Abstract: Levers are used on a multiple-stringed musical instrument to enable the player, while performing, to raise and lower the pitches of individual strings. Finger pressure upon the levers, by tightening or slackening individually selected strings, can be used to both raise and lower the pitches of strings from their rest tunings selectively, simultaneously, and independently of each other. This can be done while leaving other strings in their rest tunings. Increasing pressure on a rod results in increasing deviation from the rest tuning, either up or down in pitch, depending on the direction that the pressure is applied.

Abstract: A raising lever for a pedal steel guitar has a pin means for pivotal connection to a control bridge, a pivot means for pivotally attaching a lowering lever to the raising lever, and a raise attachment means for selectable attachment of a pull rod for actuation of the raising lever from a neutral position to an actuated position. A cabinet slot engaging portion remains in contact with a cabinet slot portion of the steel guitar when the raising lever is in the neutral position. The raise attachment has a raising flange integral to the raising lever and a plurality of holes for selectable connection of pull rods. A pitch-changing device to be used in a pedal steel guitar having the raising finger is also shown, as well as a pedal steel guitar employing the pitch changing device having the raised finger assembly.

Abstract: A counter-force mechanism is provided for use with a stringed instrument, such as a pedal guitar, which neutralizes the adverse effects on adjoining strings during the sharpening or flattening of notes. In one embodiment the counter-force mechanism is affixed to the tone changer axle near the pickup and in another embodiment the counter-force mechanism is affixed at the opposite end to the head of the guitar in contact with the strings. Pull and push rods connected to the foot pedals and knee levers operate the counter-force mechanism automatically as the pedals and levers are used, as is standard while playing.

Abstract: An automatic guitar string tuning device includes a foot-operated switch for controlling an electrical solenoid which rotates a cam shaft mounted upon a guitar or other stringed instrument. The solenoid rotates the cam shaft between first and second positions under the control of the foot switch. Several of the guitar strings are secured to tensioning arms which engage corresponding camming surfaces formed upon the rotating shaft. Rotation of the cam shaft between the first and second positions causes movement of the tensioning arms and thereby changes the pitch of the strings attached thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively increasing the pitch of a string of a string instrument at any time while the instrument is being played in a normal manner. The apparatus includes a string guide which is adapted to bear against a tuned string of the instrument, reciprocating means adapted to be mounted on the peghead of the instrument and secured to the string guide, and an actuator operatively connected to the reciprocating means for selectively moving the string guide to "bend" the associated string and increase the tension thereon a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A lap steel guitar having two hidden pickups at least halfway along the neck of the guitar underneath the fret board and electrically connected to a conventional fret board circuit so that, by a volume, control and a tone control, a new sound from the two hidden pickups may be mixed with sound from the conventional circuit when the strings of the guitar are strummed.

Abstract: A pitch changing device for a pedal steel guitar. The pitch changing device (10) includes at least one tension adjusting lever (24) pivotally mounted on the guitar body (14) for anchoring at least one guitar string (17) and selectively increasing or decreasing the tension on the string. At least one bracket assembly is provided including a first bracket (34) pivotally secured to the guitar body so as to selectively pivot at a first pivot point (40), and a second bracket (36) for engaging and pivoting the pitch adjustment lever (24), the second bracket (36) being pivotally secured to the first bracket (34) at a second pivot point (45) displaced from the first pivot point (40).

Abstract: A string tension adjusting mechanism for a steel guitar. The adjusting mechanism consists of three basic parts, a bridge member, over which a guitar string is mounted and to which tension is applied to a desired pitch. A raising lever member, actuated by a pull rod, turns the pivotably-mounted bridge member clockwise to increase the tension and incease the pitch. A lowering lever member, again actuated by a pull rod, causes the bridge member to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, thus relieving the tension on the string and lowering the pitch. One of the lever members is attached to the bridge member, while both of the lever members are pivoted together. One of the lever members contains a large hole and a spacing device is mounted therein, at the point of pivot, to maintain a free space between the two lever members and between the lever member and the bridge.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument of a resonator guitar type, including an elongated, substantially horizontal, hollow body supporting pegs, a fret board, and a resonator in which each of the string members includes an elongated string, an elongated rigid string bar and a string cable, connected end-to-end. The strings extend over and lightly engage a transverse bridge, while the rigid string bars bear against a transverse support rod adjacent the bridge. The cables are connected to tuning lever members independently pivotally mounted upon a transverse tuning shaft at the tail end of the body. Operative members, such as pedals and/or knee levers are connected by linkages to the tuning lever members for controlling the tension in the strings.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument of the Hawaiian guitar type has a plurality of parallel strings that are led through a plurality of tensioning pins. The pins which are spring loaded in a tensioning attitude, may be partially moved in an upwardly direction to release a portion of the tension on a string. A plurality of levers are arranged to engage the ends of the pins to achieve the movement and the levers are moved by a plurality of cams that are mounted on shafts that extend transversely across the levers. The shafts are coupled to foot pedals.

Abstract: The tremolo apparatus of the present invention includes a tremolo means (13) with a tremolo bar (19) and a base flange (23) which extends into a cavity (21) in the guitar (11). When the tremolo means is operated conventionally, springs (25) return the tremolo means (13) to an original position against a stop (37) located in the cavity (21). Stop (37) is mounted for movement on rods (42 and 44) against the action of springs (47 and 49). When the tremolo bar (19) is moved toward the body of the instrument, such as a guitar, the tremolo means (13) moves in a first direction wherein the base flange (23) moves away from stop (37), while when the tremolo bar (19) is moved away from the body of the guitar, the tremolo means moves in a second direction wherein the base flange (23) moves stop (37) against the action of springs (47 and 49). Springs (47 and 49) return stop (37) and the base flange (23) and hence the tremolo means (13) to their original position when the tremolo bar is released.

Abstract: In a pedal steel guitar a plurality of pivotally interconnected levers, selectively moved by the pedals, are connected with the quitar string ends opposite the neck end of the guitar for effecting string pitch changes. Vertically movable posts, each supporting a pulley over which the respective string is entrained, are disposed adjacent the neck end of the guitar for positioning the upper surface of all the strings in a common plane.

Abstract: A guitar tailpiece assembly includes a tremolo device by which the strings may be stretched or relaxed in an oscillating manner and which also minimizes the tendency for some of the strings to shift out of tune as a result of using the tremolo device or when "bending" a note. The tremolo device includes means by which all of the strings can be retuned simultaneously, for example, when transposing the tuning of the guitar so that it is in tune with another instrument.

Abstract: The invention as described herein consists of a string mounting apparatus as may be used with stringed musical instruments to improve the quality of the sounds emanating therefrom and to provide high quality reproductions of sounds as the musical instrument is played.

Abstract: In one embodiment a musical instrument, having a plurality of strings, a plurality of frets situated transverse to the strings and playable as with a cylindrical steel bar member slidably positionable along and against said strings, has an elongated mirror positioned generally parallel to the strings and generally perpendicular to the frets as to provide a visual indication to the player as to how accurately the player has positioned the steel bar member with respect to a selected fret; in another embodiment of the invention, the steel bar member itself carries a mirror surface thereby enabling the said elongated mirror to be dispensed with.

Abstract: This invention consists of a novel string assembly for split tuning a steel guitar or other musical instrument having pedals or levers for varying the pitch of the sounds produced by the strings as they are plucked. The mechanism of this invention allows the musician to play a particular string and produce a musical tone absent any pedal movement, the same string played with a first pedal depressed produces a second tone and with only a second pedal depressed produces a third tone. A fourth tone is then capable of being produced by the string after split tuning when both pedals are simultaneously depressed.

Abstract: A pedal steel guitar comprises an improved pitch changer mechanism for effecting string pitch changes. The mechanism comprises a plurality of pitch-changing fingers, each mounted for pivotal movement with respect to a selected axis and adapted to be connected to a guitar string end, so that tension on the string end will urge the finger in a selected direction, a stop for limiting movement of the fingers, a number of pitch bars each adapted to move relative to said axis and thereby mechanically force at least one of said fingers to move so as to change the pitch of the string attached thereto, and pull means for selectively moving the pitch bars so as to selectively change the pitch of the strings attached to said fingers. The changer mechanism may be adapted to raise or lower the pitch of each string.

Abstract: This method and apparatus prevents improper string return by restraining an end portion of a string of a stringed instrument, such as a pedal steel guitar, free of longitudinal movement with changes in tension of the string from a predetermined level of string tension. The invention also involves applying tension force to the string operatively collinearly with a linear projection of an end portion of the string while maintaining an end portion of the string free of longitudinal movement with changes in string tension from a predetermined level of string tension.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument including a panel provided with a plurality of playing strings extended longitudinally thereon. Tuning keys are provided at one end of the panel and one end each of the playing strings is secured thereto, while the other ends of the playing strings are operatively associated to a pitch changing device. The pitch changing device is located at the other end of the panel and comprises a plurality of individual units, one for each string carried by the musical instrument. The individual units are capable of producing a bi-directional string tension adjustment in every string associated therewith in either direction, simultaneously, or separately, to provide an increase in the tension of the string, and therefore, raise the pitch thereof, or to provide a decrease in the tension of the string, and therefore, lower the pitch thereof.

Abstract: A pedal-actuated pitch-changing means for each string of a guitar or like stringed instrument. Each pitch changing means is capable of increasing and decreasing the pitch of its respective string from a predetermined tuned pitch. Each string is attached at the head end of the instrument to an ordinary tuning machine and at the tail end of the instrument to its respective pitch changing means. Each pitch-changing means comprises a pivotable string finger to which the tail end of its respective string is attached, a raising bar located adjacent the string finger and a lowering bar pivotally attached to the raising bar. The raising bar may have a pull rod operatively connected thereto for applying a pulling force to the raising bar to pivot the string finger to a pitch-increasing position. The lowering bar may have a pull rod operatively connected thereto for applying a pulling force to the lowering bar to pivot the string finger to a pitch-decreasing position. The stringed instrument has a plurality of pedals.

Abstract: A transforming means in a tone changer device for transforming an amount of translational movement of an actuator means to a different or lesser amount of movement to be applied to a rotatable bar member dependently connected for pivoting a pivotable member whereby the tension in a string attached to the pivotable member is varied. A translational movement apparatus connected by control rods to the actuator means may supply approximately equal amounts of movement for increasing or for decreasing the tension in the strings. The translational movement apparatus may comprise a rocking arm and a parallel connected stabilizing rocking arm connected to a supporting member whereby pivoting the arms causes the supporting member to supply approximately the same amount of longitudinal movement for use by control rods. Tuners transfer the longitudinal movement from the translational movement means to the control rods.