Knutsen Hawaiian Guitar

This instrument is the first non-convertible found with a "Patent Applied For" label. An unusual early model, this has the longest, deepest hollow neck yet seen on a Knutsen.
Knutsen/Weissenborn expert Tom Noe, says:
"It has the white dress-makers' seam tape, ladder bracing on the back and modified fan bracing on the top. It has the "Patent Applied For" label, and is remarkably similar to the 1909 convertible Knutsen on page 52 of the Noe-Most book. Note the shape of the headstock. The tuners are not original. Dimensions are 25-inch scale length, 38.75" overall length, 10-3/8" across the upper bouts, 8-3/4" across the waist, 14-7/8" across the lower bouts, 4-1/4" at the endpin, tapering to 3" at the first fret. It has a big 4-1/4" sound hole. With the deep body and full-length hollow square neck, the guitar has the richest sound I have heard yet from a Knutsen guitar. Amazing volume, tone and sustain."

hw27.jpg (45165 bytes)

hw27side.jpg (36730 bytes) hw27headback.jpg (31699 bytes) hw27back2.jpg (40119 bytes) hw27back.jpg (39273 bytes)

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

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HW27

                 Category

Hollow Neck Hawaiian 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

inlaid wood

                 Scale length 25"
                 Neck Joint hollow, square, taper begins between the nut and first fret

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

koa sides, mahogany back

Neck

koa

Fingerboard

rosewood

Bridge

koa

Headstock veneer

none

Binding, trim

Top

none

Back

none

Fingerboard

none

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

rope, green-blue ring

                 Inlay

abalone dot fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

Dimensions Upper Bout 10-3/8" 
Lower Bout 14-7/8"
Body at endpin 4-1/4"

                 Comments

Sold on eBay 11/8/03.

 

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