Harmony Comet Semi-Hollow Trans Red w/Mono Vertigo Bag - B-Stock
Harmony Comet Semi-Hollow Trans Red w/Mono Vertigo Bag - B-Stock
Built at the same Parsons Street factory in Kalamazoo Michigan where Heritage Guitars are built, the new Harmony Comet continues the resurgence of the Harmony brand. Featuring a compact semi-hollow Mahogany body and their unique Gold Foil pickups, the Harmony Comet blends the airiness and vibe of a semi-hollow with the dynamics and bite of a solidbody. This is one shooting start you'll want for your own. The US-made Comet features:
Nitrocellulose Trans Red finish
Semi-Hollow Mahogany body
12" Radius Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
1-11/16" nut width, 25" scale
Bone nut
Custom Gold Foil humbucker pickups
Tune-o-Matic type bridge
Volume and Tone controls
Full sized pots, Orange drop capacitor
Locking tuners
Angle headstock (no string trees)
Includes Mono Vertigo big bag
Launched a few years back by BandLab, the Harmony line captures the look and feel of early 60's Harmony guitars but with a level of materials and build quality that set them apart from their predecessors. First catching our eye at NAMM in 2020, it took almost a year and a half for the first Comets to hit the street. But it was worth the wait. The compact semi-hollow body is stylish and beautifully proportioned, and the all-mahogany construction is lively and responsive. Many "339-ish" sized semis have left us wanting in the character department, but the Comet has none of the stiff, tight tone that many of its compatriots seem to possess.
The in-between 25" scale, 12" radius neck and TOM bridge has just the right amount of tension to provide some snap, but still play effortlessly. While priced significantly below other products coming out of the Kalamazoo factory, the fretwork is every bit as good, and the Comet is a top notch player. The cutaway shape is reminiscent of an LP double cut -- one of our favorite looks -- and if you are playing up on the higher frets nothing is going to get in your way.
The Gold Foil pickups are the same as in their solid body brothers, and while Goil Foil is not indicative of any particular construction, these covered humbuckers have a bright and snappy voice that will make it an easy transition for single coil players. However there is enough midrange grunt to give the guitar a 335-ish flavor, and for many of us that means only one thing....Steely Dan licks. And the midrange profile of these pickups also make them great with pedals, both overdrive and modulation. This little Comet can rock, and distortion tones are punchy and thick, with lots of detail and harmonics. The bridge pickup is on the bright side but thankfully has none of the nasal bark that some humbuckers have. But as you up the gain, rolling off the tone control a little will help tame the high end.
Speaking of pedals, we did find these pickups sensitive to capacitive loading. In other words, a signal chain with lots of pedals will "load down" the pickups, attenuating their highs and emphasizing the midrange. More so than with other guitars, the character of the Comet "straight in" is noticeably brighter and more lively than when through a half-dozen pedals, true bypass or not. This can be compensated for by using a buffer at the end of your pedals, an EQ pedal, or even a compressor. Using a Walrus Deep Six compressor first in line we could pretty much get the tone back to it's "natural" state. It's a good reminder that every pedal and cable is a "tone control" even when it's off.
We dig this guitar: The shape is both sexy and comfortable, and if you are drawn to the idea of a semi-hollow but find the 335 shape bulky, this will fit the bill. The pickups have a pliable touch-sensitive nature that responds well to playing nuances, but they can also get down and dirty if the mood strikes. It's a hard guitar to pigeon hole, as it's neither a true "jazz" guitar or a "rock" guitar. But at the same time there is not a lot it can't do in the realm of pop, rock, funk, country or fusion. The Comet is a refreshing take on the semi-hollow concept, and is a great option for players looking to approach their music from a new direction.
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