 H54/1 - Rocket
Electric hollowbody - Redburst
Production year(s) : 1968-1972 (other years possible, not verified)
2 pickups - Double cutaway. It looks like some late models may have rectangular pearlette block markers instead of dots on fretboard, as well as triple binding.
 32 images in database
mouse over image for file name - click to enlarge 
23 comments | Add your comment ! - tomtom - 2007-04-28
I have what I believe to be one of these, but it does not say harmony on the pick guard. It could be a replacement guard? I can make out 1969 on the inside of body. - Chris Jack - 2007-11-15
Are you sure it just hasn't worn off? - Ian - 2009-06-02
I bought my Red Rocket off a friend in high school for $90. He had just bought himself a new Telecaster and wanted to recoup some of the cost. I still have it. The pick guard broke, but I still have the pieces and the original hardware. This is very cool guitar. - Darrell A. - 2009-12-28
I got my Rocket a few years ago. Pickguard was gone(of course). But I made a repro pickguard that looks original. I put new modern retro tuners and strap buttons-that's all. The pickups and wire were good and it has a sound that is so cool. - Marc - 2011-04-05
I bought my H54/1, in its origional case and seemingly unplayed about 15 years ago. Have played it out for years in bands and love how it plays (my luthier friend did the set-up) and sounds. These were, in my opinion, one of the finest values in guitars - ever!! Love the site, thanks! - Donato - 2011-04-20
Though you say the production years were from 1968 through 1971, My red Rocket says S-72M on the inside body which leads me to believe that it is a 1972. . . serial # 5629H54-1. I saw this Guitar being sold on Bleeker St, Greenwich Village N.Y.C. for $900.00, and it was not half as mint as the one I own. I found mine at a second hand consignment store in N.J. and paid a whole $15.00 for it!!! I guess we all get lucky once in a while, they obviously had d no idea what they were selling me. I think they thought it was a toy??? Oh well. . . - JT - 2011-04-23
My H54-1: FS70wf #3740 probably a 9 + out of 10 all original,just some light scratches and some wear at the top of the neck from the case. - Auriemma - 2011-06-19
I just bagged one off of ebay.....it'll be here in a week......stay tuned......we all know there's nothing like the rocket....everything about this guitar is rock & roll. - Ernie - 2012-06-13
I recently got one of these on EBay. Very decent condition for the age. Action adjusted up very well. The back of the body looks like it went through the war. The front is almost flawless.
I have always been amazed by the quality of sound from the DeAmond pickups. The range from
deep bass for rythm (tone turned off completely )to a sharp tele-like bite (tone on full) is amazing. There is also a good threshhold of adjustment for anything in between ( a warm jazzlike lead for example).There is nothing quite like these Harmonys. I also have a Silhouette. ( see my comments under Silhouette section ).
- Alex - 2012-09-25
I have a Harmony H54-1 Rocket 69 years and I bought my father left after his death, this new love her and need to sell I am in Mexico in Leon Guananjuato, if someone wanted to see it sent him photographs of the price? they propose? my mail gplata@thbajio.com.mx am alejandro silver. - Garagefreak - 2012-12-23
I've got one, a 68' in near mint shape. Pickups sound great and the neck is super. Nails the early kinks sound. I love it! - savageblues - 2013-04-01
My daughter (16 yrs at the time) wanted to trade in her Tele for a cool vintage guitar. She found one of these. It has a cool vibe. I was surprised how good the pick-ups sound. The guitar has a slightly flimsy feel to it. - Seaners - 2013-06-11
I found my 72 Rocket at an acoustic shop downtown. I love Harmoney guitars so I traded my Ibenez for it and have zero remorse. It's missing it's pick guard (of course) but everything is original and in great condition, just one or two dents. Sounds great through my amp! - donC - 2015-01-02
i have a 1969 54-1 in near mint condition plays great. any idea what it's worth? - Ian - 2015-03-23
donC, check eBay. That's probably the best indicator of what they're worth. - ST JAMES - 2015-06-28
For 40 Plus years I have been chasing that 50s tone for,an LP that I want to have that sound of the early ELectric Blues . In that past couple months I picked up a 57 ESPANADA, TWO BOBKATS, a STRATATONE, and most recent a MINT 66 H-54 this one made mid year has the trapeze,the new MOUSTACHE Pick ups n a adjustable truss Rod.
Ina beautiful RED BURST, with a couple of 50 ,s amp a Magnatone Twilighter n a Fender Deluxe and all those year of trying to find that tone in higher endGibsonmand other brands, all the while it was hiding in the lower end B Brands that I must say I was to much of a Snob to think they would work for me,
I,m now working on my last LP The BEST OF CHESS and with the gear,and proper band mates I'm hoping to bring back the rawness that once exsisted in early Electric Blues.
these r not just great guitars but excellent investments, as a guitar player I gotta tell ya unload on of your ax,s worth about a grand n get yourself,one of these b Brands.... U will be happy U did...James - DaveG - 2016-03-29
A friend, since passed away, approached me while on break at a gig he as playing and said "Man, I have a guitar for you. You need this guitar. How can I get it to you?" Some months went by and I finally hooked up with him to get it. I asked him how much? "Nothing" "No, man, I have to give you something..." "How about 50 bucks?" "Well, alright, I'll take it..." he said.
That's how I got my '69 Rocket! The plastic pickup mounts were collapsing and disintegrating, so I had a handy friend make new ones out of dark red stained wood (really tightened up the sound...). The front mount tremelo was of course pulling away, so I got a Bigsby.
Now it is a rock and roll machine. I play it all the time in my '60s band and it totally nails the early Stones and Kinks sound through my Vox.
Thanks Buck. You were right, I did need this guitar! - DaveG - 2016-03-30
After I posted my "story" yesterday I was playing my Rocket and looked inside at the serial#.
Though it says S-69 2792H54-1, indicating it's an H54, it has the cutout out for and, as mentioned, had the original Harmony surface-mount whammy. (Which I replaced with a Bigsby, covering over the gaping hole!) So it was in fact an H56-1. Odd, eh? - chris - 2016-08-08
If id known what i know now id have never gotten rid of my h54 1.best playing guitar i ever owned along with my mercury amp.beats anything on the market today. - Frank - 2018-01-13
I bought one from 1971 in a shop in France today for 690 euros. Hard to read the year but we r guessing it's 71.
It has the black square for the pickup switch.
Plays and feels so good and the inside smells like church incense :)
Amazing guitar - Davidnup - 2018-11-13
I can make more customers for your
business without ripping your pocket
I Can Contact for more details?
David - mayanSeF - 2019-06-25
Did you hear about the revolutionary product that changed the rules of learning? - DavidSeF - 2019-08-21
I have a product that is going to change history Could you be interested in collaborating?
|
