Patent ID: 7888570

Claim:
A stringed musical instrument, comprising: a musical string having first and second ends; a first receiver adapted to receive the first end and hold the first end in a position; a string mounting system having a second receiver adapted to receive the second end, the second receiver being movable toward and away from the first receiver; the string mounting system comprising a spring assembly that applies a tension to the second end of the string so as to hold the string at a perfect tune tension, the string mounting system configured so that the string tension remains within a desired tension range defined about the perfect tune tension when the second receiver moves within a desired position range defined about a perfect tune position, the desired tension range corresponding to a range of string tension around the perfect tune tension in which any change in the tune of the vibrating string is not aurally detectable; the string mounting system having a contact portion that moves with the second receiver; and a stop that does not move with the second receiver, the stop interposed in a path of the contact portion so as to prevent the second receiver from moving in a first direction once the contact portion engages the stop, the first direction being directed generally towards the first receiver; wherein the stop is positioned so that the second receiver is within the desired position range when the contact portion engages the stop; and wherein when the contact portion is engaged with the stop, deflection of the string between the first and second receivers maincrease the string tension to a level outside the desired tension range.