Patent ID: 8203059
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
1. A stringed musical instrument comprising: a headstock at a first end of the musical instrument; a body comprising: a plurality of strings that extend between the first and the second ends of the musical instrument; a bridge disposed on the outer side of the soundboard, the bridge having a plurality of holes that extend through the soundboard into the chamber; a bridge saddle disposed on an outer side of the bridge; and a brace having a first end and a second end, and a structure between the first and second ends, the structure having a planer surface facing toward the soundboard, wherein the brace is disposed within the hollow chamber of the musical instrument such that the first end of the brace is in contact with the inner side of the soundboard at a point longitudinally at or above the bridge saddle toward the first end of the musical instrument, and the second end of the brace is in contact with an inner side of the body at a point longitudinally below the bridge saddle toward the second end of the musical instrument, wherein the brace is disposed within the chamber so as to create a gap between the soundboard and the planer surface facing outward of the brace at a point below the holes in the bridge, wherein at least one of the strings pass over the bridge saddle through at least one of the holes in the bridge and the soundboard, and across the gap between the soundboard and the outward facing surface of the brace, and wherein the at least one of the strings attaches to the brace at the point below the holes in the bridge, and wherein the brace receives tension from the at least one string attached to the brace and transfers the tension from the strings to at least the contact point of the first end of the brace; wherein the brace is loosely coupled to the soundboard and held in place against the bridge only with force provided by the at least one string.