I don't begrudge anyone for spending 'more than it's worth' to get a guitar like this into shape. They've got some character to them, you're saving an instrument from the scrapheap, and you can probably be fairly confident in the final product. I'd love to have Woodford-refurbed pawnshop special
I don't know, I try not to be one of those 'tone wood'' types, and maybe it's just my lack of experience talking, but to my mind no two acoustics are going to sound the same, compounded with the fact that you know the guitar you have is already used to the conditions you live in. I really don't find it odd at all that people would prefer to spend a little more money on an old guitar they've had for a long time vs. a little less money on a new one. It's not really so much about emotional attachment as it is about consistency. It's really a no-brainer to me, as far as acoustics are concerned anyway.
Had one of these guitars in 1969 . In 1972 I was mugged in Manchester UK and the Muggers put me in hospital for a few days . They also kicked in the the side and the top of the guitar , beyond making it worth while repairing it ,at the time . In 69 it cost about 35 UK pounds . All this I had fogotten about untill this post reminded me of it . Not to worry though it was almost 50 years ago . Love your work . I am a retired Cabinet Maker and have repaired quite a few guitars in the past few years .
I think now that we belong to a gang that we should get black leather jackets emblazoned with either "Woodford's Warriors " or Ted's Terrors".Can we vote on this? Hands?
The late Guy Clark was a fairly close friend of mine during the early part of his career as a singer and songwriter. He was also a very capable luthier. He supplemented his income by doing modifications of various guitars. One of his favorite mods was to remove the back of a Harmony Sovereign Jumbo and rebrace it, providing X-bracing with scalloping. He did some very nice work. I should also mention that Mance Lipscomb played a Sovereign that was given to him by Mack McCormick and Chris Strachwitz. He wanted to play an electric guitar, but they felt that the Sovereign fit with the image they wanted him to convey on his tours.
Yeah, Mance's was part of a set that they had taken with them to provide as 'appropriate' guitars to the old blues guys they were recording and documenting. I have done the same mod to two Sovereign guitars I have had the good fortune to own. One is still my go to guitar, although it now needs another neck reset and probably a bridge doctor!
Watch out for those European cheesemakers! I, personally, have fallen victim to their cheesemaking sweet-talking. My guitars have been colonized by lactobacillus, and now I have Europeans dropping by nearly everyday claiming to be checking on their cheese. I have no privacy, and my house is routinely full of European cheesemakers. Very frustrating when I want to practise my guitar. I suspect these European cheesemakers and their claims of ownership of various strains of lactobacillus are nothing but gaslighting to distract from the fact these same European cheesemakers are, collectively, digging an enormous hole in my backyard. They tell me not to worry about this hole, but the entrance to the hole has signage: "Eurocheese Domination or Bust." Do you think I should be concerned about this?
Wait until the European cheese makers congregate inside the hole, then simply refill it on top of them. Introduce them to a bit of an Eskimo copalheim making tradition.
Pete Townshend also used 6 and 12-string Sovereigns when writing many of The Who's hits of the '60s...you can count Substitute and Behind Blue Eyes (1970), among others just as notable.
I have a '68. The action was trestle-like when I got it, but I actually performed my first neck reset on it. Jimmy Page still has his Sovereign, and was on the cover of one of the guitar mags with it, within the past year. Another famous Harmony user was Pete Townshend. He had a six string H1260, and a 12-string H-1270, which can be see on his studio wall, before he switched to Gibsons.
For some reason that guitars tone is perfect to my ears. I’ve watched almost all your videos, and even though it prob doesn’t have the value of some of the Martins and gibsons you work on, I get why the owner wanted this one taken care of. Great repair.
Fine work, a joy to watch. Lucid explanations of your criteria and rationales for decisions, and actions as you were taking them. As always, many thanks.
Nice job! I've owned a couple of these Sovereigns. I believe they, like most of the Harmony guitars of the time, had bad neck sets from the factory. But they do sound good.
The repair work was awesome as usual. The Latin binomial mold identification was just off the hook. Best channel for guitar repair and mycology on TH-cam.
Luv the mold info!! Part luthier, part scientist! It is amazing the vast amount of knowledge you have!! Breedlove guitars have the string thru bridge also! They are a pain in the butt to restring!
Big Joe Williams used a harmony sovereign. He had 3 extra strings crudely fitted on his. I think Muddy Waters played one on his "folk singer" album. Those department store, ladder braced guitars are all over American blues recordings, most likely because they were aforadable & easily obtainable for working class musicans.
Have a '63 12string. Huge voice. Bought in 1965. Re-glued some braces at Hoffman in Minneapolis 2005. Never a neck problem. Trapeze solves the warped bridge tendency. Takes a big case!
Gotta be careful with those pesky Cheese Consortium folks. You had me chucking. Ditch the food channel idea. Maybe a comedy channel with this kind of humor! 😄😄😄
Dermot Mcilroy also uses these style of bridges, not surprising considering he worked at Lowden, my Mcilroy AS25 is 13 years old and just getting better every year
Had two of those through the years, the older ones without soundhole purfling. You get upside down on any harmony unless you’re going to keep or sentimental.
A good friend of mine had one just like that one and I had a 59 Monterey. We played as a folk duo in the end of the 60's. It sounded great! I still have and play that Harmony Monterey by the way!
Welcome to Woodford's Cheesemaker Channel. 😆😆 I have one of these from '67 on the back burner. Does have a snapped headstock, original tuners seem to work, nut is also garbage, the frets are horrible and will get replaced, and that skinny bridge saddle is awful. Surprisingly doesn't look like it needs a neck reset. Oh, and besides Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend also got one of these in the 60s, looks like both of them still have these.
I picked up one of these in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands during a salmon gill-netting trip. The action was high but just playable, it did sound good, and it was fun to have a guitar in that funky little town. Rather than getting it fixed I gave it away when I got home. Recently the 1967 Gibson C-1 that's been with me for 44 years has come apart at the neck-body joint. It will be repaired. Different guitars mean different things to different people at different times. All the best to you and to the owner of this revitalized instrument.
There is something satisfying about resurrecting an old instrument from the days of yore! Besides, if you are not paying the bill then close your pie hole because you just can't put a price on someone's memories.
I did a neck reset on a later model H-6561 Sovereign, not a USA made guitar at that point, the neck was held in with three dowels, no Mortise and Tenon. I had to remove the bridge as well, basically all the same stuff needed as this one minus the headstock break. It was a lot of work, but played amazingly well with super low action when it was done. It sounded very nice, not too loud, more of a mellow tone. I really only did the work because of the Jimmy Page connection, loosely connected I guess, ha ha.
Makes me wish I had tools..I did woodworking in high-school and young adulthood..was a carpenter for10 years too..and I love to play guitar..I wish I was right there with ya..do cool to save an instrument..I wish I kept my harmony strat copy. As a kid I thought it was junk because it wasn't well known to me as a 11 year old
Been a subscriber for a long while and respect your attention to detail given each and every time!!! Regret not finding your talent before bringing my bass to some other wise guy on youtube.....
The fretboard looks in really good condition. My dad has only ever got his guitar out once in a while to play the four chords he has known all the time I have been alive (C, Am, F, G). Of course his fret board shows no sign of wear.
I so appreciate how you respect each instrument, regardless of it's value in the world. That's a true sign of craftsmanship. You have this in spades, sir!!
I love these guitars. I've owned two of them in my life. One from the 60's and one from the 70's and also owned a soprano. Those sovereigns have a very nice sound for their price point. Too bad they are getting so expensive. You used to be able to pick them up, a dime a dozen, but now they are going for 700 to 1200 in good shape.
Big Joe Williams both an archtop and a flatop Sovereigns converted to his 9 string style. Several other bluesmen as well, but Joe was the best known I believe.
Great video. I've got an early 60s one of these that I quite enjoy. As for other players.. Pete Townshend also had a Harmony Sovereign 6 string, as well as a 12 string in around 1966-67.
I popped three Sovereign necks off recently and I noticed an usual amount of hide glue. I suspect they globbed more glue on their higher end models to ensure the neck stayed on
It’s great to watch, such clever work. So much was done & enjoyed the humour . Knowledge of yours is golden. I got thinking about your evaluation . So much clever experience….it’s the sign of a great luthier. So cool and Canadian my friend 🇨🇦😊🇨🇦😊🇨🇦😊
Yep been thru this same exaggerated series of add-on repairs from a simple neck reset. Harmony Sovereign 1260 is what it is. You made it look easy, thank you for walking us thru this.
A former bandmate had a Sovereign which he bought new in the 60s(this was in the UK where you didn't see many Harmony's)and which he was going to use in his "second career" in folk clubs. But he went on to play it on a couple of successful albums with a quite well known English singer/songwriter. It was a great sounding guitar and so much easier to play than my Yamaha FG140 which I had just bought!
Wonderful work to watch, as always. Personally, I think it's insane that manufacturers make press in tuner bushings with 'faux' hex nuts on top, just waiting for the [next] owner to put a wrench on them and twist.
"Was it worth it?"....... to the owner it certainly was worth it. If I really liked the instrument I'd do the same thing, it doesn't matter what other people may think.
I enjoy your videos of repairs to non Martin or Gibson guitars! Harmony guitars are a part of American history. You treat every instrument with reverence regardless of where it came from, and I appreciate that!
Your mold commentary is the best of its kind on any luthier channel. You just can't get good mold talk anymore.
Vinegar kills mold
Hey he's a fun guy
@@homebroodcelticband9534 I’m likin’ that comment.
Love a good mold chat.
Mold attacked the finish on my D28, I got busy with work and Sinned by leaving her in the case
I don't begrudge anyone for spending 'more than it's worth' to get a guitar like this into shape. They've got some character to them, you're saving an instrument from the scrapheap, and you can probably be fairly confident in the final product.
I'd love to have Woodford-refurbed pawnshop special
I don't know, I try not to be one of those 'tone wood'' types, and maybe it's just my lack of experience talking, but to my mind no two acoustics are going to sound the same, compounded with the fact that you know the guitar you have is already used to the conditions you live in. I really don't find it odd at all that people would prefer to spend a little more money on an old guitar they've had for a long time vs. a little less money on a new one. It's not really so much about emotional attachment as it is about consistency. It's really a no-brainer to me, as far as acoustics are concerned anyway.
Had one of these guitars in 1969 . In 1972 I was mugged in Manchester UK and the Muggers put me in hospital for a few days . They also kicked in the the side and the top of the guitar , beyond making it worth while repairing it ,at the time . In 69 it cost about 35 UK pounds . All this I had fogotten about untill this post reminded me of it . Not to worry though it was almost 50 years ago . Love your work . I am a retired Cabinet Maker and have repaired quite a few guitars in the past few years .
I think now that we belong to a gang that we should get black leather jackets emblazoned with either "Woodford's Warriors " or Ted's Terrors".Can we vote on this? Hands?
Woodies Peckers
@@JavaoftheLava or Woodies Pickers
I prefer the former to the latter
Woodford’s Warriors, that’s the one
Hilarious!
The late Guy Clark was a fairly close friend of mine during the early part of his career as a singer and songwriter. He was also a very capable luthier. He supplemented his income by doing modifications of various guitars. One of his favorite mods was to remove the back of a Harmony Sovereign Jumbo and rebrace it, providing X-bracing with scalloping. He did some very nice work.
I should also mention that Mance Lipscomb played a Sovereign that was given to him by Mack McCormick and Chris Strachwitz. He wanted to play an electric guitar, but they felt that the Sovereign fit with the image they wanted him to convey on his tours.
Yeah, Mance's was part of a set that they had taken with them to provide as 'appropriate' guitars to the old blues guys they were recording and documenting. I have done the same mod to two Sovereign guitars I have had the good fortune to own. One is still my go to guitar, although it now needs another neck reset and probably a bridge doctor!
Watch out for those European cheesemakers! I, personally, have fallen victim to their cheesemaking sweet-talking. My guitars have been colonized by lactobacillus, and now I have Europeans dropping by nearly everyday claiming to be checking on their cheese. I have no privacy, and my house is routinely full of European cheesemakers. Very frustrating when I want to practise my guitar. I suspect these European cheesemakers and their claims of ownership of various strains of lactobacillus are nothing but gaslighting to distract from the fact these same European cheesemakers are, collectively, digging an enormous hole in my backyard. They tell me not to worry about this hole, but the entrance to the hole has signage: "Eurocheese Domination or Bust." Do you think I should be concerned about this?
Wait until the European cheese makers congregate inside the hole, then simply refill it on top of them. Introduce them to a bit of an Eskimo copalheim making tradition.
Pete Townshend also used 6 and 12-string Sovereigns when writing many of The Who's hits of the '60s...you can count Substitute and Behind Blue Eyes (1970), among others just as notable.
I have a '68. The action was trestle-like when I got it, but I actually performed my first neck reset on it. Jimmy Page still has his Sovereign, and was on the cover of one of the guitar mags with it, within the past year.
Another famous Harmony user was Pete Townshend. He had a six string H1260, and a 12-string H-1270, which can be see on his studio wall, before he switched to Gibsons.
People aren’t good at things anymore. You a shining exception sir!
For some reason that guitars tone is perfect to my ears. I’ve watched almost all your videos, and even though it prob doesn’t have the value of some of the Martins and gibsons you work on, I get why the owner wanted this one taken care of. Great repair.
Fine work, a joy to watch. Lucid explanations of your criteria and rationales for decisions, and actions as you were taking them. As always, many thanks.
Nice job! I've owned a couple of these Sovereigns. I believe they, like most of the Harmony guitars of the time, had bad neck sets from the factory. But they do sound good.
Long live the guitologist
When a man can take a old beat up harmony guitar and make it like new is a good man in my book! Thanks 😊
I keep coming back just for the mold observations. Humor right up my alley!
Your wonderful sarcasm was really diverse this episode. As well as the technical details and choices you made. A great episode.
My father's main guitar for many years was a Sovereign this vintage. Wish I could find a salvageable one now
Listening to the guitar at the end, that tone is so familiar. Brought a tear to my eye.
Thank you for bringing a lovely old guitar back from the dead!
The repair work was awesome as usual. The Latin binomial mold identification was just off the hook. Best channel for guitar repair and mycology on TH-cam.
It's a beautiful guitar.
Luv the mold info!! Part luthier, part scientist! It is amazing the vast amount of knowledge you have!! Breedlove guitars have the string thru bridge also! They are a pain in the butt to restring!
Yes, it was worth it. I am glad to see the guitar being given a second life.
Leon Redbone played and recorded with a sovereign. Probably one of the most underrated guitar players.
Better than new. This didn't show up in my feed until it said 7 days ago.
Big Joe Williams used a harmony sovereign. He had 3 extra strings crudely fitted on his. I think Muddy Waters played one on his "folk singer" album. Those department store, ladder braced guitars are all over American blues recordings, most likely because they were aforadable & easily obtainable for working class musicans.
Through TH-cam compression that sounds better than many of the higher dollar guitars you've done. These videos are my therapy.
A missed opportunity to play Stairway at the end !
That would earn him a copyright strike and Atlantic or whoever holds the rights would take all of the monetization.
It makes me wonder, am I broken beyond salvation?! Way to send your viewers into existential crises.
Love your work. Thanks for sharing it.
Always interesting and enjoyable too. Thank you Ted for making learning pleasant 👌🎶🎶🎶
Have a '63 12string. Huge voice. Bought in 1965. Re-glued some braces at Hoffman in Minneapolis 2005. Never a neck problem. Trapeze solves the warped bridge tendency. Takes a big case!
Gotta be careful with those pesky Cheese Consortium folks. You had me chucking. Ditch the food channel idea. Maybe a comedy channel with this kind of humor! 😄😄😄
That Sovereign logo font made me think of the Newhart TV series.
George Lowden does top loading bridges on his guitars. I have 2 - a 6 and a 12 string, both 12 years old. So far so good.
Dermot Mcilroy also uses these style of bridges, not surprising considering he worked at Lowden, my Mcilroy AS25 is 13 years old and just getting better every year
And the gang replied, "Hey there Ted." The weekend wouldn't be complete without a twoodfrd video.
It doesn’t matter weather it’s worth it to anyone else, it’s just worth it to the person that owns the guitar and what they want!!!
Had two of those through the years, the older ones without soundhole purfling. You get upside down on any harmony unless you’re going to keep or sentimental.
To be Honest, those Harmonies guitars are more alluring to me than Martins of the same era.
absolutely!
That conclusion at 3:12 was such a great answer
A good friend of mine had one just like that one and I had a 59 Monterey. We played as a folk duo in the end of the 60's. It sounded great! I still have and play that Harmony Monterey by the way!
Welcome to Woodford's Cheesemaker Channel. 😆😆 I have one of these from '67 on the back burner. Does have a snapped headstock, original tuners seem to work, nut is also garbage, the frets are horrible and will get replaced, and that skinny bridge saddle is awful. Surprisingly doesn't look like it needs a neck reset.
Oh, and besides Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend also got one of these in the 60s, looks like both of them still have these.
I've had a couple of Harmony 12 strings over the years and I got to say when they're set up properly they do play well and they have a nice sound
I picked up one of these in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands during a salmon gill-netting trip. The action was high but just playable, it did sound good, and it was fun to have a guitar in that funky little town. Rather than getting it fixed I gave it away when I got home.
Recently the 1967 Gibson C-1 that's been with me for 44 years has come apart at the neck-body joint. It will be repaired. Different guitars mean different things to different people at different times.
All the best to you and to the owner of this revitalized instrument.
There is something satisfying about resurrecting an old instrument from the days of yore! Besides, if you are not paying the bill then close your pie hole because you just can't put a price on someone's memories.
Love this!
Excellent work, per usual!
Greta stuff as always… love the intro music.
I've got a Sovereign that I bought new in 1965. It's still in good shape.
I did a neck reset on a later model H-6561 Sovereign, not a USA made guitar at that point, the neck was held in with three dowels, no Mortise and Tenon. I had to remove the bridge as well, basically all the same stuff needed as this one minus the headstock break. It was a lot of work, but played amazingly well with super low action when it was done. It sounded very nice, not too loud, more of a mellow tone. I really only did the work because of the Jimmy Page connection, loosely connected I guess, ha ha.
⚓️ Thanks 2ofd 😎 tapering the screw fill dowel: use a drill & appropriate sand paper, run the dowel across the paper mimicking the screw taper 😎
Only found your channel a few days ago and I'm loving it . From the Emerald Isle
Makes me wish I had tools..I did woodworking in high-school and young adulthood..was a carpenter for10 years too..and I love to play guitar..I wish I was right there with ya..do cool to save an instrument..I wish I kept my harmony strat copy. As a kid I thought it was junk because it wasn't well known to me as a 11 year old
Always humbled by your work. Thanks.
Love watching your videos, you are a true craftsman.
A true craftsman at work. great video. kind regards.
Excellent job.
Great stuff, and never cheesy.
Awesome, just AWESOME!
Love ya sense of humor, the dryness is next level stuff
Those open back tuners are most handsome. I love the waverly style buttons.
Marvelous!
You’re awesome. Thanks!
Another good one. I have a slightly older Sovereign that is beat up and needs a neck reset, might get up the nerve to try it myself one of these days.
I look forward to your videos every Saturday. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I love your channel ! As soon as Adam Savage mentioned you I watched your work and I love it!
To my ear, sounds very nice!
Been a subscriber for a long while and respect your attention to detail given each and every time!!! Regret not finding your talent before bringing my bass to some other wise guy on youtube.....
Cool old guitar! Great video. Thank you.
19:35. Yup, Those guys really do play rough. You made my day, sir.
That bridge is beautiful, I love the shape of it.
Really enjoy your vids.
Informative, and entertaining and calming.
You sir are the Bob Ross of luthiers.
The fretboard looks in really good condition. My dad has only ever got his guitar out once in a while to play the four chords he has known all the time I have been alive (C, Am, F, G). Of course his fret board shows no sign of wear.
Ace of spades on the headstock back plate.
I so appreciate how you respect each instrument, regardless of it's value in the world. That's a true sign of craftsmanship. You have this in spades, sir!!
You are just one of the most interesting and knowledgeable. Always enjoy your videos!
Sounds great!
Love watching you. Learned so much. The mending plate may get touched while playing but it's awesome. I'd keep it too.
I just got one of these in for repair. Guess what? It needs a neck reset. Thanks for the vid. Very helpful. 🙂👍👍👍
Pleasure as always... 👍
Impressive work. Always inspired…. And the chese references was unparalelled…
I love these guitars. I've owned two of them in my life. One from the 60's and one from the 70's and also owned a soprano. Those sovereigns have a very nice sound for their price point. Too bad they are getting so expensive. You used to be able to pick them up, a dime a dozen, but now they are going for 700 to 1200 in good shape.
Big Joe Williams both an archtop and a flatop Sovereigns converted to his 9 string style. Several other bluesmen as well, but Joe was the best known I believe.
Another Great video, Im glad to see someone spending the money to save a guitar most wouldn’t
That’s the “Family Ties” typeface!
Great video. I've got an early 60s one of these that I quite enjoy. As for other players.. Pete Townshend also had a Harmony Sovereign 6 string, as well as a 12 string in around 1966-67.
A cultured commentary in harmony with candid worm cannery. Quite nice show-n-tell, and results sound great!
Great job! Sounds great!
Sounds great..I need an acustic..as a kid it wasn't cool but I crave that warm clean tone .more and more
I love your since of humor
I popped three Sovereign necks off recently and I noticed an usual amount of hide glue. I suspect they globbed more glue on their higher end models to ensure the neck stayed on
love your wit as much as your skills.
I'll say it again. Your integrity and professionalism is over the top. Kudos.
It’s great to watch, such clever work. So much was done & enjoyed the humour . Knowledge of yours is golden. I got thinking about your evaluation . So much clever experience….it’s the sign of a great luthier. So cool and Canadian my friend 🇨🇦😊🇨🇦😊🇨🇦😊
Incredible work man, love your videos!
Yep been thru this same exaggerated series of add-on repairs from a simple neck reset. Harmony Sovereign 1260 is what it is. You made it look easy, thank you for walking us thru this.
A former bandmate had a Sovereign which he bought new in the 60s(this was in the UK where you didn't see many Harmony's)and which he was going to use in his "second career" in folk clubs. But he went on to play it on a couple of successful albums with a quite well known English singer/songwriter. It was a great sounding guitar and so much easier to play than my Yamaha FG140 which I had just bought!
Wonderful work to watch, as always. Personally, I think it's insane that manufacturers make press in tuner bushings with 'faux' hex nuts on top, just waiting for the [next] owner to put a wrench on them and twist.
"Was it worth it?"....... to the owner it certainly was worth it. If I really liked the instrument I'd do the same thing, it doesn't matter what other people may think.
Particularly if you trus the craftsman
trusted
I enjoy your videos of repairs to non Martin or Gibson guitars! Harmony guitars are a part of American history. You treat every instrument with reverence regardless of where it came from, and I appreciate that!
Awesome video thanks for sharing. I truly hope everything works out for you and the new owner.Stay well and safe.
Great education and watching 👍💪♥️🥇⭐️. One great technician.🥇
I'm hoping someone will put a Wandre in for repair. One of the really wild models.