Up for sale, a 1960 Airline “Roy Smeck” signature model Stratotone Jupiter in excellent condition and in perfect working order. The official Harmony catalog model number for this instrument is H7209, and while that designation certainly isn’t sexy, the Roy Smeck model certainly makes up for it in looks and playability. Manufactured by Harmony and only available for a few short years in the early 1960s, this was one of their more expensive offerings and a quality instrument to be sure. Unlike the newer imported Airline-branded guitars, this is a genuine, vintage USA-made example. The pickups have strong output and the clear, percussive quality that you only get from a DeArmond Gold Foil. The tone is full and nuanced, with great growl when you dime out your favorite vintage tube amplifier. The body is fully hollow and that adds a certain richness to the tone and soft attack to the notes that you simply can’t get with a solid body instrument. The guitar weighs in at a mere 5lbs 4oz. Professionally setup with comfortable, low action and a fresh set of 10-46 nickel strings, this Roy Smeck is ready for the stage and studio. The neck has a comfortable medium C profile that fills the palm nicely and plays exceedingly well. The original frets are intact with their full factory height, having never necessitated any fretwork. The frets show only l. Ight, uniform wear beneath frets 1-2, extending beneath the plain strings until fret 7, with virtually no wear further up the board. The rosewood fretboard is quite clean with pearl block inlays and multi-ply nitrate mint green fretboard binding. The original bone nut is intact, measuring 1 3/4 in width. On the headstock, the silkscreened “Airline” logo is clean and fully intact. The original Waverly open-back tuners are intact, turn smoothly, and hold pitch well. All of the original hardware is intact including the mini DeArmond bell knobs, nickel trapeze tailpiece, and carved Bazilian rosewood floating bridge. The iconic pointed pickguard is in excellent shape with the original “Rowe DeArmond” sticker on the back and only one small missing chip on one of the corners. The original factory order number and 1960 date stamp are also clear and intact, stamped to the inside of the back and visible with the pickguard removed. Cosmetically, this guitar is a very clean example. The maple top has moderate, tasteful flame figuring, while the back has more prominent ripples of flame in the maple. The original sunburst nitro lacquer finish is vibrant and rich with only light ambering. The guitar shows a few scuffs and nicks on the body as a whole, and there are a couple pictured slender repaired cracks on the bass side of the body (common with most Harmony hollowbody guitars) which are stable and professionally addressed. Check out our shop “Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, ” and please let us know if we can answer any questions! International orders will be declared as merchandise, and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. The item “1960 Airline Roy Smeck Stratotone Jupiter H7209 Vintage Guitar by Harmony USA” is in sale since Thursday, January 18, 2018. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Electric Guitars”. The seller is “mmguitarbar” and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Body Color: Sunburst
- String Configuration: 6 String
- Brand: Airline
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Model: Roy Smeck Stratotone Jupiter
- Body Type: Hollow
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Model Year: 1960
- Body Material: Maple
- Right-/ Left-Handed: Right-Handed