Abstract: A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.

Abstract: A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.

Abstract: A banjo acoustic-chamber cushion is an apparatus that is used to minimize the discomfort caused by the sharp edges and brackets found around the perimeter of the acoustic chamber of a banjo. The apparatus may include a circular padded backing and an annular padded rim. The circular padded backing serves as a shield between the player's body and the back of a banjo acoustic chamber without obstructing the playing of the banjo. The circular padded backing also protects the back of the banjo acoustic chamber from physical damage such as scratches or dents. The annular padded rim serves as a shield between the player's body and the rim of the banjo acoustic chamber. The annular padded rim also secures the apparatus to the banjo acoustic chamber. Further, the annular padded rim protects the outer lateral surfaces of the banjo acoustic chamber from physical damage such as scratches and dents.

Abstract: A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.

Abstract: A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a flex action tremolo. The assembly includes a neck of the stringed instrument that is capable of pivoting to cause the stings of the instrument to slack or tighten depending on the movement of the neck. A metal bar extends across a portion of the hollow portion of the body and is connected to the neck. There is at least one spring-loaded connection between the metal bar and the inside surface of the hollow portion of the body. This allows the metal bar and neck to pivot at one or more angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck, while maintaining the tuning of the guitar when the neck is returned to a neutral position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a banjo with all the wooden parts made from White Oak with the elimination of the conventional metal tone ring reducing the weight and lowering the manufacturing costs. As a result, white oak vibrates at a higher frequency and does not absorb as much of the sound vibrations as other woods so the tone is richer and louder.

Abstract: A musical drum having a hollow shell with at least one opening defined by a circumferential bearing edge, a drumhead, which includes an upper surface consisting of the batter head and a bottom surface, a snare assembly with a plurality of individual wires having opposite end portions, a mounting member affixed to at least one end portion, and means for releasably attaching the snare assembly to the circumferential bearing edge comprising a flexible U-shaped clip in engagement with the circumferential bearing edge in pressure-contact relation. The individual snare wires are disposed in abutment against the bottom surface of the drumhead to cause the wires to vibrate upon the striking of the batter head.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Simplified Banjo and Drum Body where the body section of the instruments will consist of an upper compression ring with grooves on the lower surface, a shell having mating compression grooves on the upper edge surface and the banjo head material. An optional tone ring can be added on the inner surface of the shell. The unique feature of this application is that when the compression ring is tightened down on the shell of the instrument the head material is automatically tightened over the instrument.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having a resonator assembly is disclosed herein. The stringed musical instrument includes a musical instrument body; a neck having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of the neck being coupled to the musical instrument body; a plurality of strings extending from the first end portion of the neck to the musical instrument body; and a resonator assembly disposed in the musical instrument body, the resonator assembly including a resonator diaphragm and a pickup subassembly operatively coupled to the resonator diaphragm. The pickup subassembly includes a pickup body portion and an elongate piezo-film portion operatively coupled to the pickup body portion. In one or more embodiments, a first end of the elongate piezo-film portion is attached to the pickup body portion and a second end of the elongate piezo-film portion is attached to a side of the resonator diaphragm.

Abstract: A banjo, made almost entirely of wood, eliminates most metal parts of a traditional banjo. The neck is bolted to the body, improving sustain. The body consists of a drum assembly bolted to a resonant tone chamber. The resonant tone chamber consists of a thin back, thin rim assembly, interior flange ring, thin decorative cover and tone ring. The interior flange ring provides mechanical strength to the resonant tone chamber and anchors the drum assembly. The drum assembly consists of a banjo head and a tension hoop. The banjo head snugly fits over the tone ring, and is tensioned via a plurality of bolts that secure the tension hoop in the drum assembly to the flange ring in the resonant tone chamber. A sound port cut into the rim assembly provides sound to a player. Sound holes cut into the decorative cover project sound from the resonant tone chamber toward an audience.

Abstract: The present invention is a banjo tone ring with vertical sides (30) as opposed to the angled design of conventional banjo tone rings (120). The ring (30) of the present invention has specific height (h) to width (w) or thickness ratios and is within specific weight ranges for improved performance It vibrates much freer and thus raises the quality of musical tones from the banjo (10) to much higher aesthetic levels. Other embodiments also modify the musical tones for different sounds. Several novel embodiments of manufacturing methods are also described.

Abstract: A stringed instrument (10A) neck structure adjusting arrangement includes a cantilever member (39). One end of the cantilever member is configured to be connected, in use, to a body and/or neck structure of the stringed instrument. The cantilever member is configured to be moveable relative to a free end of the neck structure of the stringed instrument. The arrangement also includes an adjustment device (30) located at or adjacent a free end of the cantilever member. The adjustment device is configured to adjust a position of the cantilever member (39) relative to the neck structure, thereby adjusting curvature of the neck structure. The adjustment is in a plane substantially perpendicular to a main axis of the neck structure.

Abstract: A string instrument includes a body portion having a first longitudinal axis, an elongate neck portion having a second longitudinal axis and first and second opposing ends located along the second longitudinal axis, and a fastener that secures one of the first or second ends to the body portion, wherein the first and second axes are misaligned from each other in a same plane.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, having components made from glass, and methods of manufacturing and assembling the same are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides for manufacturing a glass fretboard, manufacturing glass frets, assembling the glass frets to the fretboard, and assembling the fretboard to the neck of the stringed instrument. In addition to the fretboard and frets, other components of the stringed instrument may also be made from glass. For example, the present invention further provides a method for manufacturing glass saddles and top nuts to allow the strings of the stringed instrument to substantially entirely contact glass. This produces a clean, crisp sound and overcomes the problem of generating an inferior sound that results from the imperfections found in natural wood components, for example.

Abstract: A D-Tuner for mounting on the peghead of a banjo. The D-Tuner has keyed cam pegs, adjustable stops for limiting the extent of rotation of the cam pegs, and linear flexible members attached to the cam pegs. The flexible members are suitable for attachment to the second B string and third G string of a banjo for tuning the banjo when the keyed cam pegs are turned.

Abstract: “Mitchel's Tone Ring Mate” is completely new to the banjo world. The “Mitchel's Tone Ring Mate” is a smaller tone ring in itself, sitting on top of the original raised head tone ring at 25 thousands higher and at opposite angles, thus converting the original raised head tone ring to a flat head tone ring. Being completely different than any other invention. This doing, by design, composition and development, unknown in manufacturing there into.

Abstract: Stringed musical instruments, and methods for manufacturing such instruments, are provided that include a unitary shell that includes a head, a neck and a body, a separate sound board adapted to be attached to the unitary shell, wherein the soundboard extends from the head to the body, and a substantially hollow cavity extending through the head, the neck and the body. Exemplary processes include composite manufacturing processes and plastics manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A banjo having an improved pick-up system includes at least one pick-up mounted on or near the banjo head. In one embodiment, a plurality of holes are formed in the banjo head so that metallic heads of a pick-up system can extend therethrough while causing minimal distortion to the innate sound produced by the banjo. Yet, at the same time, the pick-up allows the user to manipulate, through electromagnetic amplification, the sound retrieved by the pick-up. Additionally, a preamplifier may be used in connection with the pick-up.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as a guitar with a thinner than traditional body is provided enhanced decibels measured by sound pressure level (DBSPL) response employing a combination of one or more of each of a passive radiator, tuned isolated resonating wave guide or guides in the body cavity and an equalized closeable sound opening in the front face configured to maximize volume at low frequencies and increasing low frequency response, e.g., at or less than 500 Hz. The passive radiator may be in either the front or rear or both faces. The wave guides each comprise elongated sheets in the body chamber spaced from the corresponding face by spaced posts. The wave guides may be in opposing cooperating pairs or may be staggered for directing low frequency waves to a sound opening in the front face and resonate to provide enhanced low frequency response and subsequent volume. The passive radiator in the rear face is recessed within the body chamber.

Abstract: A new stringed musical instrument having an appearance somewhat similar to a banjo or guitar or related instrument and comprising a head portion and an elongated neck secured to the head portion and extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of strings, which may vary in number, extend across and in overlying relation to an outer face of the head portion and continuously therefrom along the length of the neck, where they are adjustably attached by individual, rotatably mounted pegs. The head portion preferably comprises a tambourine having an exposed outer face and an inner face and a flexible material membrane stretched in a taut orientation across the exposed outer face and in underlying relation to the plurality of strings. The tambourine head portion also includes a plurality of metal disks or "jingles" movably mounted on the peripheral sidewall thereof.

Abstract: The stringed instrument includes an aluminum head formed of a stepped annular flange with a shoulder intermediate smaller and larger diameter flange portions. A groove is formed in the shoulder to enable the smaller diameter flange portion to vibrate relative to the larger diameter flange portion. A membrane is stretched over the smaller diameter flange portion. The arm of the instrument is secured solely to the larger diameter flange portion by neck mount brackets screw-threaded to the head. The brackets permit angular adjustment of the arm relative to the membrane of the head. A full fingerboard capo is slidably mounted to the neck underlying the fretboard and has an arm spring-biased to engage the strings and to maintain the capo in selected positions along the length of the arm. A fifth string capo is slidably mounted to the fretboard and has a spring to maintain it in selected longitudinal position along the fretboard.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument including a head formed of a front panel having a central opening therein and a back panel held in spaced-apart relationship by an elongated member extending therebetween and attached to one end of an elongated neck. A plurality of strings each have one end affixed to the neck and extend along the length thereof and across a bridge to an attachment point on the front panel. An electrical pickup is mounted on the elongated member beneath the strings and between the bridge and the neck and extends through the opening to a point proximate the strings. The instrument is particularly suited for manufacture from acrylic materials.

Abstract: An improved electric stringed instrument which can produce "banjo" sounds. The instrument has a banjo head including a taut flexible membrane mounted on a ring which is mounted on a solid material (preferably wood) body. The ring and body are connected in a conventional manner to a fretted neck extending away from the head. A plurality of strings extend from adjustable securing means at the end of the neck over the flexible membrane to a tailpiece secured to the body. A bridge is positioned between the strings and membrane. One or more recesses in the body below the membrane contain electric pickups. The spaces between the sides and bottoms of the pickups and the adjacent surfaces of the recesses are at least partially filled with resilient foam. The foam beneath the pickups is compressed slightly to keep the upper pickup surface in resilient contact with the membrane.

Abstract: A musical instrument with a plurality of strings comprises a body assembly, a neck, and a headpiece, with the body assembly comprising a cylindrical body, a membrane covering the top of the cylindrical body, and a head rim extending along the circumference of the top of the cylindrical body holding the membrane over the cylindrical body, with a plurality of tuning lug assemblies secured into the side of the head rim.

Abstract: A banjo sub-assembly construction is disclosed as well as a method of and an apparatus for assembling this sub-assembly of the banjo. The metal tone ring and mating wooden rim are fabricated with an interference fit so as to provide a tight and permanent interface therebetween and thereby enhance the quality and volume of sound from the banjo instrument. A tone ring expander apparatus is used to expand the tone ring to permit the wooden rim to be easily inserted in the tone ring.

Abstract: A method of forming a non-tunable head for a drum, banjo, tambourine, or similar musical instrument is described. A highly oriented crystalline polymeric film is immersed into a liquid solvent bath containing a halogenated methane compound until the film swells to become sufficiently soft so that it can be draped. The film is then removed from the solvent bath and preferably mechanically wiped to remove solvent remaining on its surface. The film is securely attached to an annular member before it dries, and is then dried by allowing the solvent to evaporate. As the film dries, it shrinks to substantially its original dimensions to provide a constant tension in the head. The heads formed by this method have sufficient tension to provide an effective musical tone without the utilization of clamping or stretching means which must be periodically readjusted to maintain a desired tension in the head.

Abstract: A neck and tailpiece are detachable together with the strings from the body of a banjo for storage and transportation. The banjo can easily be reassembled with very little adjustment. The strings pass through holes in a nut and in a bridge removable with the strings. The neck is attached by screws passing through a heel thereon. Adjustable members are provided for initially setting the angle of the neck relatively to the body. The tailpiece has a screw device that reacts against a slotted bracket. The body comprises a hoop reinforced by an L-shaped flange member.

Abstract: An attachment device for adjustably mounting the neck to the body of a stringed musical instrument, for example a banjo, has a pair of plates for attachment respectively to the neck and body of the banjo. A pivot point locates one plate with respect to the other, and a pair of adjustment screws interconnect the plates, cooperatively controlling the angle at which the neck extends away from the body. Elongated holes in one of the adapter plates receive the adjustment screws, permitting the neck to be rotated with respect to the body, about the longitudinal axis of the neck. The device may include a brace bar extending across the body of the instrument to hold a tailpiece. A setscrew opposes tension in the adjustment screws to hold the plates in desired relative positions.

Abstract: A banjo construction in which the banjo tone ring has a wedge fit with the banjo rim. The banjo tone ring has a pair of radially spaced tone ring portions. A banjo bracket flange has a wedge fit with the banjo rim.

Abstract: An improved banjo head is described which provides a deeper and more mellow sound to the banjo. The new head also allows for sound pick up and amplification from each string. The new banjo head comprises a thin flexible membrane having a hole positioned on the periphery of this membrane and a means to reinforce said hole.

Abstract: An improved banjo drumhead having a circumferential body rim and a separate tone ring which receives the head membrane stretched over it, the tone ring being supported relative to the body rim by a number of cantilevered support columns extending from the body rim, the head membrane being stretched over the tone ring and affixed to the body rim so that the only mechanical connection between the tone ring and the body rim is the plurality of cantilevered support columns permitting the tone ring to achieve independent vibrational movement relative to the body rim.