Re: Harmony H-417 Mandolin
It should be a Harmony Monterey A style. They made the Monterey from the mid 30's to the late 70's. I don't know if they kept the same model number all those years. They should be all wood and although people love the "mojo" of these old Harmony instruments, they were still low end instruments. With that said I have a friend that spent an immense amount of time rebuilding one from the inside out that turned out decent but he'll never get back what he put into it. If you like it buy it. If it was me I'd probably be looking at the newer instrument myself. Old doesn't always equate as better. Look at the bridge, some of the tops have a habit of collapsing.
There might be a date code inside that is stamped. It will begin with a F or S and then a number to signify the year. It's not always there and there are a few where it isn't the year. Harmony was a company where quantity was job one.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
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