Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument has an elongated permanent magnet associated with a plurality of pole pieces to establish a magnetic field in which the strings vibrate. The strength of the magnetic field is reduced a desired amount to achieve pleasing tonal quality, by providing a gap in the magnetic circuit between the magnet and the pole pieces. The gap is established by supporting the pole pieces in a retainer bar of non-magnetizable material at predetermined distances from its edge and assembling the elements such that the edge of the retainer bar abuts the adjacent pole face of the magnet. Alternatively, a pole piece with a reduced diameter end may be retained relative to its respective magnet pole face so as to provide an air gap therebetween. Both dual and single bobbin embodiments are described.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup device for use in an electrical string musical instrument comprises a first coil portion having an upper surface and carrying a plurality of spaced apart magnetic pole pieces, a second coil portion having an upper surface and carrying a like plurality of spaced apart magnetic pole pieces, each of the strings being operatively associated with a pair of pole pieces, one of the pair on each of the coil portions, each of the strings having a resting position and the central vertical axes of the pair of magnetic pole pieces associated with at least one string lying in a plane which intersects the string. An electrical string musical instrument comprising the electromagnetic pickup device of this invention produces a timbre or tonal quality which is more natural and pleasing to the ear than that produced by an electrical string musical instrument employing a conventional dual coil pickup device.

Abstract: An electrical pickup device for a stringed musical instrument having ferromagnetic strings comprises a pair of superposed coaxial bobbins, each axially wound with a coil having its axis perpendicular to the instrument strings. An integral plate of magnetic material is provided comprising a base disposed between the two bobbins perpendicular to the coil axis and two side walls extending upwardly and perpendicularly from the base to at least immediately below the top face of the upper bobbin. A plurality of rod-like permanent magnets extend through at least the upper coil parallel to the axis thereof and contact the base of the integral plate and the magnets have like polarities at the tops thereof.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup device for stringed musical instruments using metallic strings has a planar permanent magnet with one of its two main surfaces exposed for facing the instrument strings during use and a pickup coil mounted on the other main surface with the plane of the planar magnet perpendicular to the axis of the coil.

Abstract: A trapezohedral insert converts a parallelipiped transparent plastic container into an effective merchandise display. Merchandise is held in the insert, easily inserted into the container with a minimum of expense for support material and labor.

Abstract: A nut to compensate for sharpness of notes, particularly near the neck of a lute-type instrument is provided with an extending portion extending over the fingerboard. The extension increases toward the bass notes. In a guitar, an excellent extension to compensate all the intermediate strings is from 1/64th of an inch at the treble end of the neck to 1/32nd of an inch at the bass end of the neck.