Harmony vintage ukes...

UkerDanno · Apr 9, 2013

Which Harmony ukes are good and/or collectible? I bid a Roy Smeck last week, it was pretty nice, but went for about twice what I was willing to pay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950s-60s-V...ade-Harmony-ChicagoW-Case-XLINT-/130879181942

I'm interested in Harmony because I owned a Harmony H22 bass back in the 60's. Thought about taking up bass a couple years ago and searched for one like I use to have and they were expensive! Nora Jones' bass player uses one like I use to have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Harmony-H22-Bass-/161002983497?pt=Guitar&hash=item257c869049

Also, what about Supertone? are they made by Harmony?

Newportlocal · Apr 9, 2013

Your first link sold for $92 and you said twice what you were willing to pay, and the second link was over $1000.
The Harmony ukulele that has always caught my eye is the Roy Smeck Vita Uke. I wish I had bought one a number of years back when I had the opportunity before the uke craze inflated prices. I would still like one. Sometimes people will still get a good deal on one, and I think they are quite collectible.

kenikas · Apr 9, 2013

Don't know how collectible they are but I have a 50's Harmony poplar with the painted on binding, and it plays and sounds pretty good in D tuning. It was given to me by a good friend so I don't ever plan to sell it. I also have a Roy Smeck that also plays quite nicely in C tuning. I think the laminate poplar on the Harmony really benefits from the higher tuning, it's a little muted in C. Mine both have the molded finger boards so they're probably not real collector items, but it doesn't bother me they're fun to play.

UKEonomics · Apr 9, 2013

Newportlocal said:
Your first link sold for $92 and you said twice what you were willing to pay, and the second link was over $1000.
The Harmony ukulele that has always caught my eye is the Roy Smeck Vita Uke. I wish I had bought one a number of years back when I had the opportunity before the uke craze inflated prices. I would still like one. Sometimes people will still get a good deal on one, and I think they are quite collectible.

here here! Those Vitas are pretty sweet.

UkerDanno · Apr 9, 2013

is the Vita a special Roy Smeck edition? What about Supertones?

TheCraftedCow · Apr 9, 2013

Is it just the name or the shape you want? Both? If that's what you want there is no reason to tell you of someone who had the opportunity to play a Harmony Smeck and a Marc Schoenberger Ukiyo Smeck. Both the player and the music store owner, who had them both on consignment , agreed the Ukiyo was better built and had better sound.

UkerDanno · Apr 9, 2013

I'm assuming this is the Ukiyo Vita Smeck as mentioned above...

Nothing like a Harmony! And sell for $900! I do like the traditional shape and was just looking at something vintage and affordable for me that is still playable.

The Big Kahuna · Apr 9, 2013

I had a pink plastic Maccaferri Uke with pink strings and pictures of the beatles on the front when I was a kid. I had no idea what it was, being 4 years old. I think I used it as a cricket bat. Please don't tell me what it'd be worth these days.

David Newton · Apr 9, 2013

$92 for the Smeck with a plastic fretboard is about the limit, isn't it?
Now a Vita-Uke can be worth $900 depending on condition, and I mean "worth it" in the playing and sounding great way.

BlueLatitude · Apr 9, 2013

I recently got a Harmony Vita uke and just love it.

Newportlocal · Apr 9, 2013

UkerDan said:
I'm assuming this is the Ukiyo Vita Smeck as mentioned above...
View attachment 51573

Nothing like a Harmony! And sell for $900! I do like the traditional shape and was just looking at something vintage and affordable for me that is still playable.

The one I was referring to was the original Harmony Roy Smeck Vita Uke not a ukiyo or ohana replica. I have seen some of the originals go for $300-400 if your timing is right, but yes, they can get quite pricey for originals.

Newportlocal · Apr 9, 2013

BlueLatitude said:
I recently got a Harmony Vita uke and just love it.

Congratulations!!

dhoenisch · Apr 9, 2013

I'm a self-proclaimed Harmony nut, and have a Harmony in each kind of instrument. I have both a '50's solid mahogany baritone and a '50's solid mahogany soprano with a wood fingerboard. Their mahogany ukes sound great. I love them both and wouldn't give either of them up. One criteria of mine with a Harmony uke is that it does NOT have the plastic fingerboard. I've always hated them.

Harmony instruments have more of a cult following, but I think they are great instruments.

Dan

Harmony vintage ukes...

UkerDanno

Well-known member

Newportlocal

Well-known member

kenikas

Well-known member

UKEonomics

Well-known member

UkerDanno

Well-known member

TheCraftedCow

Well-known member

UkerDanno

Well-known member

The Big Kahuna

Well-known member

David Newton

Well-known member

BlueLatitude

Well-known member

Newportlocal

Well-known member

Newportlocal

Well-known member

dhoenisch

Guest

Similar threads