Re: Unlabelled Harmony - Sears?
One of the first things buyers noticed about the first Japanese instruments to appear around 1970 or so, was that they looked like the higher-priced instruments that many of us wanted but couldn't afford. The Harmony instruments, as well as Kay and the other budget US brands, looked cheaper, with dull finishes, few inlays, little binding or other ornamentation, etc.
Your Takamine or Yamaha resembled a Martin or a Gibson, not a Harmony or Kay. Whatever construction improvements (or non-improvements) the imports featured, they looked a helluva lot better than their domestic competitors -- who soon met their demises.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks