The Mysterious Five-Course Harp Mandola

A) A Larson-built Knutsen? 
B) A Knutsen-designed Dyer? 
C) None of the above?

by Gregg Miner, as part of

 

larson_mandola-miner.jpg (54771 bytes)

larson_mandola_compare-miner.jpg (95440 bytes)
Size comparison with standard Knutsen harp mandolin

larson_mandola_front-miner.jpg (78720 bytes)

larson_mandola_head-miner.jpg (60226 bytes)

larson_mandola_lt-miner.jpg (44026 bytes)

In May of 2004, a Larson collector and I had a little eBay bidding war on this fellow (I won, but ouch!) - he, because he was convinced it was a Larson - I, convinced it was a Knutsen or at least involved Knutsen in some way. When I received the instrument, I could immediately tell that Knutsen didn't build it (double-ouch!). After sending images to others knowledgeable about Larsons, we all agree that the Larsons are the best candidate. But the questions abound: why, when, how?

The instrument appears to be all-original, other than a top repair, and is well-played (and sounds incredible). There is no indication that there was ever a label. It is ~33" in overall length, 16" at the widest part of the body, 4" deep, and has a scale length of 18-1/4". With ten strings (using standard tiple tuners) strung in pairs, the scale suggests a combination of tenor and octave mandola - though the nut and bridge grooves don't seem to display evidence of having been tuned in fifths. It has a spruce top and nice mahogany back and sides. The 3-piece neck is maple with a dark center stripe, the headstock is veneered asymmetrically with mahogany and ebony(?). The inside back seam looks identical to my Dyer harp guitar. It reminded Bob Hartman more of early Larsons, suggesting an early 1900s build, though I imagine a later or even 'teens creation.

larson_mandola_back-miner.jpg (54314 bytes)

larson_mandola_headback-miner.jpg (117344 bytes)

larson_mandola_pg-miner.jpg (117387 bytes)

larson_mandola_neckback-miner.jpg (70849 bytes)

 

larson_mandola_back_stripe-miner.jpg (67685 bytes)

 

larson_mandola_rt-miner.jpg (48284 bytes)

In no particular order, here are my observations and opinions on the Knutsen and Larson characteristics:

  •  Compared to Knutsen's "Lower Bass Point" harp mandolins, the body is unmistakably similar, if not an exact, deliberate copy.
  • Knutsen was the restless experimenter, and made multi-course instruments - including the Harp Bandurria and a reported "10-string harp mandolin" not yet in Inventory.


Knutsen "Lower Bass Point" harp mandolin, c.1910

  •  The trapeze tailpiece is identical to the one added (at an early date) to my Knutsen Symphony harp guitar.
  • Dyer had his own established line of harp mandolin family instruments.
  • The 3-piece neck is considered an early Larsons feature, though there are plenty of Knutsen harp guitars with 3-piece "striped" necks.
  • The instrument has a full heel (other than one Knutsen mandolin with a short heel, they all have butt joints).
  • The center back brace is horizontal, not slanted like nearly all Knutsens.


My 1898-1900 Knutsen
has an identical (added) tailpiece.

  • The fingerboard binding ends above a visible line of ebony underneath - though when I peeled back the binding edge enough to check, it appear to be a shim, not a single piece, as reported in Larsons.
  • It is braced "under tension" (slightly convex) as Larsons were, but then, so are my Knutsens. 
  • Any other details I can check, please write me.

I don't know what to make of this instrument, but I am sure there is a story here! 
Is it possible that the close "awareness and symbiosis" of the Knutsen/Dyer/Larsons triumvirate that I mention on my Dyer mandolin and harp guitar pages is at work?
Could Dyer have received a customer request for "large 5-course Knutsen mandola" - and had the Larsons build it? 
Was Knutsen involved in the design, concept, approval, or at all?

This marvelous old instrument sings beautifully, but is otherwise not talking.


If you enjoyed this article, or found it useful for research, please consider supporting Harpguitars.net so that this information will be available for others like you and to future generations. Thanks!

 

To Dyer Harp Mandolins

Home To Dyer Harp Guitars

[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. All Rights Reserved.

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