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Family : Thin Line

Other brands : H73 Roy Smeck was also sold as Holiday AL9401

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Original catalog description

[1966 catalog]
Professional Grade Cutaway Electric Guitar
- Improved Adjustable Double Pickups newly designed in cooperation with DeArmond
- Individual Adjustable polepieces under each string, to balance response
- "Ultra-Slim" Neck with Adjustable Torque-Lok dual reinforcing rods
- "Ultra-Thin" Tone chamber Hollow body
- "Ultra-Slim" Fingerboard - Unidorm Feel - Short scale for easy chording
- Modern Flat Wound strings - Quiet - Smooth for fingering comfort

Harmony Roy Smeck Electric with W type Vibrato tailpiece
For the professional, or the player on his way up, Roy Smeck "Wizard of the Strings", stage and recording star, endorses this versatile model. The DeArmond-designed pickup is outstanding in response. Individual polepieces permit adjustment for emphasis and balanced sound. Flat-wound strings for fingering comfort. Vibrato taipiece provides subtle tone changes. "Ultra-Slim" neck, Torque-Lok adjustable reinforcing rod, narrow ovalled fingerboard, bound edge, short scale. Neo-Cutaway arched body, laminated maple, wide bound edges, beautifully finished in polished opaque mandarin red.
H73 guitar, size 15 3/4 x 40 1/2 inches, Rim 2 in. deep : $175.00
C73 Carrying Case, keratol, plush lined : $24.00

Original price

  1966 : $175.00
  1967 : $175.00

Verified production year(s) : 1964-1967
others years possible, not verified.

7 comments | Add your comment !

• Brent - 2006-02-04
  I have one of these, and ts sounds GREAT!... my only reservation about it is in the original tailpiece. It seems only useful when locked down, otherwise it throws the strings out of tune quickly. I would be interested if anyone has tried retro-fitting a time period correct Bigsby tailpiece, and if it would require alteration that would detract from the originality. I'm torn between what is a true "player" and a vintage guitar.
• François - 2006-02-04
  Brent, the B3 Bigsby will easily fit, because it was stock on the very similar H74. But usually the original Harmony vibrato works good. perhaps try other gauge strings or adjust the central screw ?
• Nickolas - 2006-03-03
  I just got a Roy Smeck and I can't decide if I like the flat wound strings. I play with a pick and they just don't sound right to me. Has anyone tried other strings?
• Brent - 2006-03-04
  Nickolas- It all depends on personal preference and music style. I wouldn't play flat wounds (I believe that's what was original on them) because I like the bright sounds that the DeArmond produces with round wounds. The most important advice I can give you is to decide what strings and guage you like, and set the truss rod and bridge (or have it set up) for optimal playability. We have to remember that these guitars CAN play well, but they are a less expensive and lower quality instrument, and do have limitations.... but, the pickups are great!
• michael - 2006-08-05
  My parents bought me the H73 second hand in about 1968 and 38 years later it still sounds and plays great. But, the pick-guard got broken along the way. Where might I be able to get an original to replace it ?
• Jim - 2008-01-15
  I have one of these H73 models. My best friend gave it to me about a month before he died in a car wreck.
  It really means alot to me,and i love playing it
• JohnnyT - 2008-04-16
  I found this guitar at my wife's gramma's house. Gramma was put into a nursing home. Me and the wife liked to check on the house (was still fully furnished) and check the neat things in it. One time I was in a closet full of stuff and found this H73 guitar hidden in a pair of pants!!!! I uncovered it and have done research on it and found the model etc. I have a cheap unauthentic foreign harmony strat circa 1987 so I was really excited to find this one. Plugged it in and sounds great!! Pretty cool find huh?