Knutsen Harp Guitar

Here's a newly discovered, previously unknown model of the 1898 Patent Style instruments.
It has only two bass strings!
It's all original, including (I presume) the bone nut for the basses, and a hand-carved rosewood bridge. This bridge is very similar to HGP7 - which until now, I didn't think was Knutsen's. What an interesting variation - probably used because this is the fanciest model yet seen, festooned with fancy pearl and herringbone trim.
Also curious is that this is another early Port Townsend guitar found at a Los Angeles flea market (as was my HGP4).

hgp13.jpg (23611 bytes)

hgp13head.jpg (38614 bytes) hgp13nut.jpg (42645 bytes)
hgp13.frontleftjpg.jpg (22833 bytes) hgp13back.jpg (20513 bytes) hgp13headback.jpg (37102 bytes) hgp13.bridgejpg.jpg (22413 bytes)
hgp13backstripe.jpg (25682 bytes)

Click on a  picture to enlarge
(images copyright Gregg Miner)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGP13

                 Category

Port Townsend Harp Guitars

                 Body Style

"1898 patent"

                 Current or last known owner

Alex Sioris

              Year (approx)

1896-1897

                 Label

"MANUFACTURED BY C. KNUTSEN, PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. PATENTED SEP. 15, 1896"

                 Label Code PT2

                 Courses / Strings

8 course: 6 strings on neck, 2 bass

                 Frets

straight

                 Scale length 25-1/2"
                 Neck Joint heel

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

mahogany sides, ash back

Neck

mahogany

Fingerboard

ebony

Bridge

rosewood

Headstock veneer rosewood

Binding, trim

Top

herringbone, ivoroid

Back

herringbone, ivoroid, with herringbone center stripe

Fingerboard

ivoroid

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole 3 herringbone rings

                 Inlay

fancy pearl fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

 

 

To Harp Guitars

Home

To Next Instrument

[Biographical] [Instruments] [Historical Photos]
[
Credits] [FAQ] [Bibliography] [Updates] [Links] [Contact]
[
Home (Knutsen Archives)] [Home (Harpguitars.net)

All Site Contents Copyright © Gregg Miner, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright and Fair Use of material and use of images: See Copyright and Fair Use policy.