H45 - Stratotone Mars
Electric hollowbody - Sunburst
Production year(s) : 1958-1965 (other years possible, not verified)

Other brands : H45 Stratotone Mars was also sold as Airline 8396 - 7206 | Alden 9908 hollowbody | Holiday 8396 | Silvertone 1326

1 pickup. Early models (58-59) had the "long tail Y" on the headstock logo. Then from 1962 were added black line and atomic logo on the pickguard.

Show text from the catalogs (1)

| Show original prices (3)

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Scale

24"1/4

615 mm

16 comments | Add your comment !

• john l. - 2006-03-28
  I have the Alden version of the h45 mars and it is a great little guitar! It plays and stays in tune very nicely and the sound is unreal!! I have gigged with it and was very pleased. I recomend it. (get one before they go up in price!!) John
• hurricane pat - 2006-10-28
  just did our annual trip to Ohio,visited the thrift store,behind the showcase layed an H45,i asked to see it thinking it surely had been sold,she handed it over and i said,i'll buy it,8 bucks marked on it! That will be 6.40 cents,it was reduced ! I just had the pick guard off,she's marked on the inner-1323H46...FL-59,not sure what the FL stands for. Anyway,this was just what i needed!
• Mike Dill - 2007-02-04
  My father-in-law gave me one of these, a 1958, that he'd had sitting in a closet, that my wife used to play when she was a teenager. He said he'd picked it up for $25 when he was younger. It sounds great,I cleaned it up and set it up, and my wife loves playing it today, as it's a happy memory and just fun to play!
  mikeleedill@sbcglobal.net
• JcoreyC - 2007-04-15
  My father gave this guitar to me as a wedding present. He originally purchased it out of the Alden's catalog in 1964. He tinkered with it at some point. I replaced a tuning peg in to the original mount. It sat in the case for most of it's life. Lucky for me, he knew I would have it ready to play in no time. The finish and electronics are great. Fun to play and sounds great. He said it originally came with an amp that I'm always on the look out for. Fantastic addition to my collection.
• Jack - 2007-07-06
  I love mine! Simple controls, plays great, sounds great!! I know Harmony produced better models than the H45, but these are still excellent players.
• Sam_T - 2007-07-06
  H45 was the first electric guitar of Brian Jones (Rolling Stones). First Stones' single (Come On / I Want to Be Loved) was recorded using this guitar...
• 61ferrari - 2009-03-03
  I picked up one of these for $40 off the local C/L. It's the Holiday model. It's got an ORIGINAL "F-hole". There's no way it's not original. It's marked S-66-HM with MADE IN USA beneath. Easily visible through the "F-hole". Overspray inside from factory (through the "F-hole"). Plays fun. Pickup is great.
• Denny Lee Williams - 2009-08-30
  Hey I was wondering about an old H-45 I have it's got the fattest neck I've seen on any of the late 50's and up.Also the electronics are built on to the pick guard.Does anybody if these were the first version.I have went from having 13 to this one and will probably keep it for my couch guitar and song writing buddy. DLW Nashville TN
• fran cary n.c. - 2009-10-12
  I have an h45 have owned it about 40yrs.very good sounding,and fun to play.
• Brock - 2010-04-02
  Picked one up this past fall. It was covered in smoke grime and the rosewood bridge was cracked but the sound was just what I was looking for. I replaced the bridge with a tune-o-matic style which has helped hugely with the intonation, got the smoke residue buffed off, and replaced the pots.
  The sound is incredible, I love it. They just don't make them like they used to. The pick-up is just so unique sounding...such character and lots of room to dig in to it and get so many different sounds. These old Harmony's are a tremendous value.
• Gee-ko - 2010-04-11
  This was the very first guitarI ever had. I learned on it. I sold it to buy my cousin's enormous Kay Swingmaster. It was a great guitar with a tiny neck and I sure wish I still had it!
• taylor - 2010-11-08
  i bought one one of these about a year and a half ago from a vintage shop in utah. best 350 bucks i ever spent. i own several guitars and basses and i'd have to say its my favorite piece i've ever owned
• dan n - 2010-12-03
  i recently aquired a 1964 h 45 in nearly mint condition for $300. it is a real gem. slick neck, great tone and very pretty. i like the neck better than my strat. it's the only guitar that i play since aquiring it.
• Tyler K. - 2010-12-03
  I've owned my H45 since 1959, it was my first guitar. I play it better than my Stratocaster. Still tunes and sounds great.
• Russell St George - 2011-08-07
  I acquired one from a garbage man, it was all moldy from sitting in a basement I took it all apart and cleaned it it looks like it was never played not a scratch on it . I play it every once in a while it sounds and plays fantastic stays in tune. great for blues.
• PlastikAminal - 2011-08-29
  I have one being sent to me from Cinci... I cannot wait! My best friends dad has an old Harmony Archtop and there's just something about it that I cant help but write riffs! I have been wanting one of these for about 15 years...