Abstract: The present invention relates to improved musical instrument components. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a piano plate assembly, wherein the plate assembly comprises a core at least partially surrounded by a shell, wherein the shell comprises a composite fiber material impregnated with a polymeric resin material. In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of producing such piano plate assemblies.

Abstract: A piano frame including a main plate having a first major surface for supporting piano strings and an opposite second major surface for supporting a soundboard. First, second, third and fourth elongate anchor zones are located on the first major surface for anchoring, respectively, first end (upper, tuneable end) and second end (lower, hitched end) of bass strings and first end (upper, tuneable end) and second end (lower, hitched end) of treble strings. A plurality of openings are provided in the main plate between the third anchor zone and the fourth anchor zone. A truss defined by a plurality bracing members integrally formed in the main plate extends between the third anchor zone and the fourth anchor zone. The bracing members are located wholly between a plane extending between the third and fourth anchor zones and a plane defined by the second major surface of the main plate.

Abstract: A piano frame including a main plate having a first major surface for supporting piano strings and an opposite second major surface for supporting a soundboard. First, second, third and fourth elongate anchor zones are located on the first major surface for anchoring, respectively, first end (upper, tuneable end) and second end (lower, hitched end) of bass strings and first end (upper, tuneable end) and second end (lower, hitched end) of treble strings. A plurality of openings are provided in the main plate between the third anchor zone and the fourth anchor zone. A truss defined by a plurality bracing members integrally formed in the main plate extends between the third anchor zone and the fourth anchor zone. The bracing members are located wholly between a plane extending between the third and fourth anchor zones and a plane defined by the second major surface of the main plate.

Abstract: In an implementation of this invention, a stringed musical instrument has a resonator comprised of a bridge and a soundboard. Vibrations from the strings are transmitted through the bridge to the soundboard. A plurality of sensors are attached to or embedded in the soundboard. The sensors measure primarily the vibrations of the soundboard, rather than primarily the vibrations of the strings. Preferably, three or more sensors are used. Piezoelectric sensors sample vibrations in the soundboard. The resonator includes a printed circuit board that amplifies the signal from each sensor separately. Also, a signal processing device that is “onboard” the musical instrument processes the separate input signals to create one output signal. The resonator may be easily removed, enabling resonators to be interchanged. Also, the physical characteristics of a particular resonator, such as its mass or its boundary condition, may be adjusted, thereby changing the acoustic qualities of the soundboard.

Abstract: Optimized tone wood for acoustical performance and methods for optimizing tone wood are described. The longitudinal to cross-grain stiffness ratio, the acoustical mass, and damping of tone wood are adjusted to improve volume and quality of tonal output. These properties are adjusted by selectively removing a portion of summer growth of the wood to reduce cross-grain stiffness while retaining the winter growth of the wood for longitudinal stiffness. Damping materials can modify the effects of the summer growth removal.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having multiple bridge-soundboard units, each unit substantially acoustically independent from other bridge-soundboard units. Said bridge soundboard units are coupled to a set of strings such that a number of the strings within the set are sounded through the first bridge-soundboard unit, others are sounded through a second bridge-soundboard unit, and so on. The process of division of set of strings among several bridge-soundboard units allows greater ability to bear tension, greater sustain, and greater variety of tonal color by allowing a greater number and variety of soundboards.

Abstract: A soundboard for a hollow-body stringed instrument made of layers of carbon-fiber and resin material surrounding a core of one or more layers of constant-thickness plywood, veneer (thinly sliced wood) or paper. Additional shaped layers are provided to produce a desired pattern of stiffness in the soundboard. The soundboard may be tuned by attaching additional masses to a surface of the soundboard. A method of making and tuning the soundboard of the invention is provided.

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: 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 muter configured to be placed beneath the soundboard of a piano (in the case of a grand piano) in order to attenuate the downward transmission of sound. The muter employs blocks of acoustic foam, shaped to frictionally engage the structural elements of the piano in order to retain the muter within the piano. The muter is easily installed and removed. A version configured for use with an upright piano is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for opening an closing a top board of a grand piano, the top board is hingedly supported along one side thereof on an outer rim of the grand piano. The apparatus has a gear-type of jack made up of a jack main body fixed to a wooden fame of the grand piano, and a rod which is movable in a longitudinal direction through the jack main body and which supports the top board in a manner to open and close said top board.

Abstract: A method of mounting a plate in a grand piano is provided for ensuring an appropriate bridge pressure in accordance with an actual amount of swelling of a soundboard and its distribution in a simple manner without requiring bridge pressure setting and re-adjustment. The method comprises the steps of measuring the heights of a bridge from a reference plane at a plurality of predetermined positions of the bridge on the back assembly; attaching a plurality of plate bases at a plurality of positions along the outer periphery of the top surface of the back assembly at heights corresponding to the measured heights of the bridge; and carrying the plate on the plurality of plate bases, and fixing the plate carried on the plate bases to the back assembly.

Abstract: A support structure is provided for supporting a sound board of an upright piano. A peripheral portion of the sound board is securely fixed to a sound board bearing shim, which is securely fixed to a back frame. The back frame is constructed by a plurality of posts, beams and a bottom sill. A pin block is attached to an upper portion of the main body of the upright piano above the sound board bearing shim. A support member is provided between the pin block and back frame and is made of the material having a high rigidity. An extending portion extends downwardly from a lower end of the support member. A front surface of the extending portion is attached to an upper portion of the sound board bearing shim. Herein, a thinned portion is formed by cutting a back portion of the extending portion. The extending portion is formed as an integral part of the support member but is different from the support member in thickness. So, the extending portion separates from the back frame.

Abstract: Adjustable mounting means for providing variable spacing between the stringplate and the adjacently spaced soundboard of a grand piano wherein a number of elongate threaded cylinders are located in the peripheral frame is disclosed. Each threaded member has an upwardly extending end for receiving the apertured string plate thereon and contains a central threaded bore for receiving a bolt. The stringplate rests on the threaded members with the appropriate spacing between soundboard and stringplate being attained by adjustment of the threaded members from the underside of the piano.

Abstract: A plate assembly as herein disclosed can be constructed to be used in place of the plate assembly in any piano. It is constructed primarily of composite material and replaces the conventional cast iron plate or plate assembly. The assembly has better shape and dimensional stability under the influences of time, temperature variation and moisture, and is lighter weight and lower cost. These features allow use of a lighter weight piano frame. The net results are that a piano having optimum performance is more readily transported, its manufacturing and maintenance costs are less and the effects of time, temperature variation and moisture are minimal. The plate structure comprises specially designed and joined composite material elements, arranged to take best advantages of the characteristics of composite materials applied to serve the functional/structural purposes of piano plates.

Abstract: In a piano a panel, which takes the place of the usual cast iron string plate or frame, is provided for supporting the strings. The panel is a sandwich construction making it exceptionally strong and capable of withstanding the string loads without bending or otherwise yielding and without requiring auxiliary support such as the massive wooden backs or trusses to which cast iron string plates are usually attached. The string panel has a relatively thick low modulus of elasticity core layer, a portion of which is made of laminated hard wood to serve as a pin block, and relatively thin layers of high modulus of elasticity material, such as steel, bonded to the core layer. If desired the string panel may be used as the main frame of the piano to which other major components, such as the soundboard, key bed, side cheeks, housing and feet, are directly attached.

Abstract: Improved construction material especially suitable for use in the manufacture of soundboards and panels used in stringed instruments which equal or surpass the sound radiation qualities and physical properties of wood. The construction material of the invention includes fibers having a Young's modulus of elasticity greater than 18.times.10.sup.11 dynes/cm.sup.2 and a density less than 2 g/cc bonded to a material having a density lying within the range of 0.15 g/cc and 1 g/cc, the said fibers of the composite are oriented in such manner so as to provide a final material having a bending stiffness ratio of at least 4:1.