A string bender apparatus includes a mounting plate with an anchor for
anchoring guitar strings to a guitar body, a first section with
fastener-receiving holes arranged to receive fasteners extended into
pre-existing mounting holes in the body, and an extension that extends
from the first section. A lever is pivoted to the extension for movement
in a plane that extends generally parallel the front surface of the
guitar body. The lever includes a first end defining a handle that is
positioned generally adjacent one side of the strings and includes an
opposite end attached to one of the strings for temporarily changing a
tension of the one string and thus changing a pitch of the one string
when the handle is moved in the plane. The string bender can be retrofit
onto existing guitars. The string bender can be made removable and
replaced with, or combined with a vibrato.