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.

An ergonomic harness for chin-free support of violins and violas that incorporates clamps for a stringed instrument, a support arm, and a stabilizer. A neck strap secures the harness system around the neck of a person playing a stringed instrument and holds the harness in place against the person's shoulder and/or chest. A support arm supports the weight of the instrument and a stabilizer prevents the support arm from rotating.

A shoulder rest for a violin or viola comprises a bridge beam having a first end and a second end and a shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a block having a beam-engaging portion that is shaped to slide over the bridge beam. The shoulder rest includes a first foot disposed at the first end for gripping the violin or viola and a second foot disposed at the second end for gripping the violin or viola. In another implementation, the shoulder rest includes a first shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a first arm that is connected to an arm carriage disposed within a groove in the bridge beam and a second shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a second arm that is connected to the arm carriage.

A shoulder rest for a violin or viola comprises a bridge beam having a first end and a second end and a shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a block having a beam-engaging portion that is shaped to slide over the bridge beam. The shoulder rest includes a first foot disposed at the first end for gripping the violin or viola and a second foot disposed at the second end for gripping the violin or viola. In another implementation, the shoulder rest includes a first shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a first arm that is connected to an arm carriage disposed within a groove in the bridge beam and a second shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a second arm that is connected to the arm carriage.

A holding device for a chin rest for a string instrument, by means of which a support plate provided for supporting the chin of the player of the string instrument can be connected to the body of the string instrument, is intended on the one hand to enable an ergonomically improved posture of the player and on the other hand to improve the sound of the string instrument. For this purpose, the holding device is designed as a spring element which connects the support plate to the body in a spring-loaded manner.

A holding device for a chin rest for a string instrument, by means of which a support plate provided for supporting the chin of the player of the string instrument can be connected to the body of the string instrument, is intended on the one hand to enable an ergonomically improved posture of the player and on the other hand to improve the sound of the string instrument. For this purpose, the holding device is designed as a spring element which connects the support plate to the body in a spring-loaded manner.

A guitar positioning device, including a strip of resilient or flexible material, such as formed or molded from rubber, or polymer, can be adhered to the lower or lateral edges of the guitar, or banjo, in which it is used, while the exposed surface of the device will frictionally engage upon the legs of the musician, so as to prevent slippage of the instrument during its usage and application. The positioning device can be adhered by integral suction cups, at least two in number, or by an adhesive, a double sided tape, or even hook and pile fastening means, or rivet, in order to secure the positioning device to the exposed edge of the instrument that rests upon the legs of the musician, during a performance.

A guitar positioning device, including a strip of resilient or flexible material, such as formed or molded from rubber, or polymer, can be adhered to the lower or lateral edges of the guitar, or banjo, in which it is used, while the exposed surface of the device will frictionally engage upon the legs of the musician, so as to prevent slippage of the instrument during its usage and application. The positioning device can be adhered by integral suction cups, at least two in number, or by an adhesive, a double sided tape, or even hook and pile fastening means, or rivet, in order to secure the positioning device to the exposed edge of the instrument that rests upon the legs of the musician, during a performance.

The broken string energy absorbing device includes a fixing mechanism and a cushioning and energy absorbing mechanism. The fixing mechanism is configured to fix the broken string energy absorbing device to a neck of the stringed instrument. The cushioning and energy absorbing mechanism is configured to absorb and weaken the energy when a string of the stringed instrument is broken. The present invention can sufficiently protect the user from not being exploded by the broken string when tuning the strings, which effectively ensures the safety of the user when tuning. The user no longer has the psychological burden of worrying about whether the string will be broken, so that the user can safely tune the strings, which provides good user experience and is favorable for the user to further learn the instrument.

The broken string energy absorbing device includes a fixing mechanism and a cushioning and energy absorbing mechanism. The fixing mechanism is configured to fix the broken string energy absorbing device to a neck of the stringed instrument. The cushioning and energy absorbing mechanism is configured to absorb and weaken the energy when a string of the stringed instrument is broken. The present invention can sufficiently protect the user from not being exploded by the broken string when tuning the strings, which effectively ensures the safety of the user when tuning. The user no longer has the psychological burden of worrying about whether the string will be broken, so that the user can safely tune the strings, which provides good user experience and is favorable for the user to further learn the instrument.