Abstract: The present invention relates to a piano or a grand piano with a resonance board and strings which rest on a sound bridge with two longitudinal faces. Such a sound bridge serves to transmit vibration energy which is output by the strings of the instrument to a resonance board. The invention is based on the realization that, on the one hand, the rigidity of the sound bridge must be maintained at the locations at which it is in contact with the strings and the resonance board. On the other hand, it is advantageous if the mass of the sound bridge is reduced. For this reason, according to the invention it is proposed that the sound bridge have a first cutout and a second cutout, wherein the two cutouts are arranged on the two longitudinal edges of the sound bridge which lie opposite one another.

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: 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 piano (1) having a dense sound-enhancing component (2), said piano (1) having a case (6), a frame (3) located within the case (6), strings (5) located within the frame (3), keys (9) in connection with hammers (11), two bridges (13) each of stone having a top face (27), a bottom face (28), a first side (29) and a second side (30), bridge pins (16) extending from the top face (27) at an angle, the strings (5) extending across the bridges (13) adjacent to the bridge pins (16), a soundboard (4) and an amount of epoxy (18) located between the bridges (13) and soundboard (4). The dense sound-enhancing component (2) is a stone material, preferably granite, and enhances the sound of the piano (1) by holding and sustaining pitch longer, providing a longer and stronger signal, providing a higher volume or decibel level and having a decreased decibel fall-off as compared to conventional pianos utilizing wood bridge(s).

Abstract: A soundboard, which vibrates and generates tones, does not hit the mounting member (components); as a result abnormal vibration/noise is not caused; a contact members are contacted and attached on the both sides of the soundboard which generates tones; the contact member is softer than the soundboard; mounting member is harder than the contact members, mounting members are contacted outside the both contact members; all of them from the mounting members through the mounting members are held and fixed with the connect members; the soundboard is detached from the hard mounting members with the soft contact member (sheet) in between; therefore the tone characteristics of the soundboard do not deteriorate, and abnormal vibration/noise caused by resonance of soundboard and other components do not occur.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having multiple bridge-soundboard units, each unit substantially acoustically independent from other bridge-soundboard units. Said bridge soundboard units are coupled to a set of strings such that a number of the strings within the set are sounded through the first bridge-soundboard unit, others are sounded through a second bridge-soundboard unit, and so on. The process of division of set of strings among several bridge-soundboard units allows greater ability to bear tension, greater sustain, and greater variety of tonal color by allowing a greater number and variety of soundboards.

Abstract: The sound board assembly is made up of a sound board, a plurality of ribs attached to one face of the sound board, two bridges attached to the other face of the sound board, a sound board liner and two cut-off bars. One cut-off bar is attached to the sound board and at each of its ends to the liner. The other is attached to the sound board and at one of its ends to the liner. The end attached to the liner is attached near an end of the rib near the end of the treble bridge which supports the highest treble string. The acoustically free end is positioned near the end of the bass bridge which supports the highest bass string.

Abstract: A small mass having a weight within the range of from about 50 grams to about 200 grams is utilized in an upright or grand piano to minimize or eliminate a difference in tonal amplitude and/or decay rate between at least two notes produced by playing at least two adjacent piano keys. The difference in tonal amplitude and/or decay rate may occur in a small group or region of notes produced by adjacent keys, or at those notes of adjacent keys located at certain natural scale "breaks". The mass is affixed to that soundboard bridge on which the note demonstrating the greatest amplitude and/or decay rate terminates vibrationally and is located adjacent the at least one string of that note.

Abstract: A piano sound board having an upper bridge, and a lower bridge arranged at an angle to each other in a common plane. A plurality of strings following the harmonic progression ##EQU1## secured between the bridges, at right angles to the upper bridge.

Abstract: A soundboard assembly for use in a piano, harpsicord or similar stringed musical instrument comprises a thin, laminated soundboard consisting of a center sheet of wood and two outer layers of composite material. The center wooden sheet has a substantially unidirectional grain and the two outer layers of composite material are made of unidirectional carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix. A plurality of ribs, which may also be made as laminations of wood and layers of composite material, are secured to one face of the soundboard, and the ribs, grain of the wood, and direction of the carbon fibers are so related to one another and to the associated bridge as to produce a desirable reaction from the soundboard in response to string vibrations transmitted to it through the bridge.

Abstract: A bass bridge for a piano is provided wherein a runner is fixed to the soundboard, an apron is fixed to the runner and is cantilevered therefrom along one edge, and a bridge cap is fixed to the other edge. The runner and apron have a plurality of slots extending therethrough substantially perpendicular with the bridge cap.

Abstract: A soundboard for pianos is provided which is of laminated construction, comprising three plies. The top and bottom plies are of equal thickness and lie in planes parallel to one another. The grains of these plies are also parallel to one another. The center ply is of greater thickness than the sum of the outer plies, but of less thickness than twice the sum of the two outer plies. The grain of the center or core ply is at right angles to the grains of the two outer plies.