Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic pickup comprising a bobbin, a single coil wound around the bobbin and at least one pole piece coupled to the bobbin. The pickup is adapted for use with a stringed musical instrument including a body portion, a neck portion and a plurality of strings. In operation, the pickup is disposed between the neck and body portions of the musical instrument such that the pickup is substantially invisible to a user of the musical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stringed, musical instrument where the instrument strings are grounded by a string ground circuit, and wherein the string ground circuit includes a circuit breaker having a current path that defines a portion of the string ground circuit between the strings and a ground.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor array for detecting vibrations from a hollow-bodied musical instrument and converting the vibrations into electrical signals for amplification. The sensor array includes a plurality of sensors connected in series including a string sensor disposed under the strings of the musical instrument and at least one body sensor attached to the soundboard of the musical instrument.

Abstract: Transducer (100, 200, 300, 500, 600) for converting mechanical vibrations to an electrical signal and/or for converting an electrical signal to mechanical vibration. Damping liquid (122, 222, 522, 622) damps the relative vibration of transducer components (110, 250, 252, 254, 510, 610). The damping liquid can be selected to optimize the sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction. Also, a transducer with components that rotate relative to each other (304, 310, 504, 510, 604, 610). For example, a permanent magnet component may simultaneous vibrate rotationally and linearly with respect to an electric signal carrying coil. The characteristics of the rotational vibration may be adjusted to optimize sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction.

Abstract: An acoustic stringed instrument body includes a soundboard, a bottom surface and a side surface, wherein the soundboard includes a relief cut, wherein the relief cut is dimensioned to create a more flexible coupling between the soundboard and the sidewall, wherein the relief cut improves the tone of the instrument by allowing the soundboard to vibrate more freely.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as a hollow body guitar has a neck portion that extends under the tail of the fretboard. The body of the instrument has a pair of recesses which mate with respective tail and heel surfaces on the neck portion. Spacers are placed in the recesses in order to adjust the spacing and angle of the neck portion relative to the instrument's body. If the neck and body are connected to each other by bolts, then any misalignment between the neck and body can be cured by removing the bolts, replacing the spacers with spacers of a different thickness and/or wedge shape, and replacing the bolts. Additional structural components can be added to the neck and inside the body of the instrument in order to further enhance its structural integrity.