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Knutsen Harp Hawaiian Convertible Guitar
In their book, Noe & Most mention Knutsen's proclivity
for borrowing wood from old furniture. This instrument's owner, Jonathan
Kellerman, knows his furniture as well as his guitars, and firmly believes that
that's exactly the scenario here!
6/25/02: Jonathan adds, "Kerry Keane, head of musical instruments for Christies
and one of the experts on the Antiques Roadshow was by last week to visit the collection. He knew nothing about Weissenborns or Knutsens and was
fascinated by the instruments. When he looked at the fancy mahogany harp guitar - the one we'd surmised was cut from furniture - his comment was,
"Looks like he cut up a Queen Anne table." I'm virtually certain the same wood was used on your mandolin."
(HM3)
Whatever the source, this is a gorgeous
instrument!
Note the more distinctive profile of the treble point, and then note that it is
not carved and contoured on the backside, but a squared-off shortcut.
The tan-colored celluloid inlays were at the time considered just as fancy as
pearl!
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Click on a picture to
enlarge
(images
copyright Gregg Miner)
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Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HCP8 |
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Category |
Convertible Guitars |
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Body Style |
"'Upper Treble Point' Harp Hawaiian" |
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Current or last known owner |
Jonathan Kellerman |
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Year (approx) |
1914-1920s |
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Label |
full "New Hawaiian Family" label, white |
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| Label Code | LA1 | |
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Courses / Strings |
10 course: 6 strings on neck, 4 bass |
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Frets |
raised metal to 14th fret, then inlaid wood |
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| Scale length | 24-7/8" | |
| Neck Joint | convertible brackets | |
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Woods |
Top |
"furniture grade" mahogany |
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Back & Sides |
"furniture grade" (aka crotch) mahogany |
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Neck |
mahogany |
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Fingerboard |
dyed mahogany |
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Bridge |
Macasur ebony |
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Headstock veneer |
none |
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Binding, trim |
Top |
rope |
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Back |
rope |
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Fingerboard |
rope stripes |
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Headstock(s) |
none |
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Soundhole |
double rope, and diamond shapes |
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Inlay |
pearl dot and assorted tan celluloid fret markers |
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Pickguard |
black plastic with tan celluloid inlay |
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| Dimensions | Upper Bout | |
| Lower Bout | ||
| Body at endpin | ||
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Comments |
original low bone nut for true convertibility | |
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