Knutsen Harp Guitar    

Here's a wonderful late-period guitar with perhaps the longest bass strings in relation to the neck. The bass headstock is similar to the two Double Point 12-string harp guitars (HGS26 & 39), while the tuner arrangement is exactly like HGS31 - what I believe to be the last variation (see Harp Guitar Evolution for more details on these final designs). Alert reader Benoit Meulle-Stef noticed that the treble string pins were configured upside down! The tuning pins and bridge pins are swapped - with the zither pins inserted into the bridge, and bridge pins holding the strings in a block under the top (as in HGS40). A mini bridge and saddle complete the scenario.

hgs19.jpg (13797 bytes) hgs19head.jpg (22132 bytes) hgs19bridge.jpg (23490 bytes) hgs19headback.jpg (23527 bytes) hgs19body.jpg (25694 bytes) hgs19back.jpg (13694 bytes)

Click on a picture to enlarge
(images copyright Experience Music Project)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number

HGS19

                 Category

Seattle Harp Guitars

                 Body Style

"Lower Bass Point"

                 Current or last known owner

Experience Music Project permanent collection

              Year (approx)

1913-1914

                 Label

C. KNUTSEN, SOLE PATENTEE OF THE 11 STRINGED HARP GUITAR
The five extra bass strings are tuned to D, C, B, A, and G, one octave lower than regular pitch.

                 Label Code SE2

                 Courses / Strings

18 course: 6 strings on neck, 5 bass, 7 treble

               Frets

straight

                 Scale length unknown
                 Neck Joint no heel, bracket

Woods

Top

black

Back & Sides

mahogany

Neck

fir

Fingerboard

dyed ?

Bridge

mahogany
Headstock veneer unknown

Binding, trim

Top

light/dark/light wood

Back

light wood

Fingerboard

light wood

Headstock(s)

none
Soundhole ~8 light, red & black wood rings

                 Inlay

fancy fret markers

                 Pickguard

none

                 Comments

 

 

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