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.

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 de-tensioning 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 de-tensioning 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.

The fretboard system provides a replaceable fretboard with customized placement of frets along the fretboard for a stringed instrument. A configuration of magnets on the neck of the stringed instrument secure the fretboard to the stringed instrument. The magnets attract a metallic underside, such as a sheet metal, of the detachable fretboard. A separating layer, including but not limited to a layer of wood or other composite material, separates the magnets from the sheet metal. At least one, preferably two or more, reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the neck of the stringed instrument to reinforce the neck.

The fretboard system provides a replaceable fretboard with customized placement of frets along the fretboard for a stringed instrument. A configuration of magnets on the neck of the stringed instrument secure the fretboard to the stringed instrument. The magnets attract a metallic underside, such as a sheet metal, of the detachable fretboard. A separating layer, including but not limited to a layer of wood or other composite material, separates the magnets from the sheet metal. At least one, preferably two or more, reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the neck of the stringed instrument to reinforce the neck.

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 linear dovetail neck joint for a musical instrument having a neck, a body, and a fretboard. The linear dovetail neck joint relies on an internal dovetail with screw-adjustable tension while avoiding screws that go directly into the neck. The linear dovetail neck joint allows for extreme fret accessibility in the upper register of the fretboard (due to lack of heel on the neck), easier neck height adjustments, intonation correction, and unique front block configurations with hand reliefall without the need for adhesives. The linear dovetail neck joint permits a practical and aesthetically pleasing neck-to-body joint without the need for a heel on the neck. The result is a neck-to-body joint that is easily adjustable and serviceable.

The fretboard system provides a replaceable fretboard with customized placement of frets along the fretboard for a stringed instrument. A configuration of magnets on the neck of the stringed instrument secure the fretboard to the stringed instrument. The magnets attract a metallic underside, such as a sheet metal, of the detachable fretboard. A separating layer, including but not limited to a layer of wood or other composite material, separates the magnets from the sheet metal. At least one, preferably two or more, reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the neck of the stringed instrument to reinforce the neck.

The fretboard system provides a replaceable fretboard with customized placement of frets along the fretboard for a stringed instrument. A configuration of magnets on the neck of the stringed instrument secure the fretboard to the stringed instrument. The magnets attract a metallic underside, such as a sheet metal, of the detachable fretboard. A separating layer, including but not limited to a layer of wood or other composite material, separates the magnets from the sheet metal. At least one, preferably two or more, reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the neck of the stringed instrument to reinforce the neck.