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Thread: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Hi all,
    I'm trying to find some information about my H35.
    I've got serial number and I'd like to know the construction year.

    Thank you
    Lino

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Harmony did not put serial numbers in their instrument. They used a date code on them that sometimes is missing. Post a picture and look inside for a number like F68 or S72. That might be in a box or an oval and you may need to shine a flashlight inside to see it. The long number you have is a model number and possibly a batch number.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  3. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    If it looks like this one it's circa 1967 or so. They only made them for a few years.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. #4

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Hi Mike,
    thank you very much for the quick reply.
    I'll post a picture later, all I can see is this code inside : 9315H835 and it's printed directly on wood (no box or oval).

    I'll try to make some good pictures and post them.

    Thank you for now.

    Lino

  5. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    It would be a separate number if it's there.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  6. #6
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    If the headstock logo is die-cut out of a black plastic overlay with white underneath, it's US-made, pre-1972. If the logo is printed in white on top of the black plastic overlay, it's Japan-made, 1972 or later. Or thereabouts.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

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  7. #7

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Hi guys,
    here's some photos :

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    hope you can see them correctly.
    I'll try to take other details later...

    Lino
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  8. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    That one would be Japanese. There is actually one other trait that differentiates them. This is an American made model.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  9. #9
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Which other trait do you have in mind, Mike? I can see that the tuners are different. The American one has those Grovers with the super-high gear ratio and the Japanese one has, well, something else.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

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  10. #10

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    So are the Hamony writing and the tuners the difference between American and Japanese?

  11. #11
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Mike, aren't there a few batwings that also have a logo on the pickguard?
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  12. #12

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    I also saw on ebay some models with logo on pickguard.

  13. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    I think the Japanese models had adjustable truss rods, the American models didn't, at least I've never seen one with one.

    The Grover tuners on the American with the tiny little teeth were unique to the American built models as well. I recall seeing the logo on the pickguard as well but can't recall where.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  14. #14

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Mike, so you think my H35 is Japanese?

  15. #15

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Hi Guys,
    I'd like to share with you this information form Gruhn Guitars :

    "The Harmony H35 came out in <late 1968,1969-1970>
    Later named the H835 From 1971-1976.
    Some were Japanese made and some were American made.
    This was a cool budget mandolin that was sold in department stores and
    Catalog stores here in the USA, as other places.
    These mandolins in nice clean condition range from $300.00-500.00USD."

  16. #16

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    I have a Batwing that I just purchased.It has the small machine heads..very stiff..adjustable truss rod..die cut out logo on the headstock and also on the pickguard. Inside in large font is stamped 2871H35 .Then below it is stamped 9-69 (then 2 letters..possibly JC) ..and underneath this in small font is "made in the usa" stamped,plus what looks like biro handwritten is F.

  17. #17
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by davidb1 View Post
    I have a Batwing that I just purchased.It has the small machine heads..very stiff..adjustable truss rod..die cut out logo on the headstock and also on the pickguard. Inside in large font is stamped 2871H35 .Then below it is stamped 9-69 (then 2 letters..possibly JC) ..and underneath this in small font is "made in the usa" stamped,plus what looks like biro handwritten is F.
    Could that possibly be S-69? Post a picture if you can.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  18. #18
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by linomuoio View Post
    Mike, so you think my H35 is Japanese?
    It has the Japanese tuners and the truss rod so I believe it is. Unless Harmony had a place in time where they were mixing sourced parts then I think this is Japanese. I'd like to see a picture of the mandolin with the Made in USA stamped inside that Davidb1 has. That might might give us a clue. The made in Japan instruments of this era generally had a peel off label applied to the back of the headstock that said made in Japan. Most of us peeled those labels off.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  19. #19
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    OK, there apparently was a point where the US made Harmony Batwing had an adjustable truss rod. Here is an H8025 that has the Grover high ratio tuners (or low ratio depending on how you look at it) and a truss rod cover. This looks like the US made finish.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  20. #20
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Well, I have a Batwing electric in the house right now stamped "F-73M MADE IN U.S.A." It has replacement tuners, but I have a spare set of those Grovers and am thinking about switching. Has a truss rod cover and the later logo. Guess we need more research about when production moved to Japan.

    Yesterday there was a nice clean Batwing electric on the Independence, Mo. Craigslist, die-cut headstock logo, plus the logo on the pickguard, in an original case, STILL HAD THE HANG TAG, and the seller only wanted $200. Already gone ... local sales only ...
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  21. #21
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Years ago I had one of the imported models that I think had a plat on the back instead of the three screws. By the way, I have a set of those tuners new in the box. I also have a Harmony A carcass from the 70's with a set on them.

    I'm not shocked someone replaced the tuners
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  22. #22

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    Mike,you are correct. S-69.I will try to post some pix..less than stellar photos though I am afraid.Click image for larger version. 

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  23. #23

    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    And the last one...best dBClick image for larger version. 

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  24. #24
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    S-69 dates it to the Second Half of 1969.

    And there is the harmony logo on the pickguard.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  25. #25
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Information about Harmony H35 Electric Mandolin

    linomuoio, can you post a picture of the back of your mandolin headstock? Everything about your mandolin except the color and the tuners looks like a USA made mandolin. Were the tuners replaced? Are there extra screw holes there?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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