Knutsen Harp Guitar    

This is a wonderful find, and is unique in so many ways!
First, and most obvious, it's a left-handed guitar (and lefty harp guitars look so much stranger because of the arm switching sides!). 
Next, is the rare, unusual "Double Point" body - one of only four known.
Then the size, and scale length (probably 19", the standard 3/4 size), which puts the bridge all the way up to the soundhole(?!) on this parlor-sized instrument.
And once again Knutsen's strange stringing arrangement - seven strings on the neck, with the "g" string doubled.
And finally, as ungainly and strange as it first appears, it's a gorgeous, very fancy instrument - wonderful inlay and trim throughout. Note the herringbone strip on the back of the neck, with an extra inlay accent at the end!

11/2002: Tragically, this instrument was recently destroyed in a fire at the shop where it was on display.

hgs25.jpg (40206 bytes)

hgs25headfront.jpg (45307 bytes)

hgs25headback.jpg (65093 bytes) hgs25right.jpg (37928 bytes) hgs25fretboard.jpg (52342 bytes) hgs25back.jpg (39537 bytes)

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

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGS25

                 Category

Seattle Harp Guitars

                 Body Style

"Double Point"

                 Current or last known owner

Bischofberger Violin Shop

              Year (approx)

1906-1908

                 Label

C. Knutsen Sole Patentee of the Harp guitar with 11 strings. The five extra bass strings are tuned to D, C, B, A and G one octave lower than regular pitch. 
                 Label Code SE1

                 Courses / Strings

18 course: 7 strings on neck (G doubled), 5 bass, 7 treble

               Frets

straight
                 Scale length ~19"
                 Neck Joint no heel

Woods

Top

spruce?

Back & Sides

unknown

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown
Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

fancy wood purfling, ivoroid?

Back

fancy wood purfling, ivoroid?

Fingerboard

ivoroid?

Headstock(s)

ivoroid?
Soundhole 3 multi-colored rings

                 Inlay

very fancy pearl fret markers and headstock inlay, wood and pearl inlay in back of neck

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

 

 

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