Abstract: In a laminated construction of a soundboard for use in musical instruments such as the piano, the use of a core having larger shearing elastic modulus and/or smaller shearing loss tangent than that of the fore and rear plates assures small shearing loss in the treble range, and greatly improves the total tonal balance over the entire tonal range.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for providing a chromatic scale with accurate intonation for valved brass instruments is disclosed. Two embodimeents of the invention that compensate for the deficiencies of the valve systems of the prior art are described for both four and five valve systems. For four valves systems, a master valve is used to lower the pitch of the instrument by two tones, and for five valve systems, a master valve lowers the pitch by two and one-half tones. The invention, therefore, makes possible complete compensation over the range of the instrument and improved tone quality.

Abstract: An improved tremolo arm and coupling means for an electric guitar is disclosed. Unlike conventional tremolo arms which extend generally parallel to the guitar in use, the tremolo arm according to the invention is mounted substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the guitar and incorporates several bends along its length which improve its ease of use. The tremolo arm is provided with coupling means adapted for use with standard anchoring means on an existing guitar to permit ready installation of the tremolo arm at a pre-selected angular disposition with respect to the guitar strings that avoids interference with the picking hand of the guitar player.

Abstract: A German bassoon comprises a crook, other component joints connected to the crook and a pianissimo key mechanism closing a pianissimo hole formed in the crook without any keywork, and the pianissimo key mechanism allows the pianissimo hole to be open when a player manipulates, thereby causing a performance of the German bassoon to be easy.

Abstract: A high hat stand comprising a stationary cymbal on a stationary support, a movable cymbal above the stationary cymbal and movable down into engagement with the stationary cymbal, a spring urging the movable cymbal away from such engagement, and a pedal connected with the movable cymbal operating rod for operating the movable cymbal against the urging of the spring. Two sprocket wheels of different diameter are supported on an axis fastened on the cymbal operating rod. A first strap in the form of a chain extends from the pedal over the first sprocket. A secondf strap in the form of a chain extends from the second sprocket to a stationary support. The arrangement causes selected movement of the pedal to cause a different extent of movement of the cymbal operating rod, a different force to move the cymbal, and changes the rate of return of the pedal and enables a spring of a different selected spring force to be used than the foot force that is applied to the pedal.

Abstract: A tambourine is fabricated from a single piece frame having two hinges which divide the frame into a central section and two end sections. As assembled the frame is bent at the hinges and curved so that the two end sections can be joined by a connecting member. The jingles are preferably mounted by grooves which intersect jingle slots and are arranged on opposite sides of the frame to retain the jingle mounting pin.

Abstract: This device provides simplified, effective and inexpensive constructions for transferring energy stored in torque springs (30) to the function of keys, valves, rings and levers of musical instruments. It is a rigid tube indented with a longitudinal groove (12) designed to serve as an axle supporting key mechanisms between permanent posts anchored to the body of a musical instrument. After groove tube (10) is passed through forward post (18a), it is introduced into key tubing (14), groove (12) tracks over bump or protuberance (28) in key tubing (14) and groove tube (10) proceeds into back permanent post (18b) where it rests. Groove tube (10) is now journalled fore and aft in permanent posts (18a) and (18b). In like process, groove tube (10) fills the hollow of key rod (16) and is journalled in forward post (18a). The solid end of key rod (16) is pivoted at rear post (18b). This system permits lengthwise movement, but prevents rotation of groove tube (10) within key tubing (14) or key rod (16).

Abstract: A balance pin assembly for mounting a piano key includes a balance pin, a mounting insert, and a self-locking pin. The balance pin has a lower externally threaded base, an intermediate annular shoulder, and an upper elongated stem with a top torque regulating head. The mounting insert has a central bore and is both externally and internally threaded for threading into a hole in a piano keybed rail member and for threadably receiving the base of the balance pin to establish the desired height of the piano key above the rail member. The torque regulating head is used to turn the pin and will shear off if the pin is overtightened in the insert thereby preventing stripping of the internal threads of the insert.

Abstract: A drum includes a hollow drum body, a drum skin frame supported by the walls of the hollow drum body, a drum skin stretched on the drum skin frame, and a drum head frame tightly clamping the peripheral; edges of the drum skin frame and the drum skin. A damping member, disposed between the drum head frame and the drum skin frame, absorbs the vibrations of the two drum frames and filters out the sound they produce whenever the drum skin is beaten.

Abstract: A simple form of woodwind instrument of the clarinet-type and flute-type is shown. Each instrument utilizes the same body made of PCV pipe and different sound generators of clarinet-type mouth pieces or flute-type head joints designed to fit the body. The instrument is intended for beginners in a general music classroom setting grades 1 through 6, possibly complementing the "Orff instrumentarium" of percussion instruments. The simplified instrument may be used along to provide "hands-on" introduction to the legitimate woodwind instruments (clarinets and flutes) in a step-by-step preparation for playing these instruments.

Abstract: A method of tuning a violin bow to improve the quality of sound consists of clamping the bow at the frog, tapping the bow near the frog, and trimming the material in the proximity of the tapping point until a desired tone is produced by the vibrating bow. The bow is subsequently clamped at the previous tapping point, and the tapping and trimming steps are repeated. This process is continued until the head end of the bow is reached.

Abstract: A stringed instrument fingerboard having a first fretted portion and a first fretless portion in which frets would occur if the pattern of the fret locations in the fretted portion had been extended thereover.

Abstract: A finger rest for a recorder, which is attached on the under side of a body of the recorder for facilitating support of the weight of the recorder body with a thumb of the right hand of a player, comprises a body holding section having a bottom portion of a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the recorder body and side portions on both sides of the bottom portion, and a thumb supporting section projecting from the holding section downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body holding section. The body holding section has a cross section in the form of an arc so as to engage the outer periphery of the recorder body with a spring force. The arc is a major arc having a circumference longer than that of a half circle.

Abstract: A musical drum is reinforced by a stiffening ring which is placed inside the shell of the drum at the edge adjacent to the drum head, and is adjusted by a screw to provide internal tension in the drum shell to prevent its being squeezed when the drum head is tightened. The stiffening ring additionally forms the open head, the bearing edge, of a wooden drum into a truer round, i.e. cylindrical, shape. This provides more accurate and precise tuning.

Abstract: An elevator rod is passed through a hollow post. A lower cymbal is mounted on the upper end of the post, while an upper cymbal is mounted on the upper portion of the rod. The elevator rod is urged upward by a return spring. A running pulley is mounted on the lower end portion of the rod. The running pulley is rotatable around a horizontal support shaft. A foot board is disposed at a position lower than the pulley, and a flexible member is wound around the pulley. A fixed end of the flexible member is connected to a supporting portion which is situated lower than the running pulley. A free end of the flexible member is connected to the extreme end portion of the foot board.

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 stringed instrument having a body portion and a neck extending from the body portion wherein the neck includes mounting end attachable to the body portion, a distal end and an intermediate section including means for attachment of a fingerboard. An enclosed channel extends from the mounting end of the neck along a central axis to an opening at the distal end, providing a housing for a rigid bar disposed within the channel. This bar includes (i) an adjustment end positioned near the instrument body, (ii) a distal end extending toward the distal end of the neck, and (iii) a transverse pivot support coupled at an intermediate section of the bar and journaled within the neck. The height and width dimensions provide a close fit of the bar within the channel at a distal end thereof such that displacement of the distal end of the bar along a vertical or rotational axis results in corresponding displacement of the distal end of the neck in a bi-directional, controlled member.

Abstract: An improved mouthpiece reed holder system for single-reed woodwind instruments. The mouthpiece window is nearly the full length of the reed such that preferably 65% or more of the area of the underside of the reed is open to the tone chamber. The associated reed holder (commonly termed the ligature) clamps the reed to the mouthpiece along the lateral edges of the reed. The tone chamber of the mouthpiece is preferably the same length as the window, and preferably rectangular or square in cross-section throughout its length. A hollow spoon shaped cavity communicates with the bore and the tone chamber and merges the bore with the tone chamber.

Abstract: Violin bellies, backs, and sides are immersed in a varnish bath under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure for periods of time ranging from 1 to 14 days. The varnish bath contains a drying oil in a volatile solvent. In a preferred embodiment, the varnish bath contains 30-35% tung oil in a volatile solvent, such as turpentine or pertoleum ether. The temperature is preferably maintained between 70.degree. and 95.degree. F., and the pressure is preferably maintained between 1 and 10 psi above atmospheric pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the bellies are made of spruce and are immersed in the varnish bath for periods of time ranging from 1 to 14 days, while the backs and sides are made from maple and are immersed in the varnish bath for periods of time ranging from 1 to 3 days.

Abstract: A drum hoop for a musical drum, at times referred to as a "counter hoop," which hoop includes a reinforcing channel member and a reinforcing rim. The drum counter hoop retains a drum head with an associated locking member, or ring, by fastening lugs or the like secured to the drum shell and by suitable fastening means such as threaded bolts with nut-type heads thereon, sometimes referred to as tension screws, or rods, which engage with the hoop. The lugs are internally threaded or provided with extensions for threads to engage with the bolts. The drum hoop and drum shell are, therefore, provided with means for adjusting or changing the tension of the drum head by tightening or loosening the bolts which changes the position of the hoop and the drum head locking member with respect to the drum shell. The reinforced construction permits the drum head to be provided with a very high tension without bending or breaking the drum hoop.