A stringed instrument comprising an instrument belly with a neck extending therefrom, a first attachment means for strings at the free end of the neck, a second attachment means for strings on the belly of the instrument, strings extending across the upper side of the belly and neck between the attachment means and a folding arrangement connecting neck and belly, to permit the neck to be folded between a first operative position and a second inoperative position in which the neck is located above the upper side of the belly. One of the string attachment means comprises a reel rotatably journalled about a shaft located substantially perpendicular to the alignment of the strings. The reel is spring-tensioned about its shaft in order to coil or uncoil the strings in stretched state when the neck is folded from or to operative position.