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 device for changing the timbre of a stringed instrument of the violin or viol family. The device includes a plurality of sympathetic strings, rigidly fixed at opposite ends in a frame suspended over a sound board of the instrument. A javari bridge is mounted on the sound board, a distance from a main bridge, with the sympathetic strings passing over the javari bridge. When the sympathetic strings are set into vibration by the main strings, the javari bridge brings out upper harmonic vibrations in the sympathetic strings, changing the timbre of the instrument. The javari bridge also makes the upper harmonic vibrations more audible and shortens the period of vibration, avoiding the dissonance associated with sympathetic strings strung over a conventional bridge. When the javari bridge is stepped, the sympathetic strings may be strung in tiers, allowing more strings to be strung in less space and expanding the harmonic sounds produced by the instrument.

Abstract: A guitar bridge bias converter is described which provides the means of converting a right-handed steel strung electric or acoustic guitar to a left-handed instrument. The bridge bias converter for an acoustic guitar consists most simply of an integral one-piece unit comprising a central plate, a lower tongue, and an upper bridge-bone. The tongue locates in the groove vacated by removal of the original right-handed bridge-bone. The plate sits on top of the bridge and the bridge-bone is situated on the plate at an angle which is diametrically opposed to the original bridge-bone. This has the effect, in conjunction with reversal of the string positions, of converting the guitar from right-handed to left-handed playing. An alternative embodiment appropriate to conversion of electric guitars is also described, comprising a replacement bridge block incorporating mounting hole protrusions so offset as to convert the instrument from right-hand to left-handed string bias.

Abstract: An electric bass guitar in which its electronic pick-up is displaced substantially 4-41/2 inches from its bridge, and in which a plurality of holes are provided within its body to receive a support strap in offering five different playing positions to a user, including one in which the guitar is supported to allow its being bowed without the need for any support stand.

Abstract: A musical instrument, such as a guitar, having strings across a bridge, a finger board and a nut wherein the bridge, finger board, and nut have a concave curvature. Preferably, the concave curvature is a hyperbolic curve. The resulting string arrangement is designed to minimize wrist and finger strain associated with playing the instrument.

Abstract: My device applies to acoustic guitars which have bridges glued to the guitar top. My device securely joins the bridge to the guitar top. Sometimes the tension of the strings pulling on the bridge separates it from the guitar top. My device attacks this problem by using a cross member support bar, which bears upon braces glued to the underside of the guitar top. Screws or other fasteners, threaded through the cross member support bar, guitar top, and bridge, joins them securely. The cross member support bar and fasteners may be installed during the original manufacturing process or added later after the musician has dislodged or separated the bridge partially or wholly from the guitar top. The effect of the cross member support bar, fastened to the bridge in the above manner, is to improve the sound of acoustic guitars.

Abstract: Improved bridge for stringed musical instruments having a single unitary member configured in a somewhat comblike structure, the backbone portion of which forms a string-engaging and supporting surface. The teeth-forming portions form a plurality of sound-coupling and supporting pedestals, each of which lies directly beneath a string and terminates in a distal end which is flared to form an enlarged base that is adapted to bear against the soundboard of the instrument.

Abstract: A bridge for a string instrument having a body and at least one string. A base is provided for mounting the bridge on the body of the instrument. An intonation adjustment member is slidably mounted on the base for adjusting the horizontal position at which a string is supported by the bridge. A height adjustment member is slidably mounted on the intonation adjustment member for adjusting the vertical position of the string above the body. The intonation adjustment member has a ramp portion for slidably supporting the height adjustment member while maintaining substantially constant contact surface area. Horizontal position of the intonation adjustment member and vertical position of the height adjustment member are adjusted by respective elongate threaded shafts. The intonation adjustment member interlocks with the base, and the height adjustment member interlocks with the intonation adjustment member.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument includes a body, a fretboard mounted on the body, a nut assembly mounted on the body on one side of the fretboard wherein the nut assembly comprises a plurality of individually pivotable string holders in combination with a fixed nut which has a plurality of corresponding nut critical contact surfaces. The stringed instrument also comprises a bridge including bridge critical contact surfaces mounted on the body at an opposing side of the fretboard. The bridge critical contact surfaces are arranged at a selectively adjustable distance from corresponding nut critical contact surfaces. A plurality of strings are arranged across the corresponding bridge and nut critical contact surfaces. The bridge includes a tuning mechanism for obtaining at least harmonic tuning upon adjusting the distance between the bridge and nut critical contact surfaces.

Abstract: A vibrating body for producing vibrations in the audible frequency range, has a non-uniform thickness and comprises a sound board having an axis. A first series of areas of reduced thickness is formed on the sound board at different distances from the axis and from each other. A first one of the areas of reduced thickness is spaced apart from a second one of the areas of reduced thickness by a first distance. The second area of reduced thickness being spaced apart from a third one of the areas of reduced thickness by a second distance. The third area of reduced thickness being spaced apart from a fourth one of the areas of reduced thickness by a third distance. The first distance and the second distance and the third distance vary in a harmonic progression.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, which includes a bridge which does not stress the top of the guitar either vertically or laterally. Vertical and lateral forces due to string tension are balanced out within the bridge assembly. Also disclosed is an adjustable height tailpiece and means for adjusting the intonation of the instrument by adjusting the distance that the neck projects out of the body.

Abstract: A bridge device is provided for a stringed musical instrument having a body, a neck extending from the body, and a set of tensioned strings extending along the neck and over at least a portion of the body. The bridge device comprises a bridge plate mounted adjacent a front surface of the body, a plurality of saddles secured to the bridge plate, and a plurality of armatures pivotably secured to the bridge plate. The saddles are individually adjustable to vary the effective length height of each of the strings and to vary the distance between each of the strings from the bridge plate. Each of the armatures individually engage the strings and are selectively manipulable to change the tension of each of the strings between one of three predetermined tension levels.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument comprises a body, a fretboard mounted on the body, a nut mounted on the body at one side of the fretboard, and a bridge having a base mounted on the body at an opposing side of the fretboard. The bridge includes a plurality of pivotable saddles secured to the base and a plurality of corresponding critical contact surfaces associated with the saddles. The stringed instrument also includes a plurality of strings arranged in contact with corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces and the nut. The bridge includes a shaft connected to the base which is rotatably mounted within the body so that the entire bridge can pivot about an axis extending through the shaft. Each of the plurality of saddles is pivotally connected to the shaft so that the plurality of saddles and the associated bridge critical contact surfaces pivot about the same axis as the base of the bridge.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument includes a body, a fretboard mounted on the body, a nut mounted on the body on one side of the fretboard, and a bridge mounted on the body at an opposing side of the fretboard. The bridge includes a plurality of bridge critical contact surfaces each arranged at a selectively adjustable distance from the nut. The instrument also includes a plurality of strings arranged in contact with the nut and corresponding bridge critical contact surfaces. The strings are placed in tension so that desired tones may be obtained upon playing of the instrument. The bridge includes a tuning mechanism for obtaining at least harmonic tuning of the strings by causing pivotable movement of the bridge critical contact surfaces so that a desired distance between the bridge critical contact surfaces and the nut is obtained.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument comprises an automatic biasing mechanism for automatically urging associated anchor members affixed to corresponding ends of a string into a secured position so that the associated string will not come loose during playing of the stringed instrument. The anchor elements may comprise bullet-shaped elements. The automatic biasing mechanism is adapted to urge the bullet-shaped elements forward substantially along the longitudinal axis of the associated strings.

Abstract: A musical instrument bridge (50) is supporting a set of strings (22) above a front face (14) of a musical instrument (12). The bridge has a plate (60), a mounting block (80), and a plurality of fingers (100). The plate is attachable to a rear face of the instrument. The plurality of fingers are cantilevered from the plate and extend outwardly therefrom. Each finger has a resonant frequency or rigidity that is related to a predetermined pitch of the string supported by the finger. Each finger is designed to vibrate in a plane that is parallel to the front face of the instrument but to reduce vibration in a plane perpendicular to the front face of the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed is a musical instrument bridge for supporting a set of strings above a front face of a musical instrument. The bridge comprises a plate, a mounting block, and a plurality of fingers. The plate is attachable to a rear face of the instrument. The plurality of fingers are attached to the plate and extend towards a front face of the instrument. Each finger has a resonant frequency that is related to a predetermined pitch of the string supported by the finger. Each finger is designed to vibrate in a plane that is parallel to the front face of the instrument but to reduce vibration in a plane perpendicular to the front face of the instrument.

Abstract: An improved bridge for a stringed musical instrument having a sound board. The bridge includes an elongated body portion having first and second ends. An adjustable foot is located at each end of the body portion and has a heel and a toe portion for contact with the sound board of the instrument. The bridge further includes means for selectively biasing each of the adjustable feet, whereby the contact between the sound board and the adjustable foot may be varied between the heel and toe portion of each of the feet.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument of the guitar type has a plurality of strings which extend from tuning devices on a head portion, along a neck portion, to a body portion of the instrument. A plurality of string support assemblies are mounted in the material of the musical instrument adjacent to a connection between the head and neck portions of the instrument. Each of the string support assemblies includes a pair of spheres which are held in engagement with each other. One of the strings presses against a pair of spheres to position the string relative to the head and neck portions of the instrument. In one embodiment of the invention, the spheres have different diameters. In this embodiment of the invention, the string bends around the larger one of the two spheres. The spheres, whether of the same diameter or of different diameters, are disposed in a recess which extends part way through the string support. An end of the recess is blocked by material which is received in the recess.

Abstract: A structure for holding a guitar string including a base plate at the guitar body near the bridge, a saddle above the base plate, a saddle height position adjusting screw and a front-back position adjusting screw for the saddle. The latter screw is held in a groove in a holding member. The holding member is rotatable in a fixed member on the base plate. The rotatability of the holding member enables the height of the saddle to be set, with corresponding adjustment in the tilt angle of the front-back position adjustment screw and the holding body in the hole. A screw clamps a holding part against the front-back position adjusting screw and to also clamp the holding part at a selected rotative position to which the holding part has been adjusted in conformity with the height of the saddle.

Abstract: A musical instrument having plucked strings includes a sound board resting freely on the body of the instrument and which is put into vibration in a plane normal to its surface by a bridge of asymmetrical structure that supports the strings of the instruments and that rests on said sound board. The sound board is clamped at a projecting one of its ends between the body and the tailpiece of the instrument, and at its other end it rests on supports secured to the body. The bridge is supported at its treble string end directly by means of a fixed finger secured to the rigid body, and at its bass string end by the freely mounted sound board to which pressure and vibration are transmitted by a thrust piece which defines an asymmetrical configuration relative to the fixed finger.

Abstract: A musical instrument of the stringed kind having a hollow sound box formed of a top plate, bottom plate and side walls. A string supporting bridge is mounted on the top plate and has two feet which are spaced apart transversely of the instrument. A sound post extends between the top and bottom plates and is connected to one foot of the bridge through an opening formed in the top plate. The opening and the connection are related so that there is no impediment to movement of the top plate in the region of the opening. By way of example, the post may extend through the opening to effect the connection with the bridge foot, in which event clearance will be provided between the post and the opening.

Abstract: A bridge for string instruments, particularly for guitars, including base guitars, serves for adjustably fastening the strings of the instrument to the instrument body. The bridge has a base body and a bearing cylinder for each string. The bearing cylinder extends perpendicularly to the string axis and is rotatably mounted for adjusting the height of the string. Each bearing cylinder has a string throughbore extending perpendicularly to the cylinder axis and in alignment with a throughbore in the base body. An intonation tube, through which the corresponding string extends, is provided in each string throughbore, so as to be adjustable in axial direction of the intonation tube. An adjustment of the intonation tube in axial direction of the string throughbore results in an adjustment of the length of the string. A rotation of the bearing cylinder results in an adjustment of the height of the string.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge assembly for a stringed musical instrument utilizes individual adjustment blocks, one beneath each string, each fitted with a saddle screw having at its upper end a guidance groove supporting the corresponding string. The guidance groove may be shaped to accommodate different sized strings. The blocks, configured with elongated slots near each end engaged by screw fasteners, may be adjustably positioned prior to being fixed in place, thus enabling the bridge support point for each string to be set individually for good intonation and true octaves. The saddle screws, engaged in holes which are threaded into the block at an inclined angle so as to support each string at a well-defined point, allow each string's height above the fingerboard to be set independently for a desired tradeoff between ease of fingering and freedom from string-to-fingerboard buzz at maximum playing amplitude.

Abstract: A device for installing one end of a string on a string musical instrument. A track on the body of the instrument has a first depression for receiving the bridge of the instrument for that string. The bridge has a string raising saddle on it, which can be adjusted in height and can be adjusted parallel to the length of the string. The installed end of the string extends past the saddle to a slide supported in a second depression on the track. A bolt on the slide receives a nut supported at the track to adjust displacement of the slide between a position where the supported string is at highest pitch and a position to which the slide can shift for the string to be at lowest pitch. A pivotable eccentric lever has two cam surfaces on it at different distances from the pivot axis of the lever. The different high and low pitch levels of the string are established by the different pivot positions of the lever cooperating with the displacement slide. Displacement range is adjustable.

Abstract: A guitar bridge assembly includes a first base body receiving a second base body capturing a bridge angularly oriented relative to an anchor plate at an acute angle relative to one another for securement of guitar strings about a top surface of a guitar body.

Abstract: A sound enhancing insert for stringed instruments in general and for guitars, in particular. The insert is readily mountable between the string supporting bridge saddle and the string tie-down members without repair, alteration of, or replacement of instrument parts. One or more rigid members, constructed of metal, wood, rigid plastic or ceramic, are mounted with a top surface of the rigid member contacting a respective string and the bottom surface of the rigid member contacting the sound table of the instrument. The rigid members are preferably mounted within a pliant soft plastic material such as Neoprene for supporting the rigid members in place and making the insert adaptable to different string heights. The rigid members, in their engagement between string and sound table, provide a second reverberation signal, a change in sustain, and a change in timbre, depending upon the particular material used.

Abstract: A nut (30) and/or saddle (20) supports the strings (14) of a stringed musical instrument (10) allowing essentially fully unrestricted movement of the strings, both forward and background within the nut or saddle in order to maintain the proper pitch tuning of each string. Each string is retained at a fixed position at the nut or saddle, but allowed to move freely from these fixed positions when the strings are in motion such as when being tuned. A pair of freely-rotatably ball bearings (34a and 34b) are positioned in a countersunk pocket aperture 33 in the nut housing (32) and/or saddle housing (60) and in the case of the former, are positioned immediately juxtaposed to a pressure pad (41) for dampening each string from vibration between the nut assembly and the instrument tuner mechanism. A retainer (42) retains each pair of balls (34a and 34b) in the pocket aperture (33).

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses, and methods for their use, for reversing or preventing warpage in the top plates of guitars and similar musical instruments attributable to the tensile forces within the strings of such instruments. The apparatus employs a compression block attached within the interior of an instrument's sound box, upon the interior side of the top plate and opposite the bridge, a compression rod between the compression block and the tail block of the instrument, and means within the interior of the sound box for adjusting the movement of the compression rod. When installed, the apparatus of the invention may be manipulated to induce a compressive force upon the interior side of the instrument's top plate, thus arresting or reversing the undesirable warpage in the top plate caused by the tension in the instrument's strings.

Abstract: A bridge assembly for a guitar in which a saddle is mounted on the body of the guitar for contact with the strings extending longitudinally above the body of the guitar for holding the strings above the body of the guitar under tension and producing a double change in angle of the strings on the saddle. The saddle has a fulcrum end supported on the guitar from which an inclined lever portion extends at an acute angle with respect to the body of the guitar and has a free end on which the string passes and applies force to the saddle. The inclined lever portion defines a tapered space with the body of the guitar so that the applied double force of the string is transmitted via the inclined lever portion to its fulcrum end forwardly at the acute angle. For bass strings, the saddle can be formed with multiple angularly spaced legs and for treble strings with a solid, triangular cross section.

Abstract: An improved acoustic guitar bridge having string intonation, height, and tilt adjustment and comprising an anchor joined to and protruding downwardly from a chassis housing a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly adjustable saddles. Stabilizer legs 20 for height adjustment and chassis 10 tilt control extend down from the chassis.

Abstract: A bearing of a roller string guide for a musical instrument, such as a roller bridge saddle, is urged into a seating by elastic member whose spring force preferably is greater than the lateral force exerted on the roller by the vibration of the string. The seating of the bearing is formed in a rigid structure of the bridge saddle. With this arrangement since the bearing is urged into a rigid seating the vibrational energy of the string cannot vibrate the roller laterally relative to the bridge saddle and therefore no vibrational energy of the string is lost in the connection between the roller and the saddle structure. With a bridge having a bearing saddle according to the invention string sustain is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A bridge for a stringed instrument has a string supporting portion comprising a composition having a first component and a second component. The first component is a rigid material and the second component is a lubricating material. Preferably the first component is plastic and the second component is polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite or a silicone. The composition may also include a reinforcement comprising aramid, carbon or glass fibers or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A bridge for a stringed musical instrument comprises a thin wooden body having a bottom base portion adapted to be supported upon a resonant body member of the instrument and a top crown portion that is formed with grooves for holding individual strings. The base and crown portions have opposed edges that are generally parallel with respect to each other. The crown is formed with baffle slits located adjacent the grooves that are oriented obliquely with respect to the crown edge for redirecting sound waves emitting from strings back to the grooves to produce a ringing tonal effect or to the base to reduce sound attenuation within the bridge.

Abstract: A bridge for stringed instruments including a base member and a saddle member affixed thereto. The saddle is constructed of two or more adjacent, discrete, and homogeneous units of differing material, each of which are in contact with selected strings of the instrument to provide desired sound characteristics upon activation of the strings. A variety of sounds of varying timbre and sustain may thereby be provided. Contact of selected units with the base member also provides varying sound characteristics. The units of differing substances may be in laminated form or may be in the form of discrete rods placed in a common body portion of the saddle. In the use of rods in a common body, the rods may be grooved to receive the string or the string may be strung so as to contact the side of the rod.

Abstract: An improved device for fixing the strings of an acoustical stringed instrument including a generally rectangular block, preferably composed of a metal such as aluminum or bronze, having a bottom surface, upwardly extending wall surfaces and a top surface. The block is provided with a bore extending from the block's top surface to the bottom surface. The bore is in a generally normal relation to the block's top surface and is provided with a notch extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block. The block's bottom surface, in addition, is provided with a generally circular depression centered approximately over the mid-point of the notch opening at the bottom surface.The block is positioned in the interior of an acoustical stringed instrument so that the bore is operatively aligned beneath the opening in the bridge of the instrument designed to receive the end of a string having a restraining means at the string's terminus.

Abstract: An adjustable saddle insert for individual strings of a musical instrument. The insert may be installed upon the bridge of an existing instrument without any alteration of the bridge or of the instrument, and provides for precise selection of vibrating length of the string and its height above the instrument for precise intonation of each string. Each saddle is clamped upon the insert in selection position longitudinally to the string, and the height of each is adjusted by removal of material from its upper ridge.

Abstract: A variable pitch harp is provided which allows the player to change the pitch of all of the plucked, struck or bowed strings at the same time as he is playing. In the first embodiment, the bridge of the harp is moved up or down as the player moves the harp towards or away from his body and the sound is amplified electronically via an acoustical pickup. In the second embodiment, a sounding drum is provided whose resonance provides acoustical amplification so that the instrument may be played without electronic amplification. In the third embodiment an electronic version is provided in which the bridge is fixed-mounted but the instrument itself may be flexed to change tone. For all embodiments a quick tuning attachment is also provided.

Abstract: A bridge on a bass-violin style instrument is isolated from the solid-filled body of the instrument by support bars contructed so that an air space is provided between each of the bars and the body of the instrument. The support bars are preferably composed of spruce wood.

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: A combined bridge and tailpiece assembly for a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar is disclosed, characterized by a tailpiece member which is manually rotated to produce a vibrato effect. The assembly includes a tailpiece block which is secured to the body portion of the instrument and an elongate tailpiece member rotatably connected at its ends with the tailpiece block for rotation in one direction about an axis parallel with and eccentrically horizontally and vertically offset from the longitudinal axis of the tailpiece member to provide camming action. Adjustable string attachment devices are connected with the tailpiece member for attachment to the ends of the instrument strings which, when tensioned, normally bias the tailpiece member in one direction of rotation. A plurality of adjustable saddle rollers are connected with the tailpiece block and act as a bridge to guide the instrument strings to the string attachment devices.

Abstract: There is provided a novel stringed musical instrument for direct attachment to an electronic transducer. An elongated member is mounted on a frame on which is also mounted an upright bridge having string gripping means for positioning, gripping and passing the vibrations of a plurality of strings connected on one side of the bridge to the elongated member and on the other side of the bridge to string holding means for holding and tensioning the strings. An electronic transducer is mounted at the bridge means, which passes vibrations received from the plucked strings to the transducer, from which the sounds are amplified and sent to speakers. In addition, hand grips on the frame are disposed proximate to the bridge means, which configures the gripping means so as to position the strings within finger reach of the hand grips.

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: An improved violin or viola bridge design which is capable of vastly increasing the amplification and transmission of the vibrations from the strings to the sounding box of the violin and further enables significant amounts of material from the bridge to be removed in order to accommodate numerous string height requirements for different violins. An improved material from which the bridge is constructed to create significant improvements in amplification and transmission of string vibrations to the sounding box and to increase the useful life of the bridge.

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: A bridge device for a guitar or similar stringed instrument includes a base plate adapted to be fixed to the instrument and a plurality of individual bridge elements each engageable with a respective one of the strings. The bridge elements are supported from the base plate and are adjustable relative thereto in three different directions--that is, along the length of the associated string, crosswise of the associated string in a direction parallel to the base plate and crosswise of the associated string in a direction perpendicular to the base plate. The adjustment means are provided in such a way as to obtain the desired three-way adjustment capability with relatively simple and easily manipulated parts despite the space limitations imposed by the usual relatively small size of a bridge.

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.