Patent ID: 7351894

Claim:
A stringed instrument comprising: a body having a front surface and a rear surface; a tuning mechanism; a neck having one end joined to said body and an opposite end retaining said tuning mechanism; a retainer block encompassed by said rear surface; a plurality of strings each having a first end secured to said tuning mechanism; and a second end retained by said retainer block; a bridge system comprising a tailpiece mounted on said front surface and having an exposed curved surface intersecting said front surface and defining a plurality of holes each providing passage for one of said strings wherein said tailpiece is elongated with a full length extending in a direction transverse to the neck and substantially defining said exposed curved surface and wherein each of said holes defines a ramp surface curved about a radius of curvature and extending between said front surface of said body and said exposed curved surface; and connector means extending through said body and securing said tailpiece to said retainer block.