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Similar models awaiting restoration may be available to "pre-order" - please see "Restoration" section for any similar Guitars currently "In the Workshop".
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Whether it is Leadbelly, Blind Willie McTell or just 12-String Blues in general, these Harmonys & Stellas are the most authentic, practical and affordable option available.

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Harmony Stella 12 Strings Guitars.
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..........I don't often get to list these when already up & running and ready for sale...they tend to get reserved before we get there! At the time of writing I have four in stock, all waiting for me to complete work on them.

Basically, Harmony made Stella 12 strings are either the earlier Stella H922 (the Blind Willie McTell model!), made through from around 1940, when Harmony acquired the Stella name, up to about 1964, which was followed by the sunburst H912 to 1968, and then the natural/blond topped H913 to 1971....still the All Solid Birch, Ladder Braced 12 Fret to the body Stella with that classic slotted open headstock, still reminiscent of the early Stellas way back - designed to be tuned down for that characteristic 12 String Blues sound - and they are loud!

They play nicely with the distict "D" profile neck on the later models, heavy more "V" shaped on the earlier H922s, but all with that 2"/approx. 51mm. nut width. I aim for a 12th. fret action of around 3mm., making it ideal for a mixture of both fretted and bottleneck play. The sound is typically loud and pokey, just as a Stella should be - a great Bluesy voice! It has "That Sound" in spades - even, woody, bright, clear, ringing tone!

The original catalogues contains the following caution:- "A 12 string guitar should never be tuned up to regular 6 string guitar pitch, to avoid pulling up the top, or bowing the neck. Experienced players recommend tuning three or four half-tones lower." We have moved on of course since, with lighter string gauges, but it is still the case that these guitars were designed for that spine-tingling detuned sound, often achieved by tuning down to C, or other tunings that were commonly used.

In general terms the highly respected professional luthier I work with sees no problem in tuning 12 strings to concert pitch, but the increased tension is great, and these are vintage guitars! I fit two alternative stringing options - either with Martin Bronze Light gauge 12-54 gauge needed for the suggested C, or similar tuning, but which must only be used for lowered tunings, or Martin Bronze Extra-light 10-47 gauge, with which you might still want to tune to D and capo.

Here are some, not all, of the Harmony made 12 string Guitars I have sold in recent times - in some cases other examples of the same models may be currently available, or at least "in the workshop". Please enquire for current availability, prices and further details.

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PRE-2012 SALES:
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*** SOLD *** HARMONY STELLA H922 USA VINTAGE 1962 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET 12 STRING BLUES GUITAR - The Blind Willie McTell model - Ladder Braced, Great Condition, Character Looks & BluesTone - Photo #2.

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2012 SALES:
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*** SOLD *** HARMONY STELLA H912 USA VINTAGE 1964-1968 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET 12 STRING BLUES GUITAR - Ladder Braced, Great Condition, Character Looks & BluesTone, Overhaul I carried out included dressing work to frets & fingerboard - VTG1347 - Photo #1.

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*** SOLD *** HARMONY STELLA H913 USA VINTAGE 1971 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET 12 STRING ACOUSTIC BLUES GUITAR - Ladder Braced, Great Condition, Character Looks & BluesTone. Overhaul I carried out included dressing work to the frets & fingerboard - Photo #3.

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2015 SALES:
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*** SOLD ON PRE-ORDER! *** HARMONY STELLA H922 USA VINTAGE 1962 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET 12 STRING BLUES GUITAR - The Blind Willie McTell model - All Original, Ladder Braced, Great Condition, Character Looks & BluesTone - Major restoration, including Neck Reset & Re-fret for Perry Foster, Bluesman, Guitarist/Singer - "Big Daddy of British Blues"; "The Old Maestro" - http://www.perryfoster.co.uk - VTG1381 - 141203 - Photo #4.

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2016 SALES:
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*** SOLD ON PRE-ORDER! *** HARMONY STELLA H912 USA VINTAGE 1966 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET ACOUSTIC 12 STRING BLUES GUITAR - All Original Restored Condition Ladder Braced Great Character Looks BluesTone - Significant restoration included removal & re-fitting of fingerboard & Body top in order to complete repairs/renewals to dameged top braces, fret levelling/re-profiling & other minor overhaul works - VTG1507 - 151207 - Photo #6.

Sale Completed to Mark Braidner in Belfast - https://markbraidner.bandcamp.com/releases - "Mark Braidner specialises in finger style blues and slide playing"....see "FEEDBACK" opposite...........

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*** SOLD ON PRE-ORDER! *** HARMONY STELLA H913 USA VINTAGE c.1969 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET ACOUSTIC 12 STRING BLUES GUITAR - All Original Restored Condition Ladder Braced Great Character Looks BluesTone - Major restoration included installation of new trussrod, purpose making & fitting of replacement Ebony fingerboard and fretting, removal & re-fitting of guitar back panel in order to complete repairs/renewals to damaged braces & reinforcement/cleating of old crack repairs & other minor overhaul works - sold to buyer from Kenilworth, who has since been in touch to say how well he is enjoying the guitar & enquire about another one! - VTG1143 - 160502 - Photo #5.

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2018 SALES:
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HARMONY STELLA H912 CHICAGO, USA 1967 ALL SOLID BIRCH 12 FRET BLUES VINTAGE 12-STRING GUITAR = All Original Restored Condition Ladder Braced Great Character Looks BluesTone Restoration Completed & Delivered to Perry Foster, in Worcester...dubbed the `BIG DADDY of the BLUES' by fellow musicians....the 2nd. Stella 12-string he has had from me...Feedback - "Happy with that"!
http://www.earlyblues.com/Perry%20Foster%20details.htm - VTG1516 - SOLD ON PRE-ORDER!

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All guitars are restored to the same high standards as the scores of other Harmony & Stella guitars produced by Harmony throughout their long ownership of the Stella name from around 1940, up to the termination of USA production in Chicago in 1975, which I have restored and sold over the years.

The concentration is on structural soundness and playability, rather than any cosmetic touching-up, and certainly no ill-advised refinishing, but of course the guitars are sympathetically cleaned, setup and re-strung, as part restoration.

For availability and individual details on the various guitars, and the restoration work being done on them, please do contact me by email or telephone.

I set out to achieve a 12th. fret action of around 3mm. on these guitars...but if that sounds high to you, please bear in mind that we are in a totally different world of guitar-playing here, to which we cannot apply the "all my guitars have an action of less than 2mm." approach. These are 12 string blues guitars, needing a higher action, and it may be that players will use a bottleneck slide, in which case a low/electric type action just does not work, and some fret clearance is essential.

As indicated above, I fit two alternative stringing options - either with Martin Bronze Light gauge 12-54 gauge needed for the suggested C, or similar tuning, but which must only be used for lowered tunings, or Martin Bronze Extra-light 10-47 gauge, with which you might still want to tune to D and capo. I am happy to discuss other string types/gauges to buyer's requirements.

The guitars do not usually come with cases, although I do have some of the original covered pressed-board cases originally supplied with these guitars....those who remember these will recall that they are not exactly what we would now call a fitted case! Alternatively, I may be able to offer a suitable size Hiscox Liteflite hardshell case, offering infinitely better protection. Additional case prices available on request.