Knutsen Harp Guitar
This instrument was sold by The Red Fiddle to the National
Music Museum.
Note the unusual main headstock design - nothing else like it has been seen.
More unusual is the binding - a wonderful 3-ply layer of herringbone, multi-colored
purfling and herringbone. The headstock has probably been touched up -
painted black or re-veneered - and I suspect the crude "upside-down butterfly"
inlay of abalone is non-original. This one has a strange case of
fingerboard degradation - currently undergoing restoration, the museum's
technician believes that something in Knutsen's dye caused this. Note the
bluish tint to the fretboard.
Click on picture to
enlarge
(images copyright and courtesy National Music Museum)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HGS16 |
|
Category |
Seattle Harp Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"Lower Bass Point" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Red Fiddle > National Music Museum |
|
Year (approx) |
1906-1908 |
|
Label |
SE1 |
|
Courses / Strings |
18 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass, 7 treble |
|
Frets |
straight |
|
Scale length | ~19" | |
Neck Joint | unknown | |
Woods |
Top |
spruce |
Back & Sides |
unknown | |
Neck |
unknown | |
Fingerboard |
unknown |
|
Bridge |
unknown | |
Headstock veneer | unknown | |
Binding, trim |
Top |
multi-colored purfling bordered on each side by herringbone |
Back |
ivoroid | |
Fingerboard |
ivoroid | |
Headstock(s) |
ivoroid | |
Soundhole | 3 rings of herringbone and/or multi-colored purfling | |
Inlay |
fancy fret markers and headstock inlay | |
Pickguard |
none |
|
Comments |
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