Abstract: The stringed musical instrument may be a guitar including a guitar body optionally defining a soundboard, an elongated neck extending from the guitar body and having a distal end, a headstock disposed at the distal end of the neck, and a plurality of strings each secured at a first end to the headstock and at a second end to the guitar body such that the strings overlay the neck and guitar body. The strings desirably pass through respective openings in the headstock and make physical contact with the headstock in the openings. The stringed musical instrument in one form may be a guitar, for example an electric guitar. The guitar body of the stringed musical instrument may be formed of wood and may optionally be of solid construction. A method of stringing a stringed musical instrument and a string tuning and clamping device for a stringed musical instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable neck member is disclosed having a distal end and a mounting end configured to be coupled to a stringed instrument body. An enclosed channel extending within the neck member from a position near the mounting end and along a central axis of the neck member to the distal end is also provided. The channel may include at least one recess extending laterally from the channel at the distal end. Furthermore, a rigid bar disposed within the channel and having an adjustment end, an opposing distal end, a stabilizing pin, and a transverse pivot support that is configured to vertically displacement of the neck member is also included. In one embodiment the neck member may also include a pressure isolating means which is capable of indirectly applying sufficient pressure to the neck member to reduce any resonating spring vibrations.

Abstract: A headblock and fingerboard support assembly for a stringed instrument includes a fingerboard support assembly for mounting to a neck and fingerboard of the stringed instrument. The fingerboard support assembly further includes a plate having an integrated rail structure. A headblock has an integrated channel for receiving the integrated rail structure. The headblock is adapted to secure to the fingerboard support assembly. A method of assembling a stringed instrument includes mounting a plate structure to a neck and fingerboard of the stringed instrument, where the plate includes an integrated rail, and mounting a headblock to an interior surface of a body of the stringed instrument, where the headblock has an integrated channel structure for receiving the integrated rail of the plate structure.

Abstract: A practice and exercise device for acoustic guitar players. The device includes a housing, a plurality of strings, and a circuit to generate a sound having a tone, wherein the tone is selected from the group consisting of A, D, and E tones. The circuit is housed in the housing and includes touch sensitive switches, which are in operable communication with the fingerboard. The housing defines a front surface that in turn defines a fingerboard. The fingerboard includes at least one fret fixed transversely across the fingerboard and visually distinguishable markings. The markings are located at positions on the fingerboard corresponding to tones A, D, and E, and the touch sensitive switches are located beneath the markings.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed herein is a vibration preventer for a stringed instrument. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a voiced sound from unnecessary vibrations caused by transferring vibrations of plural strings of the stringed instrument. Accordingly, a quality of sound for the stringed instrument is converted to a clear sound, thereby obtaining a clear sound.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective barrier between a musical instrument and any potentially damaging object that may come into contact with the instrument. While disclosed generally with reference to a guitar headstock, an artisan will recognize from the disclosure herein that the protective barriers consistent with the disclosure herein may advantageously be applied to any edge or portion of any guitar, or even any edge or portion of a wide variety of other musical instruments subject to normal wear dents and dings. The protective barrier may be disposable per use, may be adapted for long term application, may comprise a pliable plastic cap, may comprise a plastic cover, may comprise multiple components, may be transparent to allow the original finish of the instrument to be visible, may be colored for aesthetic value, may be personalized, may be shaped or colored to identify association with a particular type of instrument, combinations of the same, or the like.

Abstract: A string instrument, such as a guitar, includes a sound box with saddle, a neck with tuning pegs and strings extended under tension between the saddle and the tuning pegs, providing a bridge of least two legs under which there are at least two separate piezoelectric transducers that are connected to an electrical circuit for the amplified reproduction of the sound of the instrument.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus relates to a stringed practice device comprising: a neck with an upper end and a lower end; a headstock coupled to the lower end of the neck; and where the headstock comprises a plurality of tuning posts. The disclosed method relates to a using a stringed practice device. The method comprises resting a headstock against a thigh of the user; and fingering the strings on a neck of the stringed practice device with one hand of the user.

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: A guitar neck assembly so configured as to be mounted to a guitar body via two types of attachment: an adhesive and mechanical fastener is described herein. The guitar neck includes a neck extension that is added after the neck angle with respect to the guitar body is adjusted.

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 simulated stringed musical instrument practice device having integrally formed longitudinal ridges simulating strings is herein disclosed. The present invention generally comprises an elongated section of material that is similar in shape to the neck of a conventional stringed instrument. The elongated section has a flat surface fashioned thereon having transverse ridges simulating frets as well as longitudinal ridges integrally attached thereto simulating strings. The frets are spaced progressively longer distances apart in order to more accurately simulate the fret board of a conventional stringed instrument. Optionally, the present invention may also provide utility as a computer keyboard wrist rest. Non-slip footings are provided for attachment to the flat surface in order to provide for secure placement adjacent the keyboard of a computer in a manner similar to conventional wrist rests.

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: 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: An apparatus and method for extending and retracting frets of stringed musical instruments such as a guitar or bass guitar. Each of a plurality of frets is an integral part of a fret-cylinder having an axis oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of the strings when positioned in a neck of the instrument. Each fret-cylinder has integral cylinder-adjusting teeth that engage rod-adjusting teeth of a rod enclosed within a cavity in the neck of the instrument. Moving the rod in an axial direction by a rod actuating mechanism causes the fret-cylinders to rotate about their axis, extending the frets above a fingerboard attached to the instrument neck for fretted play and retracting the frets flush with the fingerboard for unfretted play. The rod actuating mechanism may be positioned on a neck of an instrument or a body of an instrument, and may be manually or electric motor actuated.

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: 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: An elongated string support for a stringed musical instrument includes a neck having a heel portion, a head portion, and a finger-board portion extending axially between the heel portion and the head portion. The finger-board portion has a spiral profile from the heel portion to the head portion. The elongated string support also includes a finger-board attached to the neck and having a heel end and a nut end. The finger-board has a spiral profile from the heel end to the nut end. The neck and the finger-board are zero degrees from a heel thereof and to a predetermined angle greater than zero degrees at a nut thereof.

Abstract: A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument, the neck assembly comprising a finger board having a certain length, an inner surface and an outer surface and a neck portion having a certain length, an inner surface and another surface, the neck assembly further comprising an elongated carbon insert positioned between the finger board and the neck portion substantially along their lengths.

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: 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: 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 apparatus and method for extending and retracting frets of stringed musical instruments such as a guitar or bass guitar. Each of a plurality of frets is an integral part of a fret-cylinder having an axis oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of the strings when positioned in a neck of the instrument. Each fret-cylinder has integral cylinder-adjusting teeth that engage rod-adjusting teeth of a rod enclosed within a cavity in the neck of the instrument. Moving the rod in an axial direction by a rod actuating mechanism causes the fret-cylinders to rotate about their axis, extending the frets above a fingerboard attached to the instrument neck for fretted play and retracting the frets flush with the fingerboard for unfretted play. The rod actuating mechanism may be positioned on a neck of an instrument or a body of an instrument, and may be manually or electric motor actuated.

Abstract: An attachable and removable Light Emitting Diode array adhesively adhered to the top edge surface of a stringed instrument fretboard and fretboard. The device uses independently wired electronically driven (LED's) positioned at or near each standard embedded fret location marker and functions as an optical data display system when wired to an electronic audio signal processing device power source that may be mounted inconspicuously on the neck or body of an instrument. Located in such close proximity to the musician's eyes, the intensity of the display array's bright emissions of light allows for high visibility of the reference data under all light conditions. The array's extremely small size and unobtrusive shape does not obstruct the movement of the fretting hand, and the device does not modify, damage, or de-value the original condition of the instrument.

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: A stringed musical instrument, which has a neck assembly, a body, and a plurality of strings. The neck assembly having a structure made of wood and composite materials of graphite/carbon fiber, and epoxy resins. Which is of sufficient strength and stiffness to withstand, without deformation, the entire load imposed upon the neck assembly by the tension of the strings. The neck assembly will include one structural load bearing wooden core, laminated with the composite external skin structure and epoxy resins, and will extend completely along the length of the neck assembly. The use of wood as a core structural material will enable the instrument to retain the response and tonal qualities of stringed instruments, which is common to a traditional wooden neck assembly. A fingerboard of wood is bonded to the composite external structure and a non-structural, non-load bearing two way string orbit relief adjustment mechanism is installed in the node region along the longitudinal axis of said neck assembly.

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: A distortion correcting device is accommodated at a concave portion of the neck of a stringed instrument, and comprises: a bar 10 including a bottom plate portion 11 and a pair of opposing side plate portions 12 erected at both sides of the bottom plate portion 11; and an adjusting rod 20 whose one end portion is secured to one end portion of the bar 10 and whose other end portion engages with an adjusting nut 30 which is rotatably supported by the other end portion of the bar 10, and in which the distance between the one end portion of the adjusting rod 20 and the adjusting nut 30 can be changed by turning the adjusting nut 30. A first support member 40 and a second support member 50 are secured to the side plate portions 12 at both end portions of the bar 10, and one end portion of the adjusting rod 20 is supported such that movement in an axial direction is blocked by the first support member 40, and the adjusting nut 30 is rotatably supported by the second support member 50.

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: An electric guitar with a tremolo unit that makes it easy to tune strings and install the strings. The electric guitar includes a lock device that prevents the strings from being shifted to offset positions. The lock device has a nut, which has an inclined support surface, and a clamp pad. The clamp pad clamps the strings with respect to the support surface. A front edge of the nut is located upward from a line, which extends along a contact point between pegs and the strings and a rear edge of the nut. Since the strings are bent by the nut at the front and rear edges, the strings are stopped from being separated from the support surface.

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: 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 molded fretboard according to the present invention has integrally molded frets. The frets are composed of a molded mixture including a higher proportion by volume of glass beads than resin, thereby providing abrasion resistant characteristics that are the same as or better than conventional steel frets. The glass beads are compacted such that each glass bead is in contact with at least one other glass bead. The fretboard itself may be composed of this molded mixture, providing increased abrasion resistance to the top working region of the fretboard, and an entire molded guitar may also be produced in accordance with the invention. A method of installing a fretboard on a guitar is taught which ensures the linearity of the fretboard, regardless of the curvature of the neck. This method provides solutions to the problem of having a bowed neck and the problem of having a non-straight fretboard simultaneously.

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 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: A multiple neck, integral single-body musical instrument having the performance of a multiple full bodied instrument but the feel of a single body construction where the body is substantially u-shaped which defines substantially parallel planes and where a neck extends from each substantially parallel plane. The musical instrument may be acoustic or electric or a combination instrument. The instrument may be a guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, bass, fingerboard, keyboards and the like.

Abstract: This invention provides for increased resonance quality and volume in a stringed instrument having a resonant chamber, where the chamber has a defined opening that is also known as a “sound hole.” Guitars and related instruments tend to have sound holes defined as rounded or circular openings. Violins and related instruments tend to have a more ornate sound hole, similar to an “S” or “f” shape. The increase in sound volume and quality is derived from resonance flanges, that are positioned adjacent to the sound hole, within the resonance chamber, and which define curved surfaces that affect the sound waves striking them. The resonance flanges are defined by internal expanding curved edges, that are attached to the inner side of the resonant chamber, adjacent to the sound hole opening, and exhibit a defined curve away from the sound hole opening.

Abstract: A multiple neck, integral single-body musical instrument having the performance of a multiple full bodied instrument but the feel of a single body construction where the body is substantially u-shaped which defines substantially parallel planes and where a neck extends from each substantially parallel plane. The musical instrument may be acoustic or electric or a combination instrument. The instrument may be a guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, bass, fingerboard, keyboards and the like.

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: A stringed instrument has a body, a longitudinal neck attached to the body and extending therefrom, and strings extending between the body and a free head end of the neck, the strings attached so that they generate a tensile force tending to deform the neck. To prevent deformation of the neck, it receives a rigid reinforcing body provided with a groove that extends from a first end of the body and terminates at a distance from the opposite second end, so that the rigid body has a grooveless end region and a grooved end region. The grooved end faces the body of the stringed instrument. The grooveless end region and an upper part of the grooved end region are fixed to the top side of the instrument neck along their entire lengths, whereas a lower part of the grooved end region is detachably secured to the neck and generates a force counteracting the tensile force to minimize the deformation of the neck.

Abstract: A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument, the neck assembly comprising a finger board having a certain length, an inner surface and an outer surface and a neck portion having a certain length, an inner surface and another surface, the neck assembly further comprising an elongated carbon insert positioned between the finger board and the neck portion substantially along their lengths.

Abstract: A multi-plane headstock provides different planes to which strings of a stringed musical instrument may be attached to control the tension on the string and the angle at which the string breaks from the plane of the strings over the fingerboard. Advantageous musical characteristics are provided to such stringed musical instruments by implementation of the multi-planed headstock of the present invention in greater selectability and adjustability of stringed musical instrument characteristics, as well as increased internal harmony of the instrument.

Abstract: A fingerboard for stringed musical instrument having a series of predetermined grooves located at every position in which a series of consecutive frets would have otherwise occurred, in accordance with a predetermined tonal scale, providing the facilities of a fretted fingerboard and maintaining the characteristics of a fretless fingerboard.