Patent ID: 7902442

Claim:
A string instrument, comprising: (a) a neck extension primary member having a neck extension securement end and a tuning assembly support head end, an extension top and a length extending said ends, said neck extension primary member defining a substantially rectangular neck extension cutaway volume having a form defining a bottom surface configured to support a planar surface and having sidewalls, and said neck extension cutaway volume configured to receive a hinge butt, said neck extension cutaway volume extending to be open at said neck extension securement end and open at the top of said neck extension primary member; (b) a neck base primary member having a neck base securement end, a base top and an opposite end, said neck base primary member being made to define a substantially rectangular neck base cutaway volume having a form defining bottom surface configured to support a planar surface and having sidewalls, and said neck extension cutaway volume configured to receive a hinge butt, said neck base cutaway volume extending to be open at said neck base securement end and open at the top of said neck base primary member; (c) a hinge, comprising: (i) a first hinge butt defining a first race pair and a second race pair for receiving first and second Soss sliding hinge pin, wherein said first hinge butt includes a first screw hole; (ii) a second hinge butt defining a third and fourth race pairs for receiving a third and fourth Soss sliding hinge pins, wherein said second hinge butt includes a second screw hole; (iii) a first Soss link assembly mounted between and in said first and third race pairs; and (iv) a second Soss link assembly mounted between and in said second and fourth race pairs, said second Soss link assembly being positioned adjacent, spaced apart from and extending in the same direction as said first Soss link assembly; (d) a neck fretboard portion having a bottom surface defining a plane, said neck fretboard portion being secured over said open top of said neck extension cutaway volume and bearing against said first hinge butt; (e) a base cover having a bottom surface defining a plane, said base cover being secured over said open top of said neck base cutaway volume and bearing against said second hinge butt; and (f) a string instrument sound box secured to said neck base primary member.