Knutsen Harp Guitar   

This 3/4 scale Seattle harp guitar is the fanciest specimen yet known.  It even has multi-colored rope binding on the back!  It also features fully bound headstocks and three unique crescent moon inlays.  What a prize!
It comes with some curious provenance - the previous owner wrote that he received it in 1948 from his father, who bought it from Knutsen himself.  The curious part is that he claims it was in 1907 in Tacoma.   Tacoma is only a year off, so it's not impossible.  However, the label (and fancy features) point to the 1911-1913 period.   It is not impossible that Knutsen made a trip to Tacoma for the sale, and that are dating system is 5 years off, but I tend to doubt that.  Unfortunately, I never trust memories, unless there is better evidence.

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

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGS71

                 Category

Seattle Harp Guitars

                 Body Style

"Lower Bass Point"

                 Current or last known owner

Tom Benson > Intermountain Guitar & Banjo

              Year (approx)

1911-1913

                 Label

"C. Knutsen, Sole Patentee of the 11-string harp guitar"

                 Label Code SE2

                 Courses / Strings

11 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass

               Frets

straight

                 Scale length ~ 19+"
                 Neck Joint no heel

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

mahogany

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown
Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

multi-colored wood

Back

multi-colored wood

Fingerboard

ivoroid?

Headstock(s)

ivoroid?
Soundhole multi-colored wood

                 Inlay

fancy pearl fret markers, inlays top and headstock

                 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, 2005,2006,2007,2008. All Rights Reserved.

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