Knutsen Convertible Hawaiian Guitar    

This instrument further validates the time frame of the early Knutsen Hawaiians.  Owner Tom Noe says, 

"This particular convertible is exactly like the one on page 52 of (Tom's) Knutsen book, but in much nicer condition.  The eBay seller told me that he responded to an estate sale ad in the paper and drove to an old house in Edmonds (just north of Seattle).  The lady whose parents had passed away simply allowed him (and others) just to wander through the house and pick out items they wanted.  He found the Knutsen in an upstairs closet.  She told him that her great uncle had bought the guitar in Seattle 'between 1900 and 1910.'  It had been in their family since new.  The guitar had the nut shaved down, and there is evidence of it having been played Spanish style--no fret wear or scalloping between the frets, but shiny spots where fingers had been placed."

hcw11bracket.jpg (68637 bytes) hcw11label.jpg (82497 bytes) hcw11sh.jpg (69143 bytes) hcw11back.jpg (39126 bytes)
hcw11side.jpg (41186 bytes) hcw11bridge.jpg (40474 bytes)

Click on  a picture to enlarge
(images copyright Nancy Noe)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HCW11

                 Category

Convertible Guitars

                 Body Style

"Weissenborn-shaped"

                 Current or last known owner

Tom Noe

                 Year (approx)

1909-1914

                 Label

"Patent Applied For"

                 Label Code SE3

                 Courses / Strings

6 strings

                 Frets

raised metal

                 Scale length unknown
                 Neck Joint convertible bracket 

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

koa

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

mahogany?

Headstock veneer

unknown

Binding, trim

Top

none

Back

none

Fingerboard

none

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

5 colored wood rings

                 Inlay

dot fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

Dimensions Upper Bout  
Lower Bout  
Body at endpin  

                 Comments

 

 

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