Abstract: A string bender mechanism for a string musical instrument having a bender assembly comprising a control member and at least two bender levers. The control member moving between a first position and at least a second position, being a rest and active position, respectively. The at least two bender levers have a first end and a second end. The first end of said bender lever is dimensioned or adjacent to the control member and the second end of the bender lever receives a string. When the control member is in the first position, the bender levers are at rest and a tone emanates from a plucked string. When the control member is in the second position, the bender levers move simultaneously, and a varied tone emanates from a plucked string. In an alternative embodiment, one or more bender levers may be replaced with a switcher assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for string load reduction and real-time pitch alteration on stringed instruments. A string load is substantially reduced with a camming surface actuator so that the pitch can be rapidly manipulated by an input force which is generated by human power or an electronically controlled motor. Various types of camming surfaces are provided as well as a load optimization calculation which determines the shape of a variable ratio camming surface. Multiple embodiments are described including a constant force pitch alteration device, a motorized control system with pitch compensation and real-time tracking of string pitch to multiple relative input signals, a control signal generator based on real-time position measurement of a control object relative to an electromagnetic radiation sensor, and methods for generating mechanical looping, vibrato, and polyphonic chorus effects which can be automated or dynamically controlled by a user. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Abstract: A string-bridge interface system includes a plurality of string-bridge interface units to provide coupling between strings of a musical instrument and one or more sound bridges of the musical instrument, which are further coupled to the sound board of the musical instrument. Such coupling provided by the string-bridge interface units allows for reduced loading of the sound board and more direct routing of the strings.

Abstract: A string-bridge interface system includes a plurality of string-bridge interface units to provide coupling between strings of a musical instrument and one or more sound bridges of the musical instrument, which are further coupled to the sound board of the musical instrument. Such coupling provided by the string-bridge interface units allows for reduced loading of the sound board and more direct routing of the strings.

Abstract: An upright piano includes a piano case having an upper front panel, a left side panel, a right side panel, and a top lid. The upper front panel is pivotally mounted below and generally abutting the top lid. A keyboard is supported by the piano case and has a plurality of keys. A keyboard lid has a width substantially equal to a width of the upper front panel. The piano includes left and right upper front panel strips disposed on the corresponding left and right side panels. The upper front panel is pivotally attached to the left and right upper front panel strips to rotate between a closed position and an open position. The upper front panel is substantially parallel to and substantially in between the left and right upper front panel strips while in the closed position.

Abstract: A unison gauge for indicating levelness of a string set of a grand piano is described. The gauge has a contact block adjustably engageable with the lowermost tangential aspect of the string set. Battery powered indicators provide an indication for each string. With the piano action withdrawn from the piano case, the base of the device rests on the key bed below the piano hammer strike area of the string set and holds the contact block mounted thereon on an extendable mast. The contacts of the contact block are in a plane parallel to the key bed. The contact block is under slight spring tension when engaged with a string set being monitored and, upon compression of the spring readily slides along the key bed to the next string set. A method of use of the unison gauge is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for amplifying low amplitude vibrations from stringed instruments, and in particular guitars while reducing Gaussian and 60 Hz hum noise from the signal. In particular, the invention incorporates the use of one or more bipolar magnets in conjunction with high precision differential amplifiers and a power source. The bipolar magnets may be arranged at varying locations on the guitar as long as they are within range to induce an electrical signal in the strings when they are played. The signal is then fed through the amplifier circuitry whereby noise is eliminated and then played through a standard speaker.

Abstract: A device and method for removing a pinblock from a grand piano wherein the pinblock is installed in the piano case by means of wooden dowels and a glue joint between the edges of the pinblock and the inside surface of the case by creating sufficient lateral force between the two parts to fracture the glue joint and withdraw the blind wooden dowels from the case.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for lifting and setting a piano string coil (16) is provided for improving tuning stability. Preferably, the apparatus (10) includes an internal slide hammer portion (12) and a string engaging portion (14) extending from the internal slide hammer portion (12). The string engaging portion (14) is intended to engage a piano string coil (16) wrapped around a tuning pin (18) and transmit an upward or downward force from the internal slide hammer portion (12) to the piano string coil (16).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for self-tuning a piano that includes selectively applying voltage with a voltage mechanism to each piano string of a plurality of piano strings to provide either thermal expansion upon an application of voltage or thermal contraction with an absence of voltage to alter pitch of the piano string to a predetermined value, wherein each piano string of the plurality of piano strings has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of each piano string of the plurality of piano strings is respectively secured to a housing by a plurality of first attachment mechanisms and the second end portion of each piano string of the plurality of piano strings is respectively secured to a housing by a plurality of second attachment mechanisms and the plurality of piano strings are electrically insulated from each other.

Abstract: A tuning pin for pianos and other string instruments being of one diameter size for approximately one-third of its length and of another diameter for the remainder of its length.

Abstract: A machine head for guitars is disclosed. In the machine head, the tension of a string is adjusted by sequentially rotating a manually operated adjusting knob, a worm engaging with the knob, a worm wheel engaging with the worm, and a winding peg integrated with the worm wheel with the string wound on or unwound from the winding peg. A cap guider is formed on the top end of the winding peg, while a string holding cap is rotatably fitted over the cap guider of the winding peg, thus being brought into a rotatable engagement with the guider. In an embodiment, the guider has upper and lower guide discs integrated at both ends of an eccentric shaft, while the cap has two string insert holes on its sidewall at eccentric positions. When the winding peg is rotated with a string passing through the two string insert holes, the string is firmly jammed at the junction between the eccentric shaft and the sidewall of the string holding cap.

Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustic piano having a fretbase on which at least one fret node is supported by a fret and an adjacent node spaced from the fret node. Selected piano strings press downwardly upon the nodes and define between the nodes a duplex scale portion of the piano strings. A plate is located beneath the fretbase and is pressed downwardly by the fretbase due to pressure of the strings. The invention provides a method of moving the fretbase portion relative to the plate in a direction parallel to the piano strings. The method includes the steps of providing a force-applying tool including a mandrel portion, and a force-transmitting head having a force-transmitting surface and a surface for sliding on the plate. The tool is oriented so that a main axis of the mandrel portion angles downwardly towards a plane of the piano strings, with the force-transmitting surface abutting a force-receiving surface of the fretbase, and with the sliding surface abutting the plate.

Abstract: A musical pitch control for each of the strings on a musical instrument. A pivot arm is secured to one end of each string. Controlled current is applied to a length of memory wire secured between the arm and an anchor point. The bending strain on the arm is sensed and circuitry responsive to the sensor is arranged to rock the arm to maintain a desired tension on the string. A second biasing device also acts upon the arm in opposition to the alloy wire to urge the wire alloy to return to its original condition when no current is flowing through the memory wire.

Abstract: The present invention enables accurate measuring and regulating operations to be carried out by measuring with a rule the quantity of movement of a hammer in a grand piano during an action mechanism regulating operation for attaining the normal striking of wires with the hammer. The wires S provided in a tensed state are held between the lower surface of a mount 4 and a locking rod 3 on a measuring tube 2 pressure-contacting the same lower surface, and the lower end of a measuring rod slidingly moved in the measuring tube is placed on the top end of the hammer, the quantity of movement of the hammer being then read directly with reference to the relative positions of a scale mark 8 shown on the measuring rod 1 and the upper end of the measuring tube 2.

Abstract: A system for tuning pianos and other string instruments utilizes a clamp-on probe with a feedback loop to induce a controlled vibration of the string and its natural frequency of vibration. This frequency is electronically compared to an accurate reference frequency. An associated electronic circuit controls an electric motor driven mechanism which adjusts the string tension until the correct frequency is achieved.

Abstract: A tuning machine for a stringed musical instrument employing posts for adjusting the tension of the strings. The posts are split so that each string is clamped passing through the post rather than relying on the friction of the string wrapped around the post. This construction results in the string remaining properly tuned for a longer period of time than in the wrapped arrangement presently in use.

Abstract: A holder or cassette in the form of a spool having wound thereon a string for a musical instrument, is disclosed. The free end of the string is secured to the spool, while the opposite end utilizes the traditional "ball" or loop which is affixed to the tailpiece or bridge of the instrument.The spool has an axial opening so that it can be mounted over a correspondingly shaped tuning machine shaft, and the spool can also have an internal bar which slips into a slot in the shaft. Musicians can quickly change strings using the invention without the need to actually thread the string through the tuning machine and then cut off the excess as is currently done. Instead, the ball end of the string is inserted into the bridge or tailpiece and a cassette is mounted over the shaft; the tuning machine or peg is then turned in conventional fashion to take up the slack in the string and the instrument is once again ready for use.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting the vibration frequency of vibrating objects such as piano strings, by stepwise adjustment of the vibration frequency of a vibrating object. The amount of the required adjusting operation in each of the adjustment steps is calculated by the equation:.DELTA..theta..sub.i = K.sub.i (f.sub.s - f.sub.pi-1)wherein:i represents an integer such as 1, 2, 3, ...;.DELTA..theta..sub.i represents the amount of adjustment in the i-th adjusting step;f.sub.pi -1 represents the vibration frequency after the (i-1)th adjusting step;K.sub.i represents the constant employed in the calculation of the i-th adjusting step;The constant (K.sub.1) for the initial (i=1) adjusting step is predetermined; andThe constant K.sub.i (i=2, 3, ...) for the second and subsequent adjusting steps is calculated by the equation: ##EQU1## WHEREIN: .DELTA..theta..sub.I-1 REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE (I-1)TH ADJUSTING STEP;f.sub.