Stringed musical instrument having a hybrid arch-top and flat-top soundboard

A guitar comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis situated along a length of the body, the body including a soundboard, the soundboard having a lower region on a bass side with respect to the longitudinal axis and a higher region on a treble side with respect to the longitudinal axis opposite the bass side, the lower region of the soundboard shaped to have a flat contour, the higher region shaped to have an arched contour;
• a neck attached to the body, the neck having a fingerboard, the neck having a hub adapted to couple a plurality of strings at a first end;
• and
• a bridge assembly fitted to the soundboard, the bridge assembly having a lower portion proximate the lower region of the soundboard and a higher portion proximate the higher region of the soundboard, the bridge assembly adapted to seat the one or more strings when extended over at least a portion of the neck and body and coupled to the body at a second end opposite the first end.

A stringed musical instrument kit comprising:

• a stringed musical instrument including:
• a body having a longitudinal axis situated along a length of the body, the body including a soundboard, the soundboard having a lower region on a bass side with respect to the longitudinal axis and a higher region on a treble side with respect to the longitudinal axis opposite the bass side, the lower region of the soundboard shaped to have a flat contour, the higher region shaped to have an arched contour,
• a neck attached to the body, the neck having a fingerboard, the neck having a hub adapted to couple a plurality of strings at a first end, and
• a bridge assembly fitted to the soundboard, the bridge assembly having a lower portion proximate the lower region of the soundboard and a higher portion proximate the higher region of the soundboard, the bridge assembly adapted to seat the strings when extended over at least a portion of the neck and body and coupled to the body at a second end opposite the first end;
• and
• a case adapted to receive the stringed musical instrument.