Airline 1965 Model H-78 Redburst Electric Guitar, Excellent

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This Airline 1965 Model H-78 Redburst is a great example of a 1960s department store guitar that collectors and players love.  These guitars have gone from the living rooms of collectors and the walls of pawn shops to stages everywhere.  The guitar is in excellent overall condition. The redburst finish is original and is in great shape.  Players will appreciate the professional refret.

Airline instruments were sold through Montgomery Ward during the 1960s and manufactured by a network of U.S. builders — most famously Valco, but also Harmony, Kay, and others. The H-78 designation and the body construction details here point toward Harmony-sourced manufacture, consistent with the floating bridge and the maple body and neck combination. The three-pickup layout with individual on/off switches — rather than a rotary or toggle selector — is characteristic of higher-end Airline models from this era and gives the player access to all seven pickup combinations.

The guitar sports three DeArmond/Rowe gold foil pickups dated August 31, 1965 — all reading within a narrow 5.29k–5.36k range. The tortoiseshell pickguard, all three pickup covers, binding, wiring, pots, knobs, switch, tailpiece, and output jack are all original and in excellent condition. The body carries a handwritten date code of F-65-M, consistent with 1965 production. The Bigsby tailpiece is nickel-plated and original.  The tuners are non-original and required modifications to the headstock for installation. The tuner screws are also non-original. The frets were professionally replaced, and the original nut was shimmed. Everything else is original.  Action at the 12th fret is 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings with 11–46 gauge strings. The case included is a TKL — not original — in very good condition with no odor.  

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: Redburst
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: excellent
• Weight: 6lbs 13.5oz
• Overall Length: 40"
• Nut Width: 1-3/4"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 1-15/16"
• Scale Length: 24-1/4"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Material: maple
• Inlay: Pearl block
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .925"
• Neck Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Condition: excellent
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Tuner Brand And Model: generic vintage style
• Tuners Original?: no
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: yes
• Tuner Condition: very good
• Tuner Markings: none
• Tuner Screws Original?: no
• Truss Rod Cover: yes
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: shimmed
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fretboard Material: rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: very good
• Fret Repairs: possible refret
• Fret Count: 22
• Body Material: maple
• Body Condition: excellent
• Body Markings: F-65-M
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Binding: yes
• Body Binding Condition: excellent
• Body Length: 18-3/8"
• Lower Bout: 15-7/8"
• Waist: 9-1/2"
• Upper Bout: 11-1/2"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 2"
• Bridge Brand: Harmony?
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: floating bridge
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Tremolo Arm Original?: yes
• Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Condition: very good
• Saddle Material: bone
• Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: excellent
• Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
• Switch Brand: ?
• Switch Type: 3 individual pickup switches
• Switch Condition: excellent
• Switch Original?: yes
• Switch Tip Color: white
• Switch Tip Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Brand: DeArmond/Rowe Ind. USA gold foil
• Neck Pickup Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Reading: 5.33k
• Neck Pickup Markings: Aug 31 1965, Rowe Ind. USA
• Neck Pickup Condition: excellent
• Neck Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Neck Pickup Cover Color: chrome/gold
• Neck Pickup Cavity Condition: excellent
• Middle Pickup Brand: DeArmond/Rowe Ind. USA gold foil
• Middle Pickup Original?: yes
• Middle Pickup Reading: 5.36k
• Middle Pickup Markings: Aug 31 1965, Rowe Ind. USA
• Middle Pickup Condition: excellent
• Middle Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Middle Pickup Cover Color: chrome/gold
• Middle Pickup Cavity Condition: excellent
• Bridge Pickup Brand: DeArmond/Rowe Ind. USA gold foil
• Bridge Pickup Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 5.29k
• Bridge Pickup Markings: Aug 31 1965, Rowe Ind. USA
• Bridge Pickup Condition: excellent
• Bridge Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Bridge Pickup Cover Color: chrome/gold
• Bridge Pickup Cavity Condition: excellent
• Solders Original?: yes
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Count: 6
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: excellent
• Output Jack Original?: yes
• Tailpiece Brand: Bigsby
• Tailpiece Color: nickel
• Tailpiece Condition: excellent
• Tailpiece Original?: yes
• Knob Color: clear
• Knob Count: 6
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: excellent
• Case Brand: TKL
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: very good
• Case Smells?: none
• Documentation: none
• Accessories Included: none
• String Gauge: 11-46
• Smells?: none
• Neck Thickness At 12th Fret: 9.72"
• Nut Original?: no
• Saddle Original?: yes

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