Knutsen Harp Ukulele
I can't tell if this one is made of a strange cut of koa, or
a wavy "curly mahogany" - though I tend toward the latter. It's certainly attractive enough (the
photos never do the three dimensional "glow" justice). The solid
neck/fingerboard is mahogany. This harp uke has an 8th type of binding; 3-ply
wood strips - blonde-green-blonde - and a red wood arm separating strip and
soundhole ring. This is similar to the two larger taropatches, with red substituted
for the green strip.
This instrument was bought new in the state of Washington (where it was built)
by a woman named Audell Wilson. It ended up in Long Beach, where this
photo of Audell with her uke was taken about 1930. After her passing, the
family handed it down to the current owner.
The label has a pencil inscription with what appears to be the initials "B.L.M.W." and "B.L.+M.W."
(a declaration of love between Ms. Wilson and B.L.?).
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(images copyright Gregg Miner)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HU23 |
|
Category |
Harp Ukuleles |
|
Body Style |
"Standard" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Glenn Cornick |
|
Year (approx) |
1910-1914 |
|
Label |
Patent
Applied
For |
|
Label Code | SE9 | |
Courses / Strings |
4 strings |
|
Scale length |
13-5/8" |
|
Woods |
Top |
koa or mahogany |
Back & Sides |
koa or mahogany |
|
Neck |
mahogany |
|
Fingerboard |
n/a |
|
Bridge |
unknown |
|
Headstock veneer |
none |
|
Binding, trim |
Top |
3-ply wood binding; blonde-green-blonde |
Back |
none |
|
Fingerboard |
none |
|
Headstock(s) |
none |
|
Soundhole |
red wood ring |
|
Inlay |
pearl dot fret markers |
|
Pickguard |
none |
|
Comments |
|
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