Harp Guitar

Knutsen Harp Guitar

California, USA
United States

Year made approximately 1897-1898

Knutsen Archives Inventory Number: HGP22

This is a Christopher Knutsen Port Townsend Harp Guitar, "1898 patent". Courses/Strings: 9 course: 6 strings on neck, 3 sub-bass harp strings. According to luthier/researcher Gregg Miner, “Christopher Knutsen was a genius. The legendary Dyer Harp guitar made by the Larson brothers in Chicago was a Chris Knutsen design. The marvelous Weissenborn Hawaiian acoustic lap steels were also copied from Knutsen designs in the early part of the 20th century. His innovative work was inspiration for the best luthiers of his day, yet Chris Knutsen was almost completely forgotten until recently when Dan Most and George Thomas Noe rediscovered his work and published "From Harp Guitars to the New Hawaiian Family, Chris J. Knutsen" in 1999. Since then there has been a resurgence of interest by players and collectors alike in the innovative and amazing guitars from this independent luthier from Norway who settled in the Pacific Northwest and in Southern Califonia toward the end of his relatively short life. Working predominantly as a solo builder his output of several hundred instruments is in itself pretty amazing.” Gregg Miner of www.Harpguitars.net

Owner:
Catalog#: HWMC

http://www.harpguitars.net/Knutsen/hgp22.htm