by Michael Ambrose » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:08 am
Here's a little info for you, coming from an outright Chicago Instruments junkie...
There's no difference between an "H-66" and an "F-66"... Guitars built under with the official Harmony brand, for the most part, all had an "H" prefix. I've found in my collection that many of my Harmony-made Silvertones are branded with "F".
My number two and three stage axes are both upper-end Harmony... #2 is a true Harmony "H-76" (Hollowbody 330 stylee with three DeArmonds and a Bigsby) while the other is an identical Silvertone model model... the only difference (and yes, the nut I am, I've gone over this point by point) is the lack of a headstock faux-tortoise cap and the fact that the body is stamped "F-76."
Of course, the silvie has got another crazy, long-winded model number screened onto the back of the headstock in addition to the factory model stamped inside.
Is your headstock branded Airline or Harmony?
I've got a feeling that Harmony used the "F" prefix for the corresponding re-brands.
If you've got a Harmony-branded headstock... maybe the body was initially stamped for a re-brand order but was eventually used for an actualy Harmony... You know how some of those old instrument plants worked... got some parts lying around? Lets build it and see if we can sell it!! Nyuk nyuk!!
Anyhoo, thats my $0.02. hope you found it helpful!
-Michael Ambrose.