I have a Harmony Sovereign that was converted to X bracing and it really makes a huge difference in it's sound. Well worth the time and effort to do this mod.
The amount of real time is probably not known but I am always amazed to see these works of art. I'm a professional myself but I don't have all the tools to do such job's. Just amazed! So many showing what they can do. There's no Harmony that I know out there that sounds like that.
I am an amateur luthier. I inherited a 1970 Harmony sovereign (maple version) in sad shape. I removed the ladder bracing and installed X bracing. Really woke it up. I wish I knew more about carving bracing for tone.
nice job, always dug harmony guitars. I did similar bracing work & neck reset on my 61' Harmony Master archtop about 20 yrs ago. Had to add a few cleats where the F-holes were starting to crack at two points --now all better than new
Learned quite a bit from this video, thank you. I obtained a Harmony 000 recently and besides a neck reset, wish to rebrace the sound board, so that means the back, which is already cracked in two places, has to come off; that's the scary part. The instrument needs French polish as well.
Learned so much from watching this video! I never realized how much removing the back can change the neck angle. Can this be done instead of resetting a neck?
The before and after is hardly a like for like comparison, you could basically build a shed out of those old braces whereas the new ones were slender and carved. It’s hard to know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the shaping and dimensioning of the braces did more for the time than the bracing pattern. Whatever it was, huge difference.
I appreciate all the work that went into this project but to me I liked it how it was. The world is full of modern guitars with booming bass sounds. That old girl sounded how it was ment to. It's not a criticism of your work or ability but a reflection of my opinion of upgrading everything.
To me the X bracing doesn’t sound better, it sounds different. With the ladder bracing it sounded like a 1930’s guitar which is a great sound. With the X bracing it sounds like a modern guitar, also a great sound. Personally I would have stuck with the ladder bracing since I own an X braced Gibson J-15 and the Harmony would give me another sound. It’s fun to have a variety of different style guitars.
Baxendale Conversions are the pioneers and leaders in this process having remanufactured over 3000 of these guitars. Www.staygoldguitars.com/baxendaleconversions. To see our process and available inventory. What we do is the greenest tech in guitars.
You mentioned all mahogany. I know some Harmonys, Stellas, Silvertones, True Tones, Vegas, etc. were all wood, and some were plywood. This was an impressive and nerve-wracking job. They plywood models would not have been worth it.
I have an 73 harmony maple, top bulge up I put a quad A top with scalloped X bracing. What a cannon, just put a piece of walnut in the back like D35 to calm it down was alittle to brite also put rosewood binding around. It has a super high quality voice, it is different than my high end Martin's but i love it for certian songs and you can sure hear it playing in a group, i love it.
I know it sounds strange it’s just something that’s the way it’s done in the industry. You just count the 64ths Sometimes you say 4 1/2 64 ths that sounds very silly. lol
Very cool! That’s a massive project, thanks for bringing us along.
Fantastic job, too! It’s like a brand new guitar. Really impressive.
Glad you like it!
Excellent work and great demo.
Thank you! Cheers Peter!
Amazing difference! Nice work.
Thank you! Cheers!
I very much enjoyed this video, big improvement. Thank's
Awesome, thank you!
There's nothing like an old, dry soundboard and a job well done.
Amazing difference! Great job. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
I have a Harmony Sovereign that was converted to X bracing and it really makes a huge difference in it's sound. Well worth the time and effort to do this mod.
That really does sound great. Nice job.
Glad you like it!
Great improvement and a very instructive comparison. Thanks for Bert’s, ‘One for Jo’👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Outstanding. May God richly bless...
Great video. What a difference you made.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The amount of real time is probably not known but I am always amazed to see these works of art. I'm a professional myself but I don't have all the tools to do such job's. Just amazed! So many showing what they can do. There's no Harmony that I know out there that sounds like that.
Nice work! I admire your patience.
Thank you! Cheers!
Great to watch a man who knows exactly what he is doing. Baz
Nice work. Now I know how to set the neck in this method
Very interesting project! Great work too.
Браво мастеру! Великолепная работа по ремонту и настройке высоты струн на гитаре! Молодец!
Well done!
I am an amateur luthier. I inherited a 1970 Harmony sovereign (maple version) in sad shape. I removed the ladder bracing and installed X bracing. Really woke it up. I wish I knew more about carving bracing for tone.
nice job, always dug harmony guitars. I did similar bracing work & neck reset on my 61' Harmony Master archtop about 20 yrs ago. Had to add a few cleats where the F-holes were starting to crack at two points --now all better than new
Very cool!
I usually use pallette knives to remove braces or putty knifes look where glue seam loose start there
Learned quite a bit from this video, thank you. I obtained a Harmony 000 recently and besides a neck reset, wish to rebrace the sound board, so that means the back, which is already cracked in two places, has to come off; that's the scary part. The instrument needs French polish as well.
Very nice
Sound greeeat! What brace set did you use - got a link? Did you do any additional carving on them or is that just stock as they came? Thanks!
I recently had my Gibson LG-0 X braced.
I am doing the same thing to a silvertone
I a big fan of unattached X-braces it lets the top scream. Some say it risky but boy the guitar sings. Nice vid!
Thanks!
Learned so much from watching this video! I never realized how much removing the back can change the neck angle. Can this be done instead of resetting a neck?
Thanks Paul..Yes you can! But, unless the back is loose I wouldn’t lean in that direction. Not as fun. lol
I learned how to play on a Harmony guitar vert similar in 1972.
It was my mom's .
I believe it was all mahogany ?
The before and after is hardly a like for like comparison, you could basically build a shed out of those old braces whereas the new ones were slender and carved. It’s hard to know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the shaping and dimensioning of the braces did more for the time than the bracing pattern. Whatever it was, huge difference.
I appreciate all the work that went into this project but to me I liked it how it was. The world is full of modern guitars with booming bass sounds. That old girl sounded how it was ment to. It's not a criticism of your work or ability but a reflection of my opinion of upgrading everything.
When I was a kid, a Harmony guitar was considered a disposable junk guitar. I am 85 so that was a while back.
Is that a Harmony Sovereign in the background?
I don’t think so. Not sure though
To me the X bracing doesn’t sound better, it sounds different.
With the ladder bracing it sounded like a 1930’s guitar which is a great sound.
With the X bracing it sounds like a modern guitar, also a great sound.
Personally I would have stuck with the ladder bracing since I own an X braced Gibson J-15 and the Harmony would give me another sound. It’s fun to have a variety of different style guitars.
How did you maintain a radius on the top, or did you clamp flat braced to the top and flatten the top?
The braces had been pre-radiused. The top follows the radius from the brace. So the top after it’s braced does have a radius it’s not flat.
Aren't the x braces supposed to be installed against the soundboard?? The Body has ladder braces.
Thats correct and the back is ladder braced…
Baxendale Conversions are the pioneers and leaders in this process having remanufactured over 3000 of these guitars. Www.staygoldguitars.com/baxendaleconversions. To see our process and available inventory.
What we do is the greenest tech in guitars.
Thanks I’ll check out your process. There wasn’t a lot of info online. I’ll see if I can pick up any pointers from you. Cheers!
Nicest Harmony guitar sound ever.
You mentioned all mahogany. I know some Harmonys, Stellas, Silvertones, True Tones, Vegas, etc. were all wood, and some were plywood. This was an impressive and nerve-wracking job. They plywood models would not have been worth it.
Impressive! It's lighter-weight, and stiffer. Next time you might try a cello bassbar.
Not following you with that one?
Amazing "Diffenence"...
I have an 73 harmony maple, top bulge up I put a quad A top with scalloped X bracing. What a cannon, just put a piece of walnut in the back like D35 to calm it down was alittle to brite also put rosewood binding around. It has a super high quality voice, it is different than my high end Martin's but i love it for certian songs and you can sure hear it playing in a group, i love it.
4/64" is really 1/8" equivalent to 3mm.......... Why don't you just say 1/8"??.... Guitar sounds awesome by the way 🙂
I know it sounds strange it’s just something that’s the way it’s done in the industry. You just count the 64ths Sometimes you say 4 1/2 64 ths that sounds very silly. lol
Great work, but please lose the loud club-music in the background. Takes you right out of it.