Harmony Roy Smeck H7208 Stratotone 1962

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1962 Harmony Roy Smeck H7208 Stratotone is a stunning example of mid-century American electric guitar craftsmanship. Built in Chicago during Harmony’s peak, the H7208 combines charming retro design with surprisingly versatile tone. Featuring a solid poplar body with a maple top, bolt-on maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard, this lightweight single-cut delivers warm, woody resonance and an unmistakable vintage character that players and collectors love.

Equipped with DeArmond gold foil pickups, the Stratotone offers crisp, dynamic cleans and gritty overdrive when pushed. The tone is distinctly vintage—bright but full, ideal for blues, early rock, and awesome slide tones. 

This example has seen some work, all hidden under the pickguard.  The pots are original, as are the pickups, but the wiring from the pickups to the pots has been spliced.  The pickguard is a replacement.  You can see the shadow of the original guard when the replacement is removed.  New screw holes were added to mount the pickguard.  The top has been altered under the pickguard as well - for some reason, someone has cut the top cavity access - see the pics.  The bridge is an add-on that required two holes to be drilled in the top.  A couple of the bridge saddles vibrate a bit when the guitar is played.  

The frets have been very professionally replaced.  The neck plays perfectly.  The truss rod is effective and has room for future neck relief adjustments.  The tuners, pickups, knobs and tailpiece are all original.

At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, all instruments are inspected, photographed accurately, and professionally set up. We buy, sell, and accept trades on vintage guitars, amps, and effects. For related instruments, explore our Vintage Fender Guitars, Gibson Guitars Collection, or visit our Sell or Trade Your Gear page.

The Harmony Roy Smeck Stratotone models were named for famed guitarist Roy Smeck, known as “The Wizard of the Strings.” Produced from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, these instruments were used by countless blues and garage musicians for their gritty tone and affordability. The H7208 remains one of the most collectible Stratotone variants thanks to its DeArmond pickup and distinctive copper finish.

Real user reviews of early 1960s Harmony Roy Smeck guitars from online forums:

• “Beautiful old-school tone and great feel.” – The Gear Page
• “The Hershey Bar pickup is pure vintage magic.” – Harmony Central
• “Light, punchy, and records like a dream.” – Reddit r/Guitar
• “Looks like a time capsule from the early ’60s.” – MyLesPaul Forum
• “Perfect lo-fi blues and garage rock tones.” – TDPRI Forum

Specs:

• Color: Natural
• Weight: 5lbs 7oz
  
• Top: Maple
• Body: Maple
  
• Body Date/Code: See Pics
• Neck: Maple
  
• Neck Profile: Medium Chunky C
  
• Fretboard: Bound Brazilian Rosewood
  
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Block
  
• Frets: Original
  
• Fret Count: 20
  
• Nut: Looks replaced, not 100% sure.
  
• Nut width: 1-3/4"
  
• Radius: 12"
  
• Scale: 22-3/4"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .945"
• Neck thickness at 8th Fret: .97"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
  
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
  
• Overall Length: 38"
  
• Lower bout: 13-1/4"
  
• Waist: 8"
  
• Upper bout: 9-1/2"
  
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-13/16"
• String gauge: 10-46
  
• Hardware Color: Nickel
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: DeArmond/Rowe Goldfoil single coil
• Pickup Reading: 9.82k
• Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: DeArmond/Rowe Goldfoil single coil
• Pickup Reading: 11.37k
• Original?: Yes
  
• Bridge: Non Original Jazzmaster Style
• Tuners: Original
• Knobs: Original
  
• Switch: Original
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: Modern Gig Bag
• Notes: Heavily modded, see pics

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.