JP5635606B2 - Travel guitar with hinged neck - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a travel guitar and a latch structure with a hinged neck that ensures the stability and consistency of the acoustic properties of the guitar.

  The production of note-generating instruments began as a search for the mechanical equivalent of human speech. This actually remained a norm throughout the Middle Ages and until the Renaissance and the early modern era.

  Stringed instruments have been known since ancient times. These included a lute-like instrument that was a guitar-like instrument with an acoustic room and fingerboard. The new dynasty (Ancient Egypt, 1380BC) bronze product in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a posture that can exemplify a modern rock musician. It depicts a dancing Nubian man who is at the forefront of the tilt.

  Given the popularity of stringed instruments, especially guitars, people often carry them when traveling. In response to this need, a guitar with a folding neck has been proposed.

  To use a travel guitar with a hinged neck, the neck must be moved from the travel or retracted position to the playing position by rotating the neck about the hinge, and then the neck must be held in the playing position using a latch. I must. The use of this latch must be easy, while the latch must positively lock the neck in place. Otherwise, the sound of the guitar is impaired. At the same time, the manufacturing method must be adapted to the stable placement of the hinges, resulting in a structure that does not require tuning every time the instrument is used.

  The present invention provides a mass production method for making latches that are easy to use and guitars that work particularly well. The latch only requires that the user insert the ball end arm into the catch and rotate the lever to lock the guitar in the open position. At the same time, the method of making a guitar results in a stable attachment of the hinge and latch, resulting in a reliable and easy-to-use instrument. The present invention is advantageously applicable to both acoustic and electric guitars, and is applicable to guitars made by older manufacturing methods or utilizing older latches.

  The inventive folding guitar includes a guitar body and a guitar neck. A hinge connects the guitar body to the guitar neck. The hinge is located on one side of the guitar body and guitar neck. A latch plate is secured to the other side of one of the guitar body or the guitar neck. A catch member is secured to the other side of the guitar body or the guitar neck. The catch member defines a catch member capture surface. A latch arm is pivotally attached to the latch plate. A hitch arm is pivotally attached to the latch arm.

  A securing member is attached to the hitch arm, and the securing member is configured to engage the catch member capture surface. The latch arm, hitch arm, and latch plate are configured to change the distance between the securing member and the catch member capture surface.

  The inventive method results in precise placement of parts and repeatable and consistent positioning after repeated folding and unfolding of the travel guitar neck. Thus, the guitar can be used repeatedly, folded, unfolded and played again, and the guitar can remain tuned throughout the performance as well as from use to use.

  An inventive method of making a guitar includes forming a guitar neck extension, the guitar neck extension formed by a fingerboard surface, a first hinge butt receiving recess, a locking member hole, and an alignment member hole. Is done. A guitar neck base is formed with a second hinge butt receiving recess. The position of the second hinge butt receiving recess is mechanically managed by the first hinge butt receiving recess. The guitar neck base part is formed of a locking member hole extension part and an alignment member hole extension part. The position of the locking member hole extension is mechanically managed by the locking member hole. The alignment member hole extension is mechanically managed by the alignment member hole. The locking member hole includes a fixing bolt. The locking member hole extension includes a coupling securing structure for receiving and coupling with the securing structure on the securing bolt. The alignment member hole comprises an alignment member disposed and secured within the locking member hole or locking member hole extension.

  Optionally, but preferably, the guitar neck base and the guitar neck extension are formed simultaneously and divided into two parts.

  The guitar neck base portion and the guitar neck extension portion are formed by forming a guitar neck member. To accept the hinge, the pocket is cut into the guitar neck member, and after the pocket is cut into the guitar neck member, the fingerboard is placed on the guitar neck to form the first hinge butt receiving recess and the second hinge butt receiving recess. Glued onto the member and pocket.

  The guitar neck member and fingerboard can be made from wood.

  The guitar neck member may be formed with at least two mounting holes. The mounting holes extend from the surface of the guitar neck member to be covered by the fingerboard, but not through the guitar neck member, so that the bottom surface of the guitar neck of the finished guitar does not show holes. A mounting hole may be used to position the guitar neck between pocket cuts.

  According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the inventive method comprises forming a guitar neck, wherein the guitar neck is formed with a base and a neck extension and during further process steps performed on the guitar neck. And at least two holes are drilled in the guitar neck to provide for holding the guitar neck in place. The pocket is cut into the guitar neck. The pocket is configured to receive a hidden hinge. A first hole is drilled in the base of the guitar neck for neck fixation. A second hole is drilled in the base of the guitar neck to accept the alignment mechanism. A fingerboard is secured over the neck extension and pocket. After the fingerboard is fixed, the pocket, the first hole, and the second hole are divided. The pocket is divided into two pocket halves. Each of the hinge bats is mounted in a respective pocket half. Next, an alignment mechanism is installed in the second hole. A fixing device is mounted in the first hole.

  The operation of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when understood in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a side view generally illustrating a general implementation of the latch of the present invention. Although it is a side view similar to FIG. 1, the hidden part of components is shown with the virtual line. FIG. 6 is an exploded side view showing the main components of the inventive latch. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing components of an inventive latch similar to FIG. 2 that overlap each other in place, but without using any hidden lines. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of an inventive latch. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other embodiment of the hinge of this invention. It is a top view which shows the latch plate of the hinge of FIG. It is a side view which shows the latch plate of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the latch plate of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the latch plate of FIG. It is a side view which shows the latch arm of the hinge of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the latch arm of the hinge of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the hitch main body of the hinge of FIG. It is a side view which shows the hitch arm of the hinge of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the hitch arm of the hinge of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the guide of the hinge of FIG. It is a top view which shows the guide of the hinge of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the heel catch plate of the hinge of FIG. It is a side view which shows the heel catch plate of the hinge of FIG. It is a side view which shows the heel catch plate of the hinge of FIG. It is a top view which shows the heel catch plate of the hinge of FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view showing a third embodiment of the inventive hinge. FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the hinge of FIG. 22 with the latch arm in the unlocked position. It is a bottom view which shows the hinge of FIG. It is detail drawing which shows the hinge of FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travel guitar illustrating a general implementation of the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing components of an inventive system. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the guitar neck after cutting the hinge pocket but before separating the neck into two parts that are folded against each other. 1 is a perspective view showing a hinge used in a traveling guitar according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the location of the neck mounting bolt and the alignment system hole, where the alignment system hole is shown in phantom because the alignment system hole is drilled from the inside of the instrument and not visible from the outside. Yes. It is a perspective view which shows a guitar neck from the opposite side seen in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing two halves of a guitar neck, showing alignment pins and neck mounting bolts in phantom. It is a perspective view which shows the cutting | disconnection of the guitar neck from the main body side of a guitar. It is a perspective view which shows the cutting | disconnection of the guitar neck from the neck side of a guitar. It is the schematic which shows the half hinge pocket after the cutting | disconnection of a guitar neck. It is a perspective view which shows insertion of the hinge in the main-body part of a guitar neck. It is a perspective view which shows the inventive guitar provided with the neck in a performance position.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-5, and in particular with reference first to FIG. 1, a latch 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The latch 10 includes a base plate 12 of the guitar body, and the base plate 12 is fixed to the guitar main body 14 by screws 19 (FIG. 5), and the screws 19 are fixed in the holes of the guitar main body 14. Base plate 12 includes an integral upstanding wall 16. Wall 16 includes a hole 18 that supports a short pivot pin or screw 20. Screw 20 is threaded into threaded hole 18 and fits into hole 24. The latch arm 24 rotates on the end of the screw 20. Thus, the latch arm 22 (including the hole 24 for receiving the screw 20) is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 20.

  Hitch arm 26 includes a base 28 that defines a hole 30. Pins 32 are mounted in holes 30 in hitch arm 26 and holes 34 in latch arm 24. This allows rotational movement between the hitch arm 26 and the latch arm 22.

  The distance at which the ball 36 is positioned relative to the end of the base 28 is adjusted by the screw arm 38 by the rotation of the screw arm 38 that is screwed into the tap hole 40 of the base or hitch body 28. The rotation position of the screw arm 38 can be locked by the rotation of the nut 42. The nut 42 rotates on the screw thread 43. It is also noted that the thread 43 is coupled to the tap hole 40.

  The ball 36 engages with the socket 44 of the heel catch plate 46 at an arcuate engagement surface 48. The hinge structure is completed by a spring 50 that is tensioned between a hook 52 on the hitch arm 26 and a hook 54 on the base plate 12 of the guitar body.

  The operation of the inventive latch can be understood from FIG. In the locked position, the latch 10 takes a position illustrated by a solid line, and the heel catch plate 46 is in a state of being folded and attached in the guitar neck 56 by a screw 57. If it is desired to place the guitar in the travel position, the guitar is folded about hinge 58 in the direction of arrow 60. To do this, it is necessary to release the latch 10. This is done by pulling the latch arm 22 to the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. This is facilitated by the tapered surface, which allows the user to insert a fingernail to pull the latch arm 22 in the direction of arrow 64. This also allows the ball 36 to move in the direction of arrow 64 and exit the heel catch plate 46.

  The operation of the latch 10 is very similar to a Visegrips brand of locking pliers. More specifically, the pin 32 is relatively far from the arcuate engagement surface 48 in the position illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. As pin 32 crosses centerline 66 of screw 20, pin 32 is closer to engagement surface 48. At that time, since the pin 32 is in close proximity to the engagement surface, significant pressure is applied between the ball 36 and the engagement surface 48. As the pin 32 continues to move to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5, the pressure is reduced somewhat as the distance to the pin 32 again becomes somewhat larger. Thus, the latch securely joins the neck 56 to the body 14 and the latch is held in that position. This is because the tension acting on the screw arm 38 has a tendency to pull the neck 56 toward the body 14.

  Referring now to FIGS. 6-21, another embodiment of a hinge is illustrated. This embodiment operates in much the same way as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, with similar or corresponding parts being a number that is 100 higher than the number of the corresponding or similar part in the embodiment of FIGS. It is marked with.

  More specifically, the latch 110 includes a latch arm 122 that is attached for rotation on the screw 120 through the tap hole 118 of the latch plate 112. The end of the screw 120 extends into the hole 124 of the latch arm 122 and supports the latch arm 122 for rotation relative to the latch plate 112.

  The pin 132 fits within the hole 130. Both ends of the pin 132 extend into the hole 134 of the latch arm 122 and are gently fitted into the hole 134 of the latch arm 122. A pair of balls 168 are received in the holes 170 at the opposite ends of the holes 170. A coil spring 172 is compressed and held between the balls 168. In a position where the latch arm 122 is parallel to and flush with the latch plate 112, the ball 168 is driven toward the hole 124, thus positively locking the latch arm 122 in place.

  The leaf spring 150 is fixed to the hitch body 128 by the bolt 152, and the bolt 152 is screwed into the hole 174 of the hitch body 128. When the latch arm 122 is pulled from the guitar neck to allow the guitar neck to be folded, the leaf spring 150 biases the ball 136 away from the latch arm, facilitating the folding of the guitar neck.

  Hitch arm 138 passes through hole 177 in hitch body 128. A rubber washer 145, a washer 143, and a locking nut 142 are attached to the end 176 of the hitch arm 138. When the latch arm 122 is flush with the latch plate 112, the latch arm 122 pulls the end 176 of the hitch arm 138 together with the rubber washer 145, and pulls the washer 143 and the locking nut 142 toward the heel catch plate 146. The rubber washer 145 acts like a spring and applies a locking force. This provides a force and does not apply the force to the wood surrounding the screws used to secure the latch to the guitar body and neck. More specifically, a screw (not shown) passes through hole 178 in the heel catch plate and hole 180 in latch plate 112.

  Excessive movement of the hitch arm 138 is limited by the skirt 182. The movement of the hitch arm 138 is limited by a lock nut 142 that causes the spring pin 184 mounted in the hole 186 of the vertical extension 188 of the latch plate 112 to be compressed when the latch is released. It is done.

  The hole 190 engages the ball 168 when the latch arm 122 is fully extended.

  Guide 191 includes a guide surface 192 that guides hitch arm 138 out of heel catch plate 146 during guitar neck folding. Hole 193 receives the same screw as hole 180 illustrated in FIG. If desired, the guide 191 and heel catch plate 146 may be cast as a single part.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. In this embodiment, the corresponding and similar parts are numbered by 100 higher than the corresponding and similar parts of the embodiment of FIGS.

  The latch 210 includes a latch arm 222 that is mounted within the latch plate 212. The ball 236 gets into the heel catch plate 246. A sliding latch lock 294 is installed in the slot 295 and the sliding latch lock 294 slides in the slot 295. In the position illustrated in FIG. 22, the latch lock 294 is positioned over the latch arm 222 and thus positively holds the latch arm 222 in the locked position. Rivet 296 is secured to lock 294 and maintained in slot 295 by washer 297. This allows the end 298 of the lock 294 to be driven in the direction of arrow 301 across the edge 300 of the heel catch plate 246 against the force of the spring 299. This allows the latch arm 222 to be rotated to an unlocked position similar to the position illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 5, thus allowing the guitar neck to be folded over the body. .

  While the inventive latch has been illustrated in the context of an electric guitar, the inventive latch can also be used in an acoustic guitar.

  Referring to FIG. 26, the manufacture of guitar 300 according to the inventive process may include separate manufacture of body 312 and neck 314. Although the method is illustrated in the context of an acoustic guitar, the process steps included in the present invention can be utilized in the manufacture of an electric guitar.

  In accordance with the present invention, it is envisioned that travel guitar 310 may be reduced to travel size by hinged advancement of neck 314 in the direction indicated by arrow 316, as shown in FIG. The As a result, the neck 314 is located on the main body 312 as illustrated in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 28, after the neck 314 is manufactured, the pocket 318 is cut into the base of the neck. First, this is done using a router. After the router cuts out the pocket 318 with a substantially rounded corner, a special tool, such as a chisel, may be used to square the corner of the pocket 318 that receives the hinge. In accordance with the present invention, after a special hinge 320 as illustrated in FIG. 29 is cut in half and recombined as described below, the hinge 320 fits substantially completely into the pocket 318. To do.

  More specifically, two separate routings are performed after the neck has been formed and the holes 324 have been drilled (from the sawn lumber comprising the neck) and before the fingerboard is attached. . The first is a square area routing (to be a pocket 318) towards the base of the neck 314 (closer to where the neck meets the guitar body 312). This pocket 318 is routed to a size that is substantially exactly the size of the hinge 320 illustrated in FIG. 29 and is used to accommodate the hinge after the hinge installation process has been performed. The depth and width of the pocket is equal to the depth and width of the hinge. The length of the pocket is greater than the length of the hinge by the thickness of the saw blade used to cut the length of the pocket as described below.

  In accordance with the present invention, it is envisioned that the guitar neck 314 is manufactured as a single piece, and then the pocket 318 is cut into the neck and a hole for the reattacher is drilled through the heel of the neck.

  Accuracy is ensured by attaching a neck 314 over a pair of pins extending from the table. The pin extends into the hole 324. Only after the pocket 318 and hole are formed (and the recording adjustment hole has been drilled), the neck is sawed into two pieces with a substantial gap between the two parts of the hole and the two parts of the pocket. The two pieces are hingedly attached to each other in a fully aligned state.

  The pocket 18 is preferably routed before the fingerboard is attached and before the neck separation cut is made. However, the position of the separation cut may be marked by a line, for example, a line 322 drawn with a pencil as illustrated in FIG. The tolerance for pocket 318 is relatively small. As described below, it is important to achieve the desired degree of accuracy and accuracy in guitar neck routing. More specifically, an alignment hole 324 is provided on the neck 314 as illustrated in FIG. The hole 324 couples with a jig used during the routing process. During routing, the alignment hole 324 supports the guitar neck 314 in the desired position for routing the pocket 318.

  The alignment holes are also used to perform a second routing that provides a truss rod cavity after the hinge pocket has been routed. This is the second separate routing step implied above. In addition, an alignment hole 324 may be used during drilling of the hole 328 that receives the head and neck mounting bolts, as described below.

  After the pocket 18 is cut and the fingerboard is glued in place after the adhesive is cured, a circular saw is used to make a separate cut along the line 322 to cut a certain amount of wood, and the hinge 320 And a close fit between the pockets 318. Separation cuts are made along line 322 with the saw positioned, for example, in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of fingerboard 326. After the neck has been cut into two pieces, the hinge is now attached to the halves of the two pockets 318.

  As noted above, the inventive process envisions drilling holes 328 (FIG. 30) for the head and neck mounting bolts. FIG. 30 shows the neck after drilling but before separating and cutting. Hole 328 is drilled before the neck is cut into two pieces and the hinge is attached. Hole 328 provides a mounting hole for the head and neck mounting bolt 364 so that the head and neck mounting bolt 364 can hold the two portions of the neck together through the heel 322 of the guitar neck 314 and into the base 330. Perforated for purpose. The head and neck mounting bolt 364 has an integral thumb wheel. As will be apparent from the discussion below, the head and neck mounting bolts are threaded into threaded sleeves 370 that are mounted within the block 342 of the base 330 of the neck 314. According to a preferred embodiment, the head and neck mounting bolt 364 and associated locking assembly may be replaced with the latch assembly described in FIGS.

  As noted above, the holes 328 are preferably drilled before the separation cut is made to ensure that all components are properly aligned during the hardware installation associated with the head and neck mounting bolts. . The hole 328 also serves as a reference for drilling a separation hole 329 through the neck block portion 342 of the guitar in order to secure the entire neck to the body by cap screws 373 and washers 374 from the inside of the guitar body.

  The second hole 336 is drilled after a hole has been drilled for the thumbwheel and neck mounting bolt 364 but before the separation cut that divides the neck illustrated in FIG. 28 into two pieces is made. The second hole 336 is intended to act to ensure alignment of the two pieces 342 and 344 that form the neck of the travel guitar 310.

  According to the present invention, the second hole 336 is drilled immediately above the hole for the mounting bolt before the separation cut is made. Referring to FIG. 31, a hollow brass tube 338 is installed in the hole 336. The brass tube 338 is bonded in place. The end of the tube 338 is plugged with a wooden dwell 340. The dwell 340 is also bonded in place. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the brass tube 338 is positioned at the mouth of the hole 336 before the brass tube is pushed into the hole 336. The brass tube 338 after installation after the brass tube is pushed into the hole 336 is illustrated in FIG.

  According to the present invention, the tube 338 is also cut during separation and cutting after the tube 338 is mounted and bonded in place. This allows the tube 338 to function as an alignment system that ensures proper alignment of the base 342 and neck 344 of the neck 314 after the neck is mounted on the body of the guitar 310.

  In accordance with the present invention, the end 346 of the tube 338 is capped, but the opposite end 347 of the tube 338 is assumed to be open so that the tube can accept the solid brass pin 348 and the solid brass. Pin 348 is configured to slide into the hollow side of tube 338 to lock the neck in place during the assembly process. The cooperation of these configurations can be almost readily understood with reference to FIG. 32, which is a cross-sectional view of the guitar neck in the illustrated playing position. Pin 348 is glued into end 347 of hollow brass tube 338. The pin 348 cooperates with the tube 338 to ensure that there is no lateral movement when the neck is in the playing position and is positioned within the pocket 318 during use of the inventive travel guitar 310. 32 guarantees that there is no additional pressure or torque on the brass hinge arm of the hinge 320 illustrated in phantom.

  At this point in the process, a separate cut may be made to cut the neck base 330 and the holes 336 and 328. The neck is attached to the body during the separation cut to ensure that the separation cut is accurately positioned and the neck heel angle relative to the body is maintained. In addition, the fingerboard 326 is preferably glued in place over the length of the guitar neck 314 as well as the pocket 318 prior to the separation cut. By positioning the long sides of the guitar body, fret 352, and fingerboard relative to a rigid and precisely positioned support surface, the guitar is held in place and maintained in place. In this way, the correct location for separation cutting is achieved. Next, cutting is performed using a circular saw blade as illustrated in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 33, the body of the guitar is positioned relative to the support surface. The support surface according to the present invention is coated with a protective material, such as a very rigid foam plastic, fabric, or a thin layer of other protective material having a surface that is unlikely to scratch the surface of the guitar. Is preferred.

  As most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, the guitar 310 is held in place by a pair of fingers 354 and a clamp 356 during the sawing of the separation cut 355. Support surface 358 presses the long side of fingerboard 326. To ensure that the guitar 310 is in the correct position for cutting using the circular saw 360, a small fence is in contact with the fingerboard 326 under the neck and the fingerboard 326 compresses one of the frets 352. It can be arranged at the position to be.

  After the cut is made, the pocket half 362 appears in the base 342 of the neck 314 as illustrated in FIG. The pocket halves 362 receive one of the butt of the hinge 320 and adhere one of the hinge butt in place to ensure that one of the hinge butt stays in place. And can be screwed together at a predetermined position. The insertion of a hinged bat into the pocket half 362 is illustrated in FIG.

  Next, the guitar includes thumbwheel neck mounting bolts 364. The neck mounting bolt 364 couples with a thread 366 in a bushing 370 that fits into a hole 329 that is the opposite end of the hole 328, as illustrated in FIG. Bushing 367 protects hole 328 from wear.

  The bushing 370 is held in place by a bolt 372, and the bolt 372 extends from the other side of the base portion 342. The bolt 372 is a plus head bolt including a head 373 that presses the washer 374. Bolt 372 is coupled to thread 366. The rubber grommet 380 prevents the bolt 364 from coming off the guitar 310 when the guitar is in the neck folded travel position.

  A brass pin 48 may be mounted in the neck side portion 344 of the neck 314. At this point, the two portions 342 and 344 of the neck 314 will not become separated and will eventually be assembled into a single finished guitar to ensure that it is assembled. Corresponding serial numbers are stamped on both sides. During the remainder of the manufacturing process, the portions 342 and 344 of the neck 314 preferably remain integral. See FIG. 27 with the symbol “A24-12” stamped on both parts.

  Having described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above description and drawings. Such modifications are within the scope of the invention as defined only by the following claims.

Claims (8)

A process of manufacturing a guitar,
(A) forming a guitar neck extension, wherein the guitar neck extension is formed by a fingerboard surface, a first hinge butt receiving recess, a locking member hole, and an alignment member hole;
(B) forming a guitar neck base portion, wherein the guitar neck base portion is formed by a second hinge butt receiving recess, and the position of the second hinge butt receiving recess is determined by the first hinge butt receiving recess. The guitar neck base part is formed by a locking member hole extension part and an alignment member hole extension part, and the position of the locking member hole extension part is mechanically controlled by the locking member hole. The alignment member hole extension is mechanically managed by the alignment member hole,
(C) including providing a fixing bolt in the locking member hole;
(D) To bind to the binding fixed structure on and the fixing bolt receiving the coupling fixing structure on said fixed bolt includes providing the combined fixed structure with the locking member hole extension,
(E) providing an alignment member disposed in the locking member hole or the locking member hole extension and fixed to the locking member hole or the locking member hole extension in the alignment member hole; Including,
process.   The method of claim 1, wherein the guitar neck base and the guitar neck extension are formed simultaneously and divided into two parts. The guitar neck base and the guitar neck extension form a guitar neck member, cut a pocket in the guitar neck member to receive a hinge, and cut the pocket in the guitar neck member; The method of claim 2, formed by adhering a fingerboard over the guitar neck member and the pocket to form the first hinge butt receiving recess and the second hinge butt receiving recess.   The method of claim 3, wherein the guitar neck member and the fingerboard are wooden.   The guitar neck member is formed of at least two attachment holes, the attachment holes extending from the surface of the guitar neck member to be covered by the fingerboard, but the bottom surface of the guitar neck of the completed guitar is The method of claim 2, wherein the hole does not extend through the guitar neck member so as not to show the hole, and the attachment hole is used to position the guitar neck during cutting of the pocket. A method of manufacturing a travel guitar,
(A) forming a guitar neck, the guitar neck being formed by a base and a neck extension;
(B) drilling at least two holes in the guitar neck to provide for holding the guitar neck in place during further process steps performed on the guitar neck;
(C) cutting a pocket in the guitar neck, the pocket configured to receive a hidden hinge;
(D) drilling a first hole in the base of the guitar neck for neck fixation,
(E) drilling a second hole in the base of the guitar neck to accept the alignment mechanism;
(F) securing a fingerboard over the neck extension and the pocket;
(G) dividing the pocket, the first hole, and the second hole after the fingerboard is fixed, the pocket being divided into two pocket halves;
(H) mounting each of the hinge bats in a respective pocket half;
(I) mounting an alignment mechanism in the second hole;
(J) including mounting a fixing device in the first hole;
Method.   The method of claim 6, wherein the division of the first hole, the second hole, and the pocket is performed with a single cut of a cutting device. (A) the guitar body;
(B) a guitar neck;
(C) a hinge disposed on one side of the guitar body and guitar neck and connecting the guitar body to the guitar neck;
(D) a latch plate fixed to the other side of one of the guitar body or the guitar neck;
(E) a catch member fixed to the other side of the guitar body or guitar neck and defining a catch member capture surface;
(F) a latch arm pivotally attached to the latch plate;
(G) a hitch arm pivotally attached to the latch arm;
(H) a securing member attached to the hitch arm and configured to engage the catch member capture surface;
The latch arm, the hitch arm, and the latch plate are configured to change a distance between the securing member and the catch member capture surface;
Folding guitar.

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