 H59 - Rocket 3 pickup
Electric hollowbody - Sunburst, then red from 1963
Production year(s) : 1960-1967 (other years possible, not verified)
3 pickups - Single cutaway - H59/1 is the double cutaway later (1968) version. From 1966 "Golden Tone" pickups change to the "double mustache" version with adjustable polepieces screws, and necks have a trussrod. Late samples may have rocker switches instead of the rotary selector (as seen on double cutaway version).
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Related to this model
40 comments | Add your comment ! - Zorba - 2007-07-18
This guitar appears in the serie "The Persuaders". The guitar was played by Onslow, the Brett's cousin in the episod named "A Death in the Family" ("Regrets éternels" in French) - ien cleary - 2007-09-07
had a h59 rocket, loved it, but i was living in a squat in north london and the damp got into the wood and twisted the neck. it was never the same again. damn near broke my heart! - uncleshitr - 2007-11-25
Apparently, I own a 1962 sburst Rocket, all original and all warn out, finish-wise. I've taken a lot of guff from guys who spend a 20 times more for a guitar that isn't this cool. I have always been happy with my Harmony. A worthy purchase for anyone wanting a "non-Gibsson" sounding guitar,and I only paid $75 ! I'd buy it again tomorrow for this oldie... - Alvin Shook - 2008-01-12
I have what I believe to be a "62" Rocket.
Its sunburst with 3 DeArmond singlecoils, 6 volume and tone knobs. a 4 position rotary pickup seelector, and a white pickgaurd.
Its in near perfect condition. With only minor finish blemishes from age.
My Dad got it as a Christmas present in the early 60's. Mom ordered from the Aldens catalog. It came with a small tube amp that I also have. As well as a chipboard case and a boxfull of 45 RPM records. Dad passed away Christmas day 1998 and I inherited his guitar.
My brother got his Ithaca 16 gauge shotgun and we both feel that we got the better deal.
I also have a Hollywood model in sunburst with one DeArmond singlecoil. - dan - 2008-01-14
i recently inherited a 1964 h59 in a very sorry state and am currently looking for parts to put it back to it's former glory. sadly it's not even playable yet. - Alex - 2008-01-29
I just added what I believe is an early '60s H59 to my arsenal of offbeat guitars (I'm still looking for the date stamp to be sure). I am shocked at how solid this guitar is for being over 45 years old - I restrung it and gigged with it the very next night. Boy was I impressed! I play in a traditional country band, and this guitar has the look and the sound to perfectly compliment my bandmate's Tele. They don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure. - Tony - 2008-02-21
I was talking with a friend today,and told him I inherited my dad's guitar.I played it but never paid much attention to what it was.Until now,I got directed to youre site,that brought me joy to see all of these beautiful guitars made by Harmony.I looked at the guitar and it is an H59 Rocket Model.It's in wonderful shape.I'm going to take to someone to re stringed it and clean it up.I'm going to start playing it cause it is a great sounding guitar with the 3 pickups.Thanks for having such a great site.To admire these guitars and hear good things about Harmony.Thanks Dad. - mr m gillham - 2008-05-09
i have just accquired a harmony h59,with three pick ups and is in natural finish which seems a one off ,i have had it checked out and no paint or varnish has ever been removed,i know that gibson only made 11 es5 switchmasters ,so maybe this is a copy of one of those, - Machachos - 2008-10-07
Yee Har! Just purchased a Harmony Rocket H59 today - brown fade, 3 pickup, 6 knob (as per the last 3 rows of pics above).
Seems like it could be '64. It's come via a mate, who imported it all the way from USA to Perth, Australia- this thing is COOL!
Bit twitchy on some of the settings but altogether the 'real deal'. I'm keeping this baby! - Jeff de Castro - 2009-01-13
have this kind of harmony, i still use it on recording and live! it still sound very good! except for the fading color due to it's age - CBARBARIAN1 - 2009-02-04
I OWN A HARMONY ROCKET H-59 (1967) (RED) THREE PICKUPS, 6 POD NOBS, WITH THE PICKUP SWITCH LEVER 1,2,3,& ALL. IT'S MISSING THE PICKGUARD, BUT IT STILL PLAYS GREAT, AND LOOKS GOOD. THE NECK IS STRAIGHT, (I'VE ONLY USED ERNIE BALL SUPER SLINKY STRINGS ON IT). I OWN OTHER AXES BUT I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT, AND HAVE ENJOYED PLAYING IT ONCE IN AWHILE. IT'S SEEN MANY PRACTICES, RECORDING SESSIONS AND GIGS. MY PARENTS GAVE IT TO ME IN 1967 FOR CHRISTMAS. I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD. TO ME IT'S PRICELESS. BY THE WAY I'M FIFHTY-THREE NOW. - Davy - 2009-02-05
I was at a yard sale about fifteen years ago and the guy was selling stuff so cheap,i asked him if he by chance had any old guitars for sale.He said'well,i think i have one in my attic,wanna take a look'?..Of course i said yes and he led me upstairs to the attic,where he found an old guitar case among the attic junk.He opened it up and before me was an old (don't know year) Harmony Golden Rocket 3!..I asked how much and he said 'oh,how about three bucks?! I bought it and several years later,gave it to my daughter since she stated she wanted to learn to play.Well,it was a scam,and my own daughter sold it to her uncle! My daughter had not lived with me since a baby when her Mom and i divorced.Anyhow,the moral of the story is..DON'T BE STUPID'! - Podman - 2009-10-07
Great Guitar.
I bought mine in 1966 and still have it and it is in very good shape
Still plays fantastic with great action.
I own many guitars (Ovation, Fender, Epiphone, etc.) and this is still my favorite. - Roger atlas - 2009-11-22
I love the looks of this guitar and the way the electronics are designed. Im trying to find a dealer in the tampa fla area to maybe get a chance to see and play one. This guitar and the 54 has my interest. I cant wait to get my hands on a 59. Good to see this company back. Dealers get off your asses and start selling this product - SJR - 2010-02-16
I am the original owner of a beautiful red H59 3 pickup from 1964...it was a Christmas present from my parents when I was 12 years old. It has great action and tone, all original parts, and is in immaculate condition despite many years of play. I see the newly released vintage model goes for about $1000...mine was $149 when purchased...I'm curious as to the appraisal value now, although I could never see parting with this instrument. - Davy - 2010-02-20
Well,i had posted a couple years ago about me buying a three pickup rocket at a yard sale for three bucks and then gave to my daughter who up and sold it.I have just bought another in the last few days but not for 3 bucks! I had to pay a grand for this one but i am still happy:)...These ,to me are the essence of Vintage guitars.Rock on Rocketeers! - John M - 2010-05-08
I own a 1967 that I purchased in 1979 from a good friend(a bass player)who needed the cash. I always intended to give it back, but fell in love with it. It was my main player for many years. I had a new black pickguard made, switched out the tone and volume knobs for black speed knobs and the chicken head selector switch for a black selector knob. A few years ago I put it back to original. The friend passed away a couple of years ago so the guitar has more meaning for me now. I love the fact that by using the "all" position and utilizing the volume knobs, one can get all kinds of pickup combinations. I still pull it out now and then. - - 2010-05-18
Brings me back quite a few years to a time when my stepfather and I jammed with his 62' rocket. awesome sounding instrument!! - SD - 2010-08-29
When I was about 10 years old, my family vacationed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. While there, my parents asked the band in the hotel lounge if I could sit in with them. They had no problem with that, led me up to the stage and handed me a brand new H59 Rocket. They let me 'jam' (as well as a 10-year-old could) with them every night afterwards. I still have photos from that trip-- me and the red H59 jamming in Puerto Vallarta. I think it's time to reunite with one! - Travis from (Camera 27) - 2010-09-15
I bought a customized H59 from a mail order guitar broker in 1985 and fell in love with Harmony Rockets, the sound and feel are one of a kind. I now have a red and a sunburst H59 and could not be happier. Gone are the Gibsons, Telecasters and the rest but the H59 Rockets are here to stay. - snorkle1 - 2010-12-09
I have a single cutaway H59 with the gold pickups and it is quite playable. Inherited it from my late step dad who built an old Heath Kit amp with (pre Jensen Jensen [12"] speakers in it) to play it through. - King - 2011-05-06
I just bought a Harmony Rocket single cutawayin sunbust.Its a really cool instrument.It reminds me a little of a Gibson 335,but much more versatile.I own around 60 guitars and this one is the oldest.There is no Harmony name on the head stock and I don't know where to find a serial #.I play the Blues and this Axe speaks the language!!!!! I am in S. Fla . - Don Priewe / Green Bay, WI - 2011-09-26
I was 17 years old and sent away to the Aldens catalog store for this (my 1st real guitar). It arrived out at our farm in the summer of 63. It came with a beige tube amp. I cannot remember what I paid for it. But I do remeber saving for long time. I just loved it. I can still remember that new smell. My Mom told not to turn that thing on when my Dad was home. I would set the amp by my open upstairs window in the winter time and play for our neighbors on those quiet, cold winter nights in Beaver Dam, WI. I could share many more stories. Sad part is that I had to sell it to a music store in town to purhcase an airplane ticket to California in the summer of 64. I have never stopped missing that beautiful guitar. I'm always hoping that one day I'll hold it once again. Don Priewe / Green Bay, WI - pete - 2012-01-12
Just bought a 63 sunburst h59 rocket. I love it. Im not quite sure if my knobs are repros or not. they are not ivory colored but a chocolate brown but same exact style as all photos show . they are the cupcake style though. This guitar is special. the end of an era. the world doesnt know what it missing. - Bruce Taylor - 2012-09-17
I just finished a restoration of my cousins 1962 Harmony Rocket H-59. It sat in my cousins closet since the mid 80's in pieces. It had been refinished blue before he purchased it. I fully disassembled, sanded to bare wood and refinished this guitar in a sunburst nitrocellulose finish. I then cleaned everything, reassembled and set it up. Original parts are the body, pickups, selector switch and plate, pots, wiring harness, tuners, upper strap button and trapeze tailpiece. The neck is from a 1965 Harmony Rocket, the original was not saveable. Reproduction parts are the pick guard, lower strap pin, six cupcake knobs and the selector knob. Replacement parts are a few nickel slot head screws and the bridge. Like Dr. Frankenstein would say "It's alive!" I was so impressed with the tone that I found one for myself on a popular auction site. Mine is not complete and will be a project, but it has it's original finish and most parts. - Aaron - 2013-04-28
I just completed an overhaul of my '66 H59. I've owned it for 16 years, and finally got around to the project. I did a fret level, crown and polish, made a new bone nut and installed reproduction tuning machines and cupcakes. The finish is faded to brown and is very worn, but I'm leaving it just the way it is. It plays like a dream now, and those DeArmonds sound killer! - Gordonlove - 2014-01-02
I have my '62 Rocket H-59 "Maurice". Dude painted white over it. Musta thought he could fool a girl into believing it was a White Falcon. Ha!!! The hottest girls in the world sleep with Rocket players!!! Missing the pickguard so you can see the wires which I think makes this bad boy looke even badder. Oh man!!! And the sealed DeArmondes? Shut the front door!!! - Tom H - 2014-11-24
When they went to the rocker switches in late 1967, Harmony restarted the numbering. 3 years ago I bought 1967 H59 Rocket serial number 0001H59, with rockers. It is in mint shape with 1 tiny paint ding on the back. It plays wonderfully, sounds great and I like having serial #1. I normally play it with a Tune-A-Matic bridge. I am an old fart, not a hipster. I used to stare at Rockets in Dime Stores as a kid. Didn't play, just thought they looked cool as hell in red. They don't have a picture of this model, I'll see if they want it. - St James - 2015-07-08
For over 40 years I was playing professionally, but was told by our manager at the time I HAD to get a Gibson as they backed us,so for years I played Es-335 n Lpn LP JR,s
Now that I am no longer under contractual obligations I can play what I want. In the past 5 years I have put together e great collection of the so called B Brands, I O these r FAR from a BBrand. I am hoping to do one last Cd of THE BEST OF CHESS records n back then unless u r well off Fenders n Gibbys were out of reach money wise.
so I now have a great collection of Harmony,sSilvertone,sKays
Between the ESPANADA, BOBKAT, R.SMECK Archtop n most recently a gorgeous H-59-1.
I still have my Gibby ,s n other guitars but for blues n rockabilly u can't beat the Rockets n Espanada.....these guitars r rising in value fast... But the best part is I no longer need to use pedals etc to get mt tone.. Plug these into a my Ampeg Jet or Fender Deluxe u r back in the 50,s.....the very first guitar I got at age 7 was a harmony acoustic which is hanging on my wall.....
I should have never left Harmony, I guess everything goes in circles.....also MADE IN THE USA,, - David - 2016-05-29
I have a Rocket with three mustache pickups and the rocker switch instead of a rotary or three way. I still don't know what year but I think maybe a 67-69. It is in wonderful shape and I had it for sale on CL but came to my senses and took it off. I've owned several over the years and will hang on to this one for a change! - Smithd563 - 2016-12-08
Hi there. Merely desired to question an instant dilemma. dfdkgfegeabdaecd - Pharmk33 - 2016-12-08
Hello! - Pharma401 - 2016-12-09
Hello! - Pharme264 - 2016-12-11
Hello! - Pharmk369 - 2016-12-12
Hello! - Pharme520 - 2016-12-13
Hello! - Pharmg813 - 2016-12-14
Hello! - Pharmd341 - 2016-12-16
Hello! - Vince - 2017-10-06
I'm getting a H59 with a serial number of 3989H59.
Is there any reference to the year this was made from the serial number?
Thanks!
- Phillipodonnell56@gmail.com - 2018-07-26
I've been trying to find out about a double cut away 3 pickups 6 knobs rotary control sunburst in perfect condition with original case. It was selling for 499. I talked him down to 400 the traded in my Washburn for 150. That I only paid 250 for so with tax I paid 277.00. It sounded better the a gretson and looked so nice. I.
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