1952 Silvertone H53 Vintage Archtop Electric Guitar Harmony USA-Made w/ Gibson P-13 & Case

Up for sale, a 1952 Silvertone H-53 archtop electric guitar in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced by Harmony in the USA for Sears' Silvertone brand of instruments, the H-53 shares the same elements as Harmony's H-50 model. One of the earliest and rarest archtop offerings produced by Harmony, the H-53 is also one of their most visually and tonally alluring instruments, with checkerboard binding and a Gibson-made P-13 single coil pickup. With a solid pressed spruce top and solid maple back and sides, the guitar has a bright, yet full acoustic response, and the overwound P-13 pickup delivers plenty of woody richness and midrange bark, proving to be the perfect pairing to the body's tonewood combination. Featherweight at only 4lbs 14oz, this USA-made Harmony has been professionally setup with 11-50 roundwound strings and comfortable, low action.The maple neck has a very soft V profile carve with just enough chunk at the nut and a substantial handful as you travel up the fretboard, measuring .865" deep at the 1st fret and 1.070" at the 9th. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard retains the original brass fretwire which is practically perfect, playing cleanly in every register. The guitar plays easily up the 25 1/4" scale length, and the stock bone nut measures a full 1 3/4" in width. The tortoise headstock overlay is one of Harmony's best, channeling a certain medieval aesthetic with gold Silvertone text and border, and gold “S” inset in a green shield of sorts. The headstock retains the original open-gear tuners with clean nickel plating and white plastic buttons.The simple electronics work as intended, with an untouched wiring harness. The P-13 pickup has the early "staple" fixed pole design with a nickel cover and oversized transparent tortoise pickup ring. Plastic parts include the original swirling nitrate tortoise pickguard and deep brown "radio" knobs. The hardware is all original as well, with the floating Brazilian rosewood bridge and original gleaming nickel trapeze tailpiece. The bridge has room for adjustment on both thumbwheels, and the guitar benefits from a recent professional neck reset, meeting the body at an ideal angle. Visible through the F hole, the original H53 model stamp and 1952 date stamp are both bold and crisp.The spruce top has perfect curvature with zero sinking, supported by two parallel tone bars. The gloss two-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray. Exceedingly clean, cosmetic wear is limited to a few small nicks, finish scratches, and minor marks on the body consistent with very light, careful use. There are a couple repaired slender splits on both edges of the top at the waist, and also at the treble-side waist on the back. The maple back and sides also feature unusual airbrushed "flame" figuring across the back and sides.The original tan chipboard case with red plush interior is included. The stitching on the brown leather trim is loose on the lower bout of the lid, while the original functional latches and handle are intact.