Knutsen Harp Hawaiian Convertible Guitar
This is a cool one! Is it a harp guitar with five
sub-bass strings? Or a Hawaiian guitar? Like most "convertible"
Knutsens, it could theoretically be either. In this case, five sub-basses
seems strange for a steel guitar (only one other, HCP18 has five also). And
the guitar has metal frets. But it has an original high slanted nut, held
in place by a screw. Like all of these instruments, Knutsen may have
provided two nuts, one low, one high - either of which could be held in place by
the screw. Or, the nut these guitars are found with (if original) may have
been the preferred configuration of the customer. Note the scooped out,
hinged neck. It also has the standard four super-trebles of the
Weissenborn-shaped harp Hawaiians.
But what's most unusual is, of course, the backwards 6-on-a-side Fender (or Bigsby) - style
headstock! This is a first - only one other is known (HW16, with the
headstock in "normal" orientation. The bass headstock is also a
completely new design.
Back and sides are of an unknown, stained wood.
This is also April, 2006's Harp Guitar of the Month.
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(images
copyright Ed Douglas)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HCN3 |
|
Category |
Convertible Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"'No Point' Harp Hawaiian" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Ed Douglas > Gregg Miner |
|
Year (approx) |
1920s |
|
Label |
C. KNUTSEN |
|
Label Code | LA9 (cut) | |
Courses / Strings |
15 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass, 4 treble |
|
Frets |
raised metal to 15th fret, then inlaid |
|
Scale length | unknown | |
Neck Joint | 2 convertible brackets | |
Woods |
Top |
spruce? |
Back & Sides |
unknown |
|
Neck |
unknown |
|
Fingerboard |
unknown |
|
Bridge |
unknown |
|
Headstock veneer |
unknown |
|
Binding, trim |
Top |
rope |
Back |
blonde wood |
|
Fingerboard |
double inlaid wood stripes |
|
Headstock(s) |
none |
|
Soundhole |
2 rope rings |
|
Inlay |
fancy fret markers (celluloid?) |
|
Pickguard |
unknown |
|
Dimensions | Upper Bout | |
Lower Bout | ||
Body at endpin | ||
Comments |
|
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