Abstract: A retrofit tremolo is designed to replace an existing tremolo in a guitar or other musical instrument. The retrofit tremolo has a bridge that removeably holds a pair of knife edge inserts. The knife edge inserts are contactable with posts embedded in the instrument. The knife edge inserts are replaceable when they become worn. A spring plate on the bridge is connectable with springs on the instrument existing from the previous tremolo that is replaced. The instrument strings are supported by rollers on intonation blocks. Fine tuners engage the bridge between the intonation block rollers and ends of the strings anchored in the bridge. The fine tuners have respective tips with semi-cylindrical ends and V-shaped notches. The semi-cylindrical ends aid in fitting the strings within the notches during tremolo setup.

Abstract: The system of musical notation includes a series of alphabetic characters “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, “G”, “A” and “B” representing tones C through B, and a series of alphabetic characters “H”, “I”, “J”, “K” and “L” representing tones C♯ (D♭), D♯ (E♭), F♯ (G♭), G♭ (A♭) and A♯ (B♭), respectively. A timing grid is divided horizontally into an upper register section, a middle register section and a lower register section. The middle register section accommodates characters A, L, B, C, H, D, I and E, with character C representing the middle C tone of a keyboard instrument. The upper register section accommodates characters representing tones higher in pitch than tone E, the lower register section, accommodates characters, representing tones lower in pitch than tone A.

Abstract: A plectrum having a pair of contact points for double striking the strings to achieve a fuller sound. The plectrum having a pair of contact points includes a panel. The panel has substantially planar front and back surfaces. The panel has a top edge and two side edges. The side edges taper to an outer point positioned distal of the top edge. The panel has a proximal portion adjacent to the top edge and a distal portion adjacent to the outer point. A slit is in the distal portion. The slit is pointed and has two legs extending away from a point of the slit. The point of the slit is located generally adjacent to the outer point defined by the two side edges. The legs of the slit extend toward the proximal portion. An inner point of the distal portion is defined by the slit. The outer and inner points both strike the strings of an instrument when the plectrum is brought across the strings.

Abstract: An elastic mounting device for a tom-tom drum holder includes a counterhoop body connected to the batter head of the drum and a holder for supporting the drum, characterized in that the holder is mounted aerially and two ends of the holder are provided with holes for the insertion of screw rods for tightening, the screw rods are externally mounted with an elastic collar and the screw rods with the elastic collar are then inserted into positioning holes provided on the counterhoop body, the inner edge of the counterhoop body is provided with a pad and a fastening nut for securing together with the holder, thereby by means of the mounting of the elastic collar with the screw rods, the drum vibrates slightly in accordance with the beating of the batter head of the

Abstract: A compressible pick for playing a stringed musical instrument. The compressible pick generally includes a compressible body having at least two adjoined striking surfaces on one end and a variable thickness user grip on an opposing end. The compressible body may further include at least one stiffening member to alter the stiffness and acoustic properties of the compressible pick. The compressible pick may also include frictional features that provide an improved grip. Additionally, the compressible pick may include ornamental features.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is a guitar pick that is useful as a pick for stringed instruments. The device is generally worn between the two joints of middle phalange of a forefinger of a hand that is used to pluck the strings that extend over the aperture to the resonating cavity of the stringed instrument. The device has a pick portion that is attached to a ring portion. Preferably the pick portion projects from the ring portion at an angle from the plane of the ring portion. The angled projection of the pick portion from the ring portion permits a user to quickly and easily switch from picked play to finger picking play. It is conceivable that other fingers of either hand could be adorned similarly to a useful end.

Abstract: An improved vibrato device for an electric guitar that includes a lever passing from the bridge assembly down through the guitar body front surface and extending toward the neck and then upwardly through the guitar front surface within convenient reach of a musician's picking hand. The lever may be operatively coupled with a controller that enables the musician to better synchronize the vibrato effect during playing with other desired effects, such as volume changes, phase changes and effects produced by Musical Instrument Digital Instrument (MIDI) devices.

Abstract: A musical box movement includes an auxiliary winder shaft which can be positioned centrally with respect to a musical box movement. In prior art arrangements, as the normal winder shaft has inherently to be off-set with respect to a mean or central axis of the assembled musical box movement, not feasible to certain design limitations are normally experienced, which embodiments of the invention overcome.

Abstract: An electric bass guitar in which its electronic pick-up is displaced substantially 4-41/2 inches from its bridge, and in which a plurality of holes are provided within its body to receive a support strap in offering five different playing positions to a user, including one in which the guitar is supported to allow its being bowed without the need for any support stand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for selectively actuating two high hats and a bass drum of a drum set. Normally, a bass drum and high hat (cymbals) are actuated with separate pedals by a drummer, but with today's more complex music, it becomes more convenient for the drummer if a pair of high hats and a bass drum are actuated by one foot, and additionally, a second beater for the bass drum is actuated by the other foot. The structure of the invention provides a single pedal with associated three buttons for separate actuation of a first high hat, a second high hat and a bass drum (middle button). The three buttons, in simple terms, cause a rocker arm to tilt one way or the other by the actuation of the first and third buttons. The middle button places the rocker arm in a neutral or level position to actuate the bass drum.

Abstract: The meantone temperer external device is used in conjunction with a keyboard or other musical instrument. The meantone temperer is used to temper the connected musical instrument to any desired meantone-tempered scale, which is selected by the user. This device is operated by simply entering the desired temperament on the input keypad and pressing the "temper" button. Calculations are then made and the results are stored in RAM. When the user strikes a note on the musical instrument, a value is pulled out of RAM corresponding to the note struck. This value is then multiplied by the corresponding octave multiplier in ROM and the tempered note is sounded.

Abstract: The hoop clamping system for bass drum assemblies features an assembly attached to the foot pedal's floor plate into which the handle bolt is attached and made easily accessible from the side of the pedal. The toe clamp is activated by a pivoting cam, one end of which is under the heel of the toe clamp; the other in contact with the handle bolt. Turning the handle bolt causes the cam to lift or lower the heel of the toe clamp resulting in the desired clamping action. This hoop clamp system provides greater range of travel for the foot board, and substantially improves accessibility to the handle bolt for ease of adjusting the toe clamp. This hoop clamping system further reduces unwanted vibration and lowers manufacturing costs.