Abstract: This will explain things about the conventional dobro that causes this invention to be a logical improvement over conventional dobros. Conventional dobros have a fingerboard that is not used as a fingerboard and frets that are not used as frets, lines drawn across the board in place of frets will serve the same purpose as frets, and the cost is considerably less. The neck of conventional dobros is not used as a neck to grasp with the hand and pull the strings down with the fingers against the frets to make musical notes as it is done on conventional guitars. In recognition of this fact some dobros now have solid, so called square necks. Square necks save a little time in manufacturing but cause no effect on performance. Therefore a logical alternative to improve the dobro is to do what this invention is doing. The extended soundbox enhances sound and provides a mounting place for the fret position locator board.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having an extended soundbox which enhances the structural integrity and sound quality of the instrument. In a preferred embodiment, the stringed musical instrument with soundbox extension is a mandolin having a main soundbox similar to the soundbox of a conventional mandolin but the soundbox extension of this invention extends forward from the main soundbox toward the head on both sides of the neck between the planes of the back and the top. The soundbox extension is an open channel formed by the top, back, and sides that do not terminate at the front of the main soundbox, as they do on a conventional mandolin, but the extend forward and form an inverted “U” shaped channel. The soundbox extension traverses the neck, fingerboard and strings between the head and the nut of the instrument; as the neck, fingerboard and strings traverse the soundbox extension.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having an extended soundbox which enhances the structural integrity and sound quality of the instrument. In a preferred embodiment, the stringed musical instrument with soundbox extension is a mandolin having a main soundbox similar to the soundbox of a conventional mandolin but the soundbox extension of this invention extends forward from the main soundbox toward the head on both sides of the neck between the planes of the back and the top. The soundbox extension is an open channel formed by the top, back, and sides that do not terminate at the front of the main soundbox, as they do on a conventional mandolin, but the extend forward and form an inverted “U” shaped channel. The soundbox extension traverses the neck, fingerboard and strings between the head and the nut of the instrument; as the neck, fingerboard and strings traverse the soundbox extension.