The vintage 1967 Harald Petersen Classical Guitar on which my father used to perform (Photograph copyright Gary Deacon).
Danish guitar maker Harald Petersen lived and worked in Cumbria in the U.K. during the 1960's. His guitars were sold through the Spanish Guitar Centre in Cranborne St. London. He made 3 models, A, B and C. He worked with his two sons who continued to make the guitars for a few years after his death in 1968, but then decided to discontinue the business. According to his grandson Hans-Harald, the sons continued to repair guitars after they had stopped making.
A close up of the label (Photograph copyright Gary Deacon).
The Spanish Guitar Centre in London is the oldest classical guitar centre in the world, and has been a major influence on the guitar movement in Britain. Harald Petersen was closely involved with the Centre, and was encouraged by Len Williams (father of legendary classical guitarist John Williams) to create and experiment with building guitars. In many ways he was a founding father of what was later to become the English school of guitar making.
Another view of the Harald Petersen guitar inside the somewhat weathered original case (Photograph copyright Gary Deacon)
The guitar is in need of some repair work and I look forward a possible future restoration. The instrument produces a soft and sweet tone.
Hi I have just bought a Harald Peterson guitar made in 1970 according to the label. However the label does not state the model number no A B or C after the word Model. I am not yet in possession of the guitar but the back looks like it's possibly maple from pics. I have seen a model B made with Brazilian rosewood on the internet and believed the Model A was made from maple and both B and Cs were rosewood though most likely Indian rosewood. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi I discovered additional information on the internet :
ReplyDeleteHarald Peterson's two sons, Tom and Peter, continued to build guitars up to the early 1980's. They built three models a model A made from maple back and sides and cedar top, a model B made from Indian Rosewood for the back and sides and usually cedar top and the Model C built from Indian Rosewood for the back and sides and spruce top. The model C was the most expensive of the three.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Gary
i just want to say, that harald petersen was my uncle. 70 years ago i came very often in his workshop in Aarhus. later on he moved to a place near vejle, also in jutland. after that he moved to
ReplyDeleteengland, because his wife, my aunt, was born there. it was his luck, to come to england.
it makes me feeling good, all the nice words other persons write about uncle harald. thank you.
robert friis
robert friis
The signed Harald Petersen I still have was given to me for my 1961 graduation present. Its in very nice condition. I very seldom play it as it was never set up correctly
ReplyDeleteThe signed Harald Petersen I still have was given to me for my 1961 graduation present. Its in very nice condition. I very seldom play it as it was never set up correctly
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ReplyDeleteI recently found a Harald Petersen guitar with original case. How can I find the year of production and model? It has the lable from the Spanish guitar centre in the sound hole but no other info. Thanks in advance
ReplyDeleteI own what i believe is one of the last guitars Harald ever made before he died and i can only describe it as 'Old Smoke' the instrument has aged perfectly and reminds me of a fine cigar . From a Danish website a long time ago it was said that his son Thomas signed the last guitar on behalf of his father for the guitar center in london. What ever reason he did this makes the guitar even more interesting as he just wrote Thomas peterson on a small piece of paper and stuck it over his fathers original label . The Label is exactly the same as yours pictured above but unmarked (apart from his sons name over the top in pen) great pictures and thanks for sharing , if you want any of mine please feel free to ask and i will send them over. great bit of history
ReplyDeleteHarold Petersen ( 22 March 1910 - 3 May 1969 ) is an internationally known Danish guitar builder . Harold Petersen was based primarily classical guitars , but also jazz guitars and other stringed instruments . Harald Petersen sold his instruments through music business Marno Sørensen before in 1950 traveled to England , where his wife came. There came a great time in his career when he came in contact with Len Williams , who had "Spanish Guitar Centre" in London . Len Williams, father of the famous English classical guitar player John Williams , who also played a memorial concert for Harold Petersen after his death. Guitars from this period have printed on the label: "suns agent, spanish guitar centers, London England." This distrubition ended but before Harald Petersen's death. Harald Petersen did finally 3 models called respectively. A, B and C. In contrast to usage in classical guitars, the C model is the finest. The difference consisted in the choice of materials and details, eg. was rosette more complicated in the C model, and the A-model had a simpler head a B and C models. After Harald Petersen's death took over his sons, Tom and Peter shop until they closed it in 1983 . The sons' time they changed the label from "Harold Petersen" to "Petersen" with the exception of the first guitar from his father's death, when his sons signed on his father's label. Harold Petersen was in his time in Denmark, including sold a jazz guitar with Svend Asmussen and in England, including Paul McCartney played on Petersen's guitars.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that Harald's sons continued to use the Harald Petersen labels for a number of guitars before changing to Petersen. I have what I believe to be a Model A with the Harald Petersen label from 1970 but it is signed by his sons.
ReplyDeletei bought a petersen guitar on my honeymoon in london in 1978 from the spanish guitar centre. the label just says petersen ans model B T.PH.Petersen 1977. if harold petersen died in 1969. could the sig means tom and peter harald petersen? my guitar is indian rosewood b&s and cedar top.
ReplyDeletehi,i live in ireleth cumbria the village that harald lived and worked, just out of interest his son still lives a few yards from the workshop where they made the intrements
ReplyDeleteInteresting...bill Petersen, the other son! USA
ReplyDeleteInteresting bill petersen,the other Harald son...USA
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