Abstract: An instrument playing apparatus has: a movable member configured to be displaced responsive to a playing operation of a user; a detection part formed from a magnetic or conductive body and disposed on the movable member; and a filter that includes a coil. The filter has a frequency response that changes depending on a distance between the detection part and the coil, and generates a detection signal from a reference signal.

Abstract: In a piano that includes an action frame and a sostenuto rod bracket, the sostenuto rod bracket being adapted to accommodate a sostenuto rod, an improvement involving the attachment of the sostenuto rod bracket to the action frame. Increased access to the sostenuto rod bracket can be facilitated simply by detaching the action stack bracket from the action frame.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a piano includes a rail assembly with an adjustable mount for mounting the rail assembly to the piano case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly. The rail assembly is configured for vertical adjustment relative to the case, for example, continuous adjustment (in which the rail assembly can define a vertical slot) or discrete adjustment (in which the rail assembly defines discrete openings arranged vertically). The adjustable mount includes mounting blocks, and the rail is mounted to the blocks for rotation relative to the blocks. The mounting blocks each define an adjustment slot. A method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of piano underlevers in a piano includes mounting a damper assembly to a piano case with an adjustable mount, and adjusting the position of a rail assembly of the damper assembly relative to the case.

Abstract: An improvement for a conventional grand piano action to position a piano hammer at varying at rest positions to evoke varying intensities of sound with an unvarying strength of piano key touch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a damper for a grand piano, which is simple in construction and can be manufactured at reduced costs by reducing the number of components, the number of assembling steps, and the number of adjustment operations. A damper for a grand piano moves out of contact with strings in a manner interlocked with operation of a damper pedal, to thereby create a damper pedal effect. A plurality of damper levers each have a rear end portion thereof pivotally mounted to the damper rail and each extend forward. Each damper head is connected to the upper side of a corresponding one of the plurality of damper levers and brought out of contact with a corresponding one of the strings as the corresponding damper lever moves upward. A lifting rail is arranged below the plurality of damper levers, for pivotally moving the plurality of damper levers upward simultaneously by being pushed upward when the damper pedal is operated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a damper for a grand piano, which is simple in construction and can be manufactured at reduced costs by reducing the number of components, the number of assembling steps, and the number of adjustment operations. A damper for a grand piano moves out of contact with strings in a manner interlocked with operation of a damper pedal, to thereby create a damper pedal effect. A plurality of damper levers each have a rear end portion thereof pivotally mounted to the damper rail and each extend forward. Each damper head is connected to the upper side of a corresponding one of the plurality of damper levers and brought out of contact with a corresponding one of the strings as the corresponding damper lever moves upward. A lifting rail is arranged below the plurality of damper levers, for pivotally moving the plurality of damper levers upward simultaneously by being pushed upward when the damper pedal is operated.

Abstract: A silent electronic keyboard instrument for operation in conjunction with a synthesizer for transmitting sound only electronically to a headphone terminal, and exhibiting keyboard operation substantially duplicative of acoustic piano keyboard operation.

Abstract: A combination acoustic mode and electronic mode grand piano is provided including a hammer shank stop rail that intercepts the hammer shank when operating in its electronic mode, so that the hammer cannot complete its normal travel to strike its corresponding string(s) when its key is actuated. The positioning of the hammer shank stop rail is actuated by a user-operated control that, when placed into the "acoustic" mode, raises the hammer shank stop rail to a non-engaged position that does not interfere with the normal movements of the hammer shank. When in the "electronic" mode, the control lowers the hammer shank stop rail into an engaged position where it intercepts the hammer shanks of the piano, thereby preventing each hammer head from striking its respective string(s).

Abstract: A mechanism including a sustaining bar (112) directly engaging a row of damper supports (104); and a harmonic bar directly engaging a row of escapements (13) each of which is combined with one of the damper supports. Both bars (111, 112) are actuated by a common pedal (1) to which they are connected by a linkage system (18, 20, 5) linking the movement of the harmonic bar (111) to that of the sustaining bar (112) so that when the pedal is depressed beyond a so-called "harmonic" position in which the pedal is half-depressed, the sustaining function is applied to all the notes whose keys are depressed, and once the pedal has been fully depressed and is therefore in a so-called "forte" position, then very slightly released, all the escapements are in engagement with the harmonic bar.

Abstract: A jack on a whippen incorporated in an upright piano drives a hammer assembly to rotate toward musical strings for producing sound, and a soft pedal causes the hammer assembly to become closer to the musical strings, wherein the upright piano comprises an adjusting mechanism operative to move the whippen upon manipulation of the soft pedal for eliminating gap between the jack and the butt as well as modifying rotating distance of the whippen, and a driving link assembly coupled between an associated key and a damper mechanism so that the whippen moved by the adjusting mechanism has no influence of action of the damper mechanism, thereby keeping key-touch ordinary under the manipulation of the soft pedal.

Abstract: In the construction of a damper assembly for musical instruments, the conventionally used swingable damper lever for operationally relating a key to an associated damper wire is omitted and the swing movement of the key is either directly and indirectly converted into a corresponding fairly vertical movement of an elongated damper holder via a balance weight disposed to the bottom end of the damper holder in order to avoid undesired influences caused by swinging movement of any mechanical parts. Use of a plate type damper holder further advantageously prevents undesirable twist and dancing of the damper holder. Simultaneous, even and well-controlled pressure contact of the damper head with the vibrating string assures ideal damping and acoustic effects and use of detachable balance weight enables free adjustment of touch on the key.

Abstract: A piano mechanism for correlating the movement of the damper with the movement of the hammer consists of a hammer lifter connected between the hammer arm and the damper arm at a location on the side of its axis opposite to that of the damper itself.