Guitar neck joint

Abstract

An improved body for a stringed instrument wherein the base of the neck slides into a body pocket and onto a flexible protrusion, both made of the body material. The flexible protrusion is drawn toward the pocket by a fastener thereby clamping the base of the neck to the instrument body. No metal parts attach to the base of the neck. The only metal parts involved are the threaded fastener which draws the flexible protrusion toward the pocket and the threaded insert in the flexible protrusion to which this fastener threads. Most of the clamping assembly is hidden inside the body and neck and is not visible when the body and neck are connected. The neck can be removed and replaced rapidly allowing instrument storage in a smaller space and allowing necks of varying scale lengths, fret configurations, or fretboard radius to be attached to the same instrument.

Claims

1. A stringed instrument body, comprising: a body; a neck; said body having a pocket; said body having a flexible protrusion which opposes said pocket; an adjustable length means of connection between said flexible protrusion and said pocket; said neck having a base shaped to fit into said pocket; said base of said neck having a slot to receive said flexible protrusion of said body; said base of said neck having a slot which passes around said adjustable length means of connection between said flexible protrusion and said pocket; whereby said base of said neck is secured between said flexible protrusion of said body and said pocket of said body and is removable and replaceable while said adjustable length means of connection remains connected to said flexible protrusion of said body and said pocket of said body.

2. The stringed instrument of claim 1 wherein the instrument is a guitar and the body and neck are made of wood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Referring to the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of the top of the body showing the flexible protrusion, pocket, and threaded connector/insert combination.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front isometric view showing the base of the neck and the slot.

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the flexible protrusion showing the location of the threaded insert.

DRAWINGS

Reference Numerals

(5) 1. body 2. neck 3. neck base 4. slot 5. body pocket 6. flexible protrusion 7. threaded connector with threaded insert

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In its preferred embodiment the present body is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 as applied to a guitar body wherein a threaded fastener is used; it should be readily apparent, however, that in other embodiments the clamping means could use a cam or a lever.

(7) In its preferred embodiment the present body is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 as applied to a guitar body made of wood with a neck made of wood; it should be readily apparent, however, that in other embodiments the body and neck could be made of plastic or carbon fiber or metal or any other material that can be formed into the requisite shapes.

(8) In its preferred embodiment the present body is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 as applied to a guitar body wherein the mating surfaces of the neck base, flexible protrusion, and body pocket are smooth; it should be readily apparent, however, that in other embodiments these mating surfaces could have corresponding projections and depressions which interlock when clamping force is applied.

(9) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a stringed instrument body comprising a body 1 having a body pocket 5 opposed by a flexible protrusion 6. The body pocket 5 and flexible protrusion 6 are connected by a threaded connector 7. The neck 2 has a base 3 which contains a slot 4 to receive the flexible protrusion 6. The slot 4 also allows the neck base 3 to fully seat between body pocket 5 and flexible protrusion 6 without hitting threaded connector 7.

Operation of Preferred Embodiment

(10) Threaded connector 7 connects body pocket 5 and flexible protrusion 6. Threaded connector 7 is loosened slightly thereby allowing slot 4 in neck base 3 to receive flexible protrusion 6 while neck base 3 is being fully seated in body pocket 5. Slot 4 in neck base 3 also allows neck base 3 to be fully seated in body pocket 5 while avoiding threaded connector 7. Once neck base 3 is fully seated in body pocket 5, threaded connector 7 is tightened thereby reducing the distance between flexible protrusion 6 and body pocket 5 which clamps neck base 3 between flexible protrusion 6 and body pocket 5.

(11) Threaded connector 7 is loosened slightly thereby increasing the distance between body pocket 5 and flexible protrusion 6. Neck base 3 can then be withdrawn from between body pocket 5 and flexible protrusion 6 thus causing flexible protrusion 6 to be withdrawn from slot 4 in neck base 3.

(12) While there is shown and described the present embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.