Super 1963 Harmony Sovereign H-22 Model Semi Acoustic Bass Guitar, Made in Chicago

Here we have a lovely Harmony H-22 Model Electric Bass Guitar, made in Chicago, in sunburst lacquer finish, with laminated maple body. maple neck with rosewood fingerboard.

One of the 1960s’ finest basses within its price range, the Harmony H-22 “Hi Value” Electric Bass retailed originally at $99.50 and was the giant Chicago company’s first bass guitar offering. The H-22 was officially introduced in Harmony’s 1962 catalogue, and it remained pretty much the same into the late ’60s when the body design was altered to a double cutaway.

This bass is from the first couple of years of production (the stamp under the bass f-hole indicates 1963) and features a lightweight flat-topped fully hollow body mounting one excellent-sounding DeArmond pickup down by the neck. The neck itself is very comfortable, with a 30″ scale dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. This early example has a block rosewood tailpiece covered by a chrome handrest (that incidentally was designed for Gibson steel guitars in the 1930s). The most distinctive cosmetic feature is the large white plastic off-center Batwing pickguard, which certainly gives it an unmistakable look! Controls are simple, with single tone and volume knobs and a large “klunk” switch that works with the tone control for instant tone modification from dark to “baritone”.

The H-22 was used extensively in the mid-1960s by both Muff Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group, Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, and a host of lesser-known garage band players, and its aggressively thumpy tone can be clearly heard on many recordings. Popular up into the late 1960s, the H-22 has recently again become a much-used and sought-after item with new generations of players discovering its quirky charm, extremely easy handling, and excellent sonic qualities.

This particular example is in absolutely beautiful cosmetic condition, with hardly a mark on it and sports all the original parts and hardware. The neck is very playable, but it’s worth noting that there is a concave bow to the neck, simply due to being stored under string tension for many years, the truss rod is functional, but appears to be at its maximum torque. It’s not uncommon for a bass of this age, however,  we feel that it would benefit from a new truss rod in order to make this unique bass 100%.

As a side note, This actual bass is the very one featured on page 19 of ‘The Bass Book, by Tony Bacon & Barry Moorhouse. It has had just one owner from new and was owned and played by Maurice Preece of ‘The Cimmarons’ and is featured on the last track of the ‘Brum Beat’ Album, released 1st Feb 1964. In the photo, you’ll find Maurice directly below the “P” in “Groups” – with the Harmony just showing. That particular album is very collectable now, as one John Bonham was the drummer with The Senators on Track one. Also, see pictured, a copy of the original 1963 purchase receipt.which comes with the bass. Another photo shows The Cimmarons performing at The ‘Droitwich Winter Gardens’ Oct 1963, Rick Price on the left eventually joined ‘The Move’ in their later years and then performed with Roy Wood and ‘Wizzard’ during the ’70s.