In response to the folk boom of the late '50s and the rise of rock n' roll in the early '60s, every department store and mail-order catalog wanted to make sure they had plenty of guitars in stock. Mass-produced axes from brands like Harmony, Silvertone, and Kay may have looked the part and temporarily satisfied the desires of aspiring songsters and rockers. While they may have captured the right look to inspire aspiring players, these instruments were entry-level at best. Even though some were made out of the right materials, they were never actually built to be functional instruments that would ever tune and play properly.
Fortunately, Scott Baxendale and his team of luthiers in Athens, Ga., recognize the potential of these guitars and regularly remanufacture them. In doing so, they totally, re-build, re-brace, and re-voice these instruments, giving them new life and world class tone with no shortage of authentic mojo. These inspiring instruments are an exceptional value, and they're an incredible way to recycle and repurpose old axes.
This Baxendale ‘50s Harmony H165 has been totally re-braced to a scalloped, hand-voiced X-brace pattern. It also sports new frets, a new solid rosewood bridge with a bone saddle, a new 1-3/4"-wide bone nut, a new solid rosewood bridge with bone saddle, and Grover tuning machines. Its lightweight feel and round vintage neck profile make a guitar that is comfortable and inviting, and thanks to the refret, new bridge, and meticulous setup work, it plays like a brand new guitar. Its all-mahogany body produces a rich, warm sound, and Baxendale's voicing on this one lends impressive bass response for a mid-size guitar.
This Baxendale '50s Harmony H165 Conversion has mojo for days and the sound and playability to back it up. Every Baxendale Conversion includes a lifetime warranty, and this one also comes with a Deluxe Gig Bag from Guardian.