Abstract: An annular surround for a loudspeaker cone wherein a radial cross-section of the surround varies around the circumferential extent of the surround, so as to accommodate peripheral expansion or contraction of the surround by bending. Thus a trough shaped cross-section of the surround may vary sinusoidally with angle around the polar axis of the surround between a semicircular and semielliptical cross-section. The trough section may bland to an adjacent portion of the surround by a fillet which also varies sinusoidally in cross-section in phase with the variation of the trough.

Abstract: A rhythm multi-pick apparatus comprising a member holder having a plurality of spaced-apart pick members, a first lift end having a curved shape attached on a first end of the member holder, a second lift end having a curved shape attached on a second end of the member holder, and a holder arm attached between the first lift end and the second lift end. A handle having grooves for two fingers is attached to the holder arm opposite the member holder. The pick members are cylindrical shape and may be made from different materials resulting in ratings of soft, medium, and hard for producing different tones. The multi-pick apparatus may have various embodiments, each embodiment having a different number of pick members held by the member holder. Another embodiment comprises the multi-pick apparatus without a handle which is held by a user by gripping a continuous holder arm.

Abstract: A pillow-shaped damping element to be located in an interior of a percussion instrument includes upper and bottom sides, a filling material having sound-absorbing characteristics and located between the upper and bottom sides, and a holder for a microphone provided on the upper side of the damping element.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for lifting and setting a piano string coil (16) is provided for improving tuning stability. Preferably, the apparatus (10) includes an internal slide hammer portion (12) and a string engaging portion (14) extending from the internal slide hammer portion (12). The string engaging portion (14) is intended to engage a piano string coil (16) wrapped around a tuning pin (18) and transmit an upward or downward force from the internal slide hammer portion (12) to the piano string coil (16).

Abstract: The system consists of 2 large speakers (1A & 1B), and 2 small full range speakers (2A & 2B) having about half the active cone area as the large speakers, mounted in a dual chamber enclosure (3) with the large speaker (1A) mounted on an internal baffle (4) forming a partition for a large bass reflex chamber (3A), with the large speaker (1B) mounted in common direction thereto immediately in front thereof together with the 2 smaller speakers (2A & 2B) mounted adjacent thereto on a front baffle (7) forming a small tympanic chamber (3B) by and with the large speakers (1A & 1B) and small speaker (2B) electrically connected to operate in common acoustic phase to each other with the other small speaker (2A) connected to operate in opposing phase thereto.

Abstract: Casing of an electronic keyboard musical instrument includes two discrete parts: a main casing section; and a rear casing section. The main casing section includes a bottom plate having a keyboard section placed thereon, a keyslip portion extending upward from the bottom plate in front of the keyboard section, and left and right side plates extending upward from the bottom plate at left and right sides of the keyboard section. The rear casing section includes a roof plate forming a rear upper surface of the casing, and a back plate extending downward from a rear edge of the roof plate. The rear casing section is detachably attached to the main casing section by means of a slidingly-attaching structure for slidingly attaching the rear casing section to the left and right side plates of the main casing section.

Abstract: A support rod has a core and has a composite material covering at least a portion of the core. The support rod is suitable for use in enhancing the rigidity of the neck of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The support rod is also suitable for use in a wide variety of other applications.

Abstract: A body structure of an electric guitar of a solid type is constituted by a body and a neck, which are firmly joined together using adhesive and/or bolts. An engagement hollow is formed over the entire length of the back of the body, and an extending portion is integrally extended from a base portion of the neck with a smoothly curved portion therebetween. The base portion of the neck is engaged with a rectangular hollow formed in the front end portion of the body, and the extending portion of the neck is engaged with the engagement hollow of the back of the body. An adhesive bank channel is formed in the periphery of the bottom of the engagement hollow to prevent an excess of adhesive from overflowing and dirtying the backs of the body and neck when joined together using adhesive.

Abstract: An improved musical instrument (15) having a body (16), an elongated neck (18) connected to the body, a top-nut (19) supported by the neck, a bridge (20) supported by the body, and a truss (21) in mechanical engagement with the bridge and the top-nut. The truss may comprise a truss rod (22) extending longitudinally between the top-nut and the bridge.

Abstract: A relative chord method for playing a series of chords on a music keyboard by prescribed finger transitions from one chord to the next dependent upon the musical interval between the chords.

Abstract: A guitar stand includes a lower bracket formed on a lower part of a body. A tube is mounted at an upper part of the body. A shaft is longitudinally received in the tube and extends in a hollow seat. A handle is formed on the shaft and upright extends through a channel in the shaft. A resilient member is provided outside the shaft. Two levers each have a pivot hole and a slot defined therethrough. A fastener is inserted through the slots to fasten the shaft between the levers. Two pivot pins are respectively inserted in the pivot holes and the seat to pivotally mount the levers in the seat. Two arcuate arms are respectively provided at distal ends of the levers. By pushing the handle along the channel, the arcuate arms can be temporarily opened for clamping a neck of a guitar.

Abstract: A guide is disclosed with vertical numerically color coded lines on it. The guide can then be moved along the space between the keys and the fallboard of the piano, so that the keys can be played by anyone placing their fingers on the keys indicated by the lines on the guide. Sheet music is prepared with numbers and colors juxtaposed to the notes corresponding to the lines, so that the piano student will know which keys to stroke.

Abstract: A combination of a portable high-hat cymbal device and a drum including a drum cylinder-terminated at least on one end by a circular rim and having a drum head stretched thereover to create a drum noise when struck by a drum stick operated by a drummer, first and second cymbals held in opposed formation near the rim of the drum and within reach of the drumsticks held in the hands of the drummer, the cymbals centrally supported on a vertical spindle attached to the drum, with the first cymbal in fixed location above the second cymbal, an abutment, supporting the second cymbal in biased contact with the first cymbal, and slidingly received on the vertical spindle, and pivotal arm, spaced apart from the spindle and operable by motion of the drummer's arm, to move the second cymbal downward on the spindle, against the bias pressure, so that, upon release by the drummer of the first means, the bias pressure moves the second cymbal abruptly upward to crash against the first cymbal to make the appropriate high-hat s

Abstract: A freeze-proof, game call for calling predatory game animals through inhaling includes a mouthpiece, a reed assembly, and an amplification member. The mouthpiece has first and second ends with the first end defining an aperture for fluidly communicating with a mouth of a user such that the user can inhale through the aperture. The reed assembly is disposed within the mouthpiece at the second end and includes a reed. The reed has a working end opposite the aperture of the mouthpiece that vibrates as air is drawn across it to produce a tone upon inhalation by the user through the aperture. The reed assembly is free of grooves and O-rings that modify the tone produced by the reed assembly. The amplification member is operatively connected to the mouthpiece member to completely enclose the working end of the reed. The amplification member amplifies the tone produce by the reed assembly.

Abstract: A drum beater comprising an elongated stem, and a beater head carried by the stem, and having a relatively hard drum striker, a relatively soft drum striker, both of said strikers facing in the same direction, to strike a drum head.

Abstract: One embodiment of an ocarina has an inner liner that includes a plurality of apertures and an outer shell disposed substantially completely around the inner liner. In one exemplary embodiment of such an ocarina, the plurality of apertures in the inner liner facilitates the airflow communication through the inner liner to produce a tone when the ocarina is played, whereas the outer shell provides a protective or ornamental envelope for the inner liner and includes a plurality of openings that register with the apertures in the inner liner. In another exemplary embodiment, an ocarina has a body having a plurality of apertures disposed therein. The body is formed by an inner liner defined by at least one sound chamber and a first cooperating cover and an outer shell disposed substantially completely around the inner liner.

Abstract: A bridge for a musical instrument has a bridge body and a plurality of saddles disposed substantially upon the bridge body. A least a plurality of saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary the height of a string supported thereby.

Abstract: A sound absorbing panel comprising a standoff layer disposed between a back plate and a screen. The standoff layer supports the screen at a standoff distance from the back plate. The standoff distance is substantially equal to ¼ the wavelength of a sound to be absorbed. An alternate embodiment sound absorbing panel includes a felt layer between the standoff layer and the screen. Another alternate embodiment comprises an apertured membrane supported by standoffs at a standoff distance from the back plate. The standoffs could be any appropriate standoff shape including I standoffs, Z standoffs, and angled standoffs. In one alternate embodiment the apertured membrane is a screen. In another alternate embodiment the apertured membrane is a perforated plate.

Abstract: An improved exhaust system for an internal combustion engine generally comprises two expanding megaphones, separated by a dual core annular flow silencing section. The two or split megaphone design facilitates broadening of the time of the negative pressure wave to provide a desirable broad range power output while substantially reducing obnoxious sound output.

Abstract: The present invention involves a tempering formula which utilizes specific pitch offsets, which when applied to the guitar, result in extraordinarily pleasing intonation.