Patent ID: 7075001

Claim:
A musical instrument apparatus adapted for operation by a user, the musical instrument apparatus comprising: a body extending between a bridge and a head, the body including a neck having an upper surface at least partially extending between the bridge and the head; multiple parallel strings secured between the bridge and the head above the upper surface, the multiple parallel strings defining a string line each string having a string length; a keyboard overlay having keys operatively connected to hammers positioned in a hammer line, each hammer operable to contact the strings to generate vibration along the string length and also operable to remain in contact with the string to provide a reduced string length; dampening material contacting each string on one side of the hammers; wherein the hammer line is positioned at an acute angle to the string line such that each hammer is operatively positioned to contact at least one of the multiple parallel strings and the multiple parallel strings extend past an edge of the keyboard overlay opposite the damping material such that the user can directly play at least one of the multiple parallel strings.