Abstract: A pick-up assembly for a stringed musical instrument includes first and second identical pick-ups in respective housings. The first pick-up is positioned toward strings of the instrument and the second pick-up is positioned toward inside of the instrument. The first and second pick-ups are attached back to back with a hard rubber sound suppressing material sandwiched between the back of the two housings. The sound suppressing material has the same size as the back of the housing. The second pick-up is grounded with a metal wire or is tuned to zero amplication.

Abstract: A tower has a concrete base (14) supported within the Earth and a frame (5) extending vertically from the base into the atmosphere. A ground conductor (12) runs alongside the frame. A first ground rod (10) is driven into the Earth and is connected to the ground conductor to charge the ground conductor electrically negative. A second ground rod (10) extending vertically above the frame is connected to the ground conductor to be charged electrically negative. A positive conductor (21) running alongside the frame is connected to a positively charged generator (16). A positive rod (22) extending vertically above the frame is connected to the positive conductor to be charged electrically positive. The second ground rod discharges protons from lightning into the Earth via the ground conductor and the first ground rod, and the positive rod attracts and discharges electrons remaining its vicinity into the generator via the positive conductor.