Knutsen Harp Guitar
Here's a very interesting instrument, probably made prior to
the last Seattle harp guitars with vertical bass headstocks. Like those
instruments, it also has zither pin bass tuners, but on a completely
differently shaped headstock.
At bottom left is the guitar with its original owner, Tina Sofia Bohman, the maternal grandmother of the guitar's
current owner. Pictured in her church with her string band group on Sept. 23,
1927.
Click on a picture to
enlarge
(images copyright John Joyner, family photo copyright and courtesy Greg Furse)
Knutsen Archives Inventory Number |
HGS22 |
|
Category |
Seattle Harp Guitars |
|
Body Style |
"Lower Bass Point" |
|
Current or last known owner |
Greg Furse |
|
Year (approx) |
1912-1913 |
|
Label |
"C. Knutsen, Sole Patentee of the 11-string 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 | 25-1/2" | |
Neck Joint | no heel | |
Woods |
Top |
cedar |
Back & Sides |
mahogany | |
Neck |
cypress? | |
Fingerboard |
dyed mahogany |
|
Bridge |
unknown | |
Headstock veneer | koa | |
Binding, trim |
Top |
dyed wood |
Back |
unknown | |
Fingerboard |
none | |
Headstock(s) |
dyed wood | |
Soundhole | 8 blonde, red or black wood rings | |
Inlay |
fancy fret markers | |
Pickguard |
none |
|
Comments |
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