Abstract: A strip of fiber-reinforced plastic composite is wrapped around a neck and peghead insert positioned right-side up in a neck mold. A pressure plate having a fingerboard secured thereto is then lowered onto the mold and pressure applied to integrally mold the instrument neck with the fingerboard bonded thereto.

Abstract: Slotted bobbins consisting of a plurality of wire coils, are secured within a pickup for a stringed instrument assembly having an upper plate with a plurality of slots running in the direction of the strings, the slots of the bobbins being aligned with those of the upper plate. A magnetic pole piece is slidably disposed within each slot, each pole piece being independently slidable along the length of its slot, to allow reading each string at a different spectrum. The pole pieces are releasably secured within the slots so that they can be set at a desired point prior to playing of the instrument.

Abstract: Neck constructed of wood or synthetic material with underside having a spaced apart pair of grooves running parallel in the direction of the strings and defining a central ridge portion of the undersurface which serves as the contact surface for the player's hand during the playing of the instrument.

Abstract: A body having a rear panel and sides integrally formed of plastic, with a top panel secured across the upper sides, the body being connected to a neck, having a U-shaped cross section, and a peghead, integrally formed of plastic with the neck. A flat plastic panel is secured across the open side of the neck, for attachment of a fretboard, and a reinforcement rod runs from the butt end of the body to the upper portions of the peghead. Plastic foam is shot within all interior portions of the body, neck and peghead.

Abstract: A panel having a rear wall is movably secured to the lower portion of a guitar body by a pair of screws allowing it to be moved toward and away from the guitar body. A sliding member is disposed in the panel under each guitar string, with a string contacting member secured on top of each slidable member and itself being slidable laterally thereon. Accordingly, guitar strings can be adjusted up and down the guitar, toward and away from the body, and across the fretboard, to thereby achieve optimum intonation and playability.

Abstract: A rod secured across the width of the guitar peghead by a plurality of spaced apart fasteners, the rod having a roller disposed thereon for each guitar string, with each roller receiving a string between the roller and the peghead, and means for securing the rollers to the rod, such that when strings are pressed down above the string nut and released they will easily slide back to their original position, thereby allowing the playing of special effects above the fretboard.

Abstract: A bowl-shaped body formed in a single piece of graphite, fiberglass or impregnated fabric and having a waist separating a smaller upper bowl portion from a larger lower bowl portion. The lower bowl portion has a circular bout and is substantially deeper than the upper bowl portion. Preferably, the upper bowl portion also has a cutaway portion adjacent the fretboard, for fingering at the higher positions, and a more deeply curving waist portion on the same side to allow the guitar to be more easily held during playing.