Abstract: A moving jaw (20) is spring-urged (45, 55) against a fixed jaw (10, 110), to capture picks (70) and other like stringed musical instrument accessories therebetween. The fixed jaw (10, 110) is configured for either adhesive mounting (60) onto and extending exterior to a stringed instrument surface, or embedding interior to and coupled (118, 131) with the surface (80) of the stringed instrument. Picks (70) or other accessories are oriented perpendicular to the instrument surface (80), and one or a plurality of picks (70) may be inserted into and removed from between the jaws (10, 20, 110).

Abstract: In a musical keyboard instrument, a keyboard having a plurality of keys that pivotally move about a frame is mechanically isolated from a tone generator having a plurality of operating members allowing musical tones to be generated in response to the keys being depressed. A plurality of key-depression detection devices are arranged for the keys so as to detect the key-depression operations applied to the keys. A drive control device drives the operating members so as to generate musical tones in response to key-depression signals output from the key-depression detection devices upon detection of the key-depression operations applied to the keys. Thus, it is possible for the player, in particular, a weak person, to easily and rapidly perform key-depression operations, thus realizing desired musical performance of the musical keyboard instrument.

Abstract: A one piece combination guitar string pick and shoulder strap lock that engages and retains a guitar shoulder strap upon one or more anchor posts affixed to the guitar. The combination pick and strap lock is not a part of the shoulder strap, and is used after the shoulder strap is affixed to the guitar body using standard shoulder strap clasps. The present invention then slides over the anchor post head using the clasp arm assembly and pressing the anchor post past the clasp assembly pinch point until the anchor post head snaps against the back of the anchor post channel in the body member and the anchor post stem is then held firmly by the clasp arm assembly. Another embodiment of the invention supports adding decorative figurines for novelty. Another embodiment supports semi-permanently affixing the present invention to the anchor post with a bolt extension.

Abstract: A musical instrument apparatus including multiple parallel strings defining a string line and a keyboard overlay positioned at an acute angle to the string line to allow for consistent playing feel by consistently positioning the hammers on the keys while allowing large key spacing with minimized distance between the strings. The hammers are directly mounted to the keys and are adapted to either cause vibration of the strings or clamp the strings against the upper surface of a neck board so that the strings may have multi tonal capabilities as is commonly used with a fret board neck on a guitar. The strings can be played with just the keyboard, but the strings also extend past an edge of the keyboard overlay so that the user can directly play the multiple parallel strings to achieve a guitar sound. Both an electrical pickup and an acoustical body are provided for further sound variety.

Abstract: A musical instrument support strap worn around the neck of a musician to support an instrument adjacent the musician at a desired height and/or orientation. The strap provides a buckle for adjusting the height of the instrument and a fastener for opening the loop portion of the strap worn around the musician's neck. The strap can also include a pad positioned to cushion the weight of the instrument on the neck of the musician. A musical instrument support strap with a split neck loop avoids the inconveniences of convention support straps by eliminating the need to readjust the height setting of the supported instrument each time the strap is worm by the musician. The split loop strap also eliminates the disadvantages of having to pull a closed loop over the head of the musician each time the musician wears the strap. Providing a constant setting also improves a student's confidence and familiarity with the instrument.

Abstract: An improvement in the action for a harpsichord type of keyboard musical instrument which uses a pneumatic piston to provide a variable pluck loudness. The improvement comprises a new pick-body design which allows several strings to be plucked at once for any single note or key, thus increasing the loudness of the instrument. The invention involves the use of a crank arm which, being restrained by a pneumatic piston, tilts the pick-body and the picks into the strings, the loudness resulting therefrom being proportional to the key-lever velocity.

Abstract: Stringed instruments of the clavichord type, wherein playing key operated tangent cooperate with a fixed stop to both sound and stop associated strings without the noise associated with the tangent impacting the stop. This noise elimination is accomplished by providing that the tangent is offset from the respective stop, such that a free string portion exists between the opposing stop and the tangent.

Abstract: An improvement in the action for that type of plectrum piano which uses a pneumatic piston to provide a variable pluck loudness. The pneumatic piston is joined by a connecting rod to a crank arm on a rotatable pick body, the latter being driven vertically past a vibratable element when the instrument is played. The plectrum is mounted below the center of rotation of the pick body and describes both a lateral and a vertical motion during the pluck stroke, the pluck loudness being proportional to stroke velocity. The improvement includes the use of a gravity acting ball valve joint between the connecting rod and the piston to provide the repeat function.

Abstract: A plucking mechanism for a string instrument, for instance a harpsichord consists of a mandrel directly coupled to the key, the mandrel being provided with a protruding edge which plucks the string.

Abstract: A multiple string guitar-like instrument has a plurality of plucking means mounted to confront playing strings. Each plucking means comprises a housing having a carriage guide, a carriage disposed for movement transverse to the string, a finger pivotally mounted to the carriage, a cam pivotally mounted to the housing, and a follower pin extending laterally from the finger for tracking the contour of the cam to direct the finger to move in an eccentric path. The plucking mechanism is disposed at a distance from the string so that the head of the moving finger plucks the string at an oblique angle during only a driven portion of a keying stroke.

Abstract: A harpsichord action characterized by a vertical disposition of the strings which extend downwardly from a wrest plank located slightly above the keyboard. The keys, which are half the conventional length and hinged at their inner ends, are connected with jack levers located above the keys and in front of the strings. The jack levers are connected with jacks which are pulled forwardly by the jack levers upon depression of the keys. Each rank of jacks is controlled by a single jack guide which is selectively shifted by a cam mechanism operable from the keyboard.

Abstract: An improvement in the action for a plectrum piano in which a pneumatic piston and cylinder are used to produce a variable pluck loudness, the reaction of the piston urging the plectrum toward the musical string in proportion to key-lever velocity. A rotatable pick-rod is used to carry the plectrum, the pick-rod being connected to the piston by means of a crank arm such that the plectrum is also rotated into the string during the pluck.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument comprises a plurality of juxtaposed movable key units and a plurality of juxtaposed strings, each of which has one end fixed to the corresponding key unit and the other end immovably attached to the body of the key board musical instrument and is vibrated at a prescribed frequency upon operation of the corresponding key unit, wherein each string is prevented from making vibration by a stationary damping member while the corresponding key unit remains inoperative and commences vibrations at a prescribed frequency upon operation of the key unit; and the vibrations are electrically detected by pickup devices and, after amplified, are sent forth through a loud-speaker as a musical tone.