Abstract: A tuning mechanism for harmonically tuning and pitch tuning guitar strings. The mechanism is part of the bridge. It includes a base and a plurality of saddles which are mounted on the base and are slidable longitudinally back and forth to adjust the effective length of the strings of the guitar. Each saddle is mechanically connected to a guide member which is located in a groove in the base. A tuning screw through the guide member slides the guide member and the saddle back and forth to tune a guitar string. A securing bolt is then tightened to fix the saddle in place on the base. The mechanism also includes a pivotable pitch tuning member which pivots back and forth in response to a pivoting force applied by a pitch tuning screw to adjust string tension. The string receiving end of each saddle can be raised or lowered to adjust the height of the string above the base.

Abstract: A bridge and means for mounting the rear end of each of a plurality of strings on said bridge, the bridge including a plurality of saddles to which strings are individually attached wherein each saddle is adjustable longitudinally of the string in order to vary the effective length of the string for harmonious tuning and the saddle is adjustable without varying the effective length of the string in order to provide a fine tuning variation in tension for pitch. The invention relates to the specific means of mounting the end of the string on its individual saddle of the bridge wherein a substantially tubular member is provided with a groove extending downwardly, substantially normal to the body of the instrument to which the bridge is secured. The string passes through said groove and a bead on the end of the string initially anchors the string with respect to the groove.

Abstract: A tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument includes a bridge base, a plurality of bridges, a plurality of anchor members of the same number as that of the bridges, and tuning bolts of the same number as that of the bridges or anchor members. The bridge base is fixed on a body. Each bridge is mounted on an upper surface of a front end portion of the bridge base and is movable along vertical and back-and-forth directions with respect to the body. Each bridge supports one end portion of a string at a top surface thereof. Each anchor member is mounted on an upper surface of a rear end portion of the bridge base and is movable along the back-and-forth direction. Each anchor member locks a bead coupled to one end of the string. Each tuning bolt is rotated to move the corresponding anchor member along the back-and-forth direction.

Abstract: The bridge of a guitar includes a movable bridge plate normally pivotable relative to the body of the guitar so as to change the string tension and produce a tremulous tone effect. Alternatively, the bridge-mounting plate can be locked in fixed position relative to the remainder of the guitar. A low friction mounting for the bridge-mounting plate consists of a linear, sharpened leading end or ends of the plate received in a linear transverse groove or grooves of a mounting flange. Preferably, the pivot axis of the bridge plate lies in a vertical plane closely adjacent to the location where the guitar strings cross the bridge so that pivoting movement of the bridge plate to produce the tremulous tone effect does not result in a large change of the height of the strings above the guitar body. A separate saddle is provided for each string and gear-actuated adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the longitudinal position of each saddle.

Abstract: A tremolo mechanism for adjusting the spring tension of a stringed musical instrument, the instrument including a body, a neck portion, a plurality of strings each anchored at one end to the neck portion and extending over at least a portion of the neck portion and the body, the mechanism comprising a base for attachment to the body; a pivot plate mounted on the base for detuning the strings substantially evenly and for maintaining the strings in substantially the same pitch relative to each other when the pivot plate is pivoted with respect to the base, including a plurality of sliders for anchoring the other end of each of the strings; and a bridge positioned between the pivot plate and the neck. A method for rapid tuning of a stringed musical instrument, a string for a stringed musical instrument, and an improved stringed instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge and tuning unit for a stringed musical instrument, the instrument including a body, a neck portion extending from the body, a plurality of strings extending over a part of the body and the neck portion, and means for securing the strings at one end to the neck portion, the bridge and tuning unit comprising a base member fixedly mounted to the body, the base member including a pair of sidewalls defining a channel therebetween; a plurality of individual bridge saddles, one of the bridge saddles corresponding to and aligned for supporting each of the strings, each said saddle generally comprising a rectangular paralleli piped, and having a groove on one surface thereof for alignment with the string. The bridge saddles are positioned in abutting relation within the channel and one of the saddles is in frictional contact with one of the sidewalls.

Abstract: A device for setting the intonation of the individual strings of a fretted stringed instrument, such as a guitar, wherein the instrument bridge includes for each of the individual strings both an end restraining and a fine tuning apparatus, for instance, of the type disclosed in Rose U.S. Pat. No.

Abstract: A tremolo unit mechanism for electric guitar comprising bridge bodies respectively provided on a bridge base which correspond to respective strings, each of the bridge bodies having a slanted top surface and a string inserting hole. A rocker arm is mounted on the bridge body which pivotally moves in a vertical direction to firmly press the string with the front end portion of the slanted top surface of the bridge body when a locking screw is screwed into the rear end of the rocker arm and press the rear end of the bridge body. An octave tuning screw is connected to the bridge body, which moves the bridge body in the length-wise direction of the string to effect harmonic tuning of the string. A string locking device is provided between the nut and the tuning pegs. The string locking device includes a height adjusting spacer and a string locking block which is provided on the spacer and has front and rear walls with a space in between.

Abstract: A tremolo apparatus with tuning function for an electric guitar including a bridge base disposed on a body of the guitar in such a manner as to freely tilt vertically, a plural number of octave tuning members disposed on the bridge base corresponding to respective strings and movable in a stretching direction of the strings for effecting octave tuning, a plural number of octave tuning screws which independently move and adjust respective octave tuning members in a stretching direction of the strings, a plural number of string holding members disposed respectively in the octave tuning members in such a manner as to freely move in the stretching direction of the strings for holding one end of each string, a plural number of tensile force control mechanisms serving to independently move and adjust respective string holding members in a stretching direction of the strings, and a balance spring providing the bridge base with a balancing movement acting in the direction opposite to the direction of the movement giv

Abstract: A string attachment device having a sleeve encompassing a cam, an aperture in the sleeve to position a string therebetween and means to rotate the sleeve and cam relative to each other to grasp the string therebetween.

Abstract: There is provided an electric guitar including a tremolo unit and first and second string fixing devices. The first string fixing device is adapted to be mounted on the head of the guitar and includes a base and a fixing member for pressing a group of strings onto the surface of the base. The tremolo unit includes a tremolo block rockingly supported by the body of the guitar and having a plurality of through-holes for receiving therein the ends of the strings. The second string fixing device includes a base section integral with the tremolo block and slidingly supporting a plurality of bridges each carrying the corresponding one of the strings and adapted to be moved to adjust tensions developed in respective strings. The second string fixing device further includes means for fixing the strings at the intermediate portions thereof.

Abstract: An electric bass guitar incorporating combination string-adjustment, fine-tuning, and bridge-elements. The bridge-elements are accurately adjustable to any position, and are so constructed and related that the lateral positions of the strings will be determined with great precision, regardless of the adjusted position of the saddles. Fine-tuning screws are interposed between the saddles and an anchor wall which both anchors the strings and anchors the ends of adjustment elements for the saddles. The strings are confined closely in vertical slots so that they may not move laterally but may move vertically as fine-tuning occurs. The fine-tuning screws engage the string portions in the slots.

Abstract: A stringed instrument includes a bridge having drums over which strings pass that are equipped with locking members to prevent unwanted string vibrations and shifts in a string's octave point that normally result from the loosening of the harmonic and height adjustment screws of the drums.

Abstract: This invention relates to an acoustic guitar bridge comprising a body shell (1) for attachment to the body of a guitar, an adjustable saddle member (12) for supporting the strings of the guitar and an adjustable support member (4) for engaging and supporting the saddle member along its length, the support member being housed within the shell and the saddle member being arranged in a slot (3) in the shell, those members being mounted for movement, relative to the body shell, in respective directions lying transverse to each other and engaging each other through surfaces at least one of which is inclined to the direction of movement of the support member whereby movement of the support member varies the height of the saddle member relative to the body shell.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument comprises a body (1) over which are stretched substantially parallel strings (4). Each string is stretched between a tuning key (3) and a bridge-tailpiece assembly (7). This assembly comprises a plate (8) attached to the body (1) and a respective adjustment member for each string mounted on the plate (8). Each adjustment member comprises a peg (15) movable in translation relative to the plate (8) parallel to the corresponding string and a bridge member (18) pivoted to the peg. The bridge member (18) may be oriented relative to the plate (8) of the bridge-tailpiece assembly (7) by a positioning device (22). The bridge-tailpiece assembly (7) comprises a bore (20) through which the corresponding string (4) passes, this string being hooked on to the body (1) at a point such that it bears on the bridge member (18) over substantially the entire length of the bore (20) and that the positioning device is pushed on the body by the string tension.

Abstract: The fine tuning apparatus functions as the bridge element (20) of a stringed instrument. The fine tuning apparatus includes a base element (22) and a series of fine tuning elements (40), one for each string. Each fine tuning element (40) includes a forward block element (42) and a rear block element (52) which is rotatable relative to the forward block element. A string of the musical instrument makes critical contact with the fine tuning apparatus at point (59) on the rear block element (52) and maintains surface contact with the rear block element (52) as the surface slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the bridge critical contact point (59), until the point where the string is clamped against surface (60). Means (64, 70) are provided for adjusting the rotatable position of the rear block element (52) relative to the forward block element (42), which results in a change in the tension of the string and hence the fine tune of the string.

Abstract: The invention pertains to improvements in stringed instruments, and particularly relates to the string supporting apparatus for guitars, such as the bridge system. A plurality of string rests are located within the bridge slot, and the rests are provided with an upper obliquely oriented surface having string receiving notches therein whereby the height of the string above the guitar neck may be adjusted. Further, the upper portion of the string rest may be offset from its base region wherein the location of rest engagement with the string may be adjusted to selectively lengthen or shorten the string. Further, a string rest adapted to be located adjacent the guitar neck nut is disclosed whereby the string height may be varied, and the string length adjusted. A further feature of the invention pertains to the internal bracing of the guitar front and rear panels.

Abstract: A pitch stabilized string suspension system which eliminates the detuning while playing by designing the string length between the string break point and the string attachment point as a function of the coefficient of friction and the deflection angle at the break point. Novel designs of the components of the string suspension system, the bridge, the saddle, the nut, and the tuning machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bridge for a stringed instrument has a base plate, an elongate end wall extending perpendicularly from the base plate and having a plurality of laterally spaced string grooves, and an elongate bridge bar parallel to the end wall and having string support grooves across the surface that faces the base plate corresponding to the string support grooves across the end wall. The bridge bar is movable toward and away from the base plate while maintaining the spacing between the bridge bar string support grooves and the base plate less than the spacing between the end wall string support grooves and the base plate.

Abstract: A bridge for a stringed musical instrument, particularly a guitar, is disclosed. The bridge is economical to manufacture, and may be made with simple punching and pressing operations. The bridge comprises a base which is secured to the instrument, and a saddle which is adjustably secured to the base. The saddle includes a lip which provides individual nodal points for the instrument's strings.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, e.g. a bow instrument or an electric guitar, is disclosed comprising a substantially rigid body and a plurality of strings attached at one end to a tailpiece. A flexible soundboard of acoustic material bears through one edge against the instrument body and through an opposite edge against the tailpiece. The soundboard freely extends between the one edge and the opposite edge and the tailpiece is fulcrumed on the instrument body. Upon tensioning the strings the soundboard is arched between the instrument body and the tailpiece. Preferably, the soundboard is of arcuate shape with its convex side facing the strings.

Abstract: A kit for converting a single-stringed instrument to a double-stringed instrument including a unique combined bridge/tuning mechanism (50) which replaces the bridge assembly of the single-stringed instrument. The combined bridge/tuning mechanism (50) includes a bridge assembly over which both the original strings (20) and the additional strings (40) pass, and an integrally mounted tuning assembly (54) for adjusting the tension in (i.e., tuning) the additional strings. The bridge/tuning mechanism (50) includes a base or mounting plate (60) from one end of which perpendicularly extends a flange (62). The tuning keys (86) which comprise the tuning assembly (54) are pivotally mounted to the upper end of the flange (62), the additional strings (40) passing through apertures (68) formed in the flange (62). The flange (62) also serves as a means for terminating one end of the original strings (20) whose other ends are terminated in other tuning keys (18) located, for example, on the head (16) of the instrument.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge for a stringed musical instrument which bridge has a bridge saddle mounting member and adjusts string height by providing a means for wedging this member up or down. Means are also provided for moving this member forward and backward to adjust intonation and to adjust the spacing between adjacent strings.

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: An apparatus is presented for use with stringed musical instruments which replaces both a bridge and a tailpiece. The apparatus provides enhanced coupling between the string which it contacts and the body of the musical instrument by terminating the string at a point coincident with the desired speaking length, thereby virtually completely eliminating the energy loss and extraneous vibrations that occur in conventional nodal point forming systems. The apparatus includes provision for longitudinally adjusting the position of the string relative to the body of the musical instrument to obtain the proper location thereof with regard to the original octave point position of the strings over the frets.

Abstract: A string instrument, such as a guitar, has a resonance body and a bridge provided with a string-contacting surface. A string-supporting element is provided on the body and a string-securing device is also provided on the body but is separate from and spaced from the bridge and has a second string-contacting surface. One or more sound openings are provided in the resonance body and surround a center region of the bridge. A string-deflecting element is also provided on the center region of the bridge spaced from and opposite the first string-contacting surface.

Abstract: A guitar having a split level top of its sound box which thus is formed at two different (vertically separated) levels and connected by an angular cross bridge to which one end of the strings is anchored so as to directly vibrate the chamber. The result is an increased sound volume and resonance persistance which is achieved without the distortion that may result from electronic amplification when applied to conventional guitars or other stringed musical instruments.

Abstract: In a bridge for stringed instruments of the type including a base member, a plurality of drums, and means connecting the drums to the base member in end-to-end relationship for independent lateral movement in two orthogonal directions to separately adjust the length and height of each string, there is disclosed an improved construction wherein the strings are conducted into engagement with the drums so as to apply an axial force to each of the drums to urge all of the drums axially into contact with each other and the first drum into contact with a fixed abutment on the base member.

Abstract: The soundbox body is a one piece plastic molding having an offset bottom concave-convex substantially parabolic sound reflector area joined by a reinforcing rib structure to the wall of the body. A top panel is mounted on a supporting and reinforcing frame attached to the upper edges of the body wall. A neck molded from lightweight plastic has lightweight metal reinforcement extending longitudinally therein. An attachment heel structure on the neck is received and secured in a complementary socket in the upper bout of the soundbox body. Tuning gear is housed in complementary bearing recesses formed complementally in a head panel on the neck and a head plate removably secured to the head panel, and providing bearing holes through which tuning posts extend for attachment of the tuning ends of the playing strings which extend therefrom over an adjustable nut and spaced over the finger board, and then across a sound hole bordered by a ring member locating a pick guard.

Abstract: A guitar or other fretted stringed musical instrument includes intonation adjustment means comprising an aperture underlying a string at the instrument's bridge and a saddle rotatably received within the aperture. The saddle carries a string supporting surface operable in a cam-like manner for adjusting the vibrating length of the string in response to rotation of the saddle within the aperture.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a plurality of strings each individually secured by a bridge pin at the bridge. Each pin has an enlarged head positioned on a stem secured to the guitar body through the bridgepiece. A bore extends through the head of the pin in the drection of the strings and has an enlarged counterbored portion at the tail-end. The anchoring element of each string is positioned within the counter-bored portion while the remainder of the string passes through the smaller bore and thence over the bridge nut. In one embodiment the side of the head has a slot that opens into the bore. In various embodiments the stem of the pin is secured to the guitar body by a nut threaded onto the stem, by a rib cooperating with grooves in a sleeve secured to the guitar or by a press fit.

Abstract: A stringed instrument is disclosed which incorporates improved design and performance features. An elongated body, hereinafter called the wedge, contains in itself all necessary components and parts making it a totally playable instrument with or without a pair of removable wing bodies. One purpose of the wing body attachments is to provide flexibility for modular electronic add-on components for use with new modern amplification devices. Also the wing bodies may be changed to provide a varity of instrument body designs, colors, finishes and fabrics. The sound produced by each of the strings of the instrument is enhanced by providing each string with at least one individual magnetic pickup which is individually adjustable to that string for optimum performance. Each string is also provided with its own individual bridge support which is completely separated from each other bridge support to prevent any acoustical and/or electrical cross-feed.

Abstract: A bridge pin for guitar or the like is formed of a heavy metal, such as brass to materially increase the presence and the sustain of the instrument.

Abstract: A string vibration transducer bridge for an electric string instrument including a plurality of string tension mechanism provided side by side in the bridge and which are adjustably movable along the direction of the string and includes a plurality of string supporting electrode parts which are slidably movable along the direction of the string and rotatable along a direction perpendicular to the string, a plurality of independent piezoelectric transducers which each engage with an undersurface of an electrode part, and a plurality of piezoelectric transducer pushing mechanisms for pushing the piezoelectric transducers against the electrode parts whereby the tension of the string may be adjusted by both the string tension mechanism and the transducer pushing mechanism and the vibration from each string is independently sensed.

Abstract: A bridge for an electric string bass or other stringed musical instrument includes a base adapted for attachment to the body of the instrument and a number of saddles for individually supporting the strings, the saddles being adjustably movable to different positions relative to the base, in the direction along the length of the strings, to adjust the string intonation. The saddles may include piezoelectric elements for providing electrical signals and, in this case, the base may further include a covered recess for housing a plurality of volume controls each associated with a respective one of the strings. The saddles are designed and arranged on the base to support the strings with a given curvature matching that of the fret board and an adjustment means is provided for raising, lowering and/or tilting the base relative to the body to bring the strings into proper height adjustment relative to the frets.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided with one or more auxiliary strings which are parallel to the regular strings of performance and between the regular strings and the sound box or body to be actuated under the influence and vibrations of the regular strings.

Abstract: A stringed instrument having a fretboard with a sawtooth surface profile with the crests of the teeth in the normal fret positions.Optionally the instrument may have a rotatable nut of generally cylindrical form having a plurality of annular grooves therein, one groove for each string of the instrument. The nut is so mounted or the grooves are so shaped that on rotation of the nut, the heights of the strings from the surface of the fretboard are varied simultaneously.

Abstract: In a bridge for stringed instruments of the type including a plurality of independently movable drums which permit independent adjustment of the length and height of each string of the instrument, there is disclosed an improved construction wherein all of the drums are urged axially into contact with each other and a fixed post to reduce vibration of the drums and wherein the adjustment holes through the drums are arranged to prevent fraying of the sleeve of a player of the instrument as such sleeve passes over the bridge.

Abstract: Devices for supporting guitar strings at the bridge and nut ends of the keyboard include a body portion with an axially vertical threaded bore that houses a screw element. A slot is provided in the body so that the string rests and is supported on the upper surface of the element. The element has a surface recess adapted for reception of a tool used to raise and lower the element in the bore and to thus raise and lower the support for the string. The recess is preferably surrounded by a flat uninterrupted surface to provide a string supporting surface at all rotative positions. If movement of the support longitudinally of the string is desired, a screw member mounted on a bracket and engaging the body portion within a threaded bore below the screw element may be used.