Patent ID: 6084165
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
A dual-configuration stringed musical instrument, comprising:a body portion;a neck portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion to an outward end of the neck portion;a tail, constructed and arranged to be adjustably extendable and fully retractable relative to said body portion in a manner to provide a user with capability of deploying a modal configuration of the stringed musical instrument selected from the following two modal configurations in which the instrument can be played:(1) a first modal configuration wherein said tail is substantially concealed from surrounding viewers, and(2) a second modal configuration wherein said tail extends in a direction opposite the first direction of said neck portion, to an outward end of said tail displaced from said body portion by an exposed-tail dimension that can be set by the user to any desired value up to a predetermined maximum;a first strap attachment fitting deployed in a predetermined location alone said neck portion anda second strap attachment fitting deployed in an end region of said tail, said first and second strap attachment fittings being configured and arranged to engage respective opposite ends of a playing strap so as to support the instrument (a) when deployed in the first modal configuration with a minimal fixed span between the two fittings, as well as (b) when deployed in the second modal configuration wherein adjustment of the exposed-tail dimension provides a variable span between said two attachment fittings.