H996 - Monterey

Auditorium size. Spruce top, maple body. Finish described as "Cremona brown 'spotlight' finish".

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Top wood	Spruce
Body wood	Maple
All solid woods

Scale

25"1/4

642 mm

11 comments | Add your comment !

• brainpolluter - 2006-01-22
  My grandfather found one of these from 1960 in a garbage can in Queens NY in 1981. I had it sitting in my father's basement for decades. Last year as a tribute to my grandfather, I restored it. It still has the old beat up finish and I removed the lower part of the bridge to improve the action but, even though the body fell apart and needed to be reglued it held up in a damp basement and it is the most fun guitar I own and I enjoy playing it (especially finger picking) more than any of the expensive guitars I have. It is surprisingly easy to play and sounds awesome. It was useless when I was a kid learning to play but, now as a professional musician I am so happy that I kept it till I was old enough to appreciate it.
• Fanchih - 2007-03-15
  I picked up this guitar at a farmers market in southeast PA. in the mid 70's for 20 bucks. I always thought it was a Monterey guitar. It wasent till a few months ago that the light caught the top and I saw some lettering that said Harmony. It always has been my favorite to play even with the slight bow of the neck.
• cdcesare - 2008-12-06
  Picked up this beauty today 12-6-2008 for $85.00. Put some new strings on and took her for a ride. Nice midrange with reasonable action but will buzz out above 12th fret. Tuners are poor but I don't think I should mess with a Cool piece of history by putting fancy new metal on. If you get a chance to own one, don't hesitate.
• TMc - 2011-09-02
  Was given this guitar a week ago by a lady at my church. When I took the strings off the bridge slid out of place. It looks like it was never glued. I cleaned the whole guitar with wood soap and plan to glue in the bridge and put new strings on. It has a split several inches long on the upper bout on back. Keeping my fingers crossed!
• ramdam - 2011-10-26
  Very mid oriented sound , not much bass , the projection is not remarkable but very ok ! the general construction is solid . phosphor bronze sting instrument . Do not glue the bridge it is to adjust intonations ask a luthier or pro musical instrument salesman on how to adjust it. The tuners are horible .Low end guitar with a very particular sound that will not please regular musician .But pro level players will found the sound a must to reproduce an era and the guitar very playable . A good purshase and worth restoration .
• Gent Salverius - 2012-02-20
  My father-in-law got this guitar (serial 996 / 2620 H) when he was a young german kept in prison in an american POW camp in France back in the late forties.
  So he played it as a member of the prisoners band in the officers’ mess.
  In the late eighties he gave it to me. A few years later it was restored by a german instrument maker. And since then it is on one hand an eye-catcher. On the other I am still looking for a suitable tuning and right type of use, you know?
• stephen harrison - 2013-07-02
  Just bought one of these today in a parisien antique shop for 100 euros, its in great condition , just missing the 2 last frets, I have a friend who re-frets guitars but I might just leave it alone , I think I am going a great time with this little beauty
• JimboMGA - 2014-11-27
  Bought my H996 about 18 years ago. One of the tuner shafts was bent so I replaced all the tuners. Huge improvement in the tuning.
  I've always used the flatwound strings on this Monterey.
  It is a very comfortable guitar to hold. A little thinner than the dreadnoughts I've handled.
  I've always thought it is a very hansom guitar with a unique kinda plunky sound.
• Kyle Jolin - 2017-12-19
  I recently got an H996 serial 4933. It was passed down to me from my Father and to him from his Father. My Father wasn't a musician and the guitar has been in a closet since the early 80's.
  It's a true relic and has signs of heavy use all over it along with a few cracks. Somehow the neck is still straight as an arrow though and sounds wonderful.
• GrantH - 2018-01-09
  Monterey model H996 serial # 1786. I am told that a man purchased this guitar new in late 1940s and gifted it to my widowed grandmother for her two young sons to learn to play. They strummed it occasionally then it remained in its case in a closet for decades. In late 2017 my uncle (one of the sons, now nearing 80 years of age) removed the guitar from storage to resume his guitar study…
  The original case contains some replacement strings from the 1940s and the original store receipt for $35. The guitar is in nice used condition, a few nicks and scratches, but no cracks. Last week I replaced the strings – as with others the tuners are very stiff to adjust and the bridge appears to have not been glued, but the new strings hold the bridge in place adequately as is. Sound is indeed “plunky”, but it is very playable, has a great vintage vibe, and high action suitable for playing slide. My uncle plans to keep the guitar in our family, we will retell its story to our grandkids.
  Thanks to the contributors to this website which we referenced to identify the guitar model, production years, and tone woods.
  
• GVY - 2019-02-16
  Had this H996 for over 40 years, traded an old no name flat-top. I love this guitar! Neck is straight as an arrow, a few cracks and a little lifting of the back, but still plays and sounds great. It's a 1951 Model.