Tuning systems for stringed instruments

A stringed instrument comprising:

• a body;
• a neck attached to said body;
• a fretboard arranged on said neck, said fretboard having a first end and a second end;
• a bridge including a plurality of bridge critical contact surfaces mounted on said body spaced from one end of said fretboard;
• a nut mounted on said neck at an opposing end of said fretboard spaced from said bridge;
• and a plurality of strings each having a first end and a second end and a predetermined length extending between said first and second ends, said plurality of strings arranged in contact with corresponding ones of said bridge critical contact surfaces and said nut and extending thereacross, each of said plurality strings being anchored at a location wherein said first end is spaced from corresponding ones of said bridge critical contact surfaces by no greater than 1.75 inch and said second end is spaced from said nut by no greater than 1.75 inch.