 H1325 - Monterey
Acoustic archtop - Brown shaded
Production year(s) : 1952-1972 (other years possible, not verified)
Spruce top, birch body - Grand Auditorium 16 1/2 in. Unusual sunburst pattern in bands. Neck has a trussrod from 1964.
 36 images in database
mouse over image for file name - click to enlarge 
| Top wood | Spruce
| All solid woods
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15 comments | Add your comment ! - Jerry Swanson - 2006-08-18
I have a Harmony Monterey that I purchased in late 1953 or early 1954.I still enjoy the feel even though it was an inexpensive model it still sounds pretty decent. I think I paid around $55.00 for it then. - IHMony - 2007-02-04
I owne a 1956 moterey it has steel reinfored neck stamped on it & I've been wondering how to know if it's a torque-lok or not ,or how to tell the differance between a guitar that has torque-lok or not. By the way this site rocks & has been extreamly helpful to me on my quest through the world of harmony. I'm proud to be an owner of about 7 & it's nice to know that people care about these guitars - Dan'l Snyder - 2008-04-17
My monterey is the perfect guiter for my "open e" tuning, for special songs. i got it for fifty dollars about ten years ago. although i own other expensive and vintage guitars, i still love the sound of the one. - Lisa - 2008-06-22
I have a Sears Robuck Silvertone (Harmony)m archtop which I received as a Christas present in 1969. I have given it away several times and it has always come back to me. I was playing in a jugband and the original tuners wouldn't hold anymore. I made the mistake of installing Gibson tuners, which allowed me to pound out jugband plectrum beats, however, I would like to return this guitar to its original form. After all of these years, it is still an ass kicking working class guitar. - Andrew Andersen - 2009-01-04
I just picked up a Harmony Monterey that is clearly marked with the H1325 (preceded by some other numbers) and with a clear date stamp F-53-T. I'm thinking this is Fall of 1953. If you would like pictures let me know. It's in "good" condition, and quite playable. Thanks for this most informative site. This is my second harmony guitar. I like them as they look cool sound and play ok and are still priced for a working guy. - Dale Wilbur - 2009-02-15
I just visited with my Uncle Jim Wilbur last night after playing guitar near him for the weekend. I haven't seen him in many a years. I have been away for 30 years and still he is 100 miles away from where I now live. Uncle Jim had the first guitar that my brother and ever held back in about 1959. At that time we didn't know one brand from another and really didn't remember that his guitar was a Harmony Monteray He would come down almost every other weekend and we made sure we were always there for his entertainment and a chance to hold and learn d, g, & a7th.
While visiting with him he said that he still had that guitar. He went and got it. It was covered in dust and had 4 strings left on it. I had several sets of strings with me so I had the HONOR of stringing up that old guitar and playing d.g.a7th on it first. He got out his harmonica and we kicked off with the "Wildwood Flower" to start with. When I handed him back his guitar I got the best smile from him you could ever want. This guitar played like butter and the action was perfect all the way down the neck. He told me he paid $7.00 for it way back when. It is rough and the finish is worn off the neck from the 1st fret to the 5th fret. I told him he could double his $ right now. He laughed. - Steve Cottage - 2009-09-18
That was my first guitar! Sound quality was excellent! Never knew what year but it was in my basmemt from 1967 till destroyed in 78! - Farkozoid - 2009-10-25
I have one made in 1956, the date is stamped above the serial number. It reads 8-56-7. It's identical to the photos of the '57 in the photos. - TC - 2011-09-15
Just picked one of these up...looks exactly like the 56 pictured above, but the date stamp is kind of blurred and hard to read. The guitar was strung with electric strings, and I put light acoustics on it. Plays pretty nice, would like to see if I can have the bridge adjusted to tweak the action just a bit. really cool and looks great! - j.christensen - 2012-09-26
I got one of these handed down to me from my grandfather. Sounds great and I really enjoy playing it. However it does need a new case. Does anyone know a good case that fits it well. The heavier duty the better. - Karl-Peter Whitehead - 2014-06-14
I bought my(circa 1969)Monterey used from a friend in 1971 for $55.00. That included a bottle of guitar polish. I have changed the tuners and I don't regret it. They are chrome but it plays so well why complain. I have mostly put bronze and steel strings on it for that really loud, sharp sound you need to explore a wide range of palm muting techniques on an f hole guitar. This guitar has been with me for a long time. For most of it's life it has lived in a 1949 Gretsch Electromatric case I obtained about the same time. They are perfect together. - Kate - 2014-07-14
Hi mine was given to me by my uncle. I know he played it in his band a long time ago. I would just like to know when he bought it as I know he had it for years. The numbers inside are 214h1325. Is the some site I can find out what year it was made?
Thank you in advance - Rob - 2014-11-28
Just bought a Harmony Monterey H1325 model today at Guitar Center for $150.00 with a hardshell case. Plays and sounds good. It is in excellent condition with some nice real wood grain patterns on the sides and back. I think it's after 1964 because it has a truss rod. The one issue is that it's missing the pickguard. If anyone has one for sale let me know. I agree with many others how great it is to have this site for a database. - Shamam Vincent Richard - 2018-08-30
Wow!,That was a Great Model ,that's Probably it.
That's Cool they were Frendly enough for John Lee to Lone Muddy His Ax for the Photo
I Own a Harmony Rocket with Gold Leaf Pickups it's one of my favorite Antquie Playable Instrument.
Well those Guys Pulled a Fast One That's Still got us Scratching our Heads Over scince it was Muddys Red Telecaster that He Used for the Concert.
Shamam - Dave - 2019-04-06
Wow I never knew there were so many styles and finishes,what a great site! I really like the colors on H1325,so unique and she catching. thanks for all the hard work on these pages.
Dave K. Milwaukee
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