Some models had spruce tops, pressed like the birch, and some were carved.

[Irénée]

... In fact it has a real birch top with a "corporate professional false spruce painting"... But the result was very "honorable" regarding the quality of tone and volume

[AndyV]

This Harmony built Orpheum has a pressed spruce top. (It should have a "carved top" stamp if carved, which I don't see.) spruce top.