 H1214 - Archtone
Acoustic archtop - Blonde ivory, faux flame
Production year(s) : 1948-1964 (other years possible, not verified)
Ivory painted with faux-flame. All birch body (solid woods).
 76 images in database
mouse over image for file name - click to enlarge 
| Top wood | Birch
| | Body wood | Birch
| All solid woods
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34 comments | Add your comment ! - SJW 46 - 2007-10-29
I just bought one of these in Seattle, accoustic only. It is in nearly perfect condition and plays great and loud. I assume it is an early one because it does not say that it has a steel reinforced neck on the headstock but the neck is still straight and flat. BR - SJW46 - Norm B - 2008-02-11
I have a near perfect 1958 H1214. Cool guitar! - getrocks - 2008-07-01
I bought mine in 1987 at a garage sale. Best $12 I ever spent! - Sam - 2008-08-04
I bought a 1214 in good condition at an auction. It says F-48 inside (Fall 1948?). Needs a new bridge and strings, and frets cleaned up. - strngbnd - 2008-11-15
I found one at a Fla flea market. Was fallind apart as ALL of the glue joints had failed. after total dis and re assembly, I fell in love with it. V neck, no rod, as big as a baseball bat and the resonance of a cigar box but... go figure. I'm a 40 year player and do know the value of a big $$ guitar, but just can't put down the American Cheeze. - shorty - 2009-01-10
I restored mine. sunbursted it, gibson copy trusrod, new ebony board, frets. I also fitted ivoroyd binding before rifinish. This now is a very playable guitar. These works had to be carried out because of the condition I got it. ps. a piece of me in an old gitar. love it. - Tarantulamusic1 - 2009-02-06
I have what looks like the pics on the H1214 but the numbers inside say 413H1215 ? - François (webmaster) - 2009-02-07
Tarantula, H1214 and H1215 were same guitars built on the same line, with different finishes. This imprecison in stamps is common. Please read the FAQ. - Jim in Indiana - 2009-03-02
Thanks so very much for posting the pictures of the 1954 Harmony H1214. This was my very first guitar when I was 13. When I finally thought to search for pictures of it, how delighted I was to actually find them!! You made my day. Thanks again!
Jim - bharwell - 2009-10-04
I've got what appears to be a blond H1214 but the stamped number inside indicates H1213. - Ragu - 2009-10-23
I was listlessly groping thru the same old axes in a very nice shop in Ottawa Kansas, (great shop down to earth people) and the tech says look what I have in the back! My eyes were open wide and I kissed it and purchased it. A true H1214, excellent condition 9.5 I I would say. very close to my first silvertone 50s to 60s model black with white Painted letters and bindings. - Dave Y - 2010-02-04
My grand son plays guitar and made me curious about my old guitar in the back of the closet.
Made in 1957 and is in reasonably good condition. H1214 model.
I found it in a pawn shop located in Philadelphia and paid $22.00 for it in 1962 - Neil - 2010-05-09
This was my first guitar.. my grandpa gave one of these to me when I was seven years old. It's now in my collection, and although the most inexpensive, it holds the most sentimental value.
Now I finally know what it is ..
Thanks you! - TODD PARISH - 2010-08-01
I GOT THIS OLD (FL-59)MADE IN THE FALL OF 1959,MY GRANDPA BOUGHT THIS FOR MY DAD, IN 1960 SO HE COULD LEARN HOW TO PLAY,,SAT IN MY GRANDPAS ATTIC SINCE THEN,,HE LIVED TO BE A 100 AND WHEN WE CLEANED OUT THE ATTIC I WAS FLOORED HOW GOOD THE CONDITION WAS IN,,LIKE NEW STILL IN THE CASE, WITH ALL THE TAGS FROM SEARS,,PAID 29$ FOR IT BACK IN 60?? NEET PIECE OF FAMILY HISTORY,,I WILL KEEP IT TILL IM 100!!!! - Swamp Wizard - 2010-12-15
One of these was my first guitar. Me parents gave it to me in 1958 for Christmas. I put light gauge strings on it and still have it stored away. It was a good first guitar. Good old friend. - Mike - 2011-01-13
I have an archtop guitar that looks like the Harmony archtops pictured...but it is stamped as Sylvia and the serial number is L9871. I need help to identify. - François (webmaster) - 2011-01-13
Mike, a serial beginnning with an "L" is typical for a guitar made by Kay, not Harmony. - Steve - 2011-06-16
I think the guitar I have here with me is a H1214 alright, perhaps about 1957. I see nothing inside but the letters "UVC" stamped there on the back. I do need one little screw for one tuning shaft and gear, but have not found one so far. As soon as I find the right screw I can string it up and see how it sounds. - willyman - 2011-07-14
have a 1214,dates to may 1959'orig owner passed ,his son gave to me,orig owner had done a cutout for a pickup,at the edge of the bridge,was in a very wet basement for many years,got a SD pickup for it,going to make a dobro out of her,plays well,but thr hole is awful - Dave C - Ontario Canada - 2011-07-28
When my Father pasted in 1997 his guitar an Archtone Blonde Ivory faux flame guitar(we called it the "yellow guitar"..hey we were young)became something that leaned against a wall first up stairs in the homestead, then gradually in the basement. It never seen any use from myself or my siblings as we all had what we considered much better guitars..Takaminie...Gibson...fender... Ovation...the Harmony name just didn't mean much. Gradually after my Mom pasted the house was sold and when cleaning out the stuff I took the guitar home with me.
It's been collecting dust leaning in a corner at my home. It's funny although I don't use this guitar (it has not been strung since my Dad pasted) I can't part with it. It was a very important piece of my childhood. I remember vividly my father playing his guitar in the house on Tuesday nights, as this was Bingo night for my Mom... this may sound silly to some, but the music from this instrument and my father's voice were like something I could never explain. But this directly influenced me to learn to play guitar and sing in my later teen years. I've been forunate enough to have had my music nights too with my small children as they grew up, they played with their toys on the floor as I sung and played while their Mom was out with her girlfriends(history repeating).
I'm so glad I happened on this website as I now know what the model of my Dad's guitar is it's a H1214 it does not have a truss rod so I'm thinking it's from the earlier 1950's also there are photos of my Dad with his guitar dating around 1955. I'm almost sure that my Dad mentioned he purchased it at Simpson - Sears here in Canada. I 've been thinking of taking it to a guitar luthier here in my local area to see if it's worth making playable again. I guess the reality is that a $30 guitar may never sound as good as it did when I was a child, my father's wonderful singing voice and his "Yellow Harmony" guitar filling room with beautiful music. - Jimmyj - 2011-12-22
Brought home a beautiful Harmony archtop,serial #247H1214
Mint condition with the original case.
She is on my lap as I type this.
Action is a little high(not much) certainly playable, going to be good for slide.
I am looking forward to enjoying many hours getting to know her. - Injun Jon - 2012-12-16
I found one of these at an esteate sale a few months back. Glue joints were coming apart,top braces were loose,top was caving inat bridge. After a little cleanup re-gluing and new strings I have fallen in love with this cool old guitar. The finish is really good, the old neck is thick but straight and plays great. I love the sound - - pB - 2014-08-12
Another "first guitar" purchase here! Traded about $5 for it at a barn sale when I was 11. Must be pretty sturdy instruments, as it survived the first few years with me. Haven't seen another one in person all of these years. I think one has a cameo in a Nirvana video. Now after years of too much money on probably too many guitar purchases I find out it's by far the most "vintage" one I've ever owned! Ha! Going to dust it off right now... - Boone - 2014-11-14
I just looked at a 1214 without a visible date stamp inside. It looks identical to the guitar in the first two pics, and has the same stamps as picture 20 (back of guitar removed). Any idea on a year range this could be? Does not have a truss rod, nice v shaped neck, no Harmony logo on the pick guard... Much different feel than my '66 h1215.
Top and bottom are coming unglued, would be a project guitar but feels like it could be a nice player once fixed up... Would really like to pin point a year though! Thanks in advance!
- John T. - 2017-01-13
I have a 1965 with an odd color scheme that looks factory painted. Best guitar I've had. - Terry M. - 2017-01-15
I have a 65 H1214 that is in what I would call tobacco burst. Given to me by my grandpa and what I learned in. Still get it out and strum a bit. Wish I could get the pickguard and hardware for it. - J.W. Bovine - 2017-10-01
I noticed a pic on this website of an Archtone in the case with some kind of aftermarket pickup installed on it. Does anybody know what kind of pickup that is? I'd like to install some kind of pickup on my Archtone, but I don't want to cut any holes in the top. The pickup in that picture is mounted on a bracket, and it looks like it could be installed without having to do much cutting or drilling. Anybody know what kind of pickup this is? Thanks! - D Blatz - 2017-11-23
I bought a 1952 Harmony H1214 last year and am the second owner. First owner (92) said he bought it new for about $25 from a music store in Altona Mb. So cool. - DM1975 - 2018-01-01
I have one from 1957. It was passed down to me from my Great Uncle in the early 80’s. I learned how to play on it and used it near daily until 1993 when I left home for military service. I have since retrieved it from my family home and had it restored to a more playable condition. The glue was failing in several spots, the action needed adjusting, and frets leveled, to name a few things that were fixed. Now it plays like a dream. I just need to find a pick guard and hardware for it - John T - 2018-02-05
I found one in a waste container. Glad I found this website to identify it. Its in great condition. Anyone know the value of one of these now? - Noah B - 2018-03-13
I bought one of these last summer it's an awesome guitar love it! - Sean K - 2018-07-09
Just picked up a 1951 H1214 for $25. Some separation on the back of body but very fixable. Looking forward to getting it back into shape! - Robert - 2018-08-08
Hello. Can anyone give me the measurements of the Harmony H1214 guitar.
Overall length, body width, body depth.
Thank you - Loren Lavalley - 2020-08-18
Is possible to DIY a blonde faux flame finish on an H1214?
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