Abstract: A bridge for a musical instrument has a bridge body and a plurality of saddles disposed substantially upon the bridge body. A least a plurality of saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary the height of a string supported thereby.

Abstract: A bridge for a musical instrument has a bridge body and a plurality of saddles disposed substantially upon the bridge body. A least a plurality of saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary the height of a string supported thereby.

Abstract: Guitar pickups are provided herein comprising an upper bobbin, a ferromagnetic steel plate and a lower bobbin, stacked on top of each other, oriented longitudinally and laterally substantially the same, and held together by ferromagnetic screws. An upper coil is wounded around a middle section of the upper bobbin, and a lower coil is wounded in an opposite manner around a middle section of the lower bobbin, whereby the upper and lower coils are connected in series. The upper and lower bobbins, and steel plate each include a plurality of coaxial apertures to receive corresponding permanent magnetic pole pieces that extend from the upper bobbin to the lower bobbin. The upper and lower bobbins include additional apertures to receive ferromagnetic cylinders to selectively change the tonal characteristics of the guitar. The pickups may include a pair of ferromagnetic plates attached to the longitudinal sides of the lower bobbin that extend upwards to about the middle of the upper coil.

Abstract: A guitar pickup has symmetrically balanced coils arranged in a concentric configuration with a ferromagnetic steel plate centrally common to both coils. Inductive components are added or subtracted in order to enhance the sound and tonal characteristics that pickup without compromising noise immunity. A non-magnetized planar ferromagnetic plate is interposed between upper and lower coils of the pickup. Magnetic pole pieces extend from within the upper coil to within the lower coil through holes disposed in the planar ferromagnetic plate.

Abstract: Guitar pickups are provided herein comprising an upper bobbin, a ferromagnetic steel plate and a lower bobbin, stacked on top of each other, oriented longitudinally and laterally substantially the same, and held together by ferromagnetic screws. An upper coil is wounded around a middle section of the upper bobbin, and a lower coil is wounded in an opposite manner around a middle section of the lower bobbin, whereby the upper and lower coils are connected in series. The upper and lower bobbins, and steel plate each include a plurality of coaxial apertures to receive corresponding permanent magnetic pole pieces that extend from the upper bobbin to the lower bobbin. The upper and lower bobbins include additional apertures to receive ferromagnetic cylinders to selectively change the tonal characteristics of the guitar. The pickups may include a pair of ferromagnetic plates attached to the longitudinal sides of the lower bobbin that extend upwards to about the middle of the upper coil.

Abstract: A pickup has an upper bobbin which is elongated along a longitudinal plane, a lower bobbin which is elongated along the longitudinal plane, permanent magnetic pole pieces situated within holes in the upper and lower bobbins, screws holding said bobbins together, a lower winding wound longitudinally around the lower bobbin, and a single, uniformally flat non-magnetized ferromagnetic plate having opposing ends. The ends are parallel to the longitudinal plane and terminate in a plane approximately below the upper winding. The plate is completely dispose beneath the bobbins and parallel thereto.

Abstract: A Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor having an aperture which is smaller than the size of an object being measured is used to measure the wavefront for the entire object. The wavefront sensor and the object are translated relative to one another to measure the wavefronts at a plurality of subregions of the object. The measured wavefronts are then stitched together to form a wavefront of the object. The subregions may overlap in at least one dimensions. A reference surface may be provided to calibrate the wavefront sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing a pulsed energy beam with a two-dimensional wavefront sensor. The data acquisition is synchronized with the output of the beam from the pulsed source, so that a beam characterization, including phase, can be determined in a single pulse.

Abstract: An improved process for delignification of lignocellulosic raw material, such as wood chips, for the production of cellulose pulps for use in the manufacture of paper or paperboard and an improved pulping aid composition for use in said process are disclosed wherein the wood chips are treated in a closed reaction vessel with an alkaline pulping liquor with an amount of a cyclic keto compound, such as anthraquinone, included therein for achievement of a determined pulp yield, wherein the improvement comprises a reduction in the amount of anthraquinone required to achieve said yield by the addition to said alkaline pulping liquor, in addition to a reduced amount of the anthraquinone, a surfactant mixture comprising at least one alkyl alcohol alkoxylate and at least one polyoxyalkylene glycol ether of an ester of an acid selected from the group consisting of ricinoleic acid and 12-hydroxystearic acid.

Abstract: An improved process for delignification of lignocellulosic raw material, such as wood chips, for the production of cellulose pulps for use in the manufacture of paper or paperboard and an improved pulping aid composition for use in said process are disclosed wherein the wood chips are treated in a closed reaction vessel with an alkaline pulping liquor with an amount of a cyclic keto compound, such as anthraquinone, included therein for achievement of a determined pulp yield, wherein the improvement comprises a reduction in the amount of anthraquinone required to achieve said yield by the addition to said alkaline pulping liquor, in addition to a reduced amount of the anthraquinone, a surfactant mixture comprising at least one alkyl alcohol alkoxylate and at least one polyoxyalkylene glycol ether of an ester of an acid selected from the group consisting of ricinoleic acid and 12-hydroxystearic acid.

Abstract: A nut (30) and/or saddle (20) supports the strings (14) of a stringed musical instrument (10) allowing essentially fully unrestricted movement of the strings, both forward and background within the nut or saddle in order to maintain the proper pitch tuning of each string. Each string is retained at a fixed position at the nut or saddle, but allowed to move freely from these fixed positions when the strings are in motion such as when being tuned. A pair of freely-rotatably ball bearings (34a and 34b) are positioned in a countersunk pocket aperture 33 in the nut housing (32) and/or saddle housing (60) and in the case of the former, are positioned immediately juxtaposed to a pressure pad (41) for dampening each string from vibration between the nut assembly and the instrument tuner mechanism. A retainer (42) retains each pair of balls (34a and 34b) in the pocket aperture (33).

Abstract: A tuning device includes a tuner housing extending from a string instrument, such as a guitar, with an integral orthogonal threaded mounting portion mounted in a peg head aperture. A tuner rod extends concentrically through the tuner housing and has a distal end with a transverse interior passageway extending at the end of the housing. A loose clamping pin or screw extends concentrically in the tuning rod to the transverse passageway. After a string end is pushed through the passageway and drawn taut a lock knob or the hex-headed screw at the tuner rod opposite end is threaded into the tuner rod forcing a separate or integral clamping pin against the taut end of the string and to clamp the string in the transverse passageway. An internally threaded tuning knob adjacent to lock knob or hex-headed screw is rotatable on outer threads of the tuner rod at its proximal end to move the tuner rod longitudinally inward in the tuner housing pulling with it the clamped string.

Abstract: The catalytic combination of phosphinic acid (also called hypophosphorous acid) and a phenol sulfide compound is disclosed to accelerate the reaction rate for the esterification of a modified rosin with a polyhydric alcohol, as well as provide product color improvements. According to the process of the invention, a rosin is reacted with up to a 50% equivalent excess of the polyhydric alcohol in the presence of phosphinic acid and a phenol sulfide compound at a temperature of from about 180.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. The rosin may be treated with a member of the group consisting of a phenol, an aldehyde, a dibasic acid, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: The catalytic combination of phosphinic acid (also called hypophosphorous acid) and a phenol sulfide compound is disclosed to accelerate the reaction rate of esterification of rosin with a polyhydric alcohol, as well as provide product color improvements. According to the process of the invention, a rosin is reacted with up to a 50% equivalent excess of the polyhydric alcohol in the presence of phosphinic acid and a phenol sulfide compound at a temperature of from about 180.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A nut (30) and/or saddle (20) supports the strings (14) of a stringed musical instrument (10) allowing essentially fully unrestricted movement of the strings, both forward and .[.background.]. .Iadd.backward .Iaddend.within the nut or saddle in order to maintain the proper pitch tuning of each string. Each string is retained at a fixed position at the nut or saddle, but allowed to move freely from these fixed positions when the strings are in motion such as when being tuned. A pair of freely-.[.rotatably.]. .Iadd.rotatable .Iaddend.ball bearings (34a and 34b) are positioned in a countersunk pocket aperture 33 in the nut housing (32) and/or saddle housing (60) and in the case of the former, are positioned immediately juxtaposed to a pressure pad (41) for dampening each string from vibration between the nut assembly and the instrument tuner mechanism. A retainer (42) retains each pair of balls (34a and 34b) in the pocket aperture (33).