Knutsen Harp Guitar    

Here's an intriguing instrument played at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle.
Judging by the guitar's proportions and the heights of the performers, this seems to be a 3/4 size harp guitar (scale length 19-20"). 
The bass headstock is the only one like it (type 1b), helping to clarify and verify headstock evolution and dating.
It's a fancy model, with fancy fret markers, and a crescent moon and star in the peghead. The back is bound also. 
Thanks to the image I obtained from a high quality negative, we're able to see incredible detail in a period Knutsen guitar photograph - including a fancy pickguard. This is one of only three verifiable original pickguards on a Knutsen harp guitar!
See Knutsen Harp Guitar Evolution and Historical Photos.

hgs38.jpg (22600 bytes) hgs38neck.jpg (20045 bytes) hgs38pg.jpg (17788 bytes) hgs38full.jpg (30749 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(MSCUA, Univ. of Wash. Libraries, X1854)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGS38

                 Category

Seattle Harp Guitars

                 Body Style

"Lower Bass Point"

                 Current or last known owner

unknown player

              Year (approx)

1907-1909

                 Label

unknown

                 Courses / Strings

11 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass

               Frets

straight

                 Scale length unknown
                 Neck Joint unknown

Woods

Top

unknown

Back & Sides

unknown

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown
Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

fancy wood purfling & ivoroid?

Back

ivoroid?

Fingerboard

ivoroid?

Headstock(s)

none
Soundhole 3 rings (2 multi-colored purfling)

                 Inlay

fancy fret markers and crescent moon &star in headstock

                 Pickguard

black plastic? with fancy inlay

                 Comments

 

 

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