A musical instrument comprising: an instrument body; at least one electrically conductive string coupled to the body; a ground connector mounted to the instrument body; a string ground circuit electrically coupling the at least one electrically conductive string to the ground connector, wherein the string ground circuit comprises: a circuit breaker having a current path that defines a portion of the string ground circuit between the at least one electrically conductive string and the ground connector, the circuit breaker being configured to open the string ground circuit upon application of a current greater than a predetermined current magnitude so as to prevent current flow therethrough; and characterised in further comprising a ground plate having a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a first portion electrically coupled to at least one electrically conductive string, a second portion electrically coupled to the ground connector, and at least one ground plate aperture, wherein each of the at least one ground plate aperture defines a lower portion of a respective one of at least one bridge aperture, each of the at least one bridge aperture extending through the ground plate and into a cavity defined by the instrument body; wherein: there is a gap between the first portion and the second portion such that there is no direct electrical conduction between the first portion and the second portion; the circuit breaker is electrically connected in series between the first portion and the second portion; and each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is inserted through a respective one of the at least one bridge aperture, such that each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is in contact with the conductive layer of the ground plate. an instrument body; at least one electrically conductive string coupled to the body; a ground connector mounted to the instrument body; a string ground circuit electrically coupling the at least one electrically conductive string to the ground connector, wherein the string ground circuit comprises: a circuit breaker having a current path that defines a portion of the string ground circuit between the at least one electrically conductive string and the ground connector, the circuit breaker being configured to open the string ground circuit upon application of a current greater than a predetermined current magnitude so as to prevent current flow therethrough; and characterised in further comprising a ground plate having a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a first portion electrically coupled to at least one electrically conductive string, a second portion electrically coupled to the ground connector, and at least one ground plate aperture, wherein each of the at least one ground plate aperture defines a lower portion of a respective one of at least one bridge aperture, each of the at least one bridge aperture extending through the ground plate and into a cavity defined by the instrument body; wherein: there is a gap between the first portion and the second portion such that there is no direct electrical conduction between the first portion and the second portion; the circuit breaker is electrically connected in series between the first portion and the second portion; and each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is inserted through a respective one of the at least one bridge aperture, such that each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is in contact with the conductive layer of the ground plate. a circuit breaker having a current path that defines a portion of the string ground circuit between the at least one electrically conductive string and the ground connector, the circuit breaker being configured to open the string ground circuit upon application of a current greater than a predetermined current magnitude so as to prevent current flow therethrough; and characterised in further comprising a ground plate having a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a first portion electrically coupled to at least one electrically conductive string, a second portion electrically coupled to the ground connector, and at least one ground plate aperture, wherein each of the at least one ground plate aperture defines a lower portion of a respective one of at least one bridge aperture, each of the at least one bridge aperture extending through the ground plate and into a cavity defined by the instrument body; wherein: there is a gap between the first portion and the second portion such that there is no direct electrical conduction between the first portion and the second portion; the circuit breaker is electrically connected in series between the first portion and the second portion; and each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is inserted through a respective one of the at least one bridge aperture, such that each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is in contact with the conductive layer of the ground plate. there is a gap between the first portion and the second portion such that there is no direct electrical conduction between the first portion and the second portion; the circuit breaker is electrically connected in series between the first portion and the second portion; and each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is inserted through a respective one of the at least one bridge aperture, such that each string of the at least one electrically conductive string is in contact with the conductive layer of the ground plate.