Knutsen 18-string Symphony Model Harp Guitar, c. 1901, made in Port Townshend, WA, natural varnish finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, gig bag case.
One of America's most creative-if least celebrated-20th century luthiers was Chris Knutsen, who hand-built his always amazingly eccentric instruments on the west coast from the 1890's through the 1920's. His hollow-neck Hawaiian guitar designs were popularized by Hermann Weissenborn and his Symphony harp guitars by the Larson Brothers (under the Dyer label) but Knutsen himself never made the leap from craftsman to manufacturer. He tinkered endlessly with his highly original stringed instrument concepts, and each completely hand-made instrument is distinctive, often appearing to be built from found woods and whatever hardware was available.
This Symphony Harp guitar dates to around 1901, and is a wonderful example of Knutsen's earlier style work. Unusual features include slanted frets (70 years before Rickenbacker tried the same idea) and a bank of 7 super-treble strings augmenting the 5 sub-bass strings. Knutsen's elaborate original label which gives the proper sub-bass tuning is still intact. This is an excellent playing and sounding piece of American musical art.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.). Recently restored to excellent playing condition-this is one of the most playable Knutsen-made instruments in the world! The neck has been re-set and moved forward slightly to correct the intonation and the top expertly re-braced. All external components are original except the play string saddle (the metal wire replaced with bone) and new frets. The sound is dry and woody but expansive, with very clear sub-bass response and an amazing tight, clear ring from the bank of super-treble strings. Includes an excellent modern custom gig bag.
