Knutsen Convertible Hawaiian Guitar
This is a fascinating
instrument!
It came from a reputable dealer, who acquired it from the grandson of the
original owner. According to the grandson, his grandmother was a stage
performer who came to Los Angeles to ask one of the many Hawaiian
guitar builders to build something flashy for the stage.
And who better than Knutsen for a custom instrument?!
Nice wood, fancy inlays, and birdseye headstock veneer, complete with inlaid faux cabochon stones.
What's really interesting though is that, though it's technically a convertible style
guitar, the bracket is screwed firmly in place at both ends, and
the guitar has only inlaid flush frets. Yet, strangely, the bone nut is
low.
Luthier and Knutsen expert Kerry Char agrees with me that the brackets of this
type were probably for a one-time, initial adjustment to set the proper neck
angle (rather than for back and forth converting). HCW1 (p.52-55 in the Noe/Most
book) has a similar, permanently installed bracket (but metal frets).
Additionally, the back braces are horizontal rather than Knutsen's standard angled
braces.
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(image copyright Gregg Miner)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HCW4 |
|
Category |
Convertible Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"Weissenborn-shaped" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Jonathan Kellerman |
|
Year (approx) |
? |
|
Label |
none |
|
Courses / Strings |
6 strings |
|
Frets |
inlaid wood |
|
Scale length | 25-5/8" | |
Neck Joint | once-adjustable convertible bracket, neck ends middle of 7th fret | |
Woods |
Top |
koa |
Back & Sides |
koa |
|
Neck |
mahogany |
|
Fingerboard |
koa |
|
Bridge |
koa |
|
Headstock veneer |
unknown birdseye |
|
Binding, trim |
Top |
maple? |
Back |
maple? |
|
Fingerboard |
ivoroid |
|
Headstock(s) |
none |
|
Soundhole |
herringbone, multi-colored wood |
|
Inlay |
fancy pearl fret markers, faux cabochon stones in headstock |
|
Pickguard |
none |
|
Dimensions | Upper Bout | 9-7/8" |
Lower Bout | 14-3/4" | |
Body at endpin4-1/2 | 4-1/2" | |
Comments |
|
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All Site Contents Copyright © Gregg Miner, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006. All Rights Reserved.
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