Knutsen Harp Hawaiian Convertible Guitar    

Well, here was a golden opportunity for all of us to get a nice Knutsen at a great price. Offered very reasonably ($1650), then discounted dramatically when it didn't sell, it still sat for awhile (at $1195). Perhaps the "as is" scared buyers away? Ben Elder finally bought it, and after seeing it, I'm kicking myself! "As is" meant several cracks - so? All easily restorable - no gaps, top very flat - in Knutsen terms, great condition! A plain model, with several special features: a nice "furniture-grade," highly figured mahogany back (seen only on a couple Knutsens), the maximum amount of strings for this style (4 bass, 6 treble), an extra little inlay line on the point, and some cool original tuners. Enjoy the "before" pictures - after restoration, this guitar will be even better, and worth 2 or 3 times the price!

hcp3.jpg (19677 bytes) hcp3tuners.jpg (35259 bytes) hcp3side.jpg (19027 bytes) hcp3back2.jpg (17820 bytes) hcp3point.jpg (20907 bytes) hcp3back.jpg (17958 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(
images copyright Gregg Miner)

 Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HCP3

                 Category

Convertible Guitars

                 Body Style

"'Upper Treble Point' Harp Hawaiian"

                 Current or last known owner

Bernunzio Vintage Instruments > Ben Elder

                 Year (approx)

1914-1920s

                 Label

missing

                 Courses / Strings

16 course: 6 strings on neck, 4 bass, 6 treble

                 Frets

metal to 14th fret, then inlaid wood

                 Scale length 25"
                 Neck Joint convertible brackets

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

back: mahogany, back: "furniture-grade" mahogany

Neck

fir, bass arm: koa

Fingerboard

dyed mahogany

Bridge

mahogany

Headstock veneer

none

Binding, trim

Top

none

Back

none

Fingerboard

none

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

rope

                 Inlay

celluloid dot fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

Dimensions Upper Bout  
Lower Bout  
Body at endpin  

                 Comments

 

 

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