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 kit for customizing an instrument includes a template that has a shape of a guitar body and is provided with an opening for positioning a guitar neck therethrough. The template includes a bottom surface, a side portion contiguous with the bottom surface, a lip portion for receiving a guitar body thereon, and springs for selectively maintaining the guitar body spaced above the bottom surface. A support section is connected to the bottom surface and is shaped to resemble a pick guard. Labels are attachable to a guitar pick guard by pressing same against the support section. A plurality of protrusions help maintain the guitar body spaced from the label after the guitar is positioned on the template so that a user can selectively align the guitar body with the label prior to pressing same against the pick guard.

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 chassis for a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar is provided such that the chassis may be interchangeably connected with any one of a variety of necks resulting in a tunable and playable unit. This unit may be further attached to any one of a variety of bodies, the body bearing substantially none of the load of the strings' tension.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electric guitar comprising a body (1), a neck (2) fixed to the body and a scroll (3) located at the free end of the neck (2). The body (1) consists of a base body, an upper cache which covers the front side of the base body and is provided with an orifice for the chord support (5), and a lower cache which covers the rear side of the base body. The base body bears the chord support (5), the read head(s) and the connection socket (7) for the amplifier cable.

Abstract: A stringed instrument fingerboard with position markers for the improved recognition of notes, scales, chords, positions, intervals, and, fingering patterns. The array of position markers is an orderly arrangement of position markers on the fingerboard, in which each position marker of the array is located in one-to-one correspondence with a string for referencing notes. The array of position markers may correspond to a multiplicity of orderly arrangements of position markers on the fingerboard. The position markers of an array may have variations in user discernable characteristics, such as shape, size, color, or design. The position markers are permanently affixed to the fingerboard, providing permanent note-references for all notes, all, scales, and all chords. Improved note recognition is also achieved by the musician employing the array of position markers. An alternative embodiment includes a reference diagram, displaying the apparatus in diagram form.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a sound box for an instrument is provided exhibiting a 3-D bracing system. The bracing system comprises a plurality of braces on both the sound board and the bottom board of the sound box. The braces exhibit varying heights and configurations to, among other things, increase the strength without increasing the weight unnecessarily.

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 guitar having a shell body and a main body. The main body and/or a portion of the main body is detachably connected to the shell body. A neck is connected to the main body and/or the shell body. A bridge is connected to the main body. The neck includes a headstock and a fret control that at least partially raises and/or lowers at least one fret on the neck.

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 support rod has a core and has a composite material covering at least a portion of the core. The support rod is suitable for use in enhancing the rigidity of the neck of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The support rod is also suitable for use in a wide variety of other applications.

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: An improved musical instrument (15) having a body (16), an elongated neck (18) connected to the body, a top-nut (19) supported by the neck, a bridge (20) supported by the body, and a truss (21) in mechanical engagement with the bridge and the top-nut. The truss may comprise a truss rod (22) extending longitudinally between the top-nut and the bridge.

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 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: 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: An improved musical instrument (15) having a body (16), an elongated neck (18) connected to the body, a top-nut (19) supported by the neck, a bridge (20) supported by the body, and a truss (21) in mechanical engagement with the bridge and the top-nut. The truss may comprise a truss rod (22) extending longitudinally between the top-nut and the bridge.

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 stringed instrument featuring one or more contoured surfaces is claimed. The instrument features a body with a neck that supports strings tautly oriented across the front face of the instrument. Either the front, back, or both faces of the instrument are contoured or skewed such as to improve the ergonomic aspects of the instrument. In use, the ergonomic design facilitates a user reaching over the back top side to strum the strings, and allows the whole instrument to be rolled slightly towards the user at the top side. This also effectively tilts the string supporting neck in an ergonomically effective manner. The skewed body may be curved at its ends or have essentially straight ends skewed from each other.

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: A stringed musical instrument having two soundboards. A bridge is located between the two soundboards. The two soundboards tend to equalize any upward or downward pull by the bridge caused by the tension of the strings, thus lessening the tendency of the soundboard to bend, crack, or otherwise break or distort. It is not necessary for either soundboard to have a traditional sound hole. Instead, the two soundboards may be structured such that they form an internal J-baffle, giving the instrument an improved tone quality. The bridge may be easily removed and replaced with a replacement bridge that allows the use of strings having a different action. The instrument may include an arm cutout to allow the musician to maintain the same arm/string relationship as with traditional instruments.

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 instrument or assembly utilizes a foundation, or platform, which foundation or platform houses a combination of separate and different string elements. The first string element uses the concept familiar to the Chapman Stick, a ten-string fret board. The foundation also includes other string elements, including a plurality of altered eight-string slide guitars and at least one modified six-string guitar all of which are similarly mounted to the foundation or platform. Various controllers are used to output the string vibrations of these various stringed elements to a programmable digital surround mixer which allows for sound processing, enhancement and blending of the sounds generated by the different string arrays used within the instrument.

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: A soundboard for acoustic musical instruments of the kind in which sound radiation takes place by means of soundboards. A soundboard according to the invention is constructed as a composite fiber sandwich of a core plate and fiber coating. The fiber coating is characterized in that it is multidirectional and single-layer, or multidirectional and applied only to part-zones of the core plate. Because of its more favorable ratio of stiffness to mass relative to the conventional soundboards made from solid wood or composite, the soundboard according to the invention produces an increase in the sound radiation of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A musical string instrument (12) has a body (21) with a resonate cavity covered by a soundboard (22). A pick guard (34) has a flat surface for mounting to the soundboard of the instrument. Electronic control components (36) are mounted within a housing of the pick guard. The musician can control a preamplifier within the resonate cavity of the body with knobs (58) and push buttons (60) located on the pick guard. A thin, flat, multi-conductor ribbon cable (38) is connected to the electronic control components and routed along a surface of the soundboard and through a sound hole (24) in the soundboard into the resonate cavity of the body. The ribbon cable entering the resonating cavity through the sound hole does not adversely effect the natural response, performance, sound quality, and tonal property of the string instrument and does not require any additional holes be drilled in the soundboard.

Abstract: A guitar body is formed of a generally solid material having a cavity formed therein and substantially lacking a soundboard. A soundboard is formed of a generally planar material attached to the solid material, so as to substantially cover the cavity.

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: A guitar or applicable musical instrument which has been improved to enhance string energy. The improvement includes the integration of side materials and structural spanners to maintain the integrity of the instrument under load of string tension. The invention improves ampliphonic efficiency by protecting the resonating surface of the instrument's soundboard from compression and distortion caused by the instrument's resistance to load under tension of strings. My invention also stabilizes the harmonic mode of the neck as it rocks in and out of the sound hole area, and decreases loss of string energy. By stabilizing the neck and body structure, the invention also creates an improved integration of the instrument to preserve a long-term consistency in the neck alignment to the body, eliminating the need to realign the neck to maintain playable string height for the musician as the body shifts and the sound hole compresses over time.

Abstract: An electric guitar or other similar stringed instrument is provided. The guitar is ergonomically designed to provide a maximum amount of comfort and stability in a variety of playing positions, both sitting and standing, while producing a minimum amount of fatigue in the instrumentalist.

Abstract: A support structure for stiffening one or more vibrating plates of an acoustic stringed instrument: at least one sheet-like piece supported at least partly at a distance from the plate by means of one or more formed pieces arranged between the sheet-like piece and the plate to be stiffened. The entity formed by the sheet-like piece and the plate to be stiffened, together, is the shape of a lens thinning towards the edges in cross-section.

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: A guitar is constructed to have a hollow body and to have a top member that has a pickup mounting portion integrally formed therein. A slot is cut into the pickup support area, and a pickup is received in the slot. Guitar strings are mounted on the guitar and stretched across the pickup which functions as a bridge to define the lower endpoint of the free length of the guitar strings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a musical instrument having its entire body portion manufactured by moulding the body with synthetic resin, in which the said musical instrument is an electric guitar which has the entire body 4 consisting of a base plate 1, a neck part 2 connected to the base plate 17 and a head part 3 connected to the end of the said neck part 2 to hang the strings, and in which the said entire body 4 is made of polyurethane foam having specific gravity in the range of 0.3 to 0.9. In the polyurethane foam additional porous particles sizing average diameter from 1 to 50 &mgr;m selected from a group comprising wood chips, silica or mixtures thereof may homogeneously be contained in an amount of 5 to 8% by weight. Furthermore, a piano, an exterior casing of amplifier and/or an exterior casing of electric guitar may also be made of polyurethane foam having specific gravity in the range of 0.3 to 0.9.

Abstract: A tremolo block extends from the back of a base plate into a space formed in a body. The tremolo block pivots with the base plate. The tremolo block has a hook portion at its distal end. The base is located at the back of the body. Engaging sections are formed at a rear portion of the base and open rearward. A moving member is detachably located at the engaging sections. The moving member is moved between an engaging position, at which the moving member engages with the engaging sections, and a standby position, at which the moving member is separated from the engaging sections. A pair of first springs connect the base with the tremolo block to urge the tremolo block forward against the tension of the strings. The urging force of the first springs is adjustable. A pair of second spring connect the base with the moving member. The second springs urge the moving member toward the engaging position. In a normal state, the second springs hold the moving member at the engaging position.

Abstract: A body for a stringed instrument comprising a front face and a back face and a continuous side face there around; and an exterior laminate, the exterior laminate being formed of a plurality of composite layers including an interior layer, the composite layers of the laminate also including at least one supplemental layer, each layer including strands enveloped in an associated polymeric binder, with each subsequent layer being in intimate contact with the next adjacent layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stringed instrument including a body portion, a rigid frame portion and a neck, wherein the neck is attached to the body portion at one end. The rigid frame portion comprises a top and bottom extension cut away from and running generally parallel and coplanar to the length of the neck. The top and bottom extensions pass beyond the neck and join together beyond the distal end of the neck without contacting the neck. The instrument also comprises a plurality of strings attached to the body portion of the instrument extending from the body portion lengthwise of the neck to a plurality of tuning machines located on an extended headstock section of the frame portion such that the neck is not stressed by the tension of the strings.

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: An electric double-bass is broken down into a trunk, a detachable framework assembled with the trunk, coupling units provided between the trunk and the detachable framework, accessory parts, strings stretched over the trunk and an electric sound generating system for generating electric tones like acoustic tones of a double-bass, and any resonator is formed in the electric double-bass, wherein a string player disassembles the detachable framework from the trunk for storing the electric double-bass in a case, thereby enhancing the portability of the electric double-bass.

Abstract: In an attachment structure for attaching a neck to a guitar body, particularly an electric guitar body, a connecting portion is formed at a heel portion of the neck, and this connecting plate is engaged with an engagement recess formed in the backside of the guitar body and fastened in place by fastening screws. The pickup units are installed on the guitar body from the backside so as to positionally correspond to the connecting portion of the neck. One end of a balance spring is connected to the tremolo mechanism disposed on the guitar body and another end of the balance spring is connected to the connecting plate of the neck.

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: A bonding structure is provided, which is capable of eliminating overflow of the adhesive to the outside of the body, and which is capable of eliminating generation of a shrinkage cavity. The cross-section of a rib member 10 is to have approximate H shaped cross section, which shape is formed by an internal flange 11 and an external flange 12, each connected by a web 13, and the plate members are adhered to the top and bottom surfaces 11A and 11B of the internal flange 11.

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.