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Family : Thin Line 3 pickups

Other brands : H78 3 pickup was also sold as Airline 7230 | Heath or Heathkit TG46 | Holiday AL9295 | Silvertone S1454 | Silvertone S1485

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Original catalog description

[1966 catalog]
Harmony's Finest Electric Guitars - with maximum electronics
Three pickups... DeArmond designed for Today's Sound

- "Double Cutaway" - 16 frets clear of body - the highest registers easily fingered.
- "Ultra-Slim" narrow fingerboard - Short scale for easy chording.
- "Ultra-Slim" neck - with adjustable TORQUE-LOCK reinforcing rod. Unfiform "feel" throughout.
- Modern Flat Wound Strings - Quiet - Smooth for fingering comfort

Will be played with pride by the most experienced performer ! Truly precision instruments, finely adjusted befor leaving the factory. The top quality electronics in the triple pickup give brilliant and flexible response. Silent action switches permit selection of any of 7 combinations of pickup heads. Individual adjusting pole-pieces under each strings, on each pickup, permit the most critical adjustment for emphasis and balance response.

Ovalled rosewood fingerboard has 8 large inlaid position markers. Individual tuning keys have metal buttons ; headpiece is engraved ; ornamental taipiece is modern design, chrome plated. This guitar is also avalaible with Bigsby True Vibrato Tailpiece.

The geaming polished finishes on the curly maple Ultra-Thin arched bodies are in keeping with the professional quality of these models - Harmony's finest.

H78 - With Bigsby True Vibrato Tailpiece. Warm cherry red tone lightly shaded. Size 15 3/4 x 40 1/2. Rim 2 inches deep : $300.00. C70 Carrying case, keratol, plush lined : $24.00.

Original price

  1966 : $300.00
  1967 : $300.00
  1969 : $325.00

Verified production year(s) : 1965-1972
others years possible, not verified.

10 comments | Add your comment !

• Joe Momma - 2006-01-06
  I have the Silvertone H78, single cutaway and it's the best sounding guitar I have ever owned. It has to be one of the sexiest guitars I ever laid eyes on. It's a perfect guitar, three pickups, six knobs and three toggles to turn each of the pickups on and off.....perfect! All that control give you such a wide range of sounds. Such clear tones for rock-a-billy, blues, and rock!
• Daves Guitars - 2006-01-12
  Yes, I picked one up 4 years ago in a new/used shop, the 78 red to black burst w case AND brochure and orig. cord! Lacquer is checked and looks /plays great. Needs a spring for Bigsby (don't use it I'm a finger vibrato hardtail guy)and the 'thin-slim neck is not too thin and perfect.Nut is abit wider than most so it it better then my 335 Gibs. Interested in purchasing it? Can't go wrong..email me at dmforzetting@yahoo.com or call 330-388-4071 Thanks!
  Dave
• Gabo - 2006-01-30
  I have a very nice and crackless h78 that I am restoring. for the moment i have stripped the original paint and getting ready to finish it in the most original colour possible.
  Really fine guitar, played beautyfully in its unrestored state. I am hoping for pure listening pleasure once the job will be done.
  One of the prettiest, well balanced guitar i have ever seen!
• John L. - 2006-03-28
  I highly recommend this guitar if you like retro sounds. The bigsby is great and it plays perfectly in tune. But the SOUND is incredible! Listen to the Beatles version of "Rock-N-Roll Music" and the sound of John's guitar and you are real close to the h78. Cool looking too-I get lots of comments!! John
• Dan Palaferro - 2006-04-03
  I have an H78 which I purchased as a Harmony/Heathkit back in about 1968. I recently got the guitar out, restrunk it, and played for the first time in about 30 years. The guitar works great, the action is incredible.
• Scott - 2007-01-06
  Great site! The double cutaway Silvertone model may be known as S1485 as I know of two guitars with that particular numbering (NNNNS1485). Mine is 5428s1485. Also, there is additional marking inside that reads "S-69-W". Any guesses? Any other double cutaway Silvertone owners out there that can verify? Also, I cannot locate any catalog pages listing this particular model by Sears (319.14859).
• Plasticsoul - 2007-07-20
  I have a Silvertone model with three silverfoil dearmonds. This is my go-to girl. The greatest sounding guitar I have ever played.
• Dumont Boy - 2007-07-25
  I have a Harmony H78, but the headstock only has the harmony name. It does not have the "fleur de lis" design. How come some have them and some do not?
• Bruce - 2007-07-29
  I also have an H78 that was a Harmony by Heathkit model that I built in 1967 and have been playing ever since - great guitar!
• jason - 2008-02-18
  i have one that the pickups say aug-24-64 it plays awsome!