Abstract: A universal pickup transducer mounting system for a string instrument having a neck and bridge between which a plurality of strings extend includes a receiving cavity formed in the string instrument's body and a multiplicity of exchangeable body blocks disposed in the receiving cavity and configured for releasable mounting therein. The multiplicity of exchangeable body blocks includes at least one transducer receiving block that has an opening formed therein configured for receiving at least one pickup transducer therein. The at least one transducer receiving block is mountable within the receiving cavity to locate the at least one pickup transducer at a user selected longitudinal position relative to the neck and the bridge.

Abstract: A switched reversing configuration control for string instruments connects to a pair of pickup sensors located on an electric string instrument for selectively electrically configuring the pickup sensors between (a) the pair of pickup sensors being coupled with like polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to a pair of output terminals, or (b) effectively coupling only one of the pair of pickup sensors to the output terminals, or (c) the pair of pickup sensors being coupled with opposing polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to the output terminals. An optional reverse polarity passive boost circuit is provided for increasing the output voltage coupled to the output terminals when the pickup sensors are coupled with opposing polarity as compared to the output voltage that would otherwise be provided absent the reverse polarity passive boost circuit.

Abstract: A tone control system for string instruments includes at least one capacitive filter selected for coupling to at least one of a pair of series coupled pickup transducer sensors. The tone control system employs a potentiometer or switch to selectively enable the capacitive filter in different filtering configurations. When selectively not enabled, the capacitive filter is connected to neither of the pair of pickup transducer sensors. The capacitive filter may include a pair of filter capacitors for individually being selectively enabled as a low pass filter for one of the pair of pickup transducer sensors and a high frequency bypass circuit path for the other of the pair of pickup transducer sensors.

Abstract: A reversing configuration control for string instruments connects to a pair of pickup coils located on a string instrument for selectively electrically configuring and blending the outputs of the pickup coils. The reversing configuration control includes a pair of potentiometers mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel of the respective displaceable contacts thereof. The pair of potentiometers are operatively coupled to the pair of pickup coils and a pair of output terminals to vary the electrical configuration of the pair of pickup coils between (a) the pair of pickup coils being coupled with like polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to the output terminals, or (b) effectively coupling only one of the pair of pickup coils to the output terminals, or (c) the pair of pickup coils being coupled with opposing polarity in one of series or parallel with respect to the output terminals.

Abstract: A blend and configuration control for a string instrument connects to a pair of pickup sensors located on the string instrument and in one arrangement includes a pair of potentiometers mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel to provide individual pickup sensor output selection and parallel blending of the outputs of the two sensors. A switch is also included to immediately and reversibly provide a series configuration of the two pickup sensors. In another arrangement, the blend and configuration control includes a pair of potentiometers mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel to provide individual pickup sensor output selection, a series configuration of the two pickup sensors and series blending of the two pickup sensors.

Abstract: A tone control for string instruments includes a pair of potentiometers each coupled in series relationship with a respective filter capacitor. The pair of potentiometers are mechanically coupled one to the other for concurrent mechanical travel of respective displaceable contacts thereof to provide selective filtering of one or more pick-up sensors of the instrument. Responsive to selective positioning of the displaceable contacts of the pair of potentiometers, signals input thereto are high pass filtered, low pass filtered or unfiltered. The tone control can serve as a master tone control where separate tone controls are connected to series coupled pairs of pickup coils and coupled to the master tone control through a blend configuration control.

Abstract: A variable tone configuration control (100, 100?) for string instruments includes a pair of pickup coils (110, 120) located on a string instrument for inducing voltages therein responsive to vibration of any of the strings thereof. The variable tone configuration control (100, 100?) further includes a pair of potentiometers (130, 140) mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel of a respective displaceable contact (132, 142) thereof. The pair of potentiometers (130, 140) are operatively coupled to the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) and a pair of output terminals (102, 104) to vary the electrical configuration of the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) between the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) being connected in series and being connected in parallel as the displaceable contacts (132 and 142) are moved between opposing ends of their mechanical travel.