US006894209B2

(12)

United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

US 6,894,209 B2
(45) Date of Patent:
May 17, 2005

Holler

(54)

GUITAR HAVINGAPARTIALLY SLOPED

4,856,403 A

SOUNDING BOARD

4,873,909 A

(76)

Inventor:

(ak)

Nome

James
Jamestown
M. Holler,
NY (Us)
2089
14701
Camp St.,
.

8/1989 Davies ...................... .. 84/291

10/1989 Humphrey .
Viel ........ ..

84/293

5,025,695 A

6/1991

6,051,765
,
,
2
A *

4/2000 115516
Regenberg
0 ano ..............
et a1. .........
..
.. 84/293
Saunders, Jr. et a1.

84/293

6,294,718 B1

9/2001

sublectto any dlsclalmeritheterm Ofthls

6,372,970 B1

4/2002 Saunders, Jr. et a1. ...... .. 84/293

...... .. 84/291

Patent 15 extended or adlusted under 35

2002/0100357 A1

8/2002 Saunders, Jr. et a1. ...... .. 84/291

U.S.C. 154(b) by 98 days.

* cited by examiner

(21) Appl' NO: 10/639115

(22) Filed;
Aug 12, 2003

Primary ExaminerShih-yung Hsieh

(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmBarloW, Josephs & Holmes,
Ltd.

(65)

Prior Publication Data

(57)

US 2004/0031371 A1 Feb. 19, 2004

ABSTRACT

A guitar con?guration that has improved playability Without

(60)

Related U-S- APPIiCHtiOII Data

Provisional application N~ 60/402,852, ?led on Aug 12,

2002'

requiring a raised fret or ?ngerboards or a neck that extends

through the resonance chamber all the Way to the sound hole
is disclosed. The particular construction of the present

()
51

Int. Cl. 7 ................................................ .. G10D 3/ 00

'
~'ld
lIlVeIltlOIl
lIlCll 65 a 5011B dbd'hp'lly
Oar Wlt a artla
Curve d

(52)

us. Cl. ........................... .. 84/291; 84/293; 84/294;

Portion that Provides additional Clearance for the guitarists

84/270; 84/267
84/291 293 294

hand thereby allowing the guitarist to play the higher fret

positions Without changing the position of the fretting hand.

84/270 267

The tapered construction of the soundboard is achieved

While maintaining the structural integrity of the guitar con

(58) Field of Search

"""""""""""" "

(56)

References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,320,685 A

3/1982 Pytlewski .................. .. 84/291

4,411,186 A

* 10/1983 Faivre ....................... .. 84/291

struction While eliminating the need for extending the neck

of the guitar through the sound chamber up to the sound hole
in the Sounding board
15 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets

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HIM"

FIG. 2

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5;)

{/

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US 6,894,209 B2
1

GUITAR HAVING A PARTIALLY SLOPED

SOUNDING BOARD

toWards the neck, and a neck receiving slot extending

through the sloped portion of the soundboard all the Way to
the sound hole. According to Mr. Byers, this design
improves playability of the tWelfth fret.
Another example of this type of modi?ed construction is
found in US. Pat. No. 4,873,909, issued to Humphrey. As
compared to the design noted above, the guitar in the
Humphrey patent is disclosed as having a soundboard that
includes a sloped portion that slopes in a declined (as
opposed to inclined) direction aWay from the sound hole and

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from

earlier ?led US. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/402,
852, ?led Aug. 12, 2002, the entire contents thereof are

incorporated herein by reference.

10

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

toWards the neck. Also, the neck sits on a neck base, as

The present invention relates generally to stringed instru

ments. More particularly the present invention relates to a

guitar Wherein the sounding board is partially bent inWardly

on one side adjacent the ?ngerboard thereof to provide
additional space for the person playing the guitar to access

15

opposed to being received in a neck receiving slot. The

?ngerboard is con?gured to continue over the soundboard in
the plane of the top surface of the neck and is thereby
elevated from the surface of the soundboard.
As can be seen each of the preceding examples includes
a fret or ?ngerboard that is raised relative to the surface of
the soundboard and the entire surface of the soundboards are

the higher frets.

In the ?eld of guitar manufacturing and designing it is a
continuing objective to produce a guitar that has improved

sloped relative to the bottom Wall of the guitar rather than

tonal qualities, While con?guring the guitar in a manner that

makes it easier for the guitarist to play. A signi?cant draW
back found in the general con?guration of most prior art
guitars is the area Where the neck portion and the body
portion of the guitar are connected. Traditionally, the neck

parallel. To facilitate this particular con?guration and main

tain the quality of the guitar construction, the necks of the

surface of the neck is substantially is arranged to be parallel

With and in close proximity to the upper surface of the body
of the guitar, knoWn as the soundboard. The ?ngerboard
includes a number of raised lateral bars, knoWn as frets, over
Which the strings pass. The frets generally are knoWn by
their number, ie tWelfth fret, With the numbers beginning at
the distal end of the ?ngerboard and increasing as they

thereby having signi?cant impact on the overall sound

quality of the instrument.

guitar extend all the Way to the edge of the sound hole. In

this manner, these guitars are intended to ease playability

above the tWelfth fret. HoWever, the resonance chamber in
25
both of these cases is signi?cantly reduced and the extension
and body of the guitar must be rigidly connected to provide
of the mounting end of the neck further reduced the reso
stability and consistency for the tensioning of the strings.
nance chamber and subdivides the interior of the chamber
The ?ngerboard that runs along and is af?xed to the upper

approach the soundboard.

When playing the guitar, the guitarist presses the desired
string against one of the frets thereby controlling the length

There is therefore a need for a unique guitar construction

that enhances the ability of the player to play higher fret

positions While maintaining the stability and integrity of the
guitar construction and not interfering With the traditional
35

sound board.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

of the string alloWed to vibrate When struck resulting in the

desired note. This con?guration requires that the guitarist

aesthetics and tonality achieved in a guitar by providing a

substantially open and unrestricted compartment beneath the

40

In this regard, the present invention provides a novel

have very ?exible hands and ?ngers to reach the correct

guitar con?guration that has improved playability Without

positions along the ?ngerboard of the guitar. To further

complicate the playing of the guitar, all the highest num

requiring a raised fret or ?ngerboards or a neck that extends

through the resonance chamber all the Way to the sound

bered frets beginning above the body to neck junction are

located on the portion of the ?ngerboard, Which rests on the

45

soundboard and is parallel and in close proximity thereWith.

As a result, on knoWn guitars, the guitarists hand makes

contact With the body portion of the guitar starting around

the ninth or tenth position. Above that position, a player is

then forced to change the fretting hand position. Further up

the neck, above the eleventh position, the fretting hand and

a base portion, Wherein the base portion includes a bottom

Wall, a side Wall connected substantially perpendicularly to

the arm must change position. In order to play notes in these

higher fret positions, the guitarist must shift his entire arm

by elevating it and leaning his body forWard to reach around

the neck of the guitar thereby gaining a neW position above

the bottom Wall and a soundboard connected to the side Wall

55

the soundboard of the instrument. After completing this

maneuver, the players ?ngers must then be forced doWn
With tremendous pressure in order to cause the strings to

make contact With the highest frets.

There are several examples of guitar constructions that

attempt to aid in the playability of the guitar When playing

higher fret positions. One type of construction is illustrated
by Mr. Gregory Byers in American Lutherie, No. 64, Winter
2000. The Byers guitar generally includes a neck that is
elevated relative to the body. The body has a top soundboard
that includes a sound hole, a sloped portion that slopes in an
upWard, inclined direction aWay from the sound hole and

hole. The particular construction of the present invention

alloWs the player to play notes in higher fret positions
Without changing the position of the fretting hand. In this
manner, the present invention provides a guitar that is easier
to play and results in a guitar that is aesthetically pleasing as
compared to prior art solutions.
The present invention generally includes a guitar that has

65

opposite the bottom Wall. A neck portion is connected to the

base portion and is attached to the sideWall. The soundboard
de?nes a substantially planar portion and a curved portion,
Wherein the curved portion is generally located in the area
extending betWeen the sound hole and the neck end of the
soundboard With a further edge de?ned by a line extending
from the neck to the sound hole.
In general, as discussed above, the present invention
offsets the tWelfth fret from the traditional position of the
intersection of the neck With the body. The curved portion of
the soundboard is bent into a shape that alloWs the curved

surface to join the sideWall of the guitar body preferably, but

not limited to, approximately one inch beloW the base of the
neck to create the desired offset. The curve or bend on the

US 6,894,209 B2
3

surface of the soundboard starts generally around the center

of the sound hole and continues to the neck end of the

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE

INVENTION

soundboard. The curve or bend may be a straight taper or

Referring noW to the draWings, the preferred embodiment

of a guitar 10 according to the present invention is generally
shoWn and illustrated in FIGS. 19, With a completed

any other shape desired to achieve the desired effect. The

curve provides additional clearance for the fretting hand
When playing notes above the ninth fret position.

instrument illustrated best in FIGS. 8 and 9. It should be

noted that While a right-handed instrument is shoWn, the

In the present invention, the guitarists hand position

remains unchanged While playing positions up to the elev

teachings of the present invention could be equally adapted

enth fret. As can be seen additional clearance betWeen the

base of the fret board and the surface of the soundboard is

10

created by the curved portion of the soundboard that alloWs

room for the base of the hand. This additional room also

minimizes the hand and arm position changes required for

playing positions beyond the eleventh position up to the last
fret position. The present invention therefore results in easier

15

access to the notes that are located above the higher posi
tions on the fret board and less Work for the player. As a

result, playability of the guitar of the present is also

improved.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is
the provision of a guitar that facilitates the guitarist playing
notes in the higher fret positions. Another object of the
present invention is the provision of a guitar that is particu
larly con?gured to provide additional space for a guitarists
hand When playing notes in the higher fret positions. A
further object of the present invention is the provision of a
guitar that has a partially tapered soundboard to provide
additional space for the guitarists hand While maintaining

As is best shoWn in FIG. 2, the body portion 18 of the

substantially planar surface 22 having an exterior surface 24

and an interior surface 26. A sound hole 28 is provided that

extends through the soundboard 20. Further, the novel

feature of the present invention is that the soundboard 20 is
provided With a curved surface 30 (labeled generally and
speci?cally). One method of construction that may be uti

further object of the present invention is the provision of a

positions While maintaining a high level of resonance and

tonality.

liZed to form the soundboard 20 in the shape disclosed in the

35

surface 22 facing the table support surface 32. A slit 34 is

made from a neck end 36 of the soundboard 20 to the sound

hole 28. One portion of the soundboard 20 positioned

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

40

In the draWings Which illustrate the best mode presently

contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

adjacent to the slit 34 is then clamped so that it remains

coplanar With the remainder of the substantially planar

surface 22. The other portion of the soundboard 20 adjacent
to the slit 34 is bent inWardly toWard the interior 26 of the

substantially planar surface 22, to form the curved surface

45 30 that de?nes an outer curved surface 38 and an inner

curved surface 40. The curved surface 30 can be maintained

in its formed position by inserting a Wedge 42 betWeen the

base connected thereto;

installed;

present invention provides for clamping the soundboard 20

to a support surface 32 With an exterior side 24 of the planar

illustrative draWings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective opposite vieW of the soundboard

shoWn in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective vieW of the soundboard shoWn in
FIG. 2 With the neck base removed;
FIG. 5 is perspective end vieW of the soundboard shoWn
generally in FIGS. 24 With a sideWall and neck block

present invention as Will be described in detail beloW.

guitar 10 generally includes a soundboard 20 that de?nes a

guitar that provides enhanced playability of the higher fret

FIG. 1 is a side vieW of a neck base for the guitar of the

present invention With a joint prepared to accept a sideWall
and a bent portion of a soundboard;
FIG. 2 is an interior perspective vieW of the back of the
guitar soundboard of the present invention With the neck

mated With a neck base 16 and is generally formed in one

structure. The neck base 16 is generally mounted into the
body of the guitar 10 and is con?gured to receive the end of
the neck 12 and support it in a rigidly mated position relative
to the body of the guitar. Further, the neck 12 and neck base
16 may be made in tWo pieces and joined in any required
con?guration using techniques that are Well knoWn in the
art. The neck 12 may include a joint 14 at the location Where
it contacts the neck base 16, Where the joint 14 con?gured
to accept and retain a free end of the side Wall of the body

and support the particular soundboard con?guration of the

25

an open sound chamber With minimal obstructions. Yet a

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention

shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds
When considered in connection With the accompanying

for left-handed use. Generally, the guitar 10 of the present

invention includes a neck 12 and a body (discussed in detail
beloW). One type of suitable neck 12 is best shoWn in FIG.
1 and is generally Well knoWn in the art. The neck 12 is

55

FIG. 6 is the perspective end vieW shoWn in FIG. 5 rotated

ninety degrees;
FIG. 7 is a top perspective vieW of the soundboard,
sideWall, and neck block shoWn in FIGS. 56, With a neck
attached to the neck block and a bottom Wall attached to the

support surface 32 and the outer curved surface 38 of the

soundboard 20 and heating the soundboard 20. It can be
appreciated that the soundboard 20 can be bent before
mounting on the support surface 32. Further, as shoWn in
FIGS. 3 and 4, the neck 12 and neck base 16 shoWn and
described in FIG. 1 can be installed into an operative
position relative to the soundboard 20.
FIG. 4 shoWs that the curved surface 30 of the soundboard
20 begins at an imaginary axis de?ned as P1, Which extends
linearly from an approximate the center C of the sound hole
28 and continues to the neck edge 36 of the soundboard 20.
It should also be noted that the slit 34 is positioned on one
side of the neck 12, so the curved surface 30 preferably does
not touch or cross an imaginary longitudinally extending

sideWall;

center axis P2 passing through a longitudinal length of the

FIG. 8 is a top perspective vieW similar to FIG. 7, With a

fret board overlaid on the neck and soundboard and a spacer
Wedge is installed on the soundboard; and
FIG. 9 is a bottom end vieW of a guitar according to the

guitar and perpendicularly intersecting the imaginary axis

present invention.

65

P1 at the center C of the sound hole 28. The position of the

slit 34 and the origin axis P1 for the curved surface 30 can
be modi?ed or moved While still remaining Within the scope

of the present invention, hoWever, the locations described

US 6,894,209 B2
5

above have been found to produce the best acoustical values

a number of variations of stringed instruments, including

and provide an aesthetic, visually pleasing instrument.

both fretted and non-fretted instruments, to create a useful

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, FIGS. 5 and

6 shoW side Walls 44 installed onto the soundboard 20. The
neck base 16 is also shoWn mounted to the soundboard 20
With the side Walls attach 44 attached thereto. Further, the

and more easily played instrument While maintaining a high

quality of sound. For these reasons, the instant invention is
believed to represent a signi?cant advancement in the art,
Which has substantial commercial merit.
While there is shoWn and described herein certain speci?c
structure embodying the invention, it Will be manifest to

neck 12 is attached to the neck base 16. As can be seen, once

assembled in this manner, the ends of sideWall 44 are

those skilled in the art that various modi?cations and rear

captured betWeen the neck base 16 and the neck 12 and are

attached thereto via the joint 14.

10

As can be best seen in FIG. 5, the sideWall 44 does not

have a uniform height around the entire perimeter of the

soundboard 20. In this vieW, H1 is larger than H2. In order
to facilitate the formation of the curved surface 30 of the
soundboard 20, the sideWall 44 decreases in overall height
H2 Where it contacts the soundboard 20 in the area adjacent
to the curved surface 30. The top edge of the remaining side
Wall 44 extending from the line P1 back around toWards the
neck 12 to slit 34 are all maintained substantially co-planar.
Further, the entire opposite edge 46 of the sideWall 44 and

and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein
shoWn and described except insofar as indicated by the
scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed:
15

Wall;

tially planar base (not shoWn) to be attached to the edge 46

25

substantially planar surface 22 of the soundboard 20, the slit

34, and the curved surface 30 is notched 52 to accommodate

to place the support struts 50 Within the guitar 10 can be

modi?ed in location and design and remain Within the scope
of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shoWs the soundboard 20, the sideWall 44, and the
neck 12 of the guitar 10 in assembled relation. The curved

by said longitudinal axis, said lateral axis and said

peripheral edge being de?ected relative to the plane of

surface 30 of the soundboard 20 can be seen to de?ect beloW

the substantially planar surface 22 of the soundboard 20 in

tapered relation thereto, With a Wedge shaped gap 54 de?ned
betWeen the substantially planar surface 22 and curved
surface 30 of the soundboard 20. The gap 54 is ?lled by a

40

forming a resonance chamber therein.

FIG. 8 shoWs the Wedge 56 inserted into the gap 54 and

a fret board 58 installed over the top surface of the neck 12
and soundboard 20. It is noted that While the fret board 58 45

overlays the soundboard 20, the neck 12 stops at the side

Wall 44 (except for the neck base Which is concealed Within
the side Wall, the sound board, and the base) and does not

an elongated neck having an upper surface, a ?rst end

connected to said means for fastening a string support

and a second free end, said neck being substantially

parallel to said longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis

being adjacent one side of said neck;
a fret board on said upper surface of said neck, a portion

of said fret board extending over said soundboard;

55

cally by this vieW, the height of sideWall 44 is shoWn smaller

strings to the body, said strings extending in spaced

in the area adjacent the curved surface 30 of the soundboard

20 and a lip 60 is de?ned Where the Wedge 56 is installed.
It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides
an improved guitar 10 that has improved playability for a

relation above said ?ngerboard and said soundboard.

6. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 1 Wherein
said soundboard further includes a sound hole therein said

sound hole having a center, said longitudinal axis and said

lateral axis extending through said center.
7. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 1, further

guitarist playing positions starting above the ninth fret.

Further, the guitar 10 of the present invention achieves this
resonance chamber of the guitar 10. Further, the structure of
the present invention can be modi?ed for incorporation into

means on the free end of the neck for holding one end of

each of a plurality of strings; and

means for securing the other end of said plurality of

to the present invention. As can be illustrated most dramati

improvement While maintaining its structural integrity and

maintaining the sound quality by not reducing the interior

said soundboard doWnWardly toWard said bottom Wall.

2. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 1 Wherein
said soundboard is cut along a portion of said longitudinal
axis alloWing said de?ected portion of said soundboard to be
de?ected in a single direction relative to said plane of said
sound board.
3. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 2 Wherein
said de?ected portion of said sound board is ?at and resides
in a plane that is inclined relative to said plane of said
soundboard.
4. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 2 Wherein
said de?ected portion of said sound board is curved relative
to said plane of said soundboard.
5. The body for a stringed instrument of claim 2, further

comprising:

extend to the interior of the guitar 10, thereby leaving the

resonance chamber clear. By assembling the guitar 10 in
accordance With the present invention, it is clear that the
structural integrity of the guitar 10 is maintained Without
requiring that the neck 12 extend into the body portion 18
thereby occupying space Within the resonance chamber.
FIG. 9 shoWs a neck end vieW of the guitar 10 according

a substantially planar soundboard having a peripheral

edge, a length, a Width, a longitudinal axis extending
along the length thereof and a lateral axis extending
along the Width thereof, said peripheral edge of said
soundboard interconnected to said top edge of said
sideWall Wherein said bottom Wall, said side Wall and
said soundboard cooperating to form a sound chamber
therebetWeen, a portion of said sound board bounded

the curved surface 30. The positions and con?guration used

Wedge 56 to provide closure for the interior of the guitar 10

1. A body for a stringed instrument comprising:

a bottom Wall having a peripheral edge;
a sideWall having a top edge, said sideWall extending
upWardly from said peripheral edge of said bottom
means for fastening a string support to said body, said
means provided in said sideWall;

a support surface 48 of the neck base 16 are all maintained

in a co-planar relation. This con?guration alloWs a substan

of the entire side Wall 44 and the support surface 48 of the

neck base 16 thereby providing closure for the back of the
guitar 10. Note also the support strut 50 that crosses over the

rangements of the parts may be made Without departing

from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept

65

comprising:
an elongated neck having an upper surface, a ?rst end
connected to said means for fastening a string support

US 6,894,209 B2
8

providing a substantially planar soundboard substrate,

and a second free end, said neck being substantially

parallel to said longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis

said substrate having a peripheral edge, a length, a

being adjacent one side of said neck;

Width, a longitudinal axis extending along the length

a fret board on said upper surface of said neck, a portion

thereof and a lateral axis extending along the Width

of said fret board extending over said soundboard;

thereof;

means on the free end of the neck for holding one end of

cutting said substrate along a portion of said longitudinal

each of a plurality of strings; and

means for securing the other end of the plurality of strings

to the body, said strings extending in spaced relation

above said ?ngerboard and said soundboard.

axis;
10

8. A guitar comprising:

board;

a body having a soundboard and a bottom Wall, said

soundboard and said bottom Wall interconnected in

spaced relation by a sideWall, said sound board being

substantially planar and having a peripheral edge, a
length, a Width, a longitudinal axis extending along the
length thereof and a lateral axis extending along the
Width thereof;

15

25

a fret board ?xed to the upper surface of said neck

Wherein a portion of said fret board extends over said

soundboard;

relation over said fret board and said soundboard.

35

said soundboard, said sideWall and said back Wall

de?ning a holloW interior chamber.
13. The method of manufacturing a body for a stringed
instrument of claim 12 Wherein said de?ected portion of said
sound board is ?at and resides in a plane that is inclined
relative to said plane of said soundboard.
14. The method of manufacturing a body for a stringed
instrument of claim 12 Wherein said de?ected portion of said
sound board is curved relative to said plane of said sound
board.
15. The rnethod of manufacturing a body for a stringed
attaching an elongated neck to said means for installing a
string support, said neck having an upper surface, a ?rst
end connected to said means for fastening a string
support and a second free end, said neck being sub

stantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said longi

9. The guitar of claim 8 Wherein said soundboard is cut

along a portion of said longitudinal axis alloWing said

de?ected portion of said soundboard to be de?ected in a

single direction relative to said plane of said sound board.

10. The guitar of claim 9 Wherein said de?ected portion of
said sound board is ?at and resides in a plane that is inclined
relative to said plane of said soundboard.
11. The guitar of claim 9 Wherein said de?ected portion of
said sound board is curved relative to said plane of said
soundboard.
12. A method of manufacturing a body for a stringed
instrurnent comprising the steps of:

having a free edge, said sideWall including means for

instrument of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

means on the free end of the neck for holding one end of

each of a plurality of strings; and

means for securing the other end of said plurality of
strings to the body so that said strings extend in spaced

installing a sideWall extending upwardly from said

peripheral edge of said soundboard, said side Wall

installing a string support; and

installing a back Wall onto said free edge of said sideWall,

an elongated neck having an upper surface, a ?rst end

portion connected to said sideWall of said body and a
second free end, one side of said neck and said longi

tudinal axis being substantially aligned, Wherein a

portion of said sound board bounded by said longitu
dinal axis, said lateral axis and said peripheral edge
being de?ected relative to the plane of said soundboard
doWnWardly toWard said bottom Wall;

de?ecting a portion of said soundboard de?ned by said cut

portion of said longitudinal axis, said lateral axis and
said peripheral edge relative to the plane of said sound

40

tudinal axis being adj acent one side of said neck; and
installing a fret board on said upper surface of said neck,
a portion of said fret board extending over said
soundboard, said free end of said neck including means
for holding one end of each of a plurality of strings, said
body including means for securing the other end of the

plurality of strings to the body, said strings extending in

45

spaced relation above said ?ngerboard and said sound

board.