 H57 - Roy Smeck
Electric Archtop - Sunburst
Production year(s) : 1960-1962 (other years possible, not verified)
One P13 pickup - H57 has replaced both the H56 blue Roy Smeck and the H52 in the Harmony line. But has a solid spruce top, thin body (2 3/4), auditorium size (15 3/4) - trussrod neck. H58 is the two pickups version with blonde laminated top.
 8 images in database
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| Top wood | Spruce
| | Body wood | Maple
| All solid woods
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| Width | 16"1/8 | 408 mm |
| Length | 40"1/2 | 1027 mm |
| Body depth | 2"3/4 | 70 mm |
| Scale | 25"1/4 | 642 mm |
| Neck at nut | 1"3/4 | 44.1 mm |
| Neck at 12th | 2"1/4 | 55.6 mm |
6 comments | Add your comment ! - Ian Fahy - 2005-09-15
Hi, I have just picked up one of these,it is the same as the first one on your site,it does not have Harmony on the headstock but a sprayed on design.Any idea why?Also,can you tell me anything about the P13 pickup?Who made them?What are they like compaired to P90's etc.
Look forward to hearing from you, Ian. - Snapcase - 2006-02-10
P13 is a Gibson pickup used during 40's. After P90 introduction the whole P13 stock were sold to Harmony and was used in their guitars until they runned-out, being then substituted by Rowe (Dearmond designed) models. P13 is a sweet sounding pickup I much prefer these ones better than P90s for archtops. Comparing them, P90 has a prominent midrange growl and a big thick sound. Good, but nothing closer to the real voice of a particular guitar. It gives "it's own" voice to any guitar, a great voice in fact, but it doesn't respects so much the natural acoustic tone. If you turn fully down the volume in a P13 equiped guitar and listen to the unpluged natural sound and then turn volume up again, what you hear is basically the same but louder, This particular pickup sings beautifully. I love 'em! I am searching for one of those pickups to replace my '55 Gibson ES-125's P90 for a sweeter, janglier and most natural tone. For me there's nothing better for archtops. Rowe pickups sounds suprisingly closer, they're great for this kind of guitars also, but I still prefer P13s. - - 2006-07-19
I think I have a h57 also, looks just like this picture, all original parts except the pickguard, lost in the early days, I love to play this one, always has a nice sound and easy to play. Only repair done on it was the tuning keys were loose and was fixed with original parts. - oldguy - 2010-07-02
l have picked one up just yesterday . this is one intended for montgomery ward .its a 8 out of 10. the sound it gives is great . inside its says what appears to be made in 1958. but its got no truss rod. - Robin Ross - 2018-12-18
I have one of these - 3016H57. Does not say Roy Smeck. Has a sort of stylized crown instead. Can you tell me anything about it? - Rick Bernicky - 2019-09-10
I have one of these 2556H57 does not have Roy Smeck or the Harmony label on it.
What year was it made 1956? please reply to rickbernicky@gmail.com
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