Knutsen Guitars: A Look Inside
	by Gregg Miner, as part of

One of the interesting, much-discussed, but little-explored topics of Knutsen's instruments are the bracing systems he used on  his many instruments. Like other features of these instruments, the bracing patterns were constantly evolving, the braces themselves of varying, seemingly random degrees of quality. Rather than trying to explain bracing patterns like "modified-fan" or "ladder," I believe a picture is worth a thousand words - especially in Knutsen's case!

Of course, to obtain the pictures, one needs to remove the back of the instrument - but as this seems to be a somewhat frequent necessity for repairing Knutsen instruments, we should find quite a few to examine!  I am arranging those available in roughly chronological order, to look for any transitional features. Luthiers and repairpersons will undoubtedly have far better observations on these images than I, so please share your thoughts (and please send in your images of disassembled instruments). As usual, the thumbnails expand to only a page high or so (web space rapidly fills up!) - if anyone requires large, high-resolution images for study, just ask.

Harp Guitars

Note: Without removing the fingerboard, it may be impossible to tell if those neck joints with heels are indeed dovetailed.

HGP6 (Dan Most called this top "light ladder bracing" - intended for gut strings)	HGP7 (DM: "light ladder bracing")	HGP21
(images copyright Kerry Char)		(images from eBay)

HGT6 (Dan Most called this top "modified fan" bracing - for steel strings, but ironically weaker than X-bracing)	HGT9 (DM: "modified fan" bracing)	HGT37 (This is the instrument that had the treble bridge bank and bridge section removed. The hacker also tried attaching the trebles to the tail edge of the top, which is what probably ripped it off)	HGS4 (Dan did not discuss this bracing)	HGS26 (image copyright Danl Terry)	HGS35 (images copyright Ken Miller)
(images copyright Kerry Char)

Hawaiian Guitars & other instruments

HW20			HM7
(images copyright Ben Elder)			(images copyright Ron Petit)

Here are all the types of bracing Dan Most and Tom Noe refer to in their book, along with list of instruments with that form.
Terms in quotes are theirs. Likewise, the presumed intended strings are their deductions.
There is now hard evidence that steel strings were offered as an option on certain American guitars in 1890.

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