Knutsen Harp Guitar
The headstock shape of the standard neck points to an early
Seattle date. The bass arm tip seems to be shifting from the
previous bass headstock (HGS2) to the next (HGS4).
Like several mandolins, Knutsen simply cuts off the "Harp Guitar with 11
strings" portion of the label. This one also has some curious punched numbers
and initials on the brace underneath the label. This is the first example of
punch-stamping I've ever seen on a Knutsen instrument. But what do they mean?
Surely the initials are "C. K."? What of the intriguing numbers? The
original owner saw "9 09-11 1917." The new owner and I see 9 9 9 1 1
1817 C.K. Neither "date" makes any sense: "1917" is simply too late a date
of manufacture, and 1817 was ancient history. Any ideas?
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(left images copyright Ben Levin, right 4 images copyright Søren Venema)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HGS42 |
|
Category |
Seattle Harp Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"Lower Bass Point, Short Arm" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Ben Levin, Real Guitars > Søren Venema, Palm Guitars |
|
Year (approx) |
1907-1909 |
|
Label |
"C. Knutsen, Sole Patentee of the" ("of the" crossed out) |
|
Label Code | SE4 | |
Courses / Strings |
6 strings | |
Frets |
straight | |
Scale length | 24-1/2" | |
Neck Joint | no heel, bracket | |
Woods |
Top |
spruce |
Back & Sides |
mahogany | |
Neck |
red cedar | |
Fingerboard |
walnut? |
|
Bridge |
dyed ? | |
Headstock veneer | unknown | |
Binding, trim |
Top |
none |
Back |
none | |
Fingerboard |
none | |
Headstock(s) |
none | |
Soundhole | 3 rings (1 multi-colored) | |
Inlay |
dot fret markers | |
Pickguard |
none |
|
Comments |
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