Abstract: A resonator assembly includes a resonator, a collector-amplifier, as well as a timbre tray, one or more timbre pieces, and a detector holder. The resonator assembly, designed to be attachable to a conventional acoustic guitar, improves the quality and volume of the conventional guitar. A wood or metal timbre piece or a varying combination thereof may be used according the user's sound preference. The resonator, the collector-amplifier, the timbre holder tray and the detector holder are preferably made from thin brass.

Abstract: An interchangeable modular insert for a electric stringed instrument is mounted in a cavity cut into the rear of the instrument. The rear insertion module provides rapid exchange of electronic components of different manufacturers. Placement of a module into the instrument automatically positions the module and electrically connects the same with the module being retained in the guitar body by a threaded fastener.

Abstract: A guitar and violin hybrid instrument (10) comprising either a solid or hollow body (12). The body (12) has an upper surface (14), a lower surface (16), an upper end (18), a lower end (20), a left half (22), and a right half (24). Located on the body's (12) lower section is a leg contour (38) that provides a comfortable leg support. On the lower surface (16) is an electronics cavity (26) for housing an electronics circuit (130). Located on the body's (12) upper surface (14) is a plurality of magnetic pickups (G), control knobs for the operating the electronics circuit (130) and a bridge (42). Located on the bridge's (42) upper surface (44) is a plurality of piezoelectric pickups (Y). A neck (82) extends from the body's upper end (18). Attached to the neck's (82) upper surface (88) is a fretboard (104) on which a multiplicity of frets (112) are distributed.

Abstract: A string musical instrument having a body with a hole in the center for sound resonance, an upper bridge at the top and a lower bridge at the bottom. There is a plurality of long frets connected with the top of the body directly below the upper bridge whereby the frets are distanced so as to produce sounds that are a half note apart. There is also a plurality of tuning boxes attached to the bottom of the body, which are used to tune the instrument. There is further a plurality of strings, running through the upper and lower bridge secured from the top on the back of the body and from the bottom to the tuning box. A performer holds the instrument with the bottom on his lap and places one hand on the top over the upper bridge with fingers projected over the frets to change the pitch and with the fingers of the other free hand plucks the string to produce music.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, includes an ergonomically configured body with a fret board extending therefrom. The body is configured with a S or Z-shaped cross-sectional ration transverse to the fret board to provide support for the arm of the instrumentalist as strings are fingered against the fret board and another sector which comprises a lap support instrument.

Abstract: An acoustic stringed instrument includes a multi-tiered neck-body joint that removably secures the neck to the body, provides a superior structural and acoustical coupling and enables an expanded treble cutaway that provides improved access to higher regions of the neck and elimination of the neck heel and other external structures in the vicinity of the neck joint.

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: A tension adjustable upper sound board for an acoustical stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: An acoustical guitar characterized by a relieved formation in a side edge and adjacent back portion of the guitar, the relieved portion being shaped to provide space for the breast of an instrumentalist, whereby pressure against the breast of the instrumentalist is relieved during use of the guitar. The relieved formation may be a cup-shaped member designed to fit the breast size of a female instrumentalist.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, wherein an easily accessible adjustment member allows the user to change the vertical height of the instrument's neck without affecting the angle of the neck relative to the guitar body. This invention allows the user to quickly adjust the action of the instrument without affecting the intonation or scale length of the guitar in one simple step without requiring the user to remove the strings, loosen any screws, or perform any additional mechanical adjustments.

Abstract: A musical stringed instrument having a top pickup for producing variable tones and pitches. The top pickup is mounted on top of the strings. Present pickups are all mounted beneath the strings. The top pickup can be permanently mounted, slidably mounted and it can be made to swing into or out of the zone of the string vibration. The top pickup can be used independently or in combination with a bottom pickup or bottom pickups. The latter provide more variety of tones and pitches not achievable when the pickups are used independent of each other.

Abstract: Present invention teaches a method of producing electric guitar body without the costly and time-consuming process of wood-carving or other traditional woodworking technique. By creating the molds and injecting proper materials, present invention also achieves the 3-D artistic rendition of desired shape for an electric guitar body and at reduced weight than solid wood carving guitar body.

Abstract: A stringed instrument includes an elongated supporter 4, which is disposed in a sound box 1 so as to have both ends fixed to a side plate 1b of the sound box 1, and a vibration absorber 5 disposed between the supporter 4 and a sounding board 2. The supporter 4 has a projection 4b formed on a surface facing an inner surface of the sounding board 2. The projection is brought into contact with the vibration absorber 5 to press the vibration absorber 5 against the inner surface of the sounding board 2. The vibration absorber 5 is supported by the supporter 4 so as not to bring both ends 5? and 5? of the vibration absorber 5 into contact with an inner surface of the side plate 1b.

Abstract: A combination stringed musical instrument for providing different stringed instruments on a common housing. The instrument includes a housing, neck portion, head portion, first plurality of string and second plurality of strings. The neck portion includes a neck first side and a neck second side. The head portion may be operationally coupled to the neck portion. The head portion includes a head first side and head second side. The head portion includes a plurality of tuning pegs. The first plurality of strings is preferably operationally coupled to the first side of the housing and extends upwardly along the neck first side. The first plurality of strings is coupled to the head first side. Similarly, the second plurality of strings may also be coupled to the second side of the housing and extends upwardly along the neck second side. The second plurality of strings is coupled to the head second side.

Abstract: The apparatus is a user-adjustable stringed musical instrument. A rotary joint mechanism connects an acoustic body to a movable string support assembly. The movable string support assembly is comprised of common elements of a stringed musical instrument. The rotary joint mechanism enables the orientation of the instrument strumming and fingering surfaces to be rotated relative to the transverse plane of the acoustic body. Orientation of the playing surfaces may be varied during play to achieve a more comfortable position for either the fingering hand or the strumming hand thereby improving ergonomics of the instrument.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar or a bass, has a body portion and a second portion, such as a neck, adapted to be attached to the body portion. The musical instrument further has a locking system for releasably securing the second portion to the body portion and for maintaining proper alignment between the body portion and the second portion. The locking system further maintains the second portion in a constant position with respect to the body portion.

Abstract: Frets can be provided for stringed instruments without requiring a process for scraping both ends of a fret main body after the frets are installed into a fingerboard of a stringed instrument. Both ends of the fret main body are formed in a shape along a cross-sectional shape of the fingerboard at both sides of the fingerboard when the frets are driven into fret grooves of a fingerboard. Each of the frets is provided with a fret main body for dividing a surface of the fingerboard and a leg portion standing unitedly on an underside of the fret main body.

Abstract: A guitar-like musical instrument has a body and a neck and a neck-body connecting assembly. The body has a sidewall. The neck has a distal end and a proximal end. The neck-body connecting assembly has a neck mount, a mounting block, two alignment pins and two bolts. The neck mount is formed in the sidewall of the body. The mounting block is formed at the proximal end of the neck and is attached to the neck mount. The alignment pins are mounted in the neck mount and the mounting block. The bolts extend through the neck mount and screw into the mounting blocks. The bolts securely and tightly connect the neck and the body and cooperate with the alignment pins to prevent the neck from wobbling relative to the body.

Abstract: A stringed instrument including a body having a top surface defining a picking area; a bridge supported by the top surface at one end of the picking area; a neck extending from the body at an opposite end of the picking area; and a plurality of strings extending in substantially parallel paths over the picking area. Each pickup is disposed under a different associated one of the strings and a support mechanism mounted on the top surface and adapted to accommodate movement of each pickup in a path within the picking area and parallel to its associated string.

Abstract: A distortion correcting device is accommodated at a concave portion of the neck of a stringed instrument, and includes a bar including a bottom plate portion and a pair of opposing side plate portions erected at both sides of the bottom plate portion; and an adjusting rod whose one end portion is secured to one end portion of the bar and whose other end portion engages with an adjusting nut which is rotatably supported by the other end portion of the bar, and in which the distance between the one end portion of the adjusting rod and the adjusting nut can be changed by turning the adjusting nut. A first support member and a second support member are secured to the side plate portions at both end portions of the bar, and one end portion of the adjusting rod is supported such that movement in an axial direction is blocked by the first support member, and the adjusting nut is rotatably supported by the second support member.

Abstract: Acoustic devices, particularly musical instruments, having a soundboard formed from expanded polycarbonate, methods of manufacture of same, and the use of specific soundboards in the manufacture of acoustic devices.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having, a body portion and a neck connected thereto. The neck connection utilizes a neck block which has an angled surface into which connection bolts are inserted to secure the neck to the body. The angled surface results in offset bolts which resist loosening and provides for an angled force for a more stable connection between the neck and the body.

Abstract: A guitar configuration that has improved playability without requiring a raised fret or fingerboards or a neck that extends through the resonance chamber all the way to the sound hole is disclosed. The particular construction of the present invention includes a soundboard with a partially curved portion that provides additional clearance for the guitarist's hand thereby allowing the guitarist to play the higher fret positions without changing the position of the fretting hand. The tapered construction of the soundboard is achieved while maintaining the structural integrity of the guitar construction while eliminating the need for extending the neck of the guitar through the sound chamber up to the sound hole in the sounding board.

Abstract: A body structure of an electric guitar of a solid type is constituted by a body and a neck, which are firmly joined together using adhesive and/or bolts. An engagement hollow is formed over the entire length of the back of the body, and an extending portion is integrally extended from a base portion of the neck with a smoothly curved portion therebetween. The base portion of the neck is engaged with a rectangular hollow formed in the front end portion of the body, and the extending portion of the neck is engaged with the engagement hollow of the back of the body. An adhesive bank channel is formed in the periphery of the bottom of the engagement hollow to prevent an excess of adhesive from overflowing and dirtying the backs of the body and neck when joined together using adhesive.

Abstract: A device that can be easily placed on and removed from an acoustic, stringed instrument, such as an acoustic guitar. When placed on a guitar, the device amplifies and clarifies the sound of the guitar, thereby allowing the guitarist to obtain quality sound and high volume. In addition, the device enables the guitarist control the timbre or sound characteristics of the guitar.

Abstract: An electric stringed instrument has a frame body the contour of which is like the outline of a solid body of a corresponding electric or acoustic stringed instrument; the frame body is constituted by plural frame pieces, and the frame piece is detachably connected to a trunk of the electric stringed instrument; a user slings the electric stringed instrument over his or her shoulder by means of a strap so that the strap is to be connected to the trunk by means of fasteners; the fasteners are further used for securing the frame piece to the trunk so that the frame pieces are not unintentionally dropped out from the trunk without increasing the fasteners.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lute comprising a body-shaped sound box and a neck attached thereto. The sound box is made up of a domed rear section and a cover. The aim of the invention is to provide a lute which can meet the needs of modern concert performances and be used by contemporary guitarists, whereby the excellent sound qualities of the lute are retained and the instrument can be used in a modern-day orchestra. This is achieved by providing the cover and the string-holder with a outwardly curved shape; a surface that is devoid of any transverse beams is arranged on the underside in an approximately symmetrical position with respect to the string holder and said surface is configured as a strip-free surface or fitted with strips which are symmetrical with respect to the center axis.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar assembly having a support system consisting of a novel shaped neck block, graphite rods and graphite ribs. The ribs are epoxied to the underside of the soundboard and originate in close proximity to one another adjacent to the neck block and fan out from there to positions along the bottom of the soundboard. The rods run from the neck into the head block and support the neck joint. The guitar has two sound holes positioned near the top of the soundboard.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having an instrument body and a neck extending in a longitudinal direction outward from the body. Strings attach at their first end to the instrument body and at their second end to the neck. The neck is attached to the body via a holding member extending at least partially through the neck and the instrument body while permitting the neck to be pivotable about a fulcrum on the body. The stringed musical instrument further includes a moveable adjustment member arranged so as to be moveable in a predetermined manner to adjust the angular position of the neck relative to the instrument body wherein the moveable adjustment member includes a finger manipulable portion to move the adjustment member in the predetermined manner. The finger manipulable portion may be located within a recess provided in the instrument body or within a hollow sound chamber within the instrument body.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a single sound hole placed on the perimeter of the sound board for enhancing its sound generating characteristics and a novel sound board design.

Abstract: A case for musical instruments including a shell, elements for carrying the case and attached to the shell, and an arrangement provided on the shell or on one of the carrying elements for receiving a communication device.

Abstract: A musical instrument having exchangeable components. The musical instrument may include a core portion providing a foundation for the musical instrument and a body portion removably attached to the core portion. Exchanging a body portion for another portion may alter the tonal, structural or aesthetic characteristics of the instrument. The musical instrument may be a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, for example, or may be a woodwind, horn or percussion instrument.

Abstract: An electric guitar includes a hollow acoustic body, a plurality of strings, a fingerboard, air in the hollow acoustic body, and at least one speaker mounted in the hollow acoustic body. A sound system operatively associated with the strings and speaker causes sound to emanate from the speaker when the strings are played and causes sound to vibrate and resonate the hollow body and air in the hollow acoustic body.

Abstract: A portable travel guitar that can be quickly disassembled to fit in a business briefcase. A string keeper disengages from the end of the neck and maintains the strings in order when disassembled. This feature allows the neck to be separated from the body for compact storage when disassembled. The body includes string storage flanges for stowing the strings that are wound around the storage flanges. The portable travel guitar is assembled by unwrapping the strings from the storage flanges, setting the neck in place, and attaching to the body with bolts and wing nuts. The string keeper is set into place at the top of the neck and attached with thumbscrews or other appropriate attachment method. The guitar is then tuned as normal. The assembly and/or disassembly process takes about five minutes and requires no tools.

Abstract: The present invention includes a musical instrument that is lighter in weight, and utilizes less raw material to construct than traditional instruments. Some embodiments of the present invention also provide unique resonance characteristics over prior instrument designs. Additionally, the present invention includes embodiments of a musical instrument that are constructed utilizing the improved strength and rigidity qualities of space frame technology.

Abstract: The object of the invention is an electric guitar or electric bass, which includes a body, a neck, strings attached to the neck and to the body, an attaching mechanism and locking tuners of the strings and at least one pickup placed near the strings. According to the invention the body comprises of at least two separate parts attached within distance from one another. Furthermore the body comprises of attaching parts to attach the parts together.

Abstract: Neck truing devices may include a first member that is adapted to be fixedly embedded within the neck of a stringed instrument. A second member may be coupled to the first member and connected across both ends of the first member. An adjusting mechanism may be operable to selectively apply a first force to the first member via the second member in order to correct warpage of the neck in a first direction and a second force to the first member via the second member in order to correct warpage of the neck in a second direction.

Abstract: An acoustic stringed instrument body includes a soundboard, a bottom surface and a side surface, wherein the soundboard includes a relief cut, wherein the relief cut is dimensioned to create a more flexible coupling between the soundboard and the sidewall, wherein the relief cut improves the tone of the instrument by allowing the soundboard to vibrate more freely.

Abstract: An automated player for stringed instruments having a body portion including independent plucking and fretting mechanisms. The plucking mechanism includes a rotary plectrum assembly having a plurality of extendable quills positioned with its rotational axis parallel to a string of the instrument. The plectrum assembly is selectively rotatable by a first stepper motor and the quills are selectively extendable by an electric solenoid actuator, thus allowing for variable displacement of the string to produce vibration of variable intensity during operation. The fretting mechanism includes a carriage mounted to a belt and selectively driven by a second stepper motor along a track parallel to the instrument string. The carriage is in compressive contact with the string and thus may be selectively positioned at appropriate frets to shorten the vibrating length of the string. The player includes an embedded electronic circuit that controls the operation from programs installed or serially downloaded.

Abstract: A neckless guitar including a guitar body forming a tear shaped acoustic chamber. The guitar includes a peg head with at least one receiving slot for a tuning key. The peg head is directly attached to the top end of the acoustic chamber such that no neck-region is formed. The neckless guitar has a fret board, a saddle assembly and a nut assembly, at least one tuning key and at least one string that originates at the saddle assembly, passes over the fret board and through or over the nut assembly, and is connected to the tuning key. In one embodiment, the neckless guitar has an attachment assembly for removably connecting the guitar body and the peg head. The attachment assembly includes a peg head block positioned at the top end of the body. A gusset on the peg head couples the peg head block and the peg head.

Abstract: Presented is a detachable and adjustable cover member for the sound hole of a string instrument such as a guitar. The cover member provides a base member to which are attached elastically resilient keeper blocks that detachably engage the periphery of the sound hole. The base member is apertured to admit sound into the hollow body of the string instrument and to enable feedback of such sound when the apertures are open to the atmosphere. An adjustable sound and feedback control dial is a detachably mounted on the top surface of the base member and is provided with apertures corresponding in size and configuration with the apertures in the base member. The control dial may be selectively digitally adjusted to place the apertures in the dial in registry with the apertures in the base member to enable the ingress and egress of sound therethrough or adjusted to partially or totally occlude the passage of sound through the sound hole.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a hollow body constructed with a pre-finished graphite soundboard and a pre-finished high pressure laminate backboard and sidewall. The graphite soundboard provides the acoustic guitar with a unique appearance and enhances durability without adversely affecting the tonal qualities of the guitar. A bracing pattern particularly for use with the graphite soundboard is also provided.

Abstract: A combination guitar and bass guitar and method of playing is provided in which the bass strings are distributed between or adjacent to matched guitar strings so that adjacent bass and guitar strings can be plucked substantially simultaneously by a player, resulting in the simultaneous playing of bass and guitar by a single player. Various combinations of bass strings interspersed in or between or adjacent to guitar strings are disclosed. The guitar and bass can also be played independently of each other in the normal manner.

Abstract: An improved stringed musical instrument (10) with a neck (12) which can be pivoted by wrist motion relative to the body (11). This action changes the length and therefore pitch of the strings. In addition, the pivot motion (P) may also adjust various electronic controls (51) to vary a variety of other effects commonly used in modern music. The operation leaving the musicians feet, hands, and fingers free to play in all other normal manners.

Abstract: An interchangeable decorative applique is disclosed which can be used on a pickguard for a stringed instrument or other surface and comprises a base adapted to be affixed to the surface and a removable applique that overlies the base. The applique is attached to the base by a removable fasteners that permits the applique to be removed and replaced. The applique can have a replaceable decorative section that is sandwiched between the base and a light permeable protective cover.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as an electric guitar has a specially designed body structure, which is configured by a body frame, a center block, at least one bridge, a front board, a back board and a back cover. The bridge is arranged between a side portion of the body frame and a side wall of the center block, thus partitioning an interior space of the body frame to provide a vacant space for arranging electrical parts. Because of the provision of the bridge, it is possible to improve rigidity of the body structure. Herein, the vacant space is reduced in size and area, and it is encompassed by the side portion of the body frame, the side wall of the center block and the bridge. The front board is used to completely cover the front side of the body frame. The back board is partially cut out and is used to cover the back side of the body except for the opening area of the vacant space inside of the body frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to stringed musical instruments; and more particularly to a novel combination of choices of three compact, portable stringed musical instruments attached to a single frame, allowing both immediate access and the possibility of playing any three combinations at the same time, of electric guitar, classical guitar, folk guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, oud (Arabic guitar), saz (Turkish guitar), or bouzoukie (Greek mandolin). The novel design of these individual instruments allows the possibility of any of these individual instruments to be attached to existing standard electric and acoustic guitars and banjos, expanding the existing instrument into dual stringed instruments.

Abstract: Interior braces for the soundboard of a stringed instrument having reduced mass and more flexibility. The weight of each of the braces is further reduced by apertures selectively formed therein. A standard brace having scalloped ends may be modified according to the invention by introducing apertures of circular or other shape crosswise through the brace, thus forming voids therealong thereby reducing weight and reducing stiffness while maintaining substantially its original strength when glued to the surface of a soundboard. An “I”-beam shaped brace is provided having circular or elongated apertures along the length of the center vertical portion of the brace. A similarly shaped brace is curvilinear in shape having a flat base, concave sides and a rounded apex and having circular apertures along the length of the thin center portion creating voids for reducing weight.

Abstract: A soundboard for use in acoustic musical instruments such as bowed stringed instruments in which the sound radiation takes place by means of resonant bodies. The soundboard has a body constructed as a composite fibre sandwich plate having a favourable ratio of stiffness to mass relative to conventional soundboards made from solid wood or composite which produces an increase in the sound radiation of the musical instrument. The area defined by the soundboard is enlarged relative to the average area of the soundboards of conventional musical instruments of the same type in such a way as to compensate for the characteristic frequency shifts and thus changes in timbre which result from the more favourable ratio of stiffness to mass of the composite fibre sandwich plate relative to the conventional solid wood soundboard.

Abstract: An electric guitar includes a hollow acoustic body, a plurality of strings, a fingerboard, air in the hollow acoustic body, and at least one speaker mounted in the hollow acoustic body. A sound system operatively associated with the strings and speaker causes sound to emanate from the speaker when the strings are played and causes sound to vibrate and resonate the hollow body and air in the hollow acoustic body.