Abstract: A bow hold training device includes a replica bow stick shaft, a replica bow stick frog extending from a bottom side of the replica bow stick shaft, and at least one landmark corresponding to a contact point of a finger or thumb with a proper bow hold on the bow hold training device. The device helps musicians learn and reproduce a proper bow hold for playing a stringed instrument, such as a violin, viola, cello, or bass.

Abstract: A simulated musical string instrument formed of plural shaped sheets of rigid material, such as cardboard. There is a top sheet forming a top surface of the simulated string instrument body, and a bottom sheet forming a bottom surface, and multiple sheets between. A simulated fingerboard is attached to the top surface. The top sheet and fingerboard gets stickers that show parts of the simulated string instrument body including openings and notes. There is also a simulated bow guide and a simulated bow.

Abstract: The invention presented herein allows efficient modification of endpins for musical instruments such as cello or bass that use cavities in one or more components that accommodate filler material. The filler materials are composed of materials that affect the acoustic outcomes. The user can modify the endpin acoustic outcomes relatively quickly by changing the filler composition until a desired acoustic outcome is achieved. This allows various acoustic outcomes using the same shape, materials, and construction for the endpin components. Several embodiments are illustrated for endpins, pedestals, stringed instrument sound posts, interior blocks, bass bars, speaker legs and the like.

Abstract: Bowing platforms are disclosed for use in playing a bowed musical instrument without reliance on strings. A bowing platform includes a support and a track that replace the strings, bridge, and tailpiece on a conventional bowed instrument, to provide an alternative vibrational bowing surface. The bowing platform can be attached to a conventional fingerboard or to the body of the instrument. In one aspect, the bowing platform is useful as a bow guide to improve bow technique by restricting the player's bow angle to be within a desirable range, while still allowing for natural arm movement. The bowing platform can be further equipped with piezoelectric sensors to sense bowing motion and to create sound electronically in response to the sensed motion. A stringless bowed instrument includes a bowing platform, bowing sensors, and pitch sensors that sense finger placement along the fingerboard.

Abstract: A bowed stringed instrument bowing exercise apparatus includes a base having at least one connecting portion, a cross bar having a first end and a second end opposite to each other and at least one connecting portion between the first and second ends, and the cross bar being installed at the connecting portion through the first end, and a track rod having an end portion provided for fixing or slidably connecting the connecting portion. When the track rod is operated, an operator experience and learn how to play the bowing motion steadily by hand to train the operator's coordination and control on how to bow strings to produce different tones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a violin of acoustic configuration, which is different from the classic violin and a manufacturing method thereof. The violin of acoustic configuration is produced according to the rules of acoustic regularity, standard pitch data and uniform orderly reflecting surface of the violin cavity. The reflecting surface of cavity is depended on the international standard pitch data and the rule of acoustic wavelength changing. According to the configuration rules, the violin made of normal materials and technology process condition may provide better volume and tone, and provide much better performance in the standard pitch playing status.

Abstract: A percussion attachment for a musical instrument. The attachment includes a body having at least one aerating hole formed therein. A clamp is mounted to the body that attaches the body to the musical instrument. The body may be struck and/or scraped by the stick of a bow to produce percussion as well as functioning simultaneously as a protector as the musical instrument is being played. The body may include ribs that are spaced along an outermost curved edge of the body such that contacting the ribs with the stick of a bow to produce a percussion sound. The body may also include pits spaced on a top surface of the body such that contacting the pits with the stick of a bow to produce a percussion sound.

Abstract: A musical instrument having strings and a soundboard, wherein the soundboard is excited by the strings by a transducer and is associated with differential stiffening mechanism defining at least two zones of the soundboard that present complementary vibratory behaviors. The two zones are separated by a slot extending along a common boundary between the two zones. The transducer extends across the slot so as to be connected to both zones of the soundboard, such that both zones are excited simultaneously when action is taken on one of the strings.

Abstract: A violin can have a longitudinal bass bar located to the right of the middle line in the front and two transverse bass bars located to both left side and right-side of the longitudinal bass bar respectively. The transverse bass bars can be in the upper half of the lower semicircle of the front plate. A lower longitudinal bass bar can be located to the left of the middle line in the back and two other transverse bass bars can be located to both left-side and right-side of the lower longitudinal bass bar respectively and the transverse bass bars can be in the upper half of the lower semicircle of the back plate. An upper longitudinal bass bar can be located to the left of the middle line in the upper half of back plate. Twelve harmonious overtones in octave may be generated in the violin.

Abstract: A string instrument includes a body portion having a first longitudinal axis, an elongate neck portion having a second longitudinal axis and first and second opposing ends located along the second longitudinal axis, and a fastener that secures one of the first or second ends to the body portion, wherein the first and second axes are misaligned from each other in a same plane.

Abstract: A collapsible stringed instrument having a body with a soundboard, a back face, a neck, and a spacer. The perimeter of the soundboard is connected to the perimeter of the back face by the spacer. The volume between the spacer, the soundboard, and the back face define a sound chamber. The neck is pivotally and laterally coupled to the body which has a door in the back face. The neck is able to pivot and slide through the door and into the sound chamber.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument combination of at least two traditional stringed musical instruments or of nontraditional stringed musical instruments or a mix of traditional and nontraditional. The combination presents the advantages of rapid exchange while playing, reduced storage or transportation volume and a lower cost than two separate instruments. The preferred embodiment is a Fiddolin, a commercially available violin modified to present a mandolin on its back face. The string tension requirement is solved by having additional structure to mount the mandolin pegs into and the angularity needed to keep the strings pulled over the nut by channels or lumens to conduct the strings through.

Abstract: A peg cutter for the peg elements of stringed musical instruments, comprising a cutting-object receptacle, a blade with at least one cutting edge the position of which relative to the cutting-object receptacle is adjustable, and at least one contact element for the blade for defining the position of the at least one cutting edge relative to the cutting-object receptacle, wherein the cutting-object receptacle and the at least one contact element are formed in such a way that the at least one cutting edge lies on the envelope of a cone when the blade rests on the at least one contact element.

Abstract: An orchestral string instrument, comprising a resonant chamber and housing defined by a back member, curved sides and a front member having a pair of f holes positioned on opposing sides of a bridge support location on the front. The housing also includes a sound peg disposed between the front and back and a central axis extending between the f holes from an upper end of the housing to an opposing lower end. A fingerboard and neck are attached to the upper end of the housing and include a longitudinal central axis in a laterally offset position from the central axis of the housing. A nut is provided for supporting strings of the instrument above the fingerboard, wherein the nut is coupled to a distal end of the fingerboard and neck. A tail piece is attached to a lower end of the housing in a comparable offset position with the offset position of the fingerboard and neck, the tail piece being configured for supporting lower ends of the strings.

Abstract: A new and improved instrument bow for use with a stringed instrument is provided. A unique new instrument bow is provided that may be constructed with a braided material and/or composite to form the instrument bow. Additionally, the new instrument bow using a braided composite to form a single piece construction instrument bow for use in conjunction with a stringed instrument. The instrument bow may be a combination of a synthetic material covered with a braided material in a single piece construction that will provide the instrument bow with increased resilient and strength without the necessity for reinforcement and/or repair.

Abstract: A strap for holding a stringed instrument around the neck of a musician. The strap includes a stop disposed at a distal end for engagement with the instrument, between the instrument's face and finger board, substantially adjacent the instrument's neck and neck heel, such that the instrument may be safely and securely held around the musician's neck without regard to whether the instrument is in a “rest” or a “performance” position.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a stationary support; one part of the instrument interfacing with the musician's sternum, another part pivotally interfacing with the support using two pivot axes mounted perpendicular to each other, first axis dependent on second axis. The longitudinal axis of the instrument is aligned with the musician's anatomical median plane; the support enabling congruent movement between the instrument and the musician's swaying torso while preventing rotation of the instrument around its longitudinal axis, thus improving ergonomic posture and technique. The instrument has an effective string length less than that of a cello and greater than that of a viola, for enabling such ergonomic positioning.

Abstract: An asymmetrical stringed instrument bridge incorporating, among other elements, an integral member, a string mounting edge, a foot edge, a treble edge, and a bass edge. The asymmetrical stringed instrument bridge is adapted to rest on a belly plate of a violin, or other stringed instrument, and support a plurality of strings. The asymmetrical stringed instrument bridge may include a plurality of tuning recesses along the edges and apertures in the integral member so as enable one to acoustically tune the bridge while taking into account the unique attributes of each string to optimize the energy transfer and movement of the bridge. The plurality of recesses may also form a treble foot, treble leg, bass foot, and bass leg.

Abstract: A teaching device for bowed string instruments includes a base connected to a finger support by a stem. The base is used to attach the teaching device to a bow for a bowed string instrument. The base has an outer end and an inner end and a central opening therebetween that receives the bow. The central opening has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bow when the base is attached to the bow. The finger support has hollow body with a closed lower end and an open upper end and a central cavity between the two ends. The central cavity has a longitudinal axis that is positioned at an angle of less than 90° to the longitudinal axis of the base. The player's little finger is positioned within the central cavity of the finger support, which forces the little finger into an angled position with respect to the bow and teaches a player how to maintain a proper grip on the bow.

Abstract: A musical violin or fiddle and a carrying case are provided. The fiddle has a restricted or narrow profile so as to permit the fiddle to be fit within the carrying case. The carrying case is made from a polyvinyl chloride pipe length preferably having an internal diameter of not greater than two inches.

Abstract: An acoustic stringed instrument body includes a soundboard, a bottom surface and a side surface, wherein the soundboard includes a relief cut, wherein the relief cut is dimensioned to create a more flexible coupling between the soundboard and the sidewall, wherein the relief cut improves the tone of the instrument by allowing the soundboard to vibrate more freely.

Abstract: An assembly (10) for a stringed musical instrument, the assembly (10) including an elongate neck (11) to which one end of a string arrangement (41) of the instrument can be anchored and a structural member (17) depending from the neck (11). The structural member (17) being substantially aligned with the lengthwise extent of the neck (11) and extending in the opposite direction thereto so as to overlie a sound box to which in use, the assembly (10) is connected. The structural member (17) is arranged to cooperate with and to bear string tension load of the string arrangement (14) applied to the assembly (10). A bridge (30) for a stringed musical instrument, which bridge (30) includes first and second parts (31, 32) which are pivotable relative to one another.

Abstract: A bow stringed instrument having an anchor piece which secures the strings to the top plate of the instrument, wherein strings are connected to the anchor piece and the anchor piece is attached to the top plate.

Abstract: A bow stringed instrument having an anchor piece which secures the strings to the top plate of the instrument, wherein strings are connected to the anchor piece and the anchor piece is attached to the top plate.

Abstract: The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, is a new and improved sound post installer that generally comprises a handle, a prong and a positioning hook. More specifically, the handle is an elongated rodlike member that is sized so that it may be easily inserted into the F hole and turned within the F hole with ease. The handle is angled at one end to produce an offset in an otherwise straight member. The prong is a razor sharp pointed member located at end of the offset. The positioning hook is located at the other end of the handle. The positioning hook may be placed anywhere along the length of the installed sound post to adjust the vertical positioning of the sound post. A flexible sleeve is fixedly attached to the positioning hook to allow the user to rotate the sound post to maximize contact with belly and back of the instrument. As an alternative, a plurality of notches are located on the hook to allow rotation of the sound post.

Abstract: A kit for automatically tuning a string musical instrument such as a guitar, violin, cello, viola, etc., includes a controller, a tail piece for attachment to the string musical instrument, a string tension adjustment mechanism, a pickup for detecting the vibration frequency of the string and producing a pickup signal corresponding to the vibration frequency, and a motorized wrench controlled by a control signal received from the controller, the motorized wrench being engageable with the string tension adjustment mechanism. The pickup signal is communicated to the controller, which sends a signal to the motorized wrench to adjust the tension of the string.

Abstract: A stringed instrument such as a contrabass uses a height-adjustable bridge assembly for supporting strings under tension with a desired height, which is manually adjusted by a human operator. The bridge assembly is mainly constructed by a bridge whose lower end portion is forked to form a pair of legs and a pair of height-adjustment members, each of which is constructed by a screw rod and a foot. The legs of the bridge are respectively assembled together with the height-adjustment members being held inside of a hollow which is formed at a prescribed position and elongated in a direction roughly perpendicular to the strings being stretched on a belly of the stringed instrument. Herein, each leg has a hole formed with an internal thread which engages with an upper portion of the screw rod whose lower portion is buried in the foot which is held inside of the hollow in a free rotation manner.

Abstract: A protector device and method for using the same that prevents a bow from striking the edge of the stringed instrument in a waist region of the instrument, substantially eliminating potential harm to the instrument, such as nicks, dents, scratches, cracks and the like due to inadvertent bow strikes. A crescent-shaped device constructed and arranged to be detachably secured to a waist portion of a bowed stringed instrument sound box. The device is dimensioned such that, when installed on the stringed instrument, it prevents a bow from contacting the edge of the instrument in the belly region during normal use of the instrument. The apparatus may be a unitary member or may be a multi-layered device. In one embodiment, the protector device includes a flexible elongate outer shell and an elongate inner cushion attached to the outer shell. The apparatus is configured to be installed within the stringed instrument waist adjacent to the edge of the belly.

Abstract: In a stick (1) for a string instrument bow, comprising fiber-reinforced synthetic material and adapted for receiving a frog and for attaching hair thereto, the product of the mass of the stick (1) alone, in g, times the deflection (D) of the stick alone, which constitutes a measure of the stiffness, in mm, when the stick (1) is supported in its handle region at the stick end (at 3) on the outer side opposite the hair side and at a distance of 130 mm therefrom (at 4) on the hair side or inner side, and when a force (F) acts on the head end (5) corresponding to a mass of 300 g, is, for a violin and viola bow 1000 mm.g at the most, preferably 800 mm.g, for a violoncello bow 700 mm.g at the most, preferably 550 mm.g at the most, and for a double-bass bow 600 mm.g at the most, preferably 450 mm.g at the most, so as to obtain a light-weight, stiff bow for a modified playing technique.

Abstract: A bow for a stringed instrument in which the tension of the hair (4) of the bow can be tightened and loosened by the performer while playing. The stick is divided into two parts (2,3). The parts (2,3) of the stick are rotatably joined about an axis (6). At least one of the parts (2,3) of the stick is extended in the form of an arm (5) from the axis (6) and the arm (5) can function as a lever for tightening the hair (4) of the bow by the performer's exertion of pressure between the arm (5) and the other part (2,3) of the stick.

Abstract: A bridge for stringed instruments having a central slotted opening for receipt of the blades of a pickup device such that the blades are adapted to move laterally back and forth and forwardly and back within the opening so as to vary the sound achieved by the bridge.

Abstract: A violin characterized by a violin body proportioned so that a sum of digits for each measurement which one skilled in the art of violin construction would recognize to be critical, when measured in millimeters, equals nine.

Abstract: An electric violin includes a body having a top, bottom and a ribcage situated between the top and bottom. A neck is attached to the body and includes an unfretted fingerboard. A bridge is attached to the body and strings extend from the distal end of the neck over the bridge and are attached to the body. The body includes a narrow portion adjacent the neck enabling easy access to the upper portion of the fingerboard. The fingerboard portion of the neck extends over the body a fixed distance. The underside of the neck includes a projection which defines a first registration point normally associated with the fourth finger position of a violin. The neck also includes a second projection located on the underside of the neck that defines a second registration point for a predetermined fingerboard position, preferably the eighth finger position corresponding to a one octave higher position on the strings.

Abstract: An electrical stringed musical instrument the machine heads of which are mounted in the body of the instrument closely adjacent the bridge with their tuning key shafts generally parallel to the upper face of the instrument and with the treble key shafts projecting from one side of the instrument, and the bass key shafts from the other. The instrument body has a lower bout only and is provided with a chinrest.

Abstract: A sound enhancing device including a bridge pad of a cold flowable material fitted to support the full underside of a bridge foot on a stringed musical instrument is disclosed. The bridge pad is positioned between the feet of the bridge and the body portion of the musical instrument whereby the tension of the strings causes the pad to cold flow to conform to the contours of the body portion and the bottom of the bridge feet, whereby the string vibrations will be transmitted to the body portion of the stringed musical instrument with greater clarity, tone and richness of the sound of the musical instrument. The pads are pre-cut to fit directly between the bridge feet and the body portion of the instrument.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bass fiddle of the violin family of instruments having a sound box made from blown fiberglass reinforced resins and wood top plate. An integrating tonal arm is located in the upper chamber of the sound box and eliminates overtones in the upper chamber and produces uniform tonal retention of all strings in all positions.

Abstract: A vibrato attachment for a stringed instrument such as a violin includes a movable member which projects under the bridge of the instrument and is movable back and forth to raise and lower the bridge thereby to vary the tension of the strings of the instrument. A movable actuator is disposed outside the sound box of the instrument at a location where it is readily engaged and moved by a part of the body of the person playing the instrument. Movement of the actuator is transmitted to the member under the bridge by a connector which extends from the actuator through a hole in the sound box, a rod in the sound box and another connector which extends through a second hole in the sound box and which joins the rod and the member.

Abstract: A method of making a violin including forming the body, neck, sound post and backplate as a unitary structure from a single piece of material such as wood. The fingerboard, shim and nut is also formed as a single piece. The top plate, bridge, tailpiece and peg structure are separately provided and assembled with the body-neck and fingerboard members in a simple and inexpensive instrument. A kit with components thus formed is disclosed.

Abstract: An improvement to a prior art bridge for a viol instrument is disclosed. The prior art bridge included pivotal support feet permitting the support feet to align themselves with the contour of the instrument. The present invention provides locking means which prevents these pivotally mounted support feet from lateral movement (in the direction of the strings).

Abstract: The bridge has a pair of elongate feet forming the contact between the bridge and the table of the instrument. The feet extend at right angles to the bridge in direction substantially parallel to the grain of the wood from which the table is formed.Methods utilizing an improved bridge for a stringed musical instrument for improving and/or altering the tonal qualities of stringed instruments.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument such as a member of the viol family, in particular a bass viol, having a string with a length longer than the classical length and hence an extended lower range. An extended neck and fingerboard are provided and a clamp at the end of the standard fingerboard releasably clamps the extended string at its classical length when the extended range is no longer needed.

Abstract: Up to twenty bow-operable violin-type stringed instruments, or VIODES of different tonality and twelfth coloration or shade, are combined to form a string ensemble. All of the instruments have substantially identical overall length, fingerboard length, effective string length, and fingering but graduated body sizes (volume, width, thickness). Thus all of the instruments may be played da braccio in exactly the same manner. The higher-pitched groups, the VIODINAS and VIODENAS, are tuned in a relationship similar to that of the customary first and second violin. The next lower group the VIODAS, is tuned one fifth lower, whereas the next lower group, VIOBASA, is an octave lower. The lowest frequency group, VIOGRAVAS, is tuned a twelth lower than the VIODINAS and VIODENAS. The lower three groups are transposing instruments all scored on a g-clef. One instrument for each group can be used to form a balanced quintet, or the VIOGRAVA may be eliminated for a quartet.