Since the release of the nylon-stringed SLG100N in 2001, the Silent Guitar lineup has expanded to include steel-stringed and nylon-stringed classical models, and garnered a solid reputation in the guitar world. Initially, the only concept that the design team had decided on was that of eliminating the body of the instrument to dampen the sound. We came up with a variety of ideas that we used to create mockups for evaluation. And, since our pictures and blueprints offered no clues as to the instrument would feel when held or played, we built models and looked at such aspects as exactly which part of the guitar touched the body, and where players applied force, all the while working on our design. There were some suggestions to make the frame-one area where a guitarist applies force-out of aluminum, which is lightweight and strong. However, after testing the prototype with a number of people, we settled on the warmth of a wood frame. The Silent Guitar celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011, and I think that the fact that the series has continued without any significant change to its shape or specifications is testament to our decision to put the perceptions of guitarists in the forefront of our minds as we crafted these instruments.