Abstract: A sound production apparatus has a speaker, an amplifier circuit that includes at least one electron tube, and a portable housing that encloses the speaker and contains the amplifier circuit such that the speaker is fully enclosed within the housing. In a particular implementation the amplifier circuit includes an input connector, a first triode connected to the input connector, a gain adjustment variable resistance connected to the first triode, and a second triode, which second triode is connected to the gain adjustment variable resistance. A tone adjustment section has a treble tone adjustment variable resistance, a bass tone adjustment variable resistance, and a midrange adjustment variable resistance, all connected to the second triode. A volume adjustment variable resistance is connected to the tone adjustment section, a pentode is connected to the volume adjustment variable resistance, and a transformer is connected to the pentode.

Abstract: A pickup system for an electrical musical instrument having strings includes two pickup windings to respond to playing of the strings. A third winding is included. A switch connects any of the three windings in electrical series with either of the remaining two windings so that any of three respective pairs of connected windings can be selected. The windings of each of the respective pairs are connected such that interference such as 60-hertz hum is canceled.

Abstract: A pickup for a musical instrument having a body to which strings are connected includes a winding to conduct an electrical signal generated in response to movement of at least one of the strings of the musical instrument when the pickup is connected to the body of the musical instrument. The pickup also includes a magnet disposed with the winding such that the winding is between the magnet and the body of the musical instrument when the pickup is connected to the body of the musical instrument and further such that the magnet is between the winding and the strings when the pickup is connected to the body of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A guitar pickup switching system has a single-coil treble pickup, a single-coil middle pickup, and a single-coil rhythm pickup for an electric guitar. A switch arrangement allows the guitar player to select outputs of the pickups in any one of the following seven combinations: treble pickup output alone, treble pickup output plus middle pickup output, middle pickup output alone, middle pickup output plus rhythm pickup output, rhythm pickup output alone, treble pickup output plus rhythm pickup output, and treble pickup output plus middle pickup output plus rhythm pickup output. Two volume controls enable the player to vary the blend of treble pickup output and middle and rhythm pickup outputs provided from the switching system.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a pickup on a stringed musical instrument having a soundhole has a pickup housing which is adapted to be disposed in the soundhole of the instrument. An abutment member is connected by a threaded rod and an operator member to the pickup housing. The operator member is mounted on the rod and the abutment member so that operation of the operator member moves the abutment member along the rod into abutting engagement with the instrument when the pickup housing is disposed in the soundhole and the operator member is operated. This can form part of an electromagnetic pickup which defines a first magnetic pole beneath a first plurality of the strings of the instrument and which also defines a second magnetic pole beneath a second plurality of the strings of the instrument, wherein the second plurality is less than the first plurality.

Abstract: A switching system for an electric guitar using bridge and fingerboard humbucker pickups and an intermediate pickup provides for ready selection of distinct groups of Gibson tonalities and Fender tonalities. A four pole, five position switch for tone selection provides one-of-ten tonality selection in conjunction with a dual pole, double throw switch.

Abstract: A switching system for an electric guitar using bridge and fingerboard humbucker pickups and a single coil intermediate pickup wherein distinct groups of GIBSON tonality and FENDER tonality can be readily selected. The system uses a two-gang, five position switch for tone selection, the switch employing two, double contacting wipers; and, for mode selection either a toggle or push-pull double pole, double throw switch is utilized.