Abstract: Powdered metal composition consisting essentially of carbon, copper, solid lubricant particles, carbide-enriched alloys and iron and process for sintering to yield alloyed components exhibiting improved mechanical, physical and wear-resistent properties.

Abstract: An integrated carrier/saddle structure for securing strings to an acoustic guitar which eliminates structural loading that inhibits the motion of the sounding board and provides adjustable coupling of the string vibrations to the diaphram formed by the guitar sounding board. The carrier member, to which the strings are attached, is mounted independently of the sounding board and is incorporated into the saddle structure through an aperture with an adjustment means being provided to vary the height of the carrier with respect to the saddle to optimize the coupling force between the strings and sounding board. A removable cover, attached to the saddle, is provided to enclose the aperture formed around the extension of the carrier member through the saddle structure and the adjustment mechanism.