Abstract: An ergonomic stringed instrument is described, presenting a novel ergonomic design incorporating one or more of an angled waist, provided as part of the waist portion of the stringed instrument bowl or body, and a contoured ridge, provided along at least a portion of the back of the stringed instrument bowl or body. The angled waist is provided on the treble side of the stringed instrument, which side may rest on the leg of a performer, and is configured with an angled contour towards the back of the stringed instrument. The contoured ridge runs along at least a portion of the bass side of the stringed instrument back and defines at least a slightly concave portion on the treble side of the contoured ridge.

Abstract: An acoustical stringed instrument includes a body, which has a top member having a generally flat forward part. The body also has a back member which includes a side wall with an upper section and a lower section and an inner side wall surface generally perpendicular to the forward part of the top member. A neck member of the instrument has an elongated upper portion extending upwardly from the upper section of the body side wall. Additionally, the neck member has an elongated lower portion extending through the interior of the body between the upper section and the lower section of the side wall and spaced rearwardly of the forward part of the top member. The elongated lower neck portion has an upper mounting means fixed to the inner side wall surface at the upper section of the body side wall, and a lower mounting means fixed to the inner side wall surface at the lower section of the body side wall.

Abstract: A top member for the body of an acoustical stringed instrument includes a forward part having an interior portion spaced inwardly from the side wall of the body after the top member has been assembled to the body, the interior portion having a pair of composite material layers with a core layer bonded therebetween. The forward part further has a core free flex edge portion which borders the outer periphery of the interior portion, and is made by having the pair of composite material layers bonded in contact with each other. A skirt projects rearwardly from the rear surface of the flex edge portion and extends along the edge of the flex edge portion. When its top member is assembled with the body, the skirt slidably fits over the sidewall of the body.