Patent ID: 7872185

Claim:
A collapsible acoustic stringed instrument comprising: a body comprising a soundboard having a first perimeter, a back face opposing the soundboard and having a second perimeter, a spacer extending laterally between the first perimeter and the second perimeter and defining a width of the body, wherein the spacer, the soundboard, and the back face together define a sound chamber; a sound post positioned within the sound chamber and engaging both of the soundboard and the back face of the body; and an elongated neck having a bottom portion configured for lateral coupling to a top portion of the body, the neck in an upright position able to laterally slide approximately the width of the body from the back face to a playing position generally collinear with the soundboard, the neck in an inverted position able to laterally slide approximately the width of the body from the back face to a stored position within the sound chamber; wherein the sound post is arranged to remain in position within the sound chamber and in engagement with the soundboard and the back face of the body throughout lateral movement of the neck.