Harmony guitars were built in Chicago and sold primarily through department stores across the United States. In the mid-20th Century, the Harmony brand brought well-built, affordable instruments to a wide audience. Introduced in the late 1950s, the H54 Rocket was Harmony’s fully-hollow thinline electric, a hard-working instrument that captured the interest of the era’s emerging electric guitar culture.
This 1959 H54 Rocket features a single-cutaway, fully-hollow body that measures just shy of 2" at the side. Outfitted with two DeArmond gold-foil pickups, this Rocket produces clear, slightly gritty tone with the wide acoustic resonance and dynamic response of a proper archtop. The sunburst finish is complemented by cream “Cupcake” knobs—a signature Harmony detail. This Rocket retains its original electronics, original floating bridge, original trapeze tailpiece, original tuning machines, and original pickguard. These elements lend an authentic vintage vibe, but fortunately they still keep the guitar functional and usable for a modern player.
Setup with flatwound strings with a wound 3rd string for proper intonation, this H54 Rocket is a surprisingly good player. It has a chunky neck, and in your hands, it feels responsive and resonant, with a tone that sits comfortably between warm, airy rhythm and articulate single-note lines. The gold-foil pickups contribute a slightly-compressed, harmonically-rich voice that reacts to picking intensity and can push your amp into smooth saturation. For players interested in trying vintage electrics, a good-playing Rocket is an excellent place to start. For those who already have an extensive quiver of guitars, here's a unique sound and mojo that will add new dimension to any collection.
Overall, this 1959 H54 Rocket is a well-preserved example of Harmony’s Chicago-era craftsmanship. The finish is worn and checked all around (see photos), and there is some significant wear around the edge of the bass f-hole as well as around the edges of the headstock. Nevertheless, it's rare to find an old Harmony that plays as nicely as this one, and it delivers the tone, feel, and character we love about vintage guitars. There's something special about department-store Harmony guitars of the 1950s—for a generation of players, guitars like these were the first step on the electric journey. This 1959 Harmony H54 Rocket includes a basic gig bag.