The Harmony H 804: The Saga Begins

When I look back at most of my contributions to group text threads, I almost always cringe. My warped sense of humor doesn't always come through as I intended. I usually come away thinking that to at least one of the members of the group text I must've sounded like a dick. Or at the very least, dismissive of the seriousness of the topic.

This holds true of a recent thread I was an unwilling participant of whilst my good friends/members of my last band were discussing the serious and important topic of what guitar my wonderful friend Lance should buy next. Strat-style with HH pickups vs. HSH? Les Paul? Other details were debated. Compound radius? Floyd Rose? Deluxe Tele? Mexican vs. American made? It was all hanging out there for juicy, serious discussion. And what was my historic contribution? Here's a direct quote from my asshole face:

"I say go Jack White style, go into a couple pawn shops and get the cheapest weirdest beat up guitar you can find."

Hardly helpful. Rude? Maybe, but they would expect nothing less. And although my opinion wasn't helpful to Lance, it guided me as I strolled through the local antique mall supposedly looking for a pair of bedroom nightstands. It was then that I came upon a rack of used guitars in one of the booths. There was a Squier Tele. An Epiphone SG.  A  Squier Strat, of course. All priced ok, but nothing I was interested in and most certainly didn't need. Then I saw the faded white Harmony. Its tag read "$80. Plays." I put it down immediately and finished my lap around the perimeter of the store. I certainly didn't want or need another guitar. But a winter project for cold snowy Colorado? 

I circled back around and picked it up again. The neckplate said H 804. 

My pocket computer told me folks were selling them in good condition on Reverb for $250-$300. A sign at the booth said everything was 15% off. My own recent text interaction informed me I was required to take it home. 

So, $71.35 later I had yet another piece of shit to tinker with.

The Harmony H 804





Coming Soon: The Diagnosis

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