Abstract: A lighted violin bow has a stick, at least one battery coupled to the stick, and a plurality of lights electrically coupled to the battery. The lighted violin bow is placed within a violin case and is configured to illuminate the interior of the violin case.

Abstract: A tone control device is provided. The tone control device includes a bridge configured to be mounted to an instrument. The bridge includes a body and an adjustment area located within the bridge. The adjustment area and the body define at least one recess in at least one surface of the bridge. The tone control device further includes a weight assembly configured to be movable within the at least one recess.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance modulator system for acoustic stringed musical instruments having a plurality of magnets. The resonance modulation is a function of the plurality of weights and locations of placement of magnets on the instrument. The attachment of the resonance modulator to the instrument and its infinite adjustability is achieved by using the attractive magnetic forces of the magnets to hold them in place through a vibrating component of the instrument, in any position on the instrument, making any location adjustment and consequent resonance or tonal adjustment quick and easy.

Abstract: An electric violin has strings stretched over an instrument body, and the strings are anchored to a tailpiece, which in turn is connected to a tail wire to the instrument body; a saddle plate is bolted to the instrument body, and the tail wire is connected to the saddle plate by means of bolts; and the electric violin further has a blindfold extending from a chinrest, and the blindfold prevents the tail wire, saddle plate and bolts from eyes of users so that the electric violin does not give the antique impression of acoustic violin to the users without sacrifice of durability of the connection between the tail wire and the instrument body.

Abstract: Marching band string instruments and wearable string instruments are described that include a stiff waist band to prevent excessive side to side movement during use, while providing easy doff and don of the string instrument. String instruments also are provided with adjustable chest braces to allow accommodation for different player sizes and for minimization of back strain when playing the electric string instrument for extended time periods. Electric string instruments optionally have soft material interposed between bridge feet and a string instrument body, to allow a more resonant sound detection from a pickup located between the bridge feet and the body. Other advances include generation of a stereo signal from bridge vibrations, and electronic processing of sound that enhances the electric string instrument playing and learning experience.

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 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 silent violin has a body structure, strings stretched over the body, a bridge held in contact with the strings and having two leg portions supported by the body structure and a piezoelectric converting unit inserted between the bridge and the body, although the piezoelectric converting unit is located under the two leg portions, the piezoelectric converting unit converts vibrations propagated from the strings through one of the two leg portions to an electric signal, and an electric system faithfully produces electric sounds to be expected from the electric signal without any interference between the vibrations propagated through the two leg portions.

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 violin tuning arrangement and method is provided in which the bridge of the violin may be moved longitudinally along the violin by a mechanical mechanism which will automatically bring the bridge to predetermined points where a predetermined change in sound will be emitted by the violin. The mechanical arrangement includes two tuning wheels which are journaled in the sides of bridge holding brackets and may be moved discreet distances along the rack on the surface of the violin to change the tone or tuning of such violin. Discreet arrangements of teeth or detentes are provided so that the tuning wheel will tend to automatically cease movement at a point which provides a desired tuning of a violin.

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 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 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: An improved bridge for stringed instrument comprising a single, integral bridge body having a bridge crown formed of two alternating sections. The first section comprises the string support column with a groove at the top thereof for positioning the strings of the instrument at appropriate levels above the fingerboard. The second section of the crown comprises a (i) fluted portion and (ii) contiguous web support member disposed between two adjacent string support columns. Improved transfer of vibrational energy from the strings of the instrument occurs through the string support columns which have longer grooves providing for increased string contact. The intermediate fluted portion and web operate to more effectively transfer vibrational energy toward the base of the bridge for transfer into the resonating body of the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a stringed musical instrument of the type commonly known as a bass but particularly structured to have a reduced and variable overall dimension so as to facilitate transporting of the instrument and allow expansion of certain effective dimensions thereof such as the height (length) and width of the instrument to facilitate playing of the instrument in conventional positions such as standing and/or sitting and using conventional techniques.

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: An acoustical instrument in which the back and belly of the instrument are allowed to vibrate independently. The instrument is constructed with a hollow body having a back, a belly, and sides which connect the back to the belly. One of the feet of the bridge rests on the belly, while the other foot is supported by a bridge stabilizer, one end portion of the bridge stabilizer mounted on the surface of the belly, the other end portion mounted on the upward end of a sound-post. The sound-post is positioned such that it extends downward from the belly and passes through the belly without touching the same. The downward end of the sound-post terminates at and is mounted to the back.

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: A bridge for a stringed instrument, preferably a violin, for enhancing the volume and tonal quality of the instrument. The bridge is constructed of wood and has a broad fan-shaped face and a pair of depending lower legs having a U-shaped indentation between them. The face has a pattern of a plurality of holes drilled therethrough to improve the sensitivity of the bridge, thereby improving its quality. An alternate embodiment includes slots cut through the drilled holes.

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: A counter pressure system for use in a stringed instrument of the type played with a bow for improving the tone of the instrument in both volume and in quality. The system includes the main or melody producing strings and one or more counter pressure strings that are arranged to accept at least part of the pressure from the main strings and transfer it away from the main bridge. The relieved pressure is redistributed by the counter pressure system in a manner that extends the quality of sound produced by the instrument. In practice, part of the total string pressure is translated to the sound box via the main bridge while the remaining pressure is imparted to the box via an auxiliary bridge located forward of the main bridge. A sounding post is located under one foot of each bridge which, in the case of a violin, would be the foot on the E string side of the instrument.

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 bridge for a stringed instrument, preferably a violin, is disclosed for the purpose of enhancing the volume and tone quality of the instrument. The bridge is made from wood and has an upper generally oval body portion which is supported by the lower inverted V-shaped leg section. The body portion includes four slits through its width, associated with the strings as described in detail in the specification. The leg portion includes two slits aligned to form another inverted V-shape conforming to the shape of the leg portion. The leg portion may also have holes drilled into it for the purpose of removing material to reduce the overall weight of the bridge. Several preferred contours are disclosed for the body portion, one of which may be selected for use with different stringed instruments.