H53/1 - Rocket

1 pickup - Double cutaway - H53 is the earlier single cutaway model

Show text from the catalogs (2)

| Show original prices (3)

4 images in database
mouse over image for file name - click to enlarge

Scale

24"1/4

615 mm

Related to this model

• Video
  • The Low Anthem "Smart Flesh" - H53/1 live 6.6.09 at The Thing In The Spring
  
  

• Stodgy Waters - 2007-08-16
  I purchased a single pick-up double cutaway two years ago on E-Bay for approximately $225. About $100 for a professional set, a new nut, up and a once over by a renowned luthier and I have a guitar which I feel has better tone, sustain and action than a 335. I play through a '71 Fender Super Reverb and find a beautiful jazzy tone when the tone nob is at 50% and plenty of grit when desired by raising the tone just slightly. For a single pick up model it still has a lot of flexibility and the pick up is certainly hot and sensitive. I should let you know re: production years, I have dated mine as a 1972 as dated on the back of the Dearmond pick up and on the pots. Although the stamp in the f-hole on the upper bout indicates a production year Fall 1971. I would assume body produced late '71 with final production on it completed early 1972
• Don - 2007-10-13
  My dad bought me my Harmony Rocket (H53/1) when I wanted to learn to play guitar as a young boy. I remember that it cost $100. I liked it because it was my favorite color, red. The hard guitar case was extra. I took lessons at the Music Center in Mt. Clemens, MI for about two years. My dad gave me a ride to go to my guitar lesson every Tuesday night. I stopped taking lessons at the Music Center when we moved away. I still have that guitar to this day in mint condition. It has a nice tone for a beginner guitar and I still play it on occasion to this day.
• Sams5000 - 2008-07-08
  I recently acquired one of these in nearly perfect condition (dated June 16, 1970 on the pickup). It plays well and sounds decent considering it was designed to be a beginners guitar. I wouldn't compare it's playability or tone to my Gibsons from the same era. The frets are too small (tiny frets cause ones fingers to stop at the fretboard before the string makes good contact with the fret) to be taken too seriously, the components and materials are obviously low cost, and the neck profile is along the lines of a "wide-fat", which is not my preference. However, I love it for what it is, and am proud to have it. I remember passing on a 2 pickup one of these in 1968, because for an extra hundred dollars I could buy a brand new Telecaster. I saved up and did just that; not a bad decision for an 8th grader! The Tele's still a main axe, along with a '62 ES345 and a Jap. Strat, but I'm definitely going to incorporate the H53/1 into the arsenal. I plan to raise the action and put heavier strings on it, and if the neck stays straight, use it for slide.
• Rob Millis - 2008-09-02
  My H53/1 turned up today. Love it. Enjoying the single neck pickup - where Gibson "juniors" have a bridge pickup and are great rockers, this is a blues instrument with minimal frills.
• Diego Gomes (VA) - 2009-02-10
  I found mine at a Thrift Store. I used to work next door at my stepdad's dollar store, and I saw this hard case that looked like an acoustic case... I asked if there was a guitar in there or if it was just a case. Turns out it was a 1969 H53/1 - Rocket and an electric tuner in the compartment. I asked how much. The guy said: 12 Bucks. Yes, TWELVE DOLLARS. I obviously bough it. Or should I say "stole it" for $12.
  It's got one little nick on in, but otherwise it's perfect...
• Gary Shaine - 2009-09-08
  I just picked up one of these at a flea market just yesterday & love it so far. It's in great shape & plays beautifully. I can't wait to get some new strings on it & plug it in! Only thing wrong is that it's missing a pickguard, which I intend on getting one asap! I'm digging this thing!!
• Navy Guy - 2009-10-15
  I have a red double cutaway, H53-1 and although the body has damage around the plug connection (probably dropped on this end) it still plays great with fantastic action and a warm tone for an "inexpensive" mass produced guitar, it definitely a Blues man guitar, gotta love it.
• budha - 2009-11-19
  have had one for about 6 months now...I pusually have it out as one of my easy to reach/play guitars.Its in great condition...I had the pick off 3 Rockets...a 3 pickup,..a 2 pickup with bigsby but this was the only h53/1..it not only looked better but it was also a later/newer model...it played much better than the other 2...I could have picked up the bigsby Rocket for $50 more and the 3 pickup for $100 more,...but...the h53/1 was a much better player.I was at a guitar show in S.F. and there were more than 10 various models for more $$ ..but...again..this one was the best..keep puttinng up for salee on c.list,..until a friend comes by and plkays itt and they all say "great guitar, a Harmony?Huh??"so I took it off sell list!!sounds great,fun guitar..it could usee jumbo frets ..but..yhe small frets give it thay funky vintage feel and sound..Gotta love um...Harmony Rocket h-53/1s!!Oh yeah I paid $275 in excellent,slightly played condition!!
• Ben - 2011-06-18
  i just got this guitar from my grandpas who bought it and never yoused it its a great guitar and a classic
• KauaiBoy - 2011-06-25
  I bought my H53-1 in 1976 for $75 second hand, learned to play on it and it would be the one thing I would take if on a deserted island. It has outlasted all the women in my life which is also why it makes a perfect blues guitar. The action of the fretboard made learning easy and helped in getting my pinkie finger involved in my playing early on. Its sound has always pleased my ears which is the reason I play. It is rough and durable and best of all "Made in U.S.A."
• Andy - 2012-04-20
  Wow! I took lessons at the Music Center in Mt. Clemens, and had a Harmony Rocket, too! I don't have it anymore, but I still play guitar a lot.
  I remember there was a little band that played once a week. Randy Smith and Frank Schraner from my Junior High School were in it.
  Anyway, two guys that worked there opened there own store, which has been pretty successful. Huber and Breese in Fraser. Randy Smith worked there for years.
• Billy Lee - 2012-07-29
  I have been buying stripped Harmony hollow bodies for years , I usually put Warmoth necks on them , Stratatones work well with Peavey Predator necks , a few pros play them & it is cost effective compared to restoring stripped husks , I have a stock H53-1 with a warmoth neck for serious playing ,& the origional neck can be bolted back on if desired . I have a few Museum quality harmonies ,I play ,& leave stock. I recently put a H-45 p/up on a Gibson L-4 , sounds great !
• Anthony Bowling - 2017-01-08
  I just bought a Harmony Vibrajet guitar and the stamp inside is 5-63 H then made in USA, also the name ED in a box. I cannot find this stamp anywhere online. Anyone know what this stamp means? Also I would like to take off the tremelo and see if i can replace the battery and repair but I am afraid of breaking the knobs, should i be worried about that or will they pull off without breaking. Thanks for any comments.
• Neooavake - 2019-11-09
  Здесь вы можете заказать копию любого сайта под ключ, недорого и качественно, при этом не тратя свое время на различные программы и фриланс-сервисы.
  
  Клонированию подлежат сайты как на конструкторах, так и на движках:
  - Tilda (Тильда)
  - Wix (Викс)
  - Joomla (Джумла)
  - Wordpress (Вордпресс)
  - Bitrix (Битрикс)
  и т.д.
  телефон 8-996-725-20-75 звоните пишите viber watsapp
  Копируются не только одностраничные сайты на подобии Landing Page, но и многостраничные. Создается полная копия сайта и настраиваются формы для отправки заявок и сообщений. Кроме того, подключается админка (админ панель), позволяющая редактировать код сайта, изменять текст, загружать изображения и документы.
  
  Здесь вы получите весь комплекс услуг по копированию, разработке и продвижению сайта в Яндексе и Google.
  
  Хотите узнать сколько стоит сделать копию сайта?
  напишите нам
  8-996-725-20-75 звоните пишите viber watsapp