GB2395836A - Electric stringed musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

A stringed musical instrument, for example, an electric guitar, comprises a unitary neck member 4 and a body portion 6 attached thereto; the neck member having directly attached thereto a means for anchoring strings, 10 a bridge 12 with which the strings are in contact, an electro-magnetic pickup means 14 and a string tensioning means 22; wherein the body portion comprises a sound box of one or more resonant chambers 8. This combination of known features gives rise to an improved instrument in which feedback is greatly reduced and sustain of the instrument increased. Two established measures of musical quality for an electric instrument are thereby improved.

Description

An Electric Stringed Musical Instrument The invention relates to an

electric stringed musical instrument, in particular to electric guitars and a 5 method of making such instruments. An electric instrument being an instrument in which the primary means for producing sound is an amplified electrical signal, for example, an electro-magnetic pickup may detect movement from a vibrating metal string, which is then amplified.

Conventional stringed instruments, such as an acoustic guitar comprise tensioned strings resting on a bridge upon a sound board above a sound box. On plucking or otherwise causing the strings to vibrate the vibration of 15 the strings is translated into sound. Resonance is set up in the sound board and also the sound box that serves to effectively amplify the sound created. Vibrational energy is effectively dissipated into the sound box via the bridge and the effect of the sound box significantly 20 determines the perceived sound quality of the instrument.

At least one way energy is dissipated to the sound box is by a bridge, a supporting means over which the strings are tensioned, which rests on a substantially planar sound board. The sound board typically comprises one wall 25 of the sound box. Such instruments also typically comprise a neck extension to the sound box to which string tension adjusters are attached and any finger board, fret board or the like are also attached. Neck extensions do not continue into the sound box or sound 30 board, as they are necessarily robust and lack the flexibility to resonate effectively.

Electric stringed musical instruments initially comprised acoustic instruments to which an electro-magnetic pick up 35 device was attached. Such pickups are placed in close

proximity, typically directly under, metal strings to detect their movement and create a corresponding electrical signal. A sound board, box and associated components, all designed for acoustic amplification by 5 removing energy from vibrating strings, thereby reduce the duration of string vibration, which is termed "sustain". In an electric instrument only the vibrations detected by the pickup are amplified, any acoustic output is incidental. Sustain is considered a desirable quality 10 for instruments and since sound production on an electric instrument is not derived from acoustic amplification sound boxes are no longer considered desirable in terms of an instruments electrically derived musical characteristics. Electric stringed musical instruments now typically comprise a neck member along which metal strings are attached. The bridge now acts more as an anchoring means for one end of the strings, the other end of the strings 20 still being attached to and tightenable by a machine head. No sound box is included since this can degrade sound, for example, by reducing sustain, though various decorative attachments may be added to give a pseudo conventional guitar shape and to house any associated 25 electronics components. Neck members are also known which comprise two or more portions, joined by a glue joint or a bolt between the base of a part of the neck that is exposed and a part within the body portion. The glue joint serves to block the transfer of vibration along the 30 neck. Instruments constructed on this principle are termed 'Spanish' and may have a single resonant chamber.

Such instruments suffer from feedback particularly at high amplification and serve a historic role in niche musical genres.

A particular problem with electric stringed musical instruments, particularly at high levels of amplification is feedback. Feedback arises when vibration produced in the instrument is detected, amplified and converted to 5 vibration in the air, acoustic energy, by a loudspeaker, this vibrating air in turn reinforces this vibration in the instrument and a feedback loop is created. Feedback usually occurs first with high frequency sounds above audible frequencies but this can escalate to include 10 audible frequencies. A feedback loop can be self sustaining and create significant noise. This is a continuing problem with electric stringed musical instruments and considerable sound distortion may arise.

Whilst this may have found utilization in some musical 15 genres it is generally regarded as an undesirable phenomenon. GB 2 045993 (Townsend) discloses an electric guitar with a neck member along which strings are attached wherein 20 the guitar body is effectively no more than an interchangeable carrier of electronics components.

GB 2 019074 (CBS) discloses an electric guitar of the Spanish type and describes issues concerning sustain and 25 the functioning of an electric guitar.

GB 2 137007 (Bond) describes a hybrid electric and acoustic guitar where the provision of an acoustic sound box necessitates the use of a complex arrangement of 30 struts to allow the sound box to function acoustically whilst providing the rigidity required for an electric guitar. The issue of feedback is considered but only neck member external to a sound box is disclosed.

GB 2 038069 (Zallnge) describes an electric double bass.

Only neck member external to a sound box is disclosed.

The present invention provides a stringed musical 5 instrument comprising a unitary neck member and a body portion attached thereto) the neck member having directly attached thereto a means for anchoring strings, a bridge with which the strings are in contact, one or more electrical transducers of the vibration of the strings 10 and a string tensioning means) wherein the body portion comprises a sound box of one or more resonant chambers.

The invention is particularly applicable to guitars and similar stringed musical instruments comprising from 4 to 15 no more than 12 tensioned strings. The invention is most effective with stringed musical instruments comprising 4 to 12 strings, in particular 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 12 strings, most preferably stringed musical instruments comprising exactly 4 or 6 strings. The strings are preferably metal 20 strings. The preferred instrument family for use with the invention is the guitar family. The preferred type of instrument for use with the invention is an electric guitar. 25 The invention is particularly applicable to hand-held musical instruments. Such instruments are lighter in weight and can be more readily affected by amplified sound so as to create feedback.

30 Stringed musical instruments of the invention may comprise a sound box with two or more separate resonant chambers. Whilst the term "sound box" conventionally refers to a means for acoustic amplification, within the context of the invention the function of a sound box is 35 to provide means for selectively adsorbing high frequency

vibrational energy from vibrating strings. The adsorption may be via a unitary neck member. In particular the sound box of the invention does not necessarily require an external opening and if such an opening is provided it 5 need not be on a front (stringed) face of the instrument.

The sound box of the invention comprises one or more resonant chambers, similar to but not functionally equivalent to the sound box of a conventional guitar. A 10 resonant chamber for use as part of the invention is a chamber in which the vibrational energy of a vibrating object may set up a resonance. A resonant chamber of the invention acts so as to modify the vibrational energy distribution of an instrument thus reducing the potential 15 for feedback. In particular the invention may serve to reduce high frequency vibrational energy in the instrument disproportionately to low frequency vibrational energy in an instrument being played. Low frequency vibrational energy may extend to the limit of 20 audible sound. High frequency vibrational energy refers to the higher harmonics created by the strings above this limit of audible sound. The limit of audible sound frequency can be taken as about 20 kHz. Vibrational energy is that energy associated with all forms of 25 vibration, mechanical and acoustic of an instrument.

Whilst the resonant chamber may not require an external opening or vent such a vent is preferred so as to equilibrate the pressure inside the chamber with 30 atmospheric pressure. In particular a closeable vent may be provided such that differential pressure build up in a resonant chamber may be avoided, for example, during air transport when a decrease of external pressure could cause damage resulting from a resonant chamber rupturing.

35 Furthermore musicians typically perceive an aesthetic

requirement for an opening in a sound box of an instrument. A visible, non functional, impression of a hole or aperture may therefore be formed on the face of instruments of the invention or a closeable hole or 5 aperture. Such holes or apertures are termed "F-holes". A closeable aperture may be present for the purposes of giving some release of audio energy for non-amplified practice purposes when open, however, such sound from stringed musical instruments of the invention is of 10 different and inferior quality to that of the amplified sound produceable.

The communication of vibrational energy to the resonant chambers may be substantially by mechanical rather than 15 acoustic means. The communication of vibrational energy to the resonant chambers may be entirely by mechanical rather than acoustic means. In the above context entirely' means all but a negligible amount of energy is so communicated. Resonance is an effect associated with 20 the creation of a standing wave such as, but not limited to, a sound wave in a chamber.

Resonant chambers of the invention may preferably comprise one internal wall that is a portion of the 25 unitary neck member; this internal wall may preferably be planar. The portion of the neck member comprising an internal wall may be a portion of the neck member to which a tensioned part of the strings are adjacent. A portion of the unitary neck member remote from an end 30 comprising the string tensioning means is preferred for comprising an internal wall of a chamber. A portion of the unitary neck member comprising a side adjacent to a side to which the strings are attached is preferred. If more than one resonant chamber is present then resonant 35 chambers are preferably symmetrically displaced about the

unitary neck member. The resonant chambers may be of different size. Any larger resonant chamber may preferably be disposed above, and on an opposite side of, the unitary neck member to any smaller resonant chamber 5 where an instrument is orientated as played in a conventional manner. The resonant chambers may have different harmonics. Resonant chambers of the invention may have no walls or wall portions which are parallel or substantially parallel either as such or when viewed in 10 cross-section. A conventional acoustic guitar has parallel front and rear faces and also has parallel side walls when viewed in cross-section.

The unitary neck member is preferably a solid unitary 15 neck member and comprises a single longitudinal piece, which extends at least the full length of the tensioned portion of the strings. The neck may therefore be termed a "through neck". That the neck is a unitary member, and preferably solid, is a requirement of the invention as 20 intermediate joints serve to restrict any vibrations induced by the strings in any portion of a neck remote from a resonant chamber and inhibit feedback reduction.

Vibrations in such a neck part remote from a resonant chamber would also represent energy lost, i.e. energy not 25 as readily detectable by the electrical pick ups for subsequent sound generation. It is an important feature of the invention that the unitary neck member comprise a single member with no joins, such as glue joints, as these interrupt the transmission of vibrations along the 30 neck and impair the anti-feedback benefit of the invention. Furthermore the adsorption of energy from vibrating strings by any neck portion shorter than the tensioned strings may preferentially adsorb frequencies which can be enhanced by feedback thus distorting the 35 sound frequencies modified by the invention and making

the potentially feedback inhibiting portion of the instrument effectively redundant. An instrument in which the neck does not extend the length of the tensioned portion of the strings is not a unitary neck member, as 5 such a neck would comprise a neck and separate portions, such as a sound box, to extend to the length of the tensioned strings. A unitary neck member may therefore extend along that portion of a stringed musical instrument that extends the length of, and particularly 10 next to, the tensioned strings of a stringed musical instrument. For the purposes of the invention the 'length of the tensioned strings' may exclude that portion of the strings between the nut and the pegs of the machine head.

The 'length of the tensioned strings' preferably refers 15 to the full length of the tensioned strings including that portion of the strings between the nut and the pegs of the machine head.

In acoustic instruments a sound board is substantially 20 planar and faces another, substantially planar, rear wall in a sound box. In the present invention the internal and external walls of resonant chambers apart from any walls comprising the unitary neck member are preferably curved.

Such walls are preferably curved in all directions, such 25 as is the case in a domed structure. This is thought to limit the setting up of any resonance between substantially parallel surfaces that can dissipate energy from the chamber as acoustic energy external to the chamber. Walls of resonant chambers that may be 30 substantially planar are walls comprising the unitary neck member. This may serve to more effectively transfer energy from (and to) the neck member to (and from) the chamber so as to modify the vibrational energy distribution of the instrument thus reducing the 35 potential for feedback.

Whilst it is an essential integer of the invention that the bridge, with which the strings are in contact, is directly attached to the unitary neck member the bridge 5 may also rest upon the external walls of a resonant chamber or if more than one chamber preferably on an external wall of each chamber. This 'resting upon' may serve to better communicate vibrational energy to a resonant chamber, so as to better modify the vibrational 10 energy distribution of instruments of the invention so as to better inhibit feedback.

The unitary neck member may be strengthened by means of a truss rod inserted down the length of the neck. Such a 15 rod is held in tension by a threaded end.

The unitary neck member may comprise a separate head portion forming the machine head for convenience of manufacture. For stringed musical instruments according 20 to the invention the means for anchoring-strings and the bridge may be one and the same component.

For stringed musical instruments according to the invention the bridge and the electro-magnetic pickup 25 means may be separate components not directly mechanically linked. However, the various elements of instrument furniture are typically electrically earthed and therefore in electrical contact in addition to any specific contacts required for such items as the pickups.

The one or more electrical transducers of the vibration of the strings are preferably electro-magnetic pickups.

An electro-magnetic pickup is a means of translating mechanical vibrational energy of the strings into an 35 electrical signal. The electrical signal will typically

be, directly or indirectly translated into acoustic energy for a listener. Transducer means that translate mechanical vibrational energy of the strings via an optical system to an electrical signal, for example, is 5 also considered within the scope of the invention.

Optical systems and piezo electric systems may preferably utilise nonmetal strings such as nylon strings.

Transducers as with other items of instrument furniture may be mounted by means of holders, support plates, 10 pillars and the like. Such means are taken as part of an item of instrument furniture for the purposes of their being considered directly attached to the unitary neck member. 15 One electrical transducer of vibration may be provided per string. Preferably a pickup, i.e. a collocation of electrical transducers, usually in an equally spaced row, is provided under all the strings of an instrument. More than one pickup may be present, such as may be required 20 across larger multiples of strings or to comply with different conventions of pickup arrangements for specific classes of instrument, such as electric guitars. Pickups may comprise internally adjacent sets of electrical transducers in a, preferred, 'humbucking' configuration.

25 Various sets of pickups alongside one another per string may be provided depending upon musical requirements Stringed musical instruments according to the invention may be made from metal and from plastics materials. It 30 has been found that stringed musical instruments according to the invention perform better and give enhanced musical quality, such as sustain and in particular reduced feedback when made substantially from a wood. Preferred woods for the neck and body portions 35 are hardwoods, preferably hardwoods chosen from the

group; Alder, Amazaque, Ash, Bubinga, Cherry, Lime, Mahogany, Maple, Sycamore, Walnut and Zebrano. Preferred woods may be selected from the group sycamore, maple, rock maple and ash which give enhanced sustain.

5 Instruments of the invention may also comprise various inlays, veneers and the like. A veneer may be used to overlay a neck portion of the guitar so as to form a fret board. There may be an absence of a separate veneer portion adhered to the unitary neck member between the 10 strings and the unitary neck member in instruments of the invention. Instruments according the invention as previously described may be made wherein a resonant chamber is made 15 from a single solid piece of material adhered to a side of the unitary neck member. The single solid piece of material may be a piece of hollowed out wood. This has the advantage that a minimum of glue joints are created in the walls of the chamber. Glue joints and joints 20 between abutting members being a barrier to the transmission of vibrational energy.

A method of constructing an electric guitar according to the invention comprises the steps of obtaining a massive 25 piece of hollowed out wood and an elongate unitary neck member followed by adhesively attaching said massive piece to a side adjacent to an end of the unitary neck member to form a resonant cavity, attaching an electromagnetic pick up and connection means therefor to 30 the unitary neck member, and attaching a bridge, machine head and associated strings to said unitary neck member.

An elongate neck member for use in the method of the invention need not be unitary.

The term 'massive' refers to the piece being an undivided whole made from a single piece of material. For ease of manufacture the method of constructing an electric guitar may utilise a body portion comprising two halves, each 5 half comprising a massive piece of hollowed out wood which are dished in shape and adhesively attached to the other half. The two adhered halves may be simultaneously or subsequently adhesively attached to the unitary neck member. Musical instrument families suitable for use in the invention include guitar, lute, sitar and koto when suitably adapted. Other instrument families of relevance are violin, viola cello, bass viol and mandolin if 15 suitably adapted.

Examples of the invention will now be described by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l shows a stringed musical instrument according to a first embodiment of the invention in plan view; Figure 2 shows the stringed musical instrument of the 25 first embodiment of the invention in side view with a cut away along I-I of Figure l; Figure 3 shows a stringed musical instrument according to a second aspect of the invention in plan view; Figure 4 shows a stringed musical instrument according to the second aspect of the invention in side view;

Figure 5 shows a cross section through line II-II of Figure 6 of a unitary neck member and body portions of a of a musical instrument according to the invention; 5 Figure 6 shows a unitary neck member for use in stringed musical instruments of the invention; Figure 7 shows a cross-section through an exploded view of neck and body portions of a stringed musical 10 instrument of the invention; Figure 8 shows the components of Figure 7 as assembled; Figure 9 shows a half of a body portion for use in a Is stringed musical instrument of the invention; Figure 10 shows another half of a body portion for use in a stringed musical instrument of the invention and 20 Figure 11 which shows a cross- section through a main portion through a unitary neck member and body portions of a third embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings the same or similar features are denoted 25 by common reference numerals.

Figures 1 and 2 show a stringed musical instrument in the form of a guitar according to a first embodiment of the invention. The guitar 2 comprises a unitary neck member 4 30 to which are attached a body portion 6 comprising two halves 6A, 6B. Unitary neck member 4 is made from a single solid piece of maple wood. The body portions 6A, 6B are made from similar solid, hollowed out, pieces of maple wood. Unitary neck member 4 comprises machine head 35 18 to which six strings, 16 are attached. The strings 16

pass over nut 50 and are tensioned against bridge 12 and terminate in tail piece 10. Machine head 18 comprises pegs 22 around which the strings are wrapped, pegs 22 are attached by gearing means (not shown) to keys 24 for the 5 purposes of adjusting the tension in the strings 16.

Unitary neck member 4 comprises integral machine head 18.

The components of the machine head 24, 22, nut 50, electro magnetic pickups 14, 14, 14. Bridge 12 and tailpiece 10 are all attached to a front face of unitary JO neck member 4. Attached to adjacent side faces of unitary neck member 4 are body portions 6A, 6B. Body portions 6A, 6B are hollow and abut the unitary neck member 4 so as to form enclosed resonant chambers 8 (second chamber not shown). Bridge 12 upon which strings 16 rest is attached 15 to the unitary neck member 4 and also rests upon body 6, a part resting on a body portion 6A and another part resting on the other body portion 6B, the two body portions 6A, 6B are opposite one another and attached to side faces of the unitary neck member, 4. Electro 20 magnetic pickups 14, 14, 14 are electrically connected to electronics placed within the body of the guitar (not shown), but not within a resonance chamber, and which serve, for example, to select which pick-up is used for sound amplification. Various controls 44 are placed on 25 the external face of a body portion 6B so as to allow control and selection of electronic features. A plug socket 28 is provided wherein electrical signals from the guitar are output in use. A power input to power the electronics of the guitar in use may be optionally 30 provided.

In use a musician plucks a string 16 such that a vibration is set up in the string 16. The vibration in the string sets up a sympathetic vibration in the unitary 35 neck member 4 by means of vibrational energy transferred

through bridge 12 and to a lesser extent nut 50, machine head 18, and tailpiece 10 all of which are anchored to the unitary neck member. Some energy may also be transferred acoustically. The absorption of vibrational 5 energy from a vibrating string 16 is different for different frequencies, i.e. different harmonics of the vibration of the string, and as such frequencies, particular high frequency vibrations, are more readily absorbed by the unitary neck member the potential for 10 feed back from the instrument is reduced. High frequencies are frequencies above 20kHz. In particular, vibrations in unitary neck member 4 are transferred by virtue of plain side face 4''' of unitary neck member 4 into the resonant cavities 8 on either side of the 15 unitary neck member 4. A resonance is thereby set up in resonant chambers which further act to redistribute the vibrational energy of the instrument thus further reducing the potential for feed back from amplified playing of the instrument. The redistribution replaces 20 high frequency vibrational energy thus replacing the potential for feedback. Machine head 18 may not be part of the unitary neck member. This is since string lengths over the machine head bear a radically different relation to one another in this region than elsewhere in the 25 instrument and any resonance will bear a different relation between strings than in other parts, along the unitary neck member, of the instrument.

Figure 3 and Figure 4 show, respectively, a plan and side 30 view of a second embodiment of the invention. The principal features of the second embodiment of the invention are as described for the first embodiment of the invention and are identified by like numbering. The second embodiment of the invention comprises unitary neck 35 member 4 over which strings 16 are stretched between

machine head 18 and bridge 40. This diagram of the second embodiment of the invention also serves to illustrate the presence of (one or more of) an optional aperture 54 in a resonant chamber 8 in the body of a guitar of the 5 invention.

Hole or aperture 54 is in the form of an F-hole (named due to its shape) but may equally be present in other configurations. F-hole 54 is an optional feature and is 10 not preferred but may be present due to aesthetic requirements for the instrument. In addition to F-hole 54, or as an alternative hole 52, a closure (not shown) may also be present in the body of the instrument to close any holes (54, 52) by which resonant chamber 8 may 15 communicate with the outside of the instrument. Holes in resonant chambers of the instruments may optionally, preferably, be blocked for electric use of the guitar.

For aesthetic requirements of musicians it is preferred that an F-hole be present which for best use of the 20 invention is closed during use of the instrument.

Figure 5 and Figure 6 serve to illustrate the construction of guitars according to the first and second embodiments of the invention. A crosssection through a 25 body of the guitar 20 along line II -II is shown in Figure 5. Unitary neck member 4 comprises front face 74 upon which machine head furniture, nut 50, bridge 12 (or 40) and tail piece 10 are mounted to form a stringed musical instrument of the invention. Rear face 74 of 30 unitary neck member 4 forms part of a rear face of instruments of the invention, and may preferably be curved. Adjacent side faces 64A, 64B of unitary neck member 4 form walls of resonant chambers 70A, 70B (c. f.

resonant chamber 8). Body portions 6A and 6B form the 35 other walls of the resonant chambers 70A, JOB. The

internal walls 68A, 68B of body portions 6A, 6B are at all points curved. External walls of body portions 6A, 6B are at all points curved except where they serve to form a joint with the unitary neck member 4 where the embedded S sides of body portions 6A and 6B rest in rebates 60 of unitary neck member 4.

Figure 6 shows a unitary neck member for use in stringed musical instruments of embodiments of the invention.

10 Figure 6 shows a single piece of material without joins, breaks or subdivisions i.e. a unitary piece of material.

Features of unitary neck member 4 are as follows; machine head 4' serves to hold pegs 22 and keys 24 for the purposes of anchoring and tightening strings 16 (not Is shown). The strings 16 (not shown) pass over nut 50 and over fret board 26 which forms part of the external portion 4 of the unitary neck member 4. A pitchboard may also be used. A further portion of the unitary neck member 4 serves as a central portion of the body of 20 the instrument and forms walls 64A, 64B of resonant chambers 70A, 70B of the instrument (respectively). Into body portion 4 of the unitary neckmember 4 is formed rebate 60 for the purposes of locating the body portions 6A, 6B so as to form resonant chambers 70A, 70B of the 25 invention. The unitary neck member of the invention is made of a single piece of hardwood from which is machined the shape shown in Figure 6 together with lateral shaping, particularly of external neck portion 4 and freeboard 26 along with rebate 60. Body portion 4 of 30 unitary neck member 4 has substantially planar sides.

Machine head 18 may not be part of the unitary neck member. This is as the string lengths bear a radically different relation to one another over the machine head than in other portions of the tensioned strings and any 35 vibration is therefore isolated from the pickups by means

of a glue joint. Alternatively, preferably, a veneer overlay may be placed over a machine head portion of a unitary neck member of a musical instrument below tensioned strings in a musical instrument of the 5 invention so as to isolate any stray vibrations of the strings tensioned in the head portion.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show an alternative construction of stringed musical instruments according to the first and 10 second embodiments of the invention. Unitary neck member 4 with rebates 60 has body portions 86A, 86B, attached therein at ends 62. Edges 90 of the body portions 86A, 86B are joined in pairs and the structure shown in Figure 8 results. Figure 8 shows a 15 cross section through a skeleton of an instrument of the invention wherein two resonant chambers 70A, 70B are present on either side of the unitary neck member 4. In use mechanical vibrations in the unitary neck member 4 pass into the resonant chambers 70A, 70B via transmission 20 from walls 64A, 64B wherein the ability of the instrument to reduce feedback is produced by selective absorption of vibrational energy into the resonant chambers 70A, JOB.

All the internal walls of resonant chambers 70A and 70B are curved except for planar wall portions 64A, 64B of 25 the resonant chambers.

Figure 9 and Figure lO show two halves of one half portion of the body of an instrument of the invention.

The two halves 86A', 86A'' are brought together and glued 30 along face 90 to form a shell. The shell is then affixed using edges 94, 94' to the unitary neck member 4 along rebates 60 in the unitary neck member. All sides and faces of the internal portion of the body portions are curved, and no parallel faces are therefore created in 35 the resonant chambers 70A, JOB. This is important for

reduction in feedback due to the potential for high frequencies to constructively resonate.

Figure 11 shows an alternative construction of a third 5 embodiment of an instrument according to the invention.

Figure 11 shows a cross section of an instrument according to the invention at a position equivalent to cross section II-II shown in previous figures. An instrument according to a third embodiment of an 10 invention comprises a unitary neck member with front face 112 and rear face 110. Affixed adjacent to the rear face 110 are two panels 102 and 102A forming sides of two resonant chambers 114, 114A. A connecting aperture 116 through the unitary neck member 4 may connect resonant 15 chambers. The connecting aperture may have no parallel sides. The front faces of the resonant chambers 114, 114A are formed from hollowed out pieces of hardwood. Both front portions 106A, 106B and rear panels 102, 102A are adhesively retained in a rebate in the unitary neck 20 member 4. Front portions 106A, 106B and rear panels 102, 102A are adhesively attached along a butt joint 108, 108A. The hardwood used is maple. The rear panels 102, 102A and front portions 106A, 106B and side walls 4''', 4'''A of the unitary neck member 4 form the internal 25 walls of the resonant chambers 114, 114A which have no parallel walls. This, less preferred construction of an embodiment of the invention is easier to manufacture but is less efficient against feedback. However, parallel walls are avoided and no F-hole is present.

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a neck member and a body portion attached thereto; wherein the neck 5 member is of unitary construction and has directly attached thereto means for anchoring the strings, a bridge with which the strings are in contact, one or more electrical transducers of the vibration of the strings and string tensioning means) the body portion comprising 10 a sound box having one or more resonant chambers.

   2. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 1 having from 4 to 12 strings.

   IS 3. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 2 having either 4 or 6 strings.

   4. A stringed musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the strings are metal.

   5. A stringed musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sound box comprises two or more separate resonant chambers.

   25 6. A stringed musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein one internal wall of a resonant chamber comprises a portion of the neck member.

   7. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 6 30 wherein one internal wall of every resonant chamber comprises a portion of the neck member.

   8. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim wherein all parts of the internal and external walls of resonant chambers apart from any walls comprising the neck member are curved in all directions.

   s 9. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim wherein the bridge portion rests upon an external wall of a resonant chamber.

   10 10. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 9 wherein the bridge portion rests upon an external wall of all resonant chambers.

   11. A stringed musical instrument according to any one 15 previous claim wherein a resonant chamber has no vent.

   12. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim wherein the means for anchoring the strings and the bridge are one and the same component.

   13. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim wherein one or more electrical transducers of the vibration of the strings comprises an electromagnetic pickup.

   19. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim made substantially from wood.

   15. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 14 30 wherein the wood is selected from the group comprising sycamore, maple, rock maple and ash.

   16. A stringed musical instrument according to any one previous claim wherein a resonant chamber is made from a massive piece, as hereinbefore defined, of material adhered to a side of the neck member.

   17. A method of constructing an electric stringed musical instrument comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one massive piece of hollowed out wood, as hereinbefore defined and an elongate neck member; adhesively attaching 10 said at least one, massive piece to a side adjacent to an end of the neck member to form at least one resonant cavity, attaching an electromagnetic pick up and connection means therefor to the neck member, and attaching a bridge, machine head and associated strings 15 to said neck member.

   18. A method according to claim 17 wherein two massive pieces of hollowed out wood are attached to the neck member to each form one resonant cavity.

   19. A method according to claim 17 wherein two massive pieces of hollowed out wood are attached to the neck member to form each resonant cavity.

   25 21. A method according to claim 17 wherein one massive piece of hollowed out wood and one planar piece of wood are attached to the neck member to each form each resonant cavity.

   30 22. A method according to any one proceeding claim from 17 to 21 wherein only two resonant cavities are present.

   23. A method according to any one proceeding claim from 17 to 22 wherein the neck member forms part of a wall of 35 every resonant cavity.

   24. An electric guitar as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and either

   figures 1, 2, 5, and 6i or figures 3, 4, 5, and 6i or S figures 7 and Pi figures 9 and 10; or figure 11 of the drawings.