Abstract: An improved, easily-transportable, electric double bass viol having a non-resonant body and rigidly supported fingerboard for enhanced string sustain and tonal brilliance, collapsible body extensions for providing the customary physical dimension and reference points found in traditional double basses to render the instrument easily playable by bassists trained on traditional double basses, and a piezoelectric bridge pickup structure having a piezoelectric element and flexible and inflexible portions such that string motion is transmitted to the piezoelectric element while acoustic energy in the body is substantially prevented from exciting the piezoelectric element, thereby eliminating unwanted acoustic feedback, while providing a tonal characteristic similar to an acoustic double bass.

Abstract: An improved bridge transducer for rigid non-acoustic body string musical instruments, enabling production of tonal character and quality associated with flexible acoustic body instruments using a novel compliant suspension supporting a string bridge, which is equally responsive to plucked or bowed strings, is interactive with the strings in a manner similar to acoustic body supported bridges, while eliminating problems of diminished string sustain, and air coupled loud speaker feedback, uneven frequency response, and is economical to manufacture. A sound pickup device is coupled to the suspended string bridge for detection and amplification of motion induced by played strings.

Abstract: A transducer adapted to fretless musical instruments, instruments with non-conductive frets or non-conductive string wrapping, with two or more vibratable strings of magnetically permeable material. The strings pass through a magnetic field. Motion of the strings generates current in the strings. The magnetic field is provided by magnets shaped to concentrate the field across the signal generating portions of the strings. In a preferred embodiment, the coils are wound around the specially shaped magnets to utilize the same magnetic field used to generate current in the strings. Means are provided to passively mix both signals generated in the coil and signals generated in the strings. The circuitry electrically connected to the strings incorporates a method of balancing the uneven output caused by differences in string diameter. There is no special "return" wiring of the neck required. A wide variety of tonal differences are obtainable without active circuitry or signal processing.

Abstract: A transducer adapted to fretless musical instruments, instruments with non-conductive frets or non-conductive string wrapping, with two or more vibratable strings of magnetically permeable material. The strings pass through a magnetic field. Motion of the strings generates current in the strings, as well as in coils placed within the common magnetic field. Means are provided to passively mix both signals generated in the coil and signals generated in the strings. The circuitry electrically connected to the strings incorporates a method of balancing the uneven output caused by differences in string diameter. There is no special "return" wiring of the neck required. A wide variety of tonal differences are obtainable without active circuitry or signal processing. The signal level and impedance is such that it can be connected through a convenient length of cable to a standard musical instrument amplifier.