An expandable carrying case comprises first and second compartments. The first compartment includes a plurality of first walls forming a first space therebetween. A first opening is positioned on one of the plurality of first walls. The first opening is configured to be opened for access to the first space, and also configured to be closed to enclose the first space. The second compartment is coupled to the first compartment and configured to be stored within the first compartment to a stored state, and also configured to extend from the first compartment to an extended state. The second compartment includes a plurality of second walls forming a second space therebetween. A second opening is positioned on one of the plurality of second walls. The second opening is configured to be opened for access to the second space, and also configured to be closed.

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 actuator system for a foldable stringed instrument (for example, a travel guitar). The actuator system serves two primary function: 1) to selectively retract and extend a ram rod used to unlock and lock a mid-neck hinge of the foldable stringed instrument.

An actuator system for a foldable stringed instrument (for example, a travel guitar). The actuator system serves two primary function: 1) to selectively retract and extend a ram rod used to unlock and lock a mid-neck hinge of the foldable stringed instrument.

A three-piece modular stringed instrument comprising a body module, a neck module, and a tremolo module with expedited assembling and disassembling steps enabled by the design of a tremolo system to expand its use of the pivotal string tension control in synergistic combination with an additional leveraging string tension control at the neck end of the strings, as well as a streamlined neck joint system comprising an oversized neck pocket, a self-adjusting axial coupling, and an adjustably static side-to-side neck clamping structure. The saddle design of the tremolo system comprises the generic machine tuners for conventional electric guitar instruments on a modular headless guitar format with conversion functionality between a full tremolo-enabled configuration and a hardtail configuration.

A three-piece modular stringed instrument comprising a body module, a neck module, and a tremolo module with expedited assembling and disassembling steps enabled by the design of a tremolo system to expand its use of the pivotal string tension control in synergistic combination with an additional leveraging string tension control at the neck end of the strings, as well as a streamlined neck joint system comprising an oversized neck pocket, a self-adjusting axial coupling, and an adjustably static side-to-side neck clamping structure. The saddle design of the tremolo system comprises the generic machine tuners for conventional electric guitar instruments on a modular headless guitar format with conversion functionality between a full tremolo-enabled configuration and a hardtail configuration.

An insert is provided for insertion in a space between a guitar neck and a guitar body to provide for adjustment of the geometric characteristics of the assembled guitar. The insert is configured to allow insertion of the insert body into the space without dismounting the guitar neck from the body. Using scanning of the guitar neck and guitar body mounting points, an exterior surface configuration of the insert can be calculated to yield the desired geometric characteristics.

An light weight injection molded neck block with stanchions that guide a bolts form the back of the body to the neck.

A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.

A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.