Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument comprises a plurality of juxtaposed movable key units and a plurality of juxtaposed strings, each of which has one end fixed to the corresponding key unit and the other end immovably attached to the body of the key board musical instrument and is vibrated at a prescribed frequency upon operation of the corresponding key unit, wherein each string is prevented from making vibration by a stationary damping member while the corresponding key unit remains inoperative and commences vibrations at a prescribed frequency upon operation of the key unit; and the vibrations are electrically detected by pickup devices and, after amplified, are sent forth through a loud-speaker as a musical tone.

Abstract: An electric piano having a casing provided with a frame made as a casting or the like with a plurality of strings stretched on the piano and supported at intermediate portions by a bridge member. A plurality of hammers driven by respective keys strikes the strings and pickups are provided for detecting vibrations of the strings. An amplifier is connected to the pickups and a speaker is connected to the amplifier. The bridge member is supported on supporting members attached to the frame through shock absorbing members of rubber or the like, and the pickups are constituted by piezoelectric elements mounted at any desired position in the supporting members.

Abstract: An electric guitar is described which provides signals from each of its electrically conducting strings by the cutting of magnetic field lines. The magnetic fields are produced by removably mounted permanent magnets which produce concentrated fields. The return wire or wires of the strings are near the surface of the neck. Various circuit configurations are used to minimize noise pickup, to combine the signals from each signal and to modify the sound produced by each string.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with the production of pitch variations, tone alterations and other related effects on keyboard musical instruments and the like effected through mechanisms activated by individual longitudinal finger movement along the longitudinal axis of the keys.

Abstract: A piano having a sound-enhancing system incorporating transducers, amplifiers and loud speakers, all incorporated into or upon the piano.

Abstract: An electrical musical instrument is provided with a tone generator comprising a plurality of vibratory tone bars each supported with its both ends free. The tone bars are struck by key-actuated hammers and the vibration of each tone bar is picked up by a mechanical-electrical transducer associated with the tone bar. With such tone generator, the tone produced by the musical instrument of this invention is very much improved, especially in that the tone is rich in a solid and percussive constituent.

Abstract: The present electromagnetic pickup and method, and the piano incorporating the pickup, make use of a protuberant magnetic pole piece portion which is so constructed and related that (a) the lines of magnetic force loop back therefrom, and (b) the concentration of such lines is sharply more dense on one side of such portion than on the other side thereof (the magnetic field adjacent such portion being therefore highly asymmetrical). The tine tip is caused to vibrate adjacent such portion, which produces in an associated coil a musical signal characterized by a high degree of brilliance and piano-like musicality -- without an excess of the second harmonic. The pole piece portion is preferably offset from the axis of the coil. Preferably, there are two such offset portions, spaced on opposite sides of the coil axis, and each has a peak shaped as a substantial point or edge.

Abstract: A tone control circuit comprising an operational amplifier having an input and an output and a negative feedback circuit connected between the output and the input, the feedback circuit including a plurality of resistors and capacitors for controlling the magnitude of the high and low frequency components fed back to the input of the operational amplifier to selectably provide low frequency boost and high frequency boost or cut, the circuit having a high input impedance, a low output impedance, gain, and a relatively constant phase shift.

Abstract: A musical wind instrument of the type having a plurality of valves, the opening and closing of which is normally used to control the instrument frequency, is combined with a music synthesizer of the type including a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage applied to the oscillator is controlled by means connected to the instrument valves so that the applied voltage varies in response to the opening and closing of the valves.