Abstract: A stringed instrument is provided wherein a generally thin soundboard is stretched across a frame, keeping the weight away from the soundboard area that needs to vibrate, without muffling the tone. In a preferred form, a neck, or neck extension, reaches substantially through the body of the instrument. A block is anchored to the neck in close proximity to where the neck enters the body. The soundboard is attached securely to this block. Near the opposite end, a floating block is fastened securely to the soundboard. The neck is cut to an effective length to push against the floating block and act as fulcrum. At least one rod is anchored to the neck near the end where the neck enters the body and an opposite, threaded, rod end is inserted through holes near the bottom of the floating block to receive threaded nuts. Tightening the nuts effectively shortens the rod length, pulling the floating block back towards the end where the neck enters the body.