Ian McLatchie
From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
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Posted 30 Jun 2017 7:52 am |
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This is a beautiful and ultra-rare Knutsen Harp Hawaiian (a.k.a. Harp Steel) guitar, impossible to date precisely, but likely made sometime in the mid-1920s. According to Gregg Miner’s Knutsen guitar page (http://www.harpguitars.net/knutsen/hawaiians.htm), of the 63 hollow-neck Knutsens known to have survived, barely 20 have a Weissenborn-style body; of these, only four other guitars besides this one with the six-strings-plus-two-bass-strings style have been documented.
Spruce top with mahogany insets and mahogany and (?) fretboard, rosette and rope binding. Mahogany back and sides. Scale length 24-3/4â€. String spacing 1/2†at bridge, 5/16†at nut. Lower bout 14â€, upper bout 8-7/8â€. Body 3-3/8†deep at endpin, 2-5/8†at peg head joint. Celluloid and pearl fret markers. All ornamentation original. Original tuners work well.
The guitar is in extraordinary overall condition, with only one stable top crack beside sound hole (see photo), a few light scratches and nicks and a small patch of abrasions on the lower left bout (see photo). Normal pulling and bellying around the bridge.
When I got the instrument 25 years ago, the original screw-on bridge was too badly worn to repair. Master luthier Joe Yanuziello built a visually precise, glue-on Brazilian rosewood replica and a Corian nut, which greatly improved the tone and playability. Note that the new bridge does not have a saddle for the two bass strings. It’s easy enough to rout one in if one is so inclined. The original bridge, wood nut, and bass-string extension arm (missing one screw) are included with the guitar, as is the original case - another rarity.
The guitar sounds spectacular, less metallic than a Weissenborn but with a richer bass and beautiful, even tone throughout the register. A K&K Pure Mini undersaddle pickup delivers incomparable natural sound reproduction. A great guitar in every respect, unbeatable as a recording instrument. I don’t get much chance to play it with the music I’m making these days and I’d rather it go to someone who can put it to better use. $2400 U.S. plus actual shipping cost. I’m an experienced shipper and pack with obsessive care. Payment by cashier’s check preferred. Can accept PayPal too, but with additional cost to American buyers to help offset PayPal’s onerous cross-border fees. PM me for more information.
Last edited by Ian McLatchie on 11 Jul 2017 12:50 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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