Abstract: A gearless tuner for a stringed musical instrument comprises a generally cylindrical housing for mounting on the instrument including an axial opening extending therethrough; a knob core sized for insertion into the axial opening in the housing including a threaded aperture extending axially therethrough and an annular ring for interacting with the housing to maintain the knob core in the housing; and an elongated slider extending into the axial opening of the housing and axially threaded into the aperture for securing one end of a string of the instrument and drawing the string into the housing when the knob core is rotated with respect to the housing to tension the string, including a string opening through the slider substantially parallel to the direction of the string on the instrument for receiving the string, and locking means both for allowing the slider to move axially with respect to the housing and preventing the slider from rotating with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A tuning peg for a stringed musical instrument comprises a cylindrical housing adapted to be mounted on a stringed musical instrument. The housing has a central chamber, an axially extending slot and a shearing surface. A slider is positioned within the central chamber and has a key projecting into the slot for allowing the slider to move axially relative to the housing and for preventing rotation of the slider relative to the housing. One end of the slider has a transverse aperture for receiving a string, a screw for clamping the string in the aperture and a shearing surface proximate to the aperture and the shearing surface on the housing. A knob is threaded on the other end of the slider. The knob is rotatable relative to the housing but is prevented from axial movement relative to the housing such that rotation of the knob moves the slider in the axial direction to tune the string and shear the string between the shearing surfaces.

Abstract: A support for defining an end point of the vibrating portion of the strings of a stringed musical instrument comprises a base having a slot with walls which converge to an apex line. At least one rocker has walls which converge to a knife edge complementary to the apex line, where the angle between the walls of the base is larger than the angle between the walls of the rocker to allow the rocker to rock in the slot while the knife edge engages the apex line. The rocker has an arc-shaped surface centered at the knife edge for contacting at least one of the strings and moving with the string in a direction along the length of the string while maintaining the end point of the vibrating position of the string at a constant position relative to the base in the direction along the length of the string.

Abstract: A tremolo device for a stringed instrument has a tailpiece for anchoring and moving one end of the strings. The tailpiece pivots on a screw post which is attached to the body. A counterspring provides a force on the tailpiece which opposes the tension of the strings on the tailpiece. The counterspring is attached at a first end thereof to the body of the instrument and a second end thereof to the tailpiece. A screw received in and rotatable relative to the tailpiece is attached to the second end of the counterspring. Be rotating the screw, the distance from the tailpiece to the second end of the counterspring is varied, thereby varying the moment applied to the tailpiece by the force of the counterspring.

Abstract: A device for clamping and tuning strings which extend longitudinally between and past the nut and bridge of a musical instrument includes a base. The base includes a plurality of threaded shank elements. A plurality of threaded nuts are each threaded on a respective shank element. A plurality of actuators are each threaded on a respective threaded shank proximate to a respective threaded nut for selectively applying clamping pressure to a string position between a respective actuation means and threaded nut by rotating relative to a respective threaded nut and shank element. A plurality of cams are provided, each rotatably mounted on the base proximate to one of the strings at a position past the portion of the string between the nut and bridge for moving longitudinally relative to the extent of the string while displacing the string in a direction generally lateral to the longitudinal extent of the string when the cam is rotated for adjusting the pitch of the string by adjusting the tension of the string.

Abstract: An even tuning tremolo system for a stringed musical instrument has a body, a neck extending from the body, and strings having a neck end, a body end, and a body end portion extending from the body end. A nut and bridge define the vibrating portion of the strings. A tremolo tail piece pivots about a pivot point and anchors one end of each string while varying the absolute pitch of the strings and maintaining the relative pitch of the strings during pivoting. The strings are anchored at different relative lever angles, the lever angle defined as the lever angle formed between the body end portion of the string and a line segment between the body end of the string and the pivot point.

Abstract: A clamping device for the strings of a musical instrument includes a base with stationary clamping plates and a threaded shank, movable clamping plates in opposed relation to the stationary clamping plates, nuts threaded on the shank, actuators interposed between a threaded nut and a movable clamping plate for selectively applying clamping pressure to a movable clamping plate by engaging and rotating with a threaded nut while rotating relative to a movable clamping plate for clamping a string between the movable clamping plate and the stationary clamping plate.

Abstract: A tremolo device for an electric guitar has a base mounting plate with an open center section and a spring adjusting threaded screw projecting into the open center section, a bridge plate having a flange projecting into the open center section and having a pair of hinge pin receiving apertures for receiving hinge pins with projecting beveled edges which engage a pair of hinge posts extending from the base mounting plate, and a spring interconnecting the spring adjusting threaded screw and the depending flange.

Abstract: A tremolo mechanism for adjusting the spring tension of a stringed musical instrument, the instrument including a body, a neck portion, a plurality of strings each anchored at one end to the neck portion and extending over at least a portion of the neck portion and the body, the mechanism comprising a base for attachment to the body; a pivot plate mounted on the base for detuning the strings substantially evenly and for maintaining the strings in substantially the same pitch relative to each other when the pivot plate is pivoted with respect to the base, including a plurality of sliders for anchoring the other end of each of the strings; and a bridge positioned between the pivot plate and the neck. A method for rapid tuning of a stringed musical instrument, a string for a stringed musical instrument, and an improved stringed instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge and tuning unit for a stringed musical instrument, the instrument including a body, a neck portion extending from the body, a plurality of strings extending over a part of the body and the neck portion, and means for securing the strings at one end to the neck portion, the bridge and tuning unit comprising a base member fixedly mounted to the body, the base member including a pair of sidewalls defining a channel therebetween; a plurality of individual bridge saddles, one of the bridge saddles corresponding to and aligned for supporting each of the strings, each said saddle generally comprising a rectangular paralleli piped, and having a groove on one surface thereof for alignment with the string. The bridge saddles are positioned in abutting relation within the channel and one of the saddles is in frictional contact with one of the sidewalls.

Abstract: An anchoring and tuning mechanism for the strings of a stringed musical instrument employing plug-ended strings slidably insertable into slots and cut-outs and tensioned by retraction of anchor members slidable in channels aligned with the strings.

Abstract: A foldable leg rest for a stringed musical instrument, the instrument including a body portion having a substantially planar lower surface when the instrument is oriented in a playing position. The leg rest includes a base member for attachment to the lower surface, an elongated substantially flat support member, a hinge mechanism for pivotally connecting the support member to the base member, and a bistable device for alternately biasing the support member into a closed position wherein the support member lies flat against the lower surface of the instrument, and an open position wherein the support member extends downwardly at an angle from the lower surface of the instrument for resting the instrument on the leg of a seated musician, the leg rest having no substantial from the lower surface of the instrument when the support member is in the closed position for maintaining a substantially streamlined appearance of the body.