Harmsworth and willis

Lango-Django · January 2020

Henrik, none of my business to be sure...but if this brand of guitar is good enough for Jimmy Rosenberg, I don’t think you are ever going to regret spending £300 for yours...

I paid roughly the same amount for my first cheapo Asian gypsy guitar, and I’ve never regretted that...

stuology · January 2020

I don’t think you can get them new any more but from memory they were going for 800-1000. This was awhile ago though so might be wrong.

Bones · January 2020

At 300 if it is playable and has decent tone and volume worst case it is a good knockaround guitar.

ChrisMartin · January 2020

I read it like Henrik is worried about potential resale value if he finds GJ doesn't work for him.

The subsequent comments seem to suggest these were not bad guitars and even the cheapest Asian factory made equivalent today is going to cost more than that, so at £300 he might be getting a real bargain if he keeps it, but at least it seems there should be no risk in the investment if he needs to get his money back later.

I wish something like that had come my way when I was looking for my first GJ guitar in UK back in the mid '90s. After an awful experience with one of those Summerfield copies (even supposedly with a label signed by Mario Maccaferri) which was not only unplayable but it was so badly made it just fell apart, I did pay £400 for a decent Saga (before they became Gitane). There really was not the choice we have today.

Many on here would gladly recommend a Cigano as the best of the cheapest brands but I don't know what they sell for in UK now. I have not played one myself but I do know that the equivalent Aria needs work, it has a thick factory applied lacquer which kills the tone of the timbers, a big job to strip and refinish. It also has a shallow neck angle which reduces string tension on the bridge and cheap tinny tuners.

Then up near the $1,000 budget you will start the inevitable Altamira v Eastman v Gitane arguments; each have their fans and detractors.

But finally, as I always say on here whenever the question of "should I buy this or that guitar" comes up, just ignore the name or label and play it, if it feels right and sounds right it probably IS right. And at £300 that is quite a lucky find.

Henrik · January 2020

Many thanks to all for your important comments. I'm going to go for it, hooking up with the seller next week. My main fear TBH was that there was no real info on this brand ie prices, the model and construction etc etc. Resale was not really on my mind and your right labels are not the be all and end all...........if it plays and sounds right that is the key!.

crookedpinky · January 2020

Great to hear. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed, let us know how you get on. Cheers.

mikemhc · January 2020

Hi Henrik,

you can contact Mike Harmsworth via email:- mikeharmsworth@msn.com

AndrewUlle · January 2020

The only real questions:

1) Does it play well (good action, decent neck relief, correct intonation)?

2) Does it sound good (no buzzes, dead notes, excessive ringing overtones)?

If not, can whatever fault be easily corrected? (relocate/ shim/ lower bridge; adjust truss rod; fret level)

3) Does it sound anything like a Selmer? (i.e. it shouldn't sound like a flat top acoustic)

If so, £300 (~$390 US) is a steal, in my opinion.

I wouldn't worry about what it cost new, since this guitar will probably never be "valuable" in an objective sense. If it sounds good and plays well for you, it's worth exactly whatever it would cost to replace it with any equally well-playing, decent-sounding guitar.

Here's an old thread about H&W guitars:

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/10659/harmsworth-amp-willis-guitars/p1

Henrik · January 2020

I am now the proud owner of my first GJ H&W guitar sounds and plays great bloody light and loud too. The action as expected will take a bit of getting use to, but it wont take long.

Many thanks to all that helped and i'll probaly email Mike Harmsworth just for a bit of info