Abstract: A manual control lever for plucked instruments supplied with electric sound amplification has a rest plate for the player's plucking hand. This rest plate is located above the strings and held by a lever arm which has rotary bearings, allowing a motion parallel to the top and further an up-and-down motion vertical to the top of the instrument. The parallel-to-the-top-motion provides the necessary movability when plucking the different strings of the instrument. The vertical-to-the-top-motion provides a continuous control of sound elements, preferably volume and timbre, through the fact that the mechanical means drive electronic members converting the mechanical movement or pressure into a continuous variation of voltage or current. The volume is controllable in two ranges: Firstly from zero to the normal level, and secondly from normal level to a maximum peak.

Abstract: A multiple language electronic keyboard system is disclosed for generating and modifying musical note information. The system includes a plurality of manually activated switches arranged in a matrix of rows and columns with the switches sufficiently close to allow a single finger of the user to activate a plurality of switches in a single stroke. A decoder detects and distinguishes between a first language and a second language of distinct switch activation patterns. Musical note information is generated by a processor which receives information from the decoder concerning the location of each activated switch and the language detected by the decoder. The versatility of this system is further enhanced by the addition of envelope and tone generators and also by visual display devices. In the preferred embodiment the keyboard is arranged to positionally and operationally emulate a guitar fret board.

Abstract: An electrical pickup for a stringed musical instrument comprises a cylindrical permanent magnet and a coil surrounding the magnet and wound lengthwise thereof. The ends of the magnet are fixed to two rigid mounting wires, and the coil is wound on a former comprising a central tubular core and two parallel plates fixed to the tube on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The tube, and thus the former and coil as a whole, can turn on the magnet. The magnet is magnetized so that the magnetic poles thereof are positioned at diametrically opposite edges of the magnet, i.e. at the ends of a diameter of the circular cross-section of the magnet cylinder. Thus the former and coil can be turned between two positions 180.degree. apart in order to reverse the winding direction of the coil around the fixed magnetic axis H of the magnet.

Abstract: An improved pickup system for stringed musical instruments, adaptable to all types of stringed instruments, in which strings pass through the hollow central portion of coils and the magnetic field within coil windings is perpendicular to the windings and parallel to the string axes. The described embodiments include an individual coil encompassing each string and a magnetic field reversed in polarity in portions of a coil oppositely disposed to a string. Magnetic elements provide an enclosed magnetic field limiting pickup response to a short, defined segment of string near an instrument's bridge. Described acoustic pickup embodiments are mounted directly to the bridge and interrupt the circle of acoustic feedback. Violin family pickup embodiments provide preferential sensing of string motions parallel to the string plane and adjustability of string response.

Abstract: A pickup for an electric string type instrument comprising an elongated piezo-electric member formed by mixing a high molecular material with piezo-electric ceramic powder and a vulcanizing or cross-linking agent and then vulcanizing or cross-linking the mixture. In order to complete the pickup a pair of electrodes are mounted on the elongated member and the member is then subjected to a polarization treatment. The piezo-electric member can be formed as a flat belt-shaped member with the electrodes mounted on both surfaces thereof or it can be formed as a cylinder in which one of the electrodes extends axially in the piezo-electric member and the other electrode is mounted on the outer periphery of the piezo-electric member. A plurality of the pickups can be joined in parallel relation within an elastic support and the latter can be mounted between the strings and the frame of the string instrument through the intermediary of a bridge member.

Abstract: A musical instrument comprising an electric guitar and an electric bass in a single instrument having a body to which is attached a neck with enlarged frets so that the neck and the frets may receive at the same time the four strings of the bass as well as the six strings of the common guitar, provided also with a pick-up for the bass as well as with a pick-up for the guitar, both pick-ups leading to a common, single stereo outlet being in turn connected to an already well known amplifier.

Abstract: The economy of manufacture of electric guitars and electric bass guitars is improved, with no loss of quality, by providing an anchor flange in integral relationship with a metal pickguard of the guitar or bass guitar. Extended through the anchor flange are adjustment screws which connect adjustably to bridge barrels over which the strings extend. The adjustment screws and bridge barrels are preassembled to the anchor flange, and all electric components are preassembled to the pickguard, prior to mounting of the pickguard on the body of the guitar or bass. Thus, the ultimate in economy is achieved, yet the anchor flange has very strong support from the pickguard and is located accurately thereby.

Abstract: A humbucking electromagnetic pickup for musical instruments, such as guitars having ferromagnetic strings. The pickup includes a permanent magnet for generating a flux path through the strings, a sensing coil in the flux path, and a humbucking coil substantially out of the flux path and concentrically wound closely around the periphery of the sensing coil and in opposition thereto to cancel radiating extraneous interfering electromagnetic hum from the sensing coil.

Abstract: By providing as circuit activators flexible, intentionally damped, vibratory elements, for example strings, the resonant frequency of which may be unrelated to the tone to be generated, while utilizing electronic circuits controlled by such flexible elements for tone generation and modulation, the instrument according to this invention provides a range of "voices," attack, sustain and decay envelopes and other tonal characteristics which cannot be achieved with conventional mechanically resonant systems (such as are found in an acoustical guitar) while providing the performer with the tactility and dynamic expression with which he can identify.

Abstract: A sound pickup for a stringed musical instrument has a hollow open-topped housing with a base plate matingly fitting in the housing; the housing is formed of ABS plastic coated with copper nickel-chrome layers. The base plate is formed of ABS with its outer surface being nickel plated; two parallel slots in the base plate frictionally receive lower edges of parallel elongated coil core blades. An elongated magnet is positioned between the core blades and first and second coil assemblies including elongated slotted plastic bobbins are fitted over the core blades to overlie the magnet with lugs on the bobbins facing opposite ends of the magnet to hold it in position.

Abstract: A guitar synthesizer comprises a guitar portion and a synthesizer portion which are electrically connected to each other. The guitar portion includes strings stretched between a nut and a bridge and pickup means for detecting a string vibration for providing a guitar sound signal. The guitar sound signal is applied to the synthesizer portion. The synthesizer portion comprises a voltage controlled variable bandpass filter exhibiting a passband characteristic variable in at least two frequency regions of the guitar sound signal as a function of a control voltage. A frequency/voltage converter provides a control voltage representing the frequency of the output of the filter, to the variable bandpass filter, whereby the passband characteristic thereof is made adaptively and dominantly responsive to the frequency of the fundamental wave component included in the guitar sound signal and the fundamental wave component is extracted with accuracy from the guitar sound signal.

Abstract: A plurality of vibration transducers are mounted on the face of the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, particularly as disclosed herein in connection with a bass violin. The transducers are adapted for mounting without modification to the instrument, preferably with the use of a mounting clip for each transducer. The transducers are preferably of wafer size and shape and are disposed for sensing vibrations at a location on the bridge that is optimum for both the production of a high fidelity output signal and the discouragement of acoustical feedback.

Abstract: An improved guitar provided with a removable tailblock assembly which replaces the conventional fixed interior tailblock. The tailblock assembly includes a ringlike reinforcing member which is disposed in the interior of the guitar body and extends between the top and bottom walls, and is secured to the inner face of the curved end portions of the side walls at their junction. The end portions of the side walls have notches or openings formed therein which align with the opening in the reinforcing member. A ringlike insert is fixedly positioned within these latter openings, and is fixedly secured to the guitar body, such as to the side walls. This insert defines therethrough a large opening which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the guitar body and provides convenient access to the interior thereof.

Abstract: Two magnetically permeable pole pieces have pole faces of predetermined configuration formed thereon, and the pole pieces conduct magnetic flux which interacts with a magnetically permeable string of a stringed instrument. The positioning of the pole faces, the geometric configuration of the pole faces relative to the string, and the predetermined pattern of magnetic flux emanated from the pole faces are arranged so that vibrational movement of the string in one plane creates significant magnetic flux changes in a first pole piece and minimal or no flux changes in the second pole piece. String vibrational movement in a second plane mutually perpendicular to the first plane creates significant magnetic flux changes in the second pole piece and minimum or no flux changes in the first pole piece. The magnetic flux changes are sensed and electrical signals related to the flux changes are derived. The electrical signals are supplied directly to audio amplifying equipment.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument is provided upon which music may be performed in either of two manners. The body of the instrument, which may be electrically amplified, has two complete sets of strings, amplification pickups, volume and tone controls and necks which radiate in substantially opposite directions. The instrument is suspended from a harness worn by the performer by means of a mechanical and electrical rotary connections. The instrument may be rotated by the performer on a horizontal axis to bring the instrument into the desired playing position.

Abstract: There is provided a bridge structure for a stringed instrument. A member supports a ridge over which the strings of the stringed instrument are strung. For each string, one end is secured at a location on the instrument which is remote from the member, the member supporting, for each string, a guide pulley around which the other end of the string passes. Means are provided for snagging the other end of the string, which means includes sub-means on the member whereby rotational torque is applied to the member. Suspension means are provided to support the member from the instrument body in such a way as to counteract that rotational torque.

Abstract: A manually operated switch located on an electric guitar controls a remotely located tuning device through the existing guitar cable. Preferably, the switch is located in an adaptor which plugs into the audio output jack of the guitar and into which is plugged the guitar cable. Circuitry associated with the switch sends a control signal on the audio cable and circuitry located adjacent the tuner interprets the control signal for controlling the tuner.

Abstract: A musical instrument is structured as a guitar and incorporates electronic circuitry to synthesize musical tones. The instrument is played in the fashion of a guitar with tones generated in response to switches activated through strumming action. The pitch of the tones is controlled by touch-sensitive switch devices mounted at addresses corresponding to fret and string locations. The instrument may be polyphonic with separate tones generated by activation of a plurality of devices corresponding to strings.

Abstract: A plastic body for a solid body musical instrument such as an electric guitar which body consists of a plastic body molded in the shape of the musical instrument body and a structural support member of wood or other suitable material embedded within the plastic body. The structural support member has a profile shape which is substantially a reduced scale version of the profile shape of the body and is so dimensioned and positioned within the body that the thickness of plastic about the structural member at most points along the member is substantially minimized and the mass of plastic material on one side of the member is not substantially greater than the mass of plastic on the opposite side of the member. The body is adapted to have an electric pickup mounted thereon, the support member being exposed in the area thereof adjacent the pickup and the pickup being mounted in close proximity to the exposed portion of the member.

Abstract: A musical instrument for cooperation with an electronic synthesizer having a parallel-control fretboard on a mountable neck member. Electronics associated with the neck member provide accurate volume, gate and frequency control signals for a synthesizer while still permitting normal guitar playing nuances such as hammer-offs, hammer-ons, slides, muting, and bends. A preferred embodiment employs a micro-processor and a multiple string fretboard.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup device for stringed musical instruments using metallic strings has a planar permanent magnet with one of its two main surfaces exposed for facing the instrument strings during use and a pickup coil mounted on the other main surface with the plane of the planar magnet perpendicular to the axis of the coil.

Abstract: In a pick-up for an electrical musical instrument of the type including first and second pick-up assemblies positioned in parallel, spaced relationship, each of the pick-up assemblies including at least one pole piece operatively associated with the strings of the instrument and a coil wound around the pole pieces, there is disclosed an improved splitter switch whereby whether the coils are connected in series or in parallel, when single coil operation is desired, the coils are connected in series with a capacitor across one of the coils whereby the splitter switch effectively provides single coil operation without decreasing the overall signal level of the pick-up.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal transducer defines a unitary part of a low profile saddle member adapted for interchangeable mounting in the bridge portion of a stringed musical instrument while obviating external modification of the instrument itself. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body of the saddle is molded or potted around elongated piezoelectric crystalline bar segments to form a unitary saddle in which the bar segments traverse the substantial length of the saddle in a direction transversely of the extension of the strings over the saddle with hook-up leads or wires extending from one end of the bar for connection to a suitable cable leading to a conventional amplifier or loudspeaker system. The transducer is constructed to respond to stresses produced by string vibrations in one or more dimensions yet is completely shielded from external electrical fields and minimizes interference with the acoustical circuit of the instrument.

Abstract: An improved speaker mounting for an electronic guitar is provided. The mounting includes a rubber cup extending into the interior of the guitar from a cut out in the top board surface of the guitar. The cup has a flanged rim extending about the opening and a grove formed below the flange. A speaker is disposed within the cup and has portions captured in position by the grove. A cap is positioned over the cut out and screw means extend through the cap and cup flange into the guitar top surface securing the cap and flange to the top surface.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a fret board and a plurality of conductive frets may be coupled to a resistance ladder of discrete resistive elements. A conductive wire or a plurality of such wires selectively making contact with at least one of the conductive frets forms, together with the resistance ladder, part of a tone generating circuit. The circuit includes an oscillator which generates a tone in response to the conductive fret with which the wire makes contact. The circuit may also include a wave shaping circuit which selectively alters the shape of the generated tone and through a series of gradations alters its operating characteristics from that of a full wave rectifier to a linear voltage follower. Another embodiment modulates the phase of the generated tone by exploiting the dynamic impedance of a diode. One or more unique pressure sensitive touch pads may be employed for a glissando effect and/or for volume and/or tone glides.

Abstract: A selector switch for musical instruments such as electric guitars is provided with a palm switch that can be manually actuated so that any of the various pick-ups of the guitar can be actuated, so that there is a convenient method of switching to either one or both of the electric pick-ups for treble sounds, bassy sounds and the like. The selector switch includes a construction that does not require use of the fingers or excess movement of the playing hand in order to actuate the pick-up selector switch. A rocker switch is provided with three positions that can be actuated with the heel of the players hand.

Abstract: A pitch extractor for an electronic musical instrument generates a digital count indicative of the period of the signal whose frequency is to be extracted and processes this count to provide an analog control voltage corresponding to this frequency; the control voltage is usable to control an electronic music synthesizer. The rate at which the pitch is extracted is enhanced by initially setting the system for the expected pitch of the musical source and thereafter adjusting it to the actual pitch of the source in a closed-loop manner as extraction proceeds.

Abstract: In an electrical tone generator apparatus is provided for automatically selecting one of a library of chord types which is closest to a chord fingered on a fretted string instrument. The closest decision is made by processing the fingered fret input data by a set of matched filters each of which corresponds to a member of the library of chord types. The chord type decision is made to correspond to the matched filter producing the maximum output response. The selection between chord types yielding equal responses is resolved by priority logic based upon the frequency of chord usage. A root note is chosen for each chord type. Note keying data is generated from the selected chord types which is transposed to the correct musical pitches in response to the chosen root note. The note keying data is grated by an automatic rhythm generator and the output is used to actuate electronic musical tone generators.

Abstract: The strings of a musical instrument, e.g., a guitar, are individually supported on an instrument body by webs of a hard but elastic polymeric material which are free to vibrate in the longitudinal direction of the strings and carry respective strain gauges whose direction of maximum sensitivity includes an acute angle with that longitudinal direction and with the underlying body surface. The webs may be integral with or bonded onto a more massive bridge or bridge section and have gable-shaped tops carrying the strain gauges.

Abstract: An acoustic pick-up for a musical instrument comprises a piezo-electric crystal mounted in a housing. Coupling means, such as a wooden post, is provided for coupling one face of the crystal to a part of the musical instrument with the housing mounted on the instrument. There is further provided means, such as a screw, for varying the pressure with which the crystal is coupled to the part of the instrument by applying an adjustable force to another face of the crystal.

Abstract: A magnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument, comprising a polar magnet having a polar axis extending across its thinnest dimension, a coil having a magnetically permeable pole piece extending upwardly for positioning adjacent an instrument string, with the polar magnet positioned longitudinally parallel to the coil and having its polar axis perpendicular to the winding axis of the coil. Positioned within the coil is either a magnet or a pole piece. The pickup may include a plurality of coils and magnets arranged as described above to increase the effectiveness of the pickup. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the pickup which includes setting the pole piece, coil, magnet, and mounting bracket in a mold cavity, and casting the entire unit with potting material.

Abstract: A device mountable on a guitarist's finger for use in altering the normal vibration of a vibrating guitar string and for converting the altered vibrations into electrical impulses is disclosed. The device includes a generally cylindrical string contacting member on which is mounted a microphone-type transducer.

Abstract: A manual volume control device for an electric guitar having a pinion gear attached to the shaft of the volume control. A rack is slidably mounted relative to the surface of the guitar for meshingly engaging the pinion gear. A handle member is coupled at one end thereof to the rack with the other end of the handle member extending to the strumming area of the guitar and configured for grasping by the hand of the guitarist for linearly actuating the volume or tone control to produce a violin type tone during playing of a musical piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric transducer and pickup means using the same for electrical string instruments, the transducer comprising a long and flat outer layer of flexible material and a flexible piezoelectric cable which is buried therein and has a center electrode, a piezoelectric layer formed on the outer periphery of the said electrode and an outer electrode formed on the outer periphery of the said layer, the stiffness thereof being enhanced by either using elastomer of the hardness of more than 80 as measured by the Spring Hardness Test Method in the Physical Testing Method for Vulcanizing Rubber of Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS K 6301) as the material for the outer layer, or by plaiting (braiding) metal wires or by winding the outer electrode of the piezoelectric cable in such a manner as to enable it to press against the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A harmony authorization detector (HAD) synthesizer electronically generates single audible musical notes in harmony with single original aural notes of a melody as the melody is played on an instrument by a single player. Thus the HAD functions as, in effect, a second instrument electronically operational in harmony with a manually played lead instrument. The HAD synthesizer is particularly useful with guitars although not so limited. When a lead electronic guitar is used in a solo situation playing one original note at a time, the HAD synthesizer will, for each string on each position of the guitar and with the aid of a group of tone decoders, electronically detect the single fundamental note played by the guitarist and will authorize the emission of a preset, predetermined electronically generated synthesized single harmony note e.g. a third, fifth, seventh, etc. based on the fundamental of the single note played by the lead guitarist.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup is provided for musical instruments, particularly of the type having vibrating magnetizable strings, which pickup device includes a permanent rectangular bar magnet having a configured surface adjacent to the magnetizable strings to provide a varying magnetic field effecting respective ones of the strings in accordance with their magnetizability, and a coil surrounding the permanent magnet which may be either of a low or high impedance. Thin metal plates or shims are arranged in the pickup intermediate the configured surface of the bar magnet and the magnetizable strings. Various configurations of the magnet surface are included, each of which in combination with the metal plates achieves the natural tone of the respective strings and enhances the balance therebetween of the pickup output.

Abstract: A detection circuit for detecting the rise of vibration of a string of a musical instrument such as a guitar capable of producing a trigger signal accurately at each flipping of the string. The circuit comprises a first system in which a signal obtained by full-wave rectifying a picked up signal from a pickup is compared with a predetermined reference level in a first comparator to produce a first signal, a second system in which a signal obtained by half-wave rectifying the picked up signal and integrating it thereafter is compared in a second comparator with a signal obtained by level-shifting the picked up signal by a predetermined level and a second signal is produced by delaying the speed of response of the output of the second comparator, and a flip-flop circuit to which the first and second signals are applied. The flip-flop outputs a signal each time player flips the string, which is used as a trigger signal for an electronic musical instrument driven by the above-said picked up signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for stringed instruments such as a guitar includes a pickup coil that is mechanically oscillated at variable frequencies in the field of the magnetically polarized instrument strings for producing an effective tremolo output signal.

Abstract: An electric stringed musical instrument is formed of a body section adapted to detachably receive an interchangeable neck section. The body section mounts the electronic tone and volume controls and includes the electromagnetic pickup which is rendered into operative proximity to the neck strings when the instrument is in the assembled condition. The body section is adapted to interchangeably receive neck sections of various string types and fingerboard widths and the electromagnetic pickup is selectively moveable in the longitudinal, i.e., horizontal direction and also in the vertical direction to accomodate the particular string characteristics of the interchangeable neck section.

Abstract: A stringed instrument with feedback is formed from a string of 30 to 100 feet in length stretched taught and having pickup and driving transducers located at respective opposite ends of the string. An electronic processing system receives a signal from the pickup transducer and feeds it to the driving transducer. Each transducer comprises a pair of transducers oriented at right angles to each other and to the string, thus allowing for two independent signal channels to exist in the system.

Abstract: A device is described for musical instruments, and particularly stringed musical instruments such as a guitar, which can controllably and selectively sustain the musical sounds produced by the instrument. The device includes an electrical pick-up proximate to the strings of the guitar for generating electrical signals which correspond to the vibrations of the strings. The signals are amplified by the device and are converted in a loud speaker or other transducer mounted on the instrument and proximate to the strings into mechanical vibrations which sympathetically reinforce the initial vibrations and maintain the strings in a vibratory state and thereby sustain the sound.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, in particular a double bass, having a resonating body of narrow elongate shape, a neck secured to this body and strings extending across the body and neck and across a bridge supported on the front plate of the body. A transverse sound-beam inside the body divides the latter into two separate resonating chambers of unequal size which are acoustically connected by a through-hole in the sound-beam. Below the bridge a bore extends through the body front plate and into the sound-beam to open into the connecting hole of the beam and an electrical pick-up element extends through this bore between the lower side of the bridge and a vibration plate mounted in the connecting hole.

Abstract: A stringed instrument in the form of an electric guitar having a body and a neck. A plurality of strings secured to the outer end of the neck extend along the neck and past a bridge carried by the body. The opposite ends of the strings are coupled with pegs which are rotatably mounted on the body adjacent to the bridge. The pegs are manually rotated by shafts which are located within the body itself. A worm gear connects each shaft to a respective peg. A knob is on the outer end of each shaft and each knob is located in a respective recess in a side-wall or an end wall of the body. A knob and a switch for control of amplified sounds are also recessed within the body. The body and neck are reduced in mass to decrease the weight of the instrument.

Abstract: The guitar has a novel feedback arrangement for sustaining the sound generated from the strings and including a pickup associated with each string and a corresponding driver intercoupled with the pickup in a feedback loop that also includes a gain-controlled amplifier. The amplifiers are controlled in common from a variable control means. The pickups, drivers and associated electronics are all commonly mounted from the bridge. In an alternate embodiment of the invention there is provided an improved sustain technique that provides a more natural sustain characteristic, employing a parametric type of excitation. This embodiment may comprise a pickup, amplifier and tensioning member responsive to the output of the amplifier for sustaining string vibration by causing longitudinal string displacement by means of the tensioning member. In a similar embodiment the string tension may be held constant and the string length varied instead.

Abstract: An apertured insulating strip permits closing a circuit only at contact points defined by the apertures between a low resistance conductor and a high resistance conductor in an electronic circuit of the type which produces musical notes each having a frequency dependent upon the resistance downstream of a particular contact point.

Abstract: A means for controlling special musical effects in synchronism with picking a string of a stringed musical instrument by a pick. More specifically, the disclosure describes a means whereby a signal generated as a result of a pick breaking contact with a string of the stringed instrument initiates a special musical effect. The special musical effect may alter the output of a pick-up generated by vibration of the strings, or may be independent of string vibration and merely initiated by the pick breaking contact with the string. Also, disclosed is a pick having a conductive portion and a nonconductive portion so that picking a string by the conductive portion initiates a special musical effect and picking the string by the nonconductive portion results in the instrument operating in a conventional manner without the special musical effect.

Abstract: A simulated violoncello having an elongated body shaped in conformity with the fingerboard of a violoncello and a pair of curved panels adapted for confinement between the knees of the user and attached to the body to simulate the knee-held side portions of the resonance box of a violoncello is disclosed. The panels may be attached to a block which slidably engages a rail of trapezoidal cross-section formed along the back of said body and extending along a lower portion of the length thereof, whereby the height of said panels can be adjusted. An elongated floor support arm is attached to a lower end of the block which is removable and reversably disposable upon the rail so as to place the floor support arm in a stored position behind and adjacent the body of the instrument.

Abstract: A musical instrument such as a guitar or piano has a plurality of elongated strings maintained under longitudinal tension and bearing through a bridge on a sounding element. This sounding element is subdivided by a plurality of slots into a plurality of sections each bearing against a respective one or more strings and each carrying on its outer faces at least one strain gauge. The strain gauge is extends between the respective string and the sounding element, with its direction of sensitivity perpendicular to both. Such a strain gauge is therefore used as an electronic tone pickup for the string instrument.

Abstract: A simple adjustable mount is insertable in the soundhole of a stringed musical instrument where it supports itself without damage to the instrument. The mounted pickup is adjustable on the mount for desired position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument resembling a guitar that is played like a guitar and sounds like a guitar; however, it is stringless and has a plurality of flexible actuator blade type members which are mounted on edge and are adapted to be strummed or picked. Flexing of each actuator blade in either direction closes one or more leaf type switches which controls the amplified output of an electronic oscillator whose fundamental operating frequency is further varied in accordance with finger actuation of a plurality of fret-board switches. Although the invention in its preferred embodiment is directed to a guitar-like instrument, it is also applicable to other types and classes of musical string instruments such as a violin.