Knutsen Harp Hawaiian Convertible Guitar    

This is the first Knutsen of this style that has 5 sub-bass strings! The bridge proves that they are original. The extra "spacing nut" may be original or added - the screws in the bass headstock appear to be positioned to act as guideposts to properly position basses also (but perhaps not wide enough?). Interesting how Knutsen fit five bass strings on his standard skinny headstock! With a full set of basses, 16 raised frets and what looks like a more secure bracket assembly, this may have been one convertible that was actually practical as a standard harp guitar.

hcp18.jpg (61242 bytes) hcp18heads.jpg (144652 bytes) hcp18body.jpg (85591 bytes) hcp18headback.jpg (78523 bytes) hcp18back.jpg (46569 bytes)

Click on  a picture to enlarge
(images copyright Leo Coulson)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HCP18

                 Category

Convertible Guitars

                 Body Style

"'Upper Treble Point' Harp Hawaiian"

                 Current or last known owner

Intermountain Guitar & Banjo

                 Year (approx)

1914-1920s

                 Label

unknown

                 Label Code unknown

                 Courses / Strings

11 courses: 6 strings on neck, 5 basses

                 Frets

raised metal to 16th, then inlaid

                 Scale length unknown
                 Neck Joint convertible

Woods

Top

spruce?

Back & Sides

mahogany?

Neck

unknown

Fingerboard

unknown

Bridge

mahogany?

Headstock veneer none

Binding, trim

Top

rope

Back

none

Fingerboard

double inlaid wood stripes

Headstock(s) 

none

Soundhole rope

                 Inlay

celluloid diamond and dot fret markers

                 Pickguard

dark celluloid with celluloid inlays

                 Comments

 

 

To Hawaiian 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. All Rights Reserved.

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