 H14 - Bobkat
Electric solid body - sunburst
Production year(s) : 1963-1971 (other years possible, not verified)
1 pickup - H14V is the model with "W" vibrato taipiece.
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23 comments | Add your comment ! - silvertone3 - 2006-01-15
I have a red Airline H14 it had almost been butcherd by some kid at one time.Not hurt just sloppy paint and such a real mess.I paid 5 bucks for it on a garage sale with origanal case.I stripped the original finish and stained it light cherry with 10 hand rubbed coats of tung oil,added sealed tuners.The most interesting thing is the body.It's made of 5 pieces of wood, 3 strips glued together lengthwise for the main body and capped on both sides with maybe maple.It looks quite unique (in the nude) so to speak, I use it mainly for slide,seems like a pretty hot pickup and it sounds really fine tuned to standard.Definetly worth all of my 5 bucks! - Bam Bam - 2006-03-11
I own a mint condition H14 Bobkat, and I love it. It was given to me for free due to a split in the bridge wood. It collapsed onto the guitar, and was unplayable when I got it. I glued and clamped the bridge, re-installed it, set it up for intonation. It playes like a dream. The Dearmond pickups sound sweet(too bad for all the hum). - anthonyz - 2006-08-14
This was my first guitar - straight from the 1971 Sears catalog for my 10th birthday. I didn't want to burden my parents, so I got the cheapest electric they had. Later I continued to "trade up" until I got a '69 Telecaster in 1978. (That was a real guitar, and I'm sad I eventually sold it in '81.) Anyway, I had long since forgotten the old Sears guitar and was Googling like mad to find out what it was. Thanks to your site I now know. - Kevin - 2006-12-29
I purchased this guitar at a moving sale today for $25.00. Plays great! What a nice old guitar. The guy I bought it from said he got it when he was a kid about 40 years ago. The only date I can find is inside the fitted case written in ink, Oct. 19, 1965. - rickenbacker325c - 2007-03-21
I have an H14 bokat,I just got it from my brother in law.It had been hangingin in a bar for over 20 years.When I got it the floating bridge was missing due to the fact that there were no strings,the nut was also missing.Since then I have made a nut and bridge out of an old plastic kitchen cutting board and some super glue,suprisingly it turned out really good.This is only temporary though until I get the money to have it fixed.The date on the pickguard is june 4th 1964.It has two pickups(One was added),the stock one (the golden tone) works great nice sound.The added one is installed at the same angle as the stock pickup and is about and inch above it.It is not working.I am almost positive that it is a harmony (dearmond designed)pickup though.It is exactly the same size and mounts the same way(right on top of the pickguard) but this one is solid chrome.It is identical to the pickup on the h42 stratotone newport,and the h44 And many other of the stratotone family.Apparently it was called the "Hershey bar pickup"The pickup is stamped on the back "6/2/62"I know that it was added because it is a completly different pickup than the one that all h14 came with and the wiring was sloppy and it was cloth braided while the goldentone is gray rubber.If any body wants to buy the pickup...let me know.Im willing to get rid of it when I get a new pickguard made(the old one is cracked a little and seems very brittle,I'll keep it for the date of manufacture only).The body is in excelent shape,and the finish is also excelent.I cleaned it thoroughly(20 odd years of cigarette tar and gunk was caked on it,I think it actually formed a protective layer haha)and waxed it with some zymol(try this stuff it works wonders)automotive wax.The neck and Frets are also in great shape.the frets look brand new but they are original.The neck needs to be reset though,I put a baseball card in the neck pocket and reinstalled the neck and the action at the higher frets came down a bunch but there are a couple buzzy frets now past the 14th fret.I don't mind spending some dough on fixing it though because even with the homemade(cutting board bridge and nut) and with the bad neck angle,the tone is really cool.and the 3/4 neck is really sweet. For the infor on the extra "hershey bar pick up" I have,or if you have an extra bridge for an h14 let me know. rickenbacker325c@aol.com - TheJetMedic - 2008-05-07
My parents gave me a new Bobkat on my 16th birthday in 1967. It was a sunburst, single pickup. I played it for 2 years in a band, through a Silvertone piggyback amp. I am not sure why I ever got rid of it, but I'm looking for another one 40 years later. Actually bidding on one on eBay. If I win I'll provide an update. It carried my band as the rhythym guitar very nicely with great tone range. I wish I appreciated ownership then as much as I would now. - Jet - Emmanuel - 2010-01-20
I just bought one of these off ebay. I was attracted by its simplicity and the tone I heard on Youtube. I am truly amazed by the sound this baby makes. It's awesome for old school rock & roll, can't beat it for that genre. - Naptown Pete - 2011-02-07
Love your site!
I bought a Harmony Bobcat when I was 13 (1971) along with a very cool Fender amp.
I certainly enjoyed the guitar, but sports and a piano instructor that wanted me to play classicals at recitals kept me away from taking the time to establish a solid ability to play guitar.
But I kept the guitar. Now 40 years later, the guitar was the inspiration for my son to pick up where I left off. He now plays a Peavey T-60 that amazes my friends who play $1000 to $20,000 guitars.
I'm tempted to have my luthier buddy do a set-up on this old Bobcat and give it a new life.
Its in very good condition all things considered.
Pots are a little scratchy, but the pickups really do sound good.
It's a keeper! - Brett - 2011-04-10
This was my first guitar in...'82-ish. Mine was tobacco sunburst, but I painted it red. Actually ruined the finish. Didn't realize they also came in red. Wonder what ever happened to that guitar. - Billboy - 2011-04-10
Just purchased my H14 at a garage sale awsome guitar a little ruff but when I get it refinished it will be a beauty. What more could 20 bucks buy - fatmanstratman - 2011-05-08
My 1964 H14 Bobkat is in near mint condition and is one of the most prized in all my guitar collection. The single Dearmond "Golden Tones" pickup is sweet and clear - for that real "suf sound". I bought it privately from a guy here in the UK, where these guitars are, sadly, few and far between. I paid the equivalent of approx. $150 for it - they are now commanding ridiculous sums on eBay. For a 47 year old guitar, the H14 is simply amazing - I will NEVER part with it! - fat man with a h14 - 2011-06-06
i got this guitar at a garage sale two days ago im not sure what year it is but i got fo five bucks. the paint is a great but is chipped a little. im pretty sure that the pickups are not the originalsbut it sounds great even on my marshal ms2 mini amp. im going to look under the pick guard to fing out how old it is. - olplucker - 2011-11-29
My first electric! Mom & Dad bought it used for me, I think I was in 5th grade (1968). They bought me a Kalamazoo (I thought the tremelo was really cool) amp after about 3 months of playing without one. Hey, Thanks for the memories. Great site. - Bobkat Man - 2012-03-15
These are my absolute favorites! I buy one every chance that I get. I have 5 different configurations and they are all great. - KeninDelhi - 2012-03-31
I just pulled my old H14 out of the basement, I got it 40 years ago when I was 11. did some research and found your site. Glad to hear everyone is still excited to own one. Mine is in excellent shape, still in the original case. I think I will give it a try, definately will hold onto it. - Don Rowell - 2012-05-05
I have a single pu model that was my 1st guitar bought for $54 at Lechmere Sales in Dedham (Boston area)in 1965. I sold it once, then bought it back when the friend I sold it t wasn't playing it. Many years ago, I painted the pickguard & headstock black and replaced the bridge when it broke. Maybe it's time to restore it. Still plays well and sounds good. Alittle hard to keep in tune. Enormous sentimental value! - Howard - 2013-12-20
I have a guitar similar to this not sure what model, but I like it and is lighter than other guitars I have played that's why I like the airline so much - Dave - 2014-05-28
I got one of these today with an old winston practice amp for 30 freaking dollars...with the original case! - - 2016-07-15
I have one for sale mint condition call me 901 649 3498 - - 2016-07-15
I have one for sale mint condition call me 901 649 3498 - Scott fruhman - 2016-07-15
I have one for sale mint condition call me 901 649 3498 - Don mills - 2017-03-01
This was also my first ax my mom got out of a catalog for I think 39 bucks in 63. I just found another for 300 after 50 years as a pro I just had to have it - Dave Watkins - 2019-02-24
What a great historical database!
My parents bought me a Harmony H14 and case in about 1963 or 64 from Kwan's Music Shop in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. I took lessons there for a year or so but didn't really figure things out until a new kid (Dennis T.) moved to our school and we started jamming together learning songs off 45 rpm records. We teamed up with another kid (Dwayne B.) who was a good drummer and eventually a guy (John S.) on vocals and rhythm. My little Harmony never let our band down but was eventually set aside when I picked up bass for the group.
I sold my "Bobcat" in 1970 to a younger cousin way out in British Columbia to help finance an engineering degree and forgot about it. In 1990 while on a trip to the west coast I found it again in my uncle's closet and bought it back.
I play bass in a couple of bands now and own guitars ranging from Marten D28 to a Goden Highway Five bass and a Fender Strat but still pick up that little Harmony from time to time.
It plays and sounds like it always has and has a unique feel due to its size and balance.
It has since been autographed by Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO).
Just a couple months ago I was at a Wynonna Judd concert and husband (Cactus Moser) who drums in The Big Noise did a solo on a Harmony H14! Still a relevant instrument with a unique sound!
Thanks again.
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