Harmony-Silvertone Woods Question

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Post Reply
User avatar
Alan Peterson
Posts: 127
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:32 pm
Location: Washington DC USA

Harmony-Silvertone Woods Question

Post by Alan Peterson »

Seeing my message on old Harmony guitars in the archtop forum, a buddy gave me a 1960s vintage Silvertone acoustic -- basically the same as the old Harmony "Stella" flattop cowboy jobbies -- with a badly separated and cracked back. Its too bent up and split to try and glue down again, so I was just going to replace it with a piece of 1/8" instrument grade birch ply.

In knifing off the old damaged back, I see it was actually a solid piece of wood and not a ply. For a cheap guitar, circa 1964, seeing solid woods was a bit of a surprise.

Anyone know what kind of solids they would have used back then, and where to find an affordable piece today? I'm still going with the ply but I'd sure like to know.
Alan Peterson
Name in Anagram Form: "Resonant Peal"
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Harmony-Silvertone Woods Question

Post by Barry Daniels »

They made them from various woods but birch is fairly common. By the way, where do you get "instrument grade birch ply"?
MIMF Staff
User avatar
Alan Peterson
Posts: 127
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:32 pm
Location: Washington DC USA

Re: Harmony-Silvertone Woods Question

Post by Alan Peterson »

Barry Daniels wrote:Where do you get "instrument grade birch ply"?
Its the same as "marine grade", just prettier. :D
Alan Peterson
Name in Anagram Form: "Resonant Peal"
David King
Posts: 2690
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:01 pm
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:

Re: Harmony-Silvertone Woods Question

Post by David King »

My Stella has mahogany back and sides.
Post Reply

Return to “Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars”