Knutsen Harp Guitar
Here is an early "Evolving Symphony" with the bass
headstock just beginning to change (see Knutsen
Harp Guitar Evolution). Again, the biggest clue is the bridge, which
unfortunately, is not original. The first bridge photo shows the shape of this
new bridge - in the second, one can just make out the indentation evidence of a
former bridge. Strange or "fake" as it looks, I believe the
original bridge was in fact very similar. Note the 3rd photo, of HGT21, a
suspected "Evolving Symphony" guitar - they're not all that different
in outline (nor is the indentation in photo 2). For additional perspective, look
at the many strange forms of Knutsen's Hawaiian guitar bridges (at the bottom of
the Hawaiian page).
Besides the obvious added pickguard, Greg Nunley, who inspected the instrument
adds:
"The neck and the back of the bass headstock has a very dark stain applied. It appears that the finish is original
on top and back. In the photo with the mirror, you can see that the top was
used on another harp guitar or had a set of braces applied and then removed during construction. There is a pattern of old glue left and several gouges where the first braces were removed. Perhaps Mr. Knutsen was experimenting, then thought better? The glue pattern looks as though it was meant for gut strings. The current bracing looks like a steel string pattern."
Interesting observation. My bet would be a repairman popped the back off at
some point and got creative - perhaps replacing Knutsen's well-known weak bracing
with a new bracing pattern. The top is certainly original, as it has the typical
Knutsen purfling and binding (see bass headstock, and note also the set of five
filled holes in the lower right corner where someone probably tried to group the
bass strings closer together via added guideposts!).
11/7/04: New photos added after the guitar was fully restored by Greg Nunley
(two outer right and left images).
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(images copyright Greg Nunley, Mainstreet Musician Supply)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HGT36 |
|
Category |
Tacoma Harp Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"Evolving Symphony" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Jason Telford |
|
Year (approx) |
1902-1904 | |
Label |
none | |
Courses / Strings |
11 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass |
|
Frets |
slanted | |
Scale length | 24-15/16" | |
Neck Joint | no heel | |
Woods |
Top |
spruce |
Back & Sides |
oak | |
Neck |
unknown | |
Fingerboard |
rosewood? | |
Bridge |
unknown | |
Headstock veneer | unknown | |
Binding, trim |
Top |
multi-colored wood |
Back |
none | |
Fingerboard |
none | |
Headstock(s) |
none | |
Soundhole | 3 rings (1 multi-colored) | |
Inlay |
dot fret markers | |
Pickguard |
added |
|
Comments |
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