Stringed musical instruments

Abstract

A stringed musical instrument such as an electric guitar or an electric bass guitar is balanced to render the instant comfortable to play, supported by a support plate at its center of gravity. The tuning machines are on the body for the purpose of balance. The neck should be of proper weight and rigidity to sustain greater tone and brilliance.

Having described certain forms of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a neck portion extending from said body, said neck including a nut and a fingerboard, tuning machines, said tuning machines extending from said body portion opposite said neck portion, support means for supporting said instrument, said support means pivotally engaging said instrument, said support means pivoting at the center of gravity of said instrument, and said neck of said instrument weighing approximately no less than 2.5 pounds, said neck having an average cross section without a fingerboard of approximately 1.25 inches, and said neck deflecting no more than 0.09 inches when said instrument is supported .[.to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.its center of gravity and with a five-pound weight depending from said nut of said neck. 
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the musical instrument is an electric bass guitar. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein said neck weighs no more than 3.5 pounds. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said neck is approximately no less than 23 inches and no more than 26 inches long. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said neck is no less than 29 cubic inches and no more than 32 cubic inches. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said center of gravity is near the 24th fret of said instrument. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means is a plate. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said support plate has a boomerang-like configuration. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said support plate includes a leg rest. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 9 wherein sad leg rest is a snap-on leg rest. 
     
     
       11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said leg rest is concave. 
     
     
       12. The invention of claim 8 wherein said support plate includes means to join it with support straps. .Iadd. 
     
     
       13.  A stringed musical instrument comprising a body having a bottom surface, a neck portion extending from said body and including a fingerboard, means for tuning said instrument, and support means for supporting said instrument, said support means pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the body of said instrument only substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A support member for facilitating the resting of a stringed musical instrument on a human body, the instrument including a body having a bottom surface, said support member comprising: a support plate pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the instrument only substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. An auxiliary support member for facilitating the resting of a stringed musical instrument on a leg of a human body, the instrument including a body, a neck portion extending from said body and including a fingerboard, and means for tuning said instrument, the support member comprising:   a leg rest member for supporting said instrument from below on the leg of a seated musician, said leg rest member being attached to the body of said instrument only substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument, whereby said instrument is substantially in balance when said leg rest is resting on the leg of said seated musician..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The instrument of claim 15 wherein said leg rest member is pivotally attached, and has a concave surface thereon..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The auxiliary support member of claim 15 wherein said leg rest member is attached to said instrument by a snap-in action..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a neck portion extending from said body, said neck including a nut and a fingerboard, tuning means mounted on said body opposite said neck portion, and support means pivoted to said body only substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument for resting said instrument against the body of a musician..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The instrument of claim 18 wherein said support means includes a plate having fastening means at spaced apart locations thereon, and a strap, the opposite ends of said strap attaching to said fastening means for holding said instrument around the neck of a musician..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The instrument of claim 19 wherein said plate has a boomerang-like configuration, and said fastening means includes a pair of strap holes at the opposite ends of said boomerang-like plate..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The instrument of claim 18 wherein said center of gravity is located substantially at the point where said neck joins said body..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The instrument of claim 21 wherein said instrument has 24 frets, and said 24th fret falls substantially at said center gravity..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body having a bottom surface, a neck portion extending from said body and including a fingerboard, means for tuning said instrument, means for attachment located substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument, and support means for supporting said instrument, said support means pivotally attached to said means for attachment on the bottom surface of the body of said instrument only substantially at the center of gravity of said instrument..Iaddend.