Abstract: A pick-up assembly for a stringed musical instrument includes first and second identical pick-ups in respective housings. The first pick-up is positioned toward strings of the instrument and the second pick-up is positioned toward inside of the instrument. The first and second pick-ups are attached back to back with a hard rubber sound suppressing material sandwiched between the back of the two housings. The sound suppressing material has the same size as the back of the housing. The second pick-up is grounded with a metal wire or is tuned to zero amplication.

Abstract: A pick-up assembly for a stringed musical instrument includes first and second identical pick-ups in respective housings. The first pick-up is positioned toward strings of the instrument and the second pick-up is positioned toward inside of the instrument. The first and second pick-ups are attached back to back with a hard rubber sound suppressing material sandwiched between the back of the two housings. The sound suppressing material has the same size as the back of the housing. The second pick-up is grounded with a metal wire or is tuned to zero amplication.

Abstract: A method to relieve the pressure on the top, bottom, and sides of a stringed musical instrument by securing two wooden rods between the neck block and the tail block, with the rods positioned lower at the tail block than at the neck block. The rods are tapped and tuned by selectively removing material from the rods to achieve the desired tone and to eliminate sound wave clash. This method will allow more different types of material to be used in the construction of musical instruments with more powerful and improved tone quality.

Abstract: A pick-up assembly for a stringed musical instrument includes first and second identical pick-ups in respective housings. The first pick-up is positioned toward strings of the instrument and the second pick-up is positioned toward inside of the instrument. The first and second pick-ups are attached back to back with a hard rubber sound suppressing material sandwiched between the back of the two housings. The sound suppressing material has the same size as the back of the housing. The second pick-up is grounded with a metal wire.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing and tuning a musical instrument having a sound board that is excited by either a string, as in a guitar, or a percussion instrument, such as a drum. The sound board is tuned by holding it in position such that it can vibrate, tapping it to determine the actual audible sound at the tapped location to a desired sound, and then either adding or reducing the material at the tapped location to achieve the desired sound.

Abstract: A method of tuning a violin bow to improve the quality of sound consists of clamping the bow at the frog, tapping the bow near the frog, and trimming the material in the proximity of the tapping point until a desired tone is produced by the vibrating bow. The bow is subsequently clamped at the previous tapping point, and the tapping and trimming steps are repeated. This process is continued until the head end of the bow is reached.

Abstract: A violin having a dowel disposed in the neck block and the neck to reinforce the joint between the neck and the sound box.