Knutsen Harp Guitar    

Another marvelous discovery! Like the previous "missing link" - a simpler model with no binding or treble strings, but with what appears to be rosewood back and sides! Compare the bass headstock (on right) with the previous specimen (on left) and one can again see Knutsen's amazingly linear "Darwinian" evolution of his bass headstocks. This one has a label, and as expected, label dating and headstock evolution dating match up exactly. Note how the sharp bend left over from the Patent style instruments is smoothing out - approaching closer to his Symphony shape. A constant progression by the most innovative, restless luthier who ever lived!

hgt45.jpg (58710 bytes)

hgt45body.jpg (103094 bytes)

hgt45head.jpg (82096 bytes)

hgt45backtop.jpg (70553 bytes)

hgt45backbottom.jpg (76996 bytes)

hgt45back.jpg (46497 bytes)

Click on a  picture to enlarge
(images copyright Kent Erickson)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGT45

                 Category

Tacoma Harp Guitars (Port Townsend built)

                 Body Style

"Pre-Symphony"

                 Current or last known owner

anonymous

              Year (approx)

1898-1899

                 Label

"THE ONE-ARM HARP GUITAR.
Patented United States, England and Canada.
Infringements will be prosecuted to the fullest extant."

                 Label Code PT5

                 Courses / Strings

11 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass

               Frets

straight

                 Scale length 25-1/4"
                 Neck Joint no heel, but slight bulge

Woods

Top

spruce?

Back & Sides

Brazilian rosewood?

Neck

cedar?

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

unknown

Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

none

Back

none

Fingerboard

none

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole 3 wood rings (1 multi-colored)

                 Inlay

dot fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

 

 

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