Stringed musical instruments and methods of manufacture. An instrument includes a body, a neck extending from the body, and a head extending from the neck. The head and the neck attach to one another with a mortise and tenon joint or a dovetail joint. The head and neck may be removably or permanently attachable to one another. The body and neck may also attach to one another with a mortise and tenon joint or a dovetail joint. A truss rod may extend from the neck to secure the head and neck to one another. The body, neck, head, or portions thereof may be manufactured from aluminum and/or a combination of metals. A neck assembly may include a reinforced spine, a grip member, a fretted fingerboard, and a tenon tongue or a dovetail pin extending from an end of the spine.

A modular electric guitar system is disclosed that includes tool-free interchangeable body components, including tool-free sides of a guitar body which may alter the instrument's overall shape, and tool-free interchangeable pickup cartridges to provide a dynamic range of instrument shape, size, and sound.

A modular electric guitar system is disclosed that includes tool-free interchangeable body components, including tool-free sides of a guitar body which may alter the instrument's overall shape, and tool-free interchangeable pickup cartridges to provide a dynamic range of instrument shape, size, and sound.

Exemplary embodiments of stringed instruments including extended string retaining saddle straps are disclosed. The exemplary embodiments include an extended string retaining saddle strap connected to each of, and between, a string connection to the instrument's strings at a bottom portion of a body portion of the stringed instrument and a saddle strap connector at an upper portion of the body portion of the stringed instrument. In an aspect, the saddle strap connector may be connected to a neck block portion joining a neck portion of the stringed instrument to the body portion, within a hollow interior of the body portion. In an aspect, connecting the extended string retaining saddle strap to each of, and between, the string connection and the saddle strap connector creates a tension that tends to pull the string connection and the saddle strap connector towards each other.

Interchangeable neck and bridge components for a guitar. The body of the guitar has a recess having two parallel side walls and a sloped wall. The sloped wall is located between the two parallel side walls. The recess has a bore configured to receive a fastener. The guitar has a removable neck having a fretboard. The fretboard has a primary side located opposite a secondary side. At least one string is located on the primary side of the fretboard. The removable neck of the guitar has an end having a capturing structure connected to the secondary side of the fretboard. The capturing structure has a guide ramp. The neck of the guitar is secured to the body of the guitar when the bore of the recess of the body of the guitar and the bore of the capturing structure receives the fastener.

Interchangeable neck and bridge components for a guitar. The body of the guitar has a recess having two parallel side walls and a sloped wall. The sloped wall is located between the two parallel side walls. The recess has a bore configured to receive a fastener. The guitar has a removable neck having a fretboard. The fretboard has a primary side located opposite a secondary side. At least one string is located on the primary side of the fretboard. The removable neck of the guitar has an end having a capturing structure connected to the secondary side of the fretboard. The capturing structure has a guide ramp. The neck of the guitar is secured to the body of the guitar when the bore of the recess of the body of the guitar and the bore of the capturing structure receives the fastener.

A modular stringed instrument comprising a precision-machined components which are assembled “out of the box” to build an instrument having a desired, reproducible sound is disclosed. The modular design of the stringed instrument allows for complete customization to a player's tastes such as allowing the player to select head stock styles, handedness, neck thicknesses, scale length, body style, and electronics. A custom designed bridge and mounting system allow for analog bridge placement along the mounting plate which can be custom machined to accommodate a players wishes. The placement of the bridge is precision both in forward/back position but also in height and, if desired, in up to six degrees of freedom. Each string height is adjustable as well as integral to the bridge.

A modular stringed instrument comprising a precision-machined components which are assembled “out of the box” to build an instrument having a desired, reproducible sound is disclosed. The modular design of the stringed instrument allows for complete customization to a player's tastes such as allowing the player to select head stock styles, handedness, neck thicknesses, scale length, body style, and electronics. A custom designed bridge and mounting system allow for analog bridge placement along the mounting plate which can be custom machined to accommodate a players wishes. The placement of the bridge is precision both in forward/back position but also in height and, if desired, in up to six degrees of freedom. Each string height is adjustable as well as integral to the bridge.

A stringed instrument, for example an electric guitar, comprises a neck and a body defining a neck and body joint. The neck and body joint includes a neck having a tapered tenon, and a body having a complementary tapered mortise surrounding the tapered tenon. The tapered tenon may be held within the tapered mortise with a tensioning device without the use of adhesives between surfaces of the tapered tenon and surfaces of the tapered mortise.

A musical instrument comprising a body and a neck for supporting a set of strings, further comprising demountable means for detaching the strings as a single piece from the instrument.