Up for sale, a 1960 Harmony Meteor H70 in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. A rare variant produced in the USA by Harmony for Montgomery Ward's in-house "Airline" brand, this Meteor has cosmetic features exclusive to the Airline version, including brown cupcake knobs, black mustache covers on the DeArmond "gold foil" pickup pair, and an ornate harp tailpiece. The Airline model also had its own unique designation, the H8448 (H70 substituted here in-line with the standard Harmony product line).

What makes this early Meteor an enduring favorite and a unique instrument among Harmony hollowbodies is the spruce top, which has a more complex and rich tone than the maple tops seen on later Meteors and all Rockets, Rebels, and assorted H prefix models. It's no wonder that Meteors found their way into the hands of players such as Keith Richards and Dave Davies early in their respective careers.

Acoustically, the guitar offers tons of natural projection and a rich, detailed sound with great percussive snap and bark. And plugged in there's really nothing that can match the balance, clarity, and overall tonal character of a good pair of gold foil pickups. They have a cutting twang, tight bass, and a harmonically-rich midrange that sounds great when each pickup is singled out or when paired together. Both pickups have strong output, and when mated with the fully hollow body and spruce/maple tonewood combination, the sound benefits from both the immediate attack of the maple and the warmth and fullness of the hollow construction. Featherweight at 5lbs 15oz, this H70 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-52 roundwound strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Chunky "baseball bat" C, full shoulders, measuring .925” 1st fret, .970” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood,
-Frets: Slender, hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
-Scale Length: 24 1/4”
-Nut: 1 3/4”, bone
-Tuners: Waverly open-gear

Body Specs:

-Wood: Spruce, Maple
-Pickups: DeArmond “mustache” gold foils x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector switch
-Hardware: Nickel-plated “harp” tailpiece, Brazilian rosewood bridge (with bone saddle insert) and pickup risers
-Plastics: Brown “cupcake” knobs x4, two-ply pickguard
-Serialization: 1960 date stamp visible through F hole

The two-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish highlights the lightly figured "bearclaw" spruce top, and the finish exhibits extensive vertical checking, particularly prominent on the top. Cosmetic wear is limited to a handful of tiny dings on the top and on the back at the lower bout. The smooth matching nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless save for a few shallow marks along the profile length that are nigh imperceptible to the palm.

The original chipboard case is included; about half of the bottom of the case has separated, but the original handle is intact and all of the latches are functional.