Knutsen Seattle Harp Guitar HGS68

This is a spectacular instrument with several unusual features. It appears on p.143 of Bob Hartman's 2007 The Larsons’ Creations, Centennial Edition. It reminds me of the fancier models used by Bert Amend and his group, most notably the crescent inlay in the bass headstock. It has fancy inlays everywhere, and is fully bound. The two most unusual features are the number of sub-bass strings and the fingerboard. With six sub-basses, perhaps this was a custom order, influenced by the now-standard 6-bass Dyers. In any event, the tuners are original, and no other 6-bass Knutsen is known, thought there are two with seven basses. Note how the fingerboard widens out on the treble side at the body - what on earth for?

Click on a picture to enlarge
(images copyright Don & Barbara Cohen, courtesy of Bob Hartman)

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number		HGS68
Category		Seattle Harp Guitars
Body Style		"Lower Bass Point"
Current or last known owner		Don & Barbara Cohen
Year (approx)		1912-1913
Label		unknown
Courses / Strings		19 course: 6 strings on neck, 6 bass, 7 treble
Frets		straight
Scale length		unknown
Neck Joint		no heel
Woods	Top	unknown
	Back & Sides	mahogany?
	Neck	unknown, inlaid stripes
	Fingerboard	unknown
	Bridge	unknown
	Headstock veneer	unknown
Binding, trim	Top	fancy rope purfling
	Back	ivoroid?
	Fingerboard	ivoroid?
	Headstock(s)	ivoroid?
	Soundhole	fancy rope purfling
Inlay		fancy pearl fret markers, inlays in neck headstock, inlays in bass arm
Pickguard		none
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