Knutsen Harp Mandolin    

This is Knutsen's rarer "Lower Bass Point" harp mandolin. Dan Most speculated in the book that this was the first version of the harp mandolin - the point then moving to the treble side. I've found no evidence to support this, and judging by labels and Knutsen's creative habits, I suspect all the mandolin designs were tried in rapid succession, overlapping through the years. 
Additional photos and information can be found in From Harp Guitars to the New Hawaiian Family by Noe & Most.

hm4.jpg (32919 bytes)

(image copyright Tom Noe)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HM4

                 Category

Harp Mandolins

                 Body Style

"Lower Bass Point"

                 Current or last known owner

Dan Most

                 Year (approx)

1910-1913

                 Label

"C. Knutsen, Sole Patentee of the"

                 Label Code SE4

                 Courses / Strings

4 courses: 8 strings on neck

                 Scale length

unknown

Woods

Top

spruce

Back & Sides

bird's eye maple

Neck

Douglas fir

Fingerboard

mahogany

Bridge

bone

Headstock veneer

mahogany

Binding, trim

Top

rope, black celluloid?

Back

black celluloid?

Fingerboard

ivoroid

Headstock(s)

none

Soundhole

rope, wood

                 Inlay

Fancy pearl fret markers

                 Pickguard

Black ? With pearl star

                 Comments

instrument pictured in Noe/Most book, p.63

 

To Mandolins

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. All Rights Reserved.

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