A stringed instrument having a body including a back surface, a top head portion, and a treble-side. A cutaway can be defined in the body adjacent the top head portion on the treble side, the cutaway defining a cutaway edge. A cutout can be defined in the back surface, the cutout extending from the top head portion along at least a portion of the cutaway edge, the cutout defining a cutout surface. A neck can extend from the body, a portion of the neck disposed on a front side of the top head portion. A neck plate can be disposed on a back side of the top head portion, at least a portion of the neck plate positioned on the cutout surface, wherein the neck plate includes a plate cross section that corresponds to a cross section of the cutout at a location proximate the top head portion.

A reverse-pull and double-down pressure bridge configuration for a stringed instrument is used to integrate a set of retrofit strings into the instrument. The retrofit strings are tethered between the bridge plate of the instrument and the back end of the instrument so that the retrofit strings are able to apply a reverse pull on a soundboard of the instrument and compress the saddle, the bridge, and the soundboard of the instrument. The retrofit strings are configured to counteract the forward pull applied on the soundboard by the original strings of the instrument.

Aspects disclosed herein relate to an instrument trigger system and methods of using such a system. In one aspect, the instrument trigger system includes a plurality of triggers, where each trigger is vibrationally isolated from the other triggers and/or from vibrations of the instrument to prevent unintended actuation of a trigger. In another aspect, the instrument trigger system includes one or more triggers that are easily accessible by a musician such that trigger actuation can be naturally integrated into the musician's play. In some embodiments, a sound module is integrated with the instrument trigger system.

A stringed musical instrument has a molded sound box and neck where the sound box is formed of between 20% to 60% carbon fibers, or other suitable fibers, and a polymeric resin or binder. The composition of materials utilized in the sound box is selected to increase stiffness and to control the tone of the instrument. The sound box includes an adjustable attachment mechanism having a pivot which is used to secure the neck to the sound box. The sound box includes a molded bracing structure having a plurality of braces and a molded bridge having a plurality of pockets which are used to enhance the structure for the sound box and provide a desired tone quality for the stringed instrument. The neck may include a molded neck insert and a molded fingerboard which are used to enhance the stiffness and stability of the neck.

A music machine, comprising: a platform; a plurality of arcos disposed around a perimeter of the platform, the plurality of arcos disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; a central mast disposed substantially at a center of the platform; and a hand wheel disposed on the central mast, wherein each of the plurality of arcos is strung with a musical instrument string, and wherein each musical instrument string is tuned to produce a musical tone when caused to vibrate.

A music machine, comprising: a platform; a plurality of arcos disposed around a perimeter of the platform, the plurality of arcos disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; a central mast disposed substantially at a center of the platform; and a hand wheel disposed on the central mast, wherein each of the plurality of arcos is strung with a musical instrument string, and wherein each musical instrument string is tuned to produce a musical tone when caused to vibrate.

A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.

A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.

A board for a stringed instrument which forms a front plate or a back plate of a stringed instrument, includes: a laminated plate that is obtained by laminating a plurality of veneers having a uniform thickness by an adhesive, at least one of the veneers having a different planar shape than the other veneers, in which the laminated plate is curved to be convex toward one surface side and has a thin portion and a thick portion.

The Invention is designed so that it is comfortable to hold, and easy to play for long periods of time without becoming fatigued. There are two different designs that the invention can utilize. Both designs provide for an instrument that is compact, making it comfortable for the musician to reach various parts of the fingerboard while still providing a normal scale fretboard. The first design features one neck, shaped to look like the letter Z. The neck is actually composed of three sections: The first section contains the lower notes of the fretboard, while the second section contains the higher notes. Between these two sections sits a connecting strut that connects the strings via an additional string saddle. This design thus produces uses two separate fretboard areas that are easy to reach, providing comfortable access to a full scale of notes.

The second design includes two wholly separate necks, similar to a double neck guitar. (1) One neck is normal length and is meant to be used to play the higher notes of the scale. The musician has the option to play the lower notes on this neck, as well. To make the lower notes easier to reach, another neck is included just below the first neck. The second neck is either placed further up the body horizontally, or is undersized, making the lower frets closer to the body of the musician. The second neck's bridge is located on the back of the instrument, thus providing a regular string length, and thus a full scale of notes. This design is similar to that of portable guitars, but goes a step further. Instead of replacing the head stock of the instrument with a back mounted bridge, (2) or using a removable neck, (3) the placement of the neck is moved further up the body horizontally. Like some portable instruments, the bridge is mounted on the back side, but for different reasons. In the invention, the bridge is moved much further up the back of the instrument, allowing either the neck to be placed further up the body on the front side, or an undersized neck to be used, thus keeping a full scale of notes on the fretboard. The lower notes of this neck are easier to reach than a normal positioned neck. The higher notes of this neck will be hard to reach, but can be utilized by musicians for some applications, most notably slide playing, and harmonic effects. For others, the first neck will be used for playing on higher frets.

Additionally, both instrument designs utilize a curved underside, conforming to the shape of the leg, thus providing for comfortable sitting playing.