Patent ID: 7488882

Claim:
A musical instrument comprising: an elongate drum shell of substantially circular cross-section with a drum head at a first end; a mechanical voice system within the drum shell comprising a central framework, strings, stability plate means for string stability and tension maintenance, a bridge means for resonance transfer from the strings to the drum shell, circular gear means for changing string semi notes, and finger pin means for string attachment to the drum shell; an automatic mechanical tuning system mounted to said drum shell around said drum head for tightening and loosening said drum head and strings within the drum shell, tightening and loosening said drumhead to provide changes in said drumhead pitch, and tightening and loosening said strings within drum shell to provide changes in string tension; said automatic mechanical tuning system comprising: tuning cables, tuning dials, sliding plates, and pulleys for ease of movement of said tuning cables, said sliding plates, and said tuning dial; and, a spring housing attached to a second end of the drum shell for standing the instrument on a floor and comprising a central backbone with a striker action for striking the strings so as to cause vibratory sound, and shock absorbers arranged to absorb impact axial to the drum shell.