H54 - Rocket 2 pickup
Electric hollowbody - Sunburst then red in 1963
Production year(s) : 1959-1967 (other years possible, not verified)

Other brands : H54 Rocket 2 pickup was also sold as Airline 7252 | Airline 7282 | Holiday 9407

2 pickups - Single cutaway - H54/1 is the double cutaway later (1968) model. From 1966 "Golden Tone" pickups change to the "double mustache" version with adjustable polepieces screws, and necks have a trussrod.

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56 images in database
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Laminated body

Width	15"3/4	399 mm
Length	39"1/2	1003 mm
Body depth	2"	50 mm
Scale	24"1/4	615 mm
Neck at nut	1"3/4	44.4 mm
Neck at 12th	2"	49.3 mm

Related to this model

• Video
  • Demoing a sunburst H54 - Blindbacon youtube user is demoing his Rocket H54

• Hornet - 2006-01-29
  I got very lucky. Spotted My rocket in a junk shop window. Offered for sale by original owner(Woman) It was her first electric and she babied it. My Rocket is not red,its tabacco sunburst. It plays like it looks,a dream. As for value this guitar has its own sound and feel and should not be compared with other guitars and other brands. Rather it should be enjoyed for what it is, one fine guitar with its own sound.
• Sandman - 2007-02-24
  I bought a '65 H54 on a whim about a year ago on a well-known web-site.... Although I also have a '66 Tele and a '71 Les Paul which I love, I can't seem to lay down this Harmony! It looks so retro-cool (time-worn finish and playing wear doesn't bother me) and is light as a feather, and the sound of the old DeArmond pickups is irreplaceable. Love these old Harmonys!
• Pigboy Z - 2007-03-20
  I bought my double pickup cherry burst (beautiful color) Rocket last summer off the internet. Never having played one I wasen't sure what I was getting. But boy was I surprised! I can't put it down. I use it for a practice guitar at home and turn heads when I take it out for gigs. Its a bit unruley, tends to feedback until I find the sweet spot on volume and tone . After I get that dialed in I got a full spectum tone monster. Dark basses and bitey trebles.
• BabyGrand000 - 2007-05-14
  I from the states, but live in Sweden now, i had a friend bring over my Airline Rocket on a visit. He found it for $300 in a Chicago music shop. I loved this guitar immediately. It's got a nice chunky neck and, as a mostly acoustic player, i really loved the way it's hollow body resonated when strummed. I've had trouble with the intonation and upon bringing it to a local guitar repair guru, was told that it wouldn't be worth the money to do make any adjustments. I tried some heavier gauge strings and it was fine. Recently though, it fell out of a faulty gig bag as i ran after a bus and got it's but kicked by the asphalt. I think the intonation's been worse since this, but i don't know. I still love this guitar and wish i knew more about how to refurbish it better. Also looking for replacement parts if anyone's got any tips. The pickguard is pretty cracked and i need to replace the pick up selector switch (destroyed in drop) contactbabygrand@hotmail.com
• e33train - 2007-08-30
  I just received this guitar from my dad who had it in the garage for many years. He took it apart 30+ years ago for some strange reason so I do not have any kind of wires or pickups for it. Is there any website that I could go to so I could find the correct wiring for this model?
• Bohonkie - 2007-11-25
  I found my Rocket (H 56-1, red burst with vibrato, S-1969) on e-Bay. I paid $125, but the lady who shipped it from Pennsylvania used a plastic case with no padding inside. As a result, the pickguard was broken (by the neck, below the screw). I repaired it with a small metal brace from behind; you have to examine it closely to tell. When I told the lady that next time she should use some padding, she graciously refunded $25. After restringing and adjusting the truss rod, this guitar plays great! Other than the repair, and the bridge missing a corner piece, the guitar is in very fine conidtion. I wanted one in the late '60s, but no way could I afford it. The quest is over!
• Kerry Ayres - 2007-12-18
  I own the two pickup version from 1966 in Cherry Red. Plays and sounds very good; tuning is sometimes shaky; had a pro install a Bigsby which looks and sounds cool. Dearmonds really cut through the mix. Original two tone chipboard case is failing. Any ideas where to find a correct fit modern replacement? F-holes have red paint overspray inside them. Email me at ayres at mindspring.com
• Rocket - 2008-01-02
  I got my 1967 harmony rocket from my grandpa who got it when it first came out. It is all orginal and still sounds amazing. I love this guitar. It is my 5th guitar and im only 18.
• Jimmy Razor - 2008-03-28
  I purchased my first Harmony Rocket, an H53, at a 1997 guitar show for $60.00. I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, needing money for the down payment on a house, I sold it in 2002. Missing it badly, I just picked up my second Rocket, an H54. However, it has an H56 vibrato. It shows no signs of ever having the standard trapeze tailpiece! I am curious about this design anomaly.
• François (webmaster) - 2008-04-08
  Jimmy, all the Rocket guitars were made on the same line at the Harmony factory, and these serial numbers glitches are not rare... You will not find a flat top number in a Rocket, but a H54 in a H56 is not surprising.. Bodies were stamped early on the line, before they were finished, or having a vibrato. In other words, if your H54 has an original vibrato... It's an H56 !
• Mike - 2008-08-01
  I love my H54. I bought it from a lady who ran a classified ad selling it for $40. She had 2 H54's. I bought the one with adjustable pickup height. I wish I had gotten the other one too. I've had hard times and thought about selling. Most likely I'll still be using it for many years.
• Ty - 2008-08-13
  Back in high school about 1964, some friends decided to form a rock band and asked me to join. Problem was, I didn't have an electric guitar and couldn't afford one. Fortunately, I had an aunt who was able to finance an aspiring rock star. I picked a cherry red Rocket II from a catalog (probably Sears)and before long, our band became a reality. I used the guitar all through high school and beyond. Loved it! I rarely take it out of the case anymore and it has been plugged in only one time in the last 38 / 40 years but I believe it will still wail.
  Ty Grant,
  Greensboro, NC
• Ike&danny - 2008-08-24
  We have recently come into possession of a Harmony rocket that is Labeled as a H56. However, it seems to be a H54. All pictures that we have seen have identified it as a H54. Its very weird and we're wondering if there was ever any rumors of misprints in the serial numbers. We are still researching this but would like some help if anyone knows anything. Thanks.
• François (webmaster) - 2008-09-01
  To Ike&danny : yes, it's definitely not rare to see "misprints" serial stamps inside Harmony guitars, between similar models. They were made on the same assembly line at the factory, and of course the body was the same before routing the holes.
• David Dureault - 2008-12-07
  I got my Harmony Rocket about 30 years ago.
  It was free. Some goof that had trouble playing it without constant feedback, got bad at it and smashed it on the floor. He abandoned it. I got it from my cousin who new the guy, my cousin didn't have any use for it, and I feel an urge to give instruments a good home.
  The guitar suffered a crack in the side of the body where the plug-in is located.
  I fixed it and being young and naive I removed the red finish from the entire guitar headstock included. I almost changed the pick ups and wiring, but luckily a wiser man told me it had amazing wiring like a Gretsh and I should leave it alone. I trusted him and learned to play it load and without feedback, unless of coarse I wanted it to.
  It's a fantastic guitar with a beautiful feel and sound. It goes with the Harmony Patrician I found at a garage sale for two whole dollars near the same time period.
• speeder - 2008-12-29
  I just got my Harmony Rocket as a hand-me-down from my grandpa. Its an H54 2-pickup single cutaway, not sure the exact year but I'm guessing very early sixties. I love this guitar it sounds great, and the retro look is magnificant. My Uncle "Frog" played this guitar in a bluegrass band for many years, so it has great family history behind it. I am trying to track down a record from that bluegrass band now, but it is quite obscure. Anyway I love this guitar and will play it till I pass it on down the line.
• lostinspace - 2009-01-02
  I got blessed with a brand new Red H54 Rocket and composite case for Christmas in 1967. I was eleven years old and only knew three chords so drove everybody nuts for months! By sixteen I was a lot better and got to play my Harmony in a country rock band. At the time I didn't know just what a fine piece she was, but now forty years later, I've never played a thousand dollar Strat that plays any better than it does. She's a little scratched up from years of use, but she still polishes up nice and plays just like new!
• Matt - 2009-02-08
  Hi fellow Harmony owners. Glad I found this site. I'm borrowing my dad's Rocket hopefully on a permanent basis as he doesn't really play much anymore. I love this guitar and it's inspired me to learn to play better. I love the sound it makes. I assumed it would have a kind of soft jazz sound until i got an amp and you can play anything on it. It's an H54 but I'm not sure when it was made though. It has no date inside. It's sunburst yellow with the 2 DeAlmond pickups so maybe pre 65.
• Gene - 2009-11-09
  Bought an H54 new in 66 (that $135 was a heap of money for me back then!) and preformed extensively with it for 8 years. It then sat idle for many years. I "rediscovered" this guitar a few years ago and even though I have many more expensive guitars now, I still break it out and perform with it on occasion - I used it this past weekend, Nov. 7/8, 2009, side by side with my Les Paul. Great action and great 60's sound.
• Rocket Man - 2009-12-21
  I had been looking for as much information on this old rocket I fixed up for my grandpa (don't worry, it was mainly cleaning and re-soldering pots), and found this website. I have an H54, but I must disagree with the posted manufacturing dates, as mine indicates that it was made in '68. I know this remains unverified, but I have it right here (though errors have been reported in the labeling of these guitars...)
• Mr. twiddle - 2010-02-01
  Finally got my H54-1!! Been wanting one for years and recently picked mine up at a shop around the corner from my house. Can't wait to get sound from the bridge pickup, although the neck pickup gives me the sound I've been searching for. What a relief...that voice in my head that's been singing to me is now in my music room!
• SV - 2010-04-11
  Found mine helping a family friend clean out a basement. It was given to me for free. Has original wammy bar, overall good conditon, guitar works well. Took it to a shop to have it cleaned properly and the guy was very suprised considering where it was found - under boards and rubbage - 1630 h54
• BOBBIEJANE - 2011-02-07
  you rocket junkies out there how lucky you are. They play so stunningly it is hard to believe. I have had about15 rockets, only 2 tobacco burst the rest red. The last one i had was ftted with a bigsby with an accomadating nickel bridge, all decked out and plays like a dream. paid $300.00 for it and sold it for 700.00. Love the rockets give me a rocket any day ofthe week and i will take it over a martin bobbie
• Tom Moore - 2011-02-15
  I've got a H54 (SN 5548H54, S-66)but the neck does not have a truss rod. I've seen pictures showing some Rockets with what appears to be truss rod covers above the nut. What gives?
• Mark - 2011-03-29
  My first guitar in 1960 was an H-54. I stupidly sold it back as trade on a Fender Strat (stupidly sold that, too). I recently acquired an H-54 with a datestamp of S-61. I'm so happy!
• TParshall - 2011-04-15
  I found a Harmony Rocket reddish brown sunburst (two pickups) in a St. Vincent DePaul thrift store four years ago. It was on sale for $12.50. That day all electronic items in the store were 50% off. I got it for $6.25. It had been well taken care of but also well played by whoever owned it. The fretboard has finger grooves in it. It still plays great but one of the pots is a bit mushy. I will find a good tech soon to clean up the electronics.
• Ol' Fat Wayne - 2011-04-16
  Awesome guitar!
• Paul-in-Tacoma - 2011-04-20
  TParshall... my most awesome Harmony (exact same model) was GIVEN AWAY cuz I was on vacation and was not back in time to pay rent... so landlord GAVE it away.
  OH... we went to court and I won.... but have not seen my guitar since ! (This happened in late 80s)... but I had that Harmony since the late 60s.
  I want it back ! (not that YOU have it... but if you're from Tacoma ! heheheh)
• Gizmo - 2011-07-15
  I found my '65 rocket (two-pickup with a trem, gold-foils and no trussrod) in the trash walking around brooklyn one night. She was pretty beat up, covered in stickers, and a little bit water damaged... Luckily the previous owner had pinned the bridge, so that was still there. The tuners had been replaced with "w. Germany"-stamped Schallers.
  I had a new nut carved for it out of bone (the original slots had worn very low), shimmed the neck, and unpinned the bridge. I gig with it regularly now. The old girl's got soul. I love my rocket!
• Dan G. - 2011-11-05
  I traded an old squeezebox (mini accordian) for an h54 tobacco sunburst 2 pickup single cutaway model believe to be from 66. nedded some help getting it to playing shape (and well worth it). Still 80% + original had to replace bridge, 1 vol. pot and pickguard. Use a taylor hard case that fits pretty well since a factory 1 is almost impossible and not cheap to find. the body was in good shape with no major dings some finish scrapes but i love this guitar and the sound is awesome!!! Since it is not as wide as a gibson 335 type an acoustic guitar case might be an alternative to finding an original case (a little snug though). thanks 4 listening and wishing all happy harmony ;)