Patent ID: 7208664

Claim:
An acoustic stringed instrument comprising: a substantially hollow body extending longitudinally between a neck receiving end and a tail end, the body including a soundboard and a support structure, the support structure having a unitary neck support secured in the body substantially adjacent the neck receiving end that has a top surface substantially parallel to the soundboard; an elongate neck comprising a fingerboard joined to a top surface and further providing an insert disposed at one end of the neck in substantial transverse alignment therewith, the insert having a substantially planar bottom surface that projects from the underside of the neck to a first level; and an abutment surface disposed underneath the neck and substantially adjacent to the insert, offset from the planar bottom surface at a second shallower level; and an inner recess in the top surface of the neck support comprising a substantially planar floor and a plurality of walls extending up from the floor, the inner recess dimensioned to receivingly engage the neck insert; and an outer lip extending away from the inner recess in the direction of the neck receiving end and offset upwardly from the planar floor, the outer lip providing an abutment surface that is dimensioned and shaped to conform with and engage the abutment surface of the neck.