Abstract: An improved musical instrument includes a plurality of strings which are connected string posts of tuning devices on a head portion of the musical instrument. The string posts of the tuning devices are disposed in a linear array on the head portion of the musical instrument. A linear edge of the head portion extends parallel to a plane containing the central axes of the string posts in the linear array. In addition, the head portion has a nonlinear edge with arcuate recesses. Actuators for some of the tuning devices are movable in the recesses along the nonlinear edge during manual rotation of the actuators. Actuators for some of the tuning devices are disposed along the linear edge. At least some of the actuators along the nonlinear edge are longer than actuators along the linear edge.

Abstract: Stringed musical instruments having three dimensional sound holes generally including a body portion having a top member known as a soundboard, side walls extending substantially perpendicular to the soundboard around the perimeter of the sound board and a back member substantially corresponding in shape and dimensions to the soundboard attached to the surface of the side walls distal to the soundboard to form an enclosed sound chamber. Stringed musical instruments having three dimensional sound holes further include a neck portion extending outwardly from the soundboard and the corresponding side wall, the neck portion preferably bilaterally dissecting the soundboard of the stringed musical instruments.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a resin laminate soundboard with a bracing pattern specifically configured to provide the non-wooden soundboard with qualitites resembling traditional wooden soundboards. The soundboard is made from a relatively inexpensive resin laminate material in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the acoustic guitar. The bracing pattern located on the underside of the soundboard stiffens the non-wooden soundboard at particular locations in order to permit a required degree of vibration for acoustic purposes while preventing damaging flexure caused by the forces of the tensioned guitar strings.

Abstract: A musical instrument is comprised of a hollow sound box having a sound board with a first opening and a second opening, and an elongate neck that is attached to the sound board. The sound box is preferably formed out of substantially flat, trapezoidal components, and the neck is attached to the sound board in overlapping fashion. The neck has a string attachment for attachment of one or more strings, and a bridge is attached to the sound board between the neck and the first sound opening. The bridge has a top edge with at least one groove defined therein to receive at least one string. At least one tuning key is attached to the outside surface of the sound board adjacent to the first sound opening and extending through the sound board to the inside of the sound box. One end of each string is attached to the string attachment on the neck, and the other end is attached to one of the tuning keys inside the sound box.

Abstract: A collapsible guitar kit designed to modify existing guitars so that guitar necks can be separated from guitar bodies for compact storage and for convenient interchanging of varying guitar necks with varying guitar bodies. The invention includes a neck plate, a body plate and a backing plate. The neck plate is provided to attach to a guitar neck. The body plate is provided to attach to a guitar body, and a backing plate is provided to attach to the underside of a guitar body. The neck plate and body plate provide a precision fit to each other by means of tooling points, while the backing plate provides consistent realignment and securing of both neck and body plates by means of a single bolt. The entire assembly is economical to manufacture and provides users the ability to modify any existing guitar to become collapsible for compact storage or for interchanging of various guitar necks with various guitar bodies.

Abstract: An improved, modular guitar system is disclosed and includes a guitar body frame, which has a central member disposed along a longitudinal axis of the body frame and a peripheral rim member defining a peripheral shape of the body frame. The system also includes a separate acoustic grill, which is made up of first and second grill sections that are removably attached to the peripheral rim member of the body frame only. The system also includes a removable guitar neck and headstock assembly, which includes a headstock/string retention mechanism, which allows the guitar to be disassembled without allowing the strings to unravel from the guitar string tuning machines. The system also includes an inflatable acoustic chamber, which is attached to the guitar body frame along the guitar body frame peripheral rim member. The inflatable acoustic chamber includes a membrane communicating with the guitar body acoustic grill sections when the acoustic chamber is inflated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a player to simultaneously hold and utilize two or more guitars. Two guitars are shaped and dimensioned to be stacked one on to the other and interconnected.

Abstract: Neck connection for an method for the production of a stringed instrument, comprising at least a body (1) and a neck (2), in which both the neck (2) and the body (1) are made of plastic and the body (1) and the neck (2) are in one piece, and the neck connection comprises fiber structures (41, 42, 43) and side fiber structures (31, 32, 33; 51, 52, 53) molded into the plastic, which fiber structures (41, 42, 43) and side fiber structures (31, 32, 33; 51, 52, 53) extend both in the neck (2) and the body (1).

Abstract: An acoustical guitar having a hollow main body forming a sound box and defined by top and bottom walls joined by a side rim. A long cantilevered neck is attached to the hollow main body adjacent a head end thereof and projects outwardly therefrom. A headblock arrangement at the head end fixedly attaches a heel end of the neck to the hollow main body. The headblock arrangement comprises a one-piece U-shaped headblock positioned between and fixedly connected to the top and bottom walls at the head end. The U-shaped headblock defines a concave recess which projects longitudinally inwardly of the hollow body at the head end. The neck projects into the concave recess with the heel end of the neck disposed within the recess and fixedly secured to the U-shaped headblock. A pair of access spaces are defined by the recess on opposite sides of the neck.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device designed to accompany the playing of a guitar or other non-percussion instrument, which provides the capability for a musician to accompany his own playing of the guitar or other non-percussion instrument with a device which produces percussion while in simultaneous use with the guitar or other non-percussion instrument. The present invention is generally comprised of a member which mechanically strikes upon a sound-producing base, by means of an actuation device that is triggered by a mechanical or electrical impulse, initiated by the instrument player and transmitted by a triggering mechanism to the actuation device.

Abstract: A stringed instrument has a body which is composed of a back case and a top case combined by screwing up screw receiving bosses of the back case to screw attaching bosses of the top case with a vibration absorber provided between a side wall of the back and a side wall of the top. Attached to the back case are string vibration parts such as a neck and a bridge base. The bridge base is exposed to the outside from an opening in the top case. Non-string vibration parts including a tape recorder and a speaker are attached to the top case. Thus, when string vibrations are transmitted from the back case to the top case, the central portion of the top of the top case becomes a loop where the vibration amplitude is maximum and the top vibrates greatly freely. Thus, according to the inventive stringed instrument, a musical sound of an increased volume with a warm tone quality containing sufficient overtones is obtained.

Abstract: An improved neck for a guitar which is comprised of a elongated body, an elongated fingerboard, and an elongated strip. The fingerboard is mounted longitudinally of the body on the upper side of the body. The strip is mounted in the neck longitudinally of the body and fingerboard and near the junction between the body and fingerboard and being substantially parallel to the junction. The strip has a modulus of elasticity greater than the body and fingerboard. The strip can have a domed upper surface and a flat bottom surface and may be adhesively secured to, or molded, to the fingerboard in a wide shallow groove formed in the bottom of the fingerboard. The strip and fingerboard may be laminated to the top surface of the neck body. The neck body may have a truss rod or lever system therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recording musical sounds generated by a guitar type musical instrument. A mini-disc recorder unit located in and forming a portion of the envelope or housing of the guitar converts the analog output from the guitar into a digital recording for playback use by the musician and/or for generating musical sounds to a listener.

Abstract: An acoustical musical instrument wherein traditionally required structural considerations are removed from the instruments vibrational plates. The structure of the instrument also increasing acoustic range and amplitude, and minimizing sound losses from dampening and frequency cancellations, by more accurately transferring vibrations within the instrument.

Abstract: The body of an electric guitar includes a lower member defining the bottom of the guitar and having a concave on its upper surface for receiving an upper member. The concave is defined by a peripheral edge region of the lower member. The periphery of the upper member meets the inner periphery of the peripheral edge region of the lower member at a peripheral joint line. The height of the upper member where it meets the periphery of the lower member has the same height, forming a smooth joint line on the upper surface of the bottom member and in from the edge region. The materials of the upper and lower members differ from each other and/or their colors are different. The outer periphery of the peripheral edge region is rounded in the thickness dimension.

Abstract: A pickup cassette (10) for housing at least one pickup (90) to be utilized with stringed musical instruments (12), such as solid body electric guitars, is disclosed. The pickup cassette (10) may be removably secured in a cavity formed in the stringed musical instrument (12) beneath the strings by a retainer member (40) defining a track which engages a pair of runners (60) on the frame of the pickup cassette. Thus, a pickup cassette (10) designed for picking up a specific type of music, such as rock, may be removed and replaced by a different cassette designed for use when playing, for example, jazz. This arrangement permits the utilization of one musical instrument for playing a variety of types of music by simply removing and replacing any of several different pickup cassettes.

Abstract: A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument. The neck assembly includes an elongated reinforcing member having two flanges to prevent the neck assembly from bending. The neck assembly further includes a neck adjusting mechanism to unbend the neck assembly. The neck adjusting mechanism comprises a cable extending from the neck attaching end and the body attaching end and an adjustable fastener which is utilized to adjust the length of the cable. A musical instrument that employs the neck assembly of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A clear stringed musical instrument body capable of receiving a substance such that the appearance of the instrument may be altered by changing the substance contained within the body. The body comprises a front, a back and sides defining a watertight interior. The front includes at least one opening into watertight means for housing electronic control components within the body, wherein the watertight means projects into the interior of the body and merges with the body. The body also includes means for filling and draining the body which comprises at least one hole formed on the body and a plug received within the hole. The body further includes means for attaching the body to a neck and means for attaching a strap to the body.

Abstract: A bridge device is provided for a stringed musical instrument having a body, a neck extending from the body, and a set of tensioned strings extending along the neck and over at least a portion of the body. The bridge device comprises a bridge plate mounted adjacent a front surface of the body, a plurality of saddles secured to the bridge plate, and a plurality of armatures pivotably secured to the bridge plate. The saddles are individually adjustable to vary the effective length of each of the strings and to vary the distance between each of the strings and the bridge plate. Each of the armatures individually engage the strings and are selectively manipulable to change the tension of each of the strings between one of three predetermined tension levels.

Abstract: A fully adjustable acoustic guitar bridge is claimed that allows the strings (nylon or steel) of an acoustic guitar to be separately and continuously intonated accurately and easily whenever necessary. The bridge system employs a minimum of alterations to the traditional non-adjustable acoustic guitar bridge to retain the acoustic qualities of the instrument. Recessed, rear-loaded cap screws utilize the forward pull of the guitar strings to stabilize the adjustable saddles. A threaded saddle capture on each saddle provides stability, continuous threading capability, and the freedom to use acoustically resonant materials (bone, phenolic, composites, etc.) for saddles. These features eliminate the need for springs or other fasteners, which would have a negative effect on the acoustic guitar's tone and sustain. A rosewood shim is employed on acoustic/electric guitars over the internal bridge pickup.

Abstract: A guitar having a body, a headstock, a neck, a plurality of strings, and a tremolo device including at least two bevelled-slotted pivot points. The bevelled-slotted pivot points have a top and bottom bevel which lowers the friction of the bevelled-slotted pivot points against the v-shaped grooves of the studs. The tremolo includes spring claw fasteners that support the tremolo system and allow the tremolo height or position to be adjusted without affecting the structural integrity of the tremolo. A tremolo arm assembly is provided which allows the tremolo arm to remain in a fixed position to prevent interruption of play.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument includes a tuning mechanism operatively associated with a plurality of saddles and corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces which permits pivotable adjustment of the saddles along a predetermined arcuate path. The bridge critical contact surfaces are normally arranged behind the top of the predetermined arcuate path whereby actuation of the tuning mechanism in a manner which causes at least one of the plurality of saddles on the corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces to move toward an associated nut will cause the height of corresponding strings of the instrument to increase with respect to the fretboard of the instrument. Similarly, actuation of the tuning mechanism in a manner which causes one or more of the saddles and the corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces to move away from the nut will cause the height of the corresponding strings to decrease with respect to the fretboard.

Abstract: This invention is a multi-action device for controlled correction of bowing in the neck of a stringed musical instrument. It comprises a ridged metal bar main frame immediately under the fingerboard and running lengthwise and on centerline. Primary adjustment is made by applying pressure directly to the end of the main frame at the heel end of the neck. Secondary adjustment is made by applying pressure to an eyelet affixed on the bottom side of and on the heel end of the main frame. The adjusting nut for secondary adjustment is on the threaded end of an anchor rod that passes through the eyelet with the other end of the rod welded to a predetermined location on the underside of the main frame. An alternate to the anchor rod is an anchor stud mounted in the heel end of the neck and passing through the eyelet. Primary and secondary adjustments are the same as for when the rod is used. Further control can be exercised by pre-stressing, slotting, and/or establishing pressure points on end of the main frame.

Abstract: A control panel is attached to an acoustic guitar in order to provide electrical amplification and sound processing. The control panel includes a flexible outer bracket fixed to a curved surface of the guitar body and a face plate hingedly connected to the outer bracket. A circuit board including processing circuitry is connected to the underside of the face plate. A battery compartment is connected to the underside of the face plate. The face plate is releasably connected to the outer bracket so that it can be rotated about the hinged portion to access the battery compartment.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument such as an electric or acoustic guitar and a bass guitar in combination with a piano-type keyboard. The musical instrument of the present invention includes a body with a neck extending from the body and a plurality of strings extending across the neck and the body. The body has a portion extending outward from the strings upon which the keyboard is adjustably attached using a bracket The present invention provides a user with ready access to both the stringed instrument and the keyboard. The user may utilize the stringed instrument and keyboard separately alternating therebetween or simultaneously having one hand of the user play the keyboard as well striking and/or strumming the strings. The user also has the ability to adjust the positioning of the keyboard in relation to the stringed instrument.

Abstract: A back shell for guitars or similar musical instruments having sides that at the rim turn inward and then outward to produce a flange that the soundboard can be adhered to. With multi-part tooling, the back shell can be produced at a very low cost from sheet plastics using the vacuum form method of manufacture.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The instrument includes a body, a fretboard mounted on the body, a bridge having a plurality of bridge critical contact surfaces mounted at one side of the fretboard, a nut mounted on the body at an opposing side of the fretboard, and a plurality of strings. Each of the strings has a first end and a second end and a predetermined length extending between the first and second ends. The strings are arranged in contact with corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces and the nut, and are arranged to extend across the contact surfaces. Each of the strings is anchored at a location wherein the first end is spaced from a corresponding bridge critical contact surface by no greater than approximately one inch and the second end is spaced from the nut by no greater than approximately one inch.

Abstract: Stringed instrument sound modification in which a specially braced soundboard is provided either for stand alone use or in cooperative combination with a plurality of vibrating reeds thereby to modify sounds produced by the vibrating strings of the instrument. The sound board includes an enlarged effective area adapted for reinforced positioning of the instrument bridge, such area being substantially defined by intersections of elements of a pair of x-shaped cross braces. Vibrating reeds are optionally provided in a removable cylindrical array of axially parallel members for further modifying the tonal characteristics of the instrument. This removable cylindrical array is adapted for mounting in the sound hole of a guitar or other stringed instrument.

Abstract: A nut assembly for use with a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The nut assembly includes a string holder for retaining one end of an associated string. The nut assembly also includes a nut having one or more critical contact surfaces for supporting associated strings when placed in assembled position on the stringed instrument. The nut is arranged to substantially abut the string holder when mounted in assembled position on the stringed instrument. The nut may be releasably secured to the string holder.

Abstract: A semi-acoustic electric guitar comprises a left body member, a center body member, and a right body member, a left megaphone port is formed in the left body member, a center acoustic chamber is formed at a first end of the center body member, a right acoustic chamber is formed in the right body member at a first end, a right megaphone port is formed in the right body member, the left and right body members are joined to the center body member, the left and right megaphone ports communicate with the center acoustic chamber such that sound generated inside the center acoustic chamber is amplified by the right and left megaphone ports. A bridge is fastened to the left and right body members, two electric pickups are fastened to the center body member, a neck is formed at a second end of the center body member, a tone control hole, a volume control hole, and a pickup switch hole are sized to receive a tone control, volume control and pickup switch respectively.

Abstract: A Classical guitar, comprised of a full size neck and bridge, where the dimensions of the neck and the bridge are the same as a conventional instrument. The instrument body normally used to produce sound by acting in resonance with the strings is replaced by a mechanically isolated bridge and electronic pickup which are mounted on a compact chassis. Adjustable supports are affixed to the chassis. The supports contact the player in such a manner as to hold the guitar in the correct Classical position. Integral electronics support the use of headphones for practice, and speakers for performance.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, has a vibrato that includes a bridge rotatably mounted within a body of the instrument. A flat compression spring extends from the bridge to a position away from a neck of the instrument. At the other end, the spring abuts a support that is linearly movable relatrive to the bridge to increase or decrease the compression force of the spring. A step stop is positioned near the bridge to allow a user to selectively move the bridge between a floating mode in which it can rotate in either direction from a neutral position to a classic mode in which it can move in one direction. The compression can be adjusted so that the bridge is effectively stopped from moving in a direction opposite to the particular direction. The bridge is moved with a control bar that extends into a rotatable bushing. The frictional forces between the bushing and the bridge can be adjusted with a set screw.

Abstract: The head of the subject guitar is an assembly of a functional portion and a cover. The functional portion includes tuning machines and pickups and the posts of the tuning machines extend from an essentially flat back area of the functional portion so that when the cover is removed the posts are clear of any surrounding structure and fully accessible for removal of the remains of broken strings and for attachment of new strings. The posts are completely enclosed when the cover is installed.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument is disclosed as including a body with an extending portion on to which a piano-type keyboard is attached. The combination provides the user with the ready access to both the stringed instrument and the keyboard. The user may utilize the stringed instrument and keyboard separately alternating therebetween or simultaneously having one hand of the user play the keyboard as well striking and/or strumming the strings.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument including a head formed of a front panel having a central opening therein and a back panel held in spaced-apart relationship by an elongated member extending therebetween and attached to one end of an elongated neck. A plurality of strings each have one end affixed to the neck and extend along the length thereof and across a bridge to an attachment point on the front panel. An electrical pickup is mounted on the elongated member beneath the strings and between the bridge and the neck and extends through the opening to a point proximate the strings. The instrument is particularly suited for manufacture from acrylic materials.

Abstract: The present invention integrates multiple single fingerboard instrument structures together by means of a linkage into a composite multiple fingerboard musical instrument that dimensionally positions instrument fingerboards horizontally, vertically and angularly relative to each other as a means for providing the player with the most beneficial structural configuration for simultaneous engagement by the hands on separate fingerboards. A variety of novel structures, linkages, and fingerboard matrix arrays are presented.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument such as an acoustic guitar, a mandolin, a ukulele and a violin has a body and a neck protruding away from the body. The body comprises an upper sounding board, a lower sounding board and a side wall. Strings are tensioned between the neck and the body. A concave depression is formed in the body so as to extend from the upper sounding board towards at least one of the opposite sides of the side wall with the neck therebetween to facilitate pressing or stoping the strings positioned on the body.

Abstract: A stringed, electric musical instrument, such as a guitar comprises an electroformed, seamless metallic body to which is attached the base portion of a neck assembly. In one embodiment of the invention the body is hollow and the base portion of the neck assembly is inserted into the body and fastened in contact with the inner surface of the top face of the body. In that embodiment, the bridge of the instrument is also fastened to the base portion of the neck assembly.

Abstract: A wishbone shape articulated lateral drive assembly (19, 20) is mounted on the inner panel of the back plate (13) in a stringed instrument to energize and drive said plate (13) sideways causing sound box (15) panels to generate phase distinct vibrations as a result of sound boards' (12, 13) unison flapping movement so that clarity and response of tones improved.In order to combine the improved sound with the original sound of the instrument for increasing the tonal range, manual switching capability (21) is provided within the sound box (15) for selection of tone colors from outside the instrument. A treble enhancing assembly (45, 47) additionally is provided to brighten the instruments' sound in general and highlight the treble in particular so that tone color is improved beyond that which can be provided by conventional instruments.

Abstract: A guitar having a body, a headstock, a neck, a plurality of strings, and a tremolo device including at least two bevelled-slotted pivot points. The bevelled-slotted pivot points have a top and bottom bevel which lowers the friction of the bevelled-slotted pivot points against the v-shaped grooves of the studs. The tremolo includes spring claw fasteners that support the tremolo system and allow the tremolo height or position to be adjusted without affecting the structural integrity of the tremolo. A tremolo arm assembly is provided which allows the tremolo arm to remain in a fixed position to prevent interruption of play.

Abstract: The invention is a guitar pick guard, for mounting on a guitar having a guitar body, a neck, and a bridge. The guitar pick guard is mounted to the guitar body between the neck and the bridge. The guitar pick guard has a top layer, a bottom layer and a middle layer. The top layer is made of fabric. The bottom layer is made of a soft felt material. The middle layer is made of a flexible rubber, plastic or vinyl material.

Abstract: A compound headstock for use with a guitar-like instrument. The headstock has a major surface to which posts of a majority of the headmachines mounted on the headstock project. The headstock also preferably incudes first and second surfaces disposed at elevations different than the elevation of the major surface. Through the first and second surfaces are disposed the posts of headmachines associated with the lowest and highest tuned strings used on the guitar-like instrument. As such, the string associated with the lowest tuned note makes an angle with respect to the plane in which the strings set between a nut on the guitar-like instrument and a bridge on a guitar-like instrument which is much greater than the angles made for the majority of the strings. Similarly, the string associated with the highest tuned note makes an angle with respect to said plane which is much less than the angles associated with the stings associated with the majority of the headmachines.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument includes a solid body having a length and a width. The body has a top surface shaped so that a widthwise cross section through the body intersects the top surface along a line defining a continuous convex curve, and so that a lengthwise cross section through the body intersects the top surface along a straight line. A wood veneer layer is bonded to the top surface.

Abstract: A musical instrument bridge (50) is supporting a set of strings (22) above a front face (14) of a musical instrument (12). The bridge has a plate (60), a mounting block (80), and a plurality of fingers (100). The plate is attachable to a rear face of the instrument. The plurality of fingers are cantilevered from the plate and extend outwardly therefrom. Each finger has a resonant frequency or rigidity that is related to a predetermined pitch of the string supported by the finger. Each finger is designed to vibrate in a plane that is parallel to the front face of the instrument but to reduce vibration in a plane perpendicular to the front face of the instrument.

Abstract: The mechanism includes an assembly which fits in a notch in the bottom of the body of a guitar to carry the strings around the bottom in order to allow the guitar to be as short as feasible while having standard effective string lengths. This assembly includes features which allow independent adjustments for each string of the effective length of the string and distance of the string from its associated electronic pickup. The assembly is made up of a base and six roller assemblies. Each roller assembly carries a string around the bottom of the body. The base has two flanges with six set screws in each flange and each roller assembly rests on the ends of two set screws, one in each flange and is held in place by the string. One set screw adjusts the effective string length, the other the distance of the string from its pickup. The knobs for the tuning machines of the guitar are distributed around the top edge of the front face of the body of the guitar.

Abstract: An electric guitar has a body part and a neck part made of medium-density fiberboard, with the density of about 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, formed by heating and pressing wood fibers of single whitish conifer chips together with an adhesive, processed to be of a predetermined configuration. On each of the surfaces of the body part and the neck part, a printed layer with a grain pattern transferred from a sheet is formed. A medium-density fiberboard is inexpensive and has good processing characteristics. In addition, in the manufacturing process of the body part of the guitar, it requires no joining of plate materials or drying. Therefore, an electric guitar looking attractive can be produced at a low price.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a bracing on the underside of the soundboard which interconnects with the headblock and neck joint such that the soundboard is stiffened in cantilever fashion in a manner which resists failure in the region of the soundhole without affecting adversely the tonal qualities of the guitar.

Abstract: The guitar is formed with a guitar body, a neck and a connector securing the neck and body together. The body and the connector have trailing edge portions which lie at an angle to the guitar axis and sweep rearwardly for providing a contoured area behind the neck to thereby facilitate access to the higher fret notes. In one embodiment, the connector is an extruded aluminum member having an upwardly projecting neck flange that is visible from the front adding a decorative effect.

Abstract: A collapsible stringed instrument which is integrated into a compact carrying case with a portable sound studio. This instrument is collapsible by sliding the fretboard along channels in the body of the instrument inwardly or toward the rearward face of the case to retract or collapse the instrument for carrying. This instrument is extendible by following the reverse process. A novel, removable multiple coil pickup is included which plays at a normal electric tone or pitch, or at a combined, different tone or pitch by alternately lifting open or lowering to close the hinged top portion thereof. Said portable sound studio has a compact disc (CD) player, cassette tape player/recorder, and a special effects circuitry board for amplifying, mixing and altering sounds. An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a "Hummingbird" fretboard having frets with ridges cut therein and which ridges generally decrease in size and shape in direct correspondence to guitar string size and shape.