Abstract: A pickup with variable coil windings for string instruments is described herein. In one aspect, the pickup including a coil including a first subsection wound around a first subset of pole pieces of a plurality of pole pieces; and a second subsection wound around a set of pole pieces of the plurality of pole pieces, the set of pole pieces selected from the group of: the plurality of pole pieces in its entirety and a second subset of pole pieces different than the first subset of pole pieces.

Abstract: A hum-cancelling system includes two or more hum-cancelling coils configured in a distributed manner, connected in series with each other. The hum-cancelling coils form a series circuit that is electrically connected to at least one pickup. Each hum-cancelling coil includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a coil of wire wrapped between the top plate and the bottom plate.

Abstract: A hum-cancelling system includes two or more hum-cancelling coils configured in a distributed manner, connected in series with each other. The hum-cancelling coils form a series circuit that is electrically connected to at least one pickup. Each hum-cancelling coil includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a coil of wire wrapped between the top plate and the bottom plate.

Abstract: A stringed instrument pickup with multiple selectable coils has at least a bobbin body supporting at least one pole piece, a first coil, and a second coil. The first coil may continuously extend between a first terminal of the bobbin body and a second terminal of the bobbin body while the second coil continuously extends from the second terminal to a third terminal of the bobbin body.

Abstract: A pickup unit for an electrical stringed instrument, such as an electric guitar, includes a housing structured to be connected to the stringed instrument and a number of pickups provided within the housing, each pickup being structured to produce signals corresponding to vibration of one or more strings of the stringed instrument. The pickup unit also includes a number of capacitive touch electrodes provided on or within the housing, wherein the pickup unit is structured to generate control signals in response to a user of the pickup unit touching one or more of the number of capacitive touch electrodes, the control signal being configured to control processing of the signals produced by the number of pickups.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the output of a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of offset substantially parallel strings, the apparatus comprising a pickup assembly having tapered poles so as to incrementally vary the relative volume of adjacent strings.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup, having a pickup body, a tone shaping circuit, and at least one integrated control in and/or on the pickup body. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize one or more techniques, alone or in combination, to adjust, e.g., the tone of a musical instrument by changing the frequency response of a pickup with the one or more integrated controls. One exemplary technique utilizes a plurality of knobs to selectively control the gain, resonant frequency, and/or circuit Q of the pickup.

Abstract: Electromagnetic transducers suitable for a variety of uses, including but not limited to musical instrument pickups. Such a transducer has a primary loop formed by an electrically conductive strip having oppositely-disposed ends and a slot extending therebetween that defines electrically conductive runners. The strip is bent to define a first section of the primary loop that overlies a second section of the primary loop and a gap therebetween. The transducer further comprises sensing or driving elements that are at least partially received in the slot in the first section of the primary loop and a transformer electrically connected to the strip at one of the ends thereof opposite the first section of the primary loop.

Abstract: A pickup for an electrical, stringed musical instrument includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes a base plate, a pole that extends upward from the base plate and a coil of wire wrapped around the pole above the base plate. The second assembly includes a housing that has a fastening feature that allows the second assembly to be user attachable and detachable from the first assembly independently of any electrical connections made by the first assembly. The second assembly also includes a magnet seated within the housing. The pickup is further constructed so that the second assembly readily attaches and detaches to the first assembly such that when attached, the pole of the first assembly is in magnetic cooperation with the magnet of the second assembly.

Abstract: A pickup unit cavity for a stringed musical instrument is provided. The pickup unit cavity comprises a top, a bottom, at least one side, and at least one aperture in the cavity bottom, wherein the depth of the aperture allows for adjustment of a pole piece of a pickup unit. In some embodiments, the depth of the cavity from the top to the bottom is about ½ inch and the depth of the at least one aperture is ½ inch. In certain embodiments, the pickup unit cavity is in a housing. An electrical stringed musical instrument in combination with the pickup unit cavity is additionally provided.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup including an apparatus that allows for easy interchangement of magnets for modifying tone.

Abstract: A variable tone configuration control (100, 100?) for string instruments includes a pair of pickup coils (110, 120) located on a string instrument for inducing voltages therein responsive to vibration of any of the strings thereof. The variable tone configuration control (100, 100?) further includes a pair of potentiometers (130, 140) mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel of a respective displaceable contact (132, 142) thereof. The pair of potentiometers (130, 140) are operatively coupled to the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) and a pair of output terminals (102, 104) to vary the electrical configuration of the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) between the pair of pickup coils (110, 120) being connected in series and being connected in parallel as the displaceable contacts (132 and 142) are moved between opposing ends of their mechanical travel.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup with hard ferromagnetic backplates that are coupled to self-magnetized pole pieces, thereby enabling the tonal parameters of the pickup to be varied over an extended range. The tonal range of pickups with composite pole pieces are extended by a hard ferromagnetic backplates and the tonal range of pickups with monolithic pole pieces are extended by backplates that are formed from hard ferromagnetic materials with coercivities in the range of 300 Oersteds to 1000 Oersteds.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup with electrostatic interference (ESI) shield that reduces audible ESI noise in an audio output signal sent to an audio amplifier. The pickup includes an electrostatically sensitive surface, a carbon coating shielding the surface, and a ground conductor electrically connected to the carbon coating to carry a reference potential of the amplifier to the carbon coating. The carbon coating can include a conductive metal component. The coated surface can be a pickup cover, base, bobbin, or other component. The audio amplifier can include an input terminal and a ground terminal having the reference potential, and the pickup can include an electrical connection carrying the pickup audio output signal to the amplifier input terminal, and another electrical connection carrying the reference potential from the amplifier ground terminal to the pickup ground conductor.

Abstract: This embodiment is a noise cancellation system for electric stringed instrument comprises of passive pickup circuit with non humbucking pickup coils called a signal coil. Each signal coil senses the unwanted electromagnetic radiation from the surrounding and produce a noise voltage that gives humming and buzzing noise through an amplifier. This embodiment cancels the noise by injecting a current signal directly into the signal coil. The impedance of the signal coil in parallel with the impedance already loading the signal coil, transform the current signal back to a voltage equal and opposite to the noise voltage; thereby, canceling each other and eliminates the noise.

Abstract: A guitar pickup for use with an electric guitar may comprise a base, a plurality of magnets operably coupled to the base, and a plurality of bobbins situated on the plurality of magnets. The plurality of bobbins may each have a pole slug within its interior and may each have a wire coiled around its shaft. One or more of the plurality of magnets may be able to induce a change in magnetic flux in the pole slug in response to vibrations of a guitar string of the electric guitar.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for a musical instrument, has two coils (2, 3) with pole pieces (4-8, 9-13) in their core regions and a connection that connects the two coils together, out of phase, in series or in parallel, so that they cancel each others extraneous noise and hum. To accomplish a noise-free pickup with the clarity and dynamics of a single coil pickup, and a uniform output level throughout its longitudinal axis, the coils are partly overlapping each other, the pole pieces in the core region of the first coil are partly overlapping with the pole pieces in the core region of the second coil, and the coils (2, 3) with the pole pieces (6-8, 1-13) induce the same voltage in the overlapping area (14) as the voltage induced by the coils and the pole pieces in their core regions outside the overlapping area (14).

Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.

Abstract: A device for automatically tuning a stringed instrument, particularly a guitar, comprising: a detecting device for detecting a note produced by strumming a string and for outputting a digital signal corresponding to the detected note; a memory device for storing default digital signals corresponding to a desired note; a comparator for comparing the digital signal output by the detecting device with a digital signal, which is stored in the memory device and which corresponds to the desired note; an adjusting device for altering the tension of the strings; at least one drive for driving the adjusting device, and; a controller, which is connected to the comparator and which controls the at least one drive via a bus line based on a difference between the signals representing the produced note and the desired note, this difference being determined in the comparator.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup comprising a plurality of coil-wire wrappings, each coil having a particular geometric cross-section. Each coil-wire wrapping is positioned around a pole piece. Related embodiments exhibiting noise cancellation features are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to electromagnetic transducers, and more specifically, to devices that convert the mechanical vibrations of a magnetically permeable object, such as a ferromagnetic instrument string, into an electrical signal using electromagnetism.

Abstract: A pickup apparatus for independently detecting the vibrations of each of a plurality of strings, and an electronic stringed instrument utilizing the pickup apparatus. The pickup apparatus minimizes the crosstalk effects between the different pickups by positioning the pickups such that the magnetic force lines of each pickup is not parallel to or not in close proximity of the magnetic force lines of adjacent pickups. In one example, each pickup in the pickup apparatus is disposed at an angle with respect to the string and with respect to adjacent pickups. In another example, each pickup is disposed at an offset along the length direction of the strings relative to adjacent pickups. In yet another example, each pickup is disposed both at an angle and at an offset relative to adjacent pickups.

Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.

Abstract: A reluctance pickup for a guitar including a pair of magnetic pole pieces disposed within wire coils. The coils are oppositely wound and wired in series. Each pole piece has an elongated magnetic pole end extending above its respective coil. The pole pieces are disposed so as to form a pickup face having two approximately parallel elongated pole ends. The elongated pole ends have opposite magnetic polarities and create a magnetic field therebetween. The pickup is mounted beneath a magnetically permeable string such that a projection of the string intersects the pole ends at a selected orientation angle between approximately 28 degrees and approximately 58 degrees, preferably, 43 degrees, so as to optimize selected performance parameters of the pickup, including: channel-to-channel separation, frequency response, and dynamic response.

Abstract: This invention is related to a magnetic pickup device for stringed musical instrument with one or more metal strings made by magnetic permeable material. The magnetic pickup device presented comprises of at least one signal picking coil for sensing of the mechanical vibrations of the strings and at least one large free shape low impedance coil for noise cancellation. The signal picking coil and the large noise picking coils are permanently connected in series in a way that the noise signals created by the two coils have opposite phase orientations and they effectively cancel each other.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument incorporating a magnetic structure placed between two elongated collinear coils of opposing polarity. The magnetic structure includes a number of ferromagnetic polepieces that extend through the collinear coils and two ferromagnetic moderator bars adjacent to and on opposite sides of the polepieces (within the area between the two coils) that are charged with one polarity by high coercive permanent magnets attached to the outer surface of the moderator bars.

Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.

Abstract: A selector switch for musical instruments, such as electric guitars. is provided having a single, manually operated toggle member adapted to perform greater functionality. A selector switch is disclosed which indexes longitudinally for the electrical connection of pickup(s) for resultant amplification but will additionally provide further associated connectivity by means of a transverse indexing motion thus availing expanded switching function from a single switch apparatus. This inventive step is referred to as a compound selector switch.

Abstract: A novel multi-signal guitar pickup is provided. The pickup includes a coil assembly for each string that is capable of generating two signals which can be combined together in a predetermined manner to generate an x-plane and a y-plane signal. The pickup is particularly useful in a digital guitar system which generates multiple digital signals representative of the vibrations of each string.

Abstract: A two-coil pickup having a magnetic flux shield configuration which shields an upper coil from magnetic flux variations caused by unwanted noise and concentrates this noise flux in a lower coil. The magnetic flux shield also concentrates magnetic flux generated by magnets and which envelopes strings of a stringed instrument in the vicinity of the upper coil. The upper coil and lower coil are coupled so that the noise signal generated in the lower coil is subtracted from the signal generated in the upper coil so as to cancel noise therefrom. The resulting output signal has substantially less noise than a one coil pickup. The shield also allows the lower coil to be smaller such that the overall size of the two coil pickup can be small enough to fit into the cavities formed for traditional one coil pickups.

Abstract: A pickup for use in a stringed musical instrument. The pickup includes a primary transducer that is sensitive to the motion of the musical instrument's strings and is mechanically coupled to the body of the musical instrument. The primary transducer senses the motion of the musical instrument's strings and generates a “string sound” signal in response. The primary transducer is further flexibly coupled to a secondary transducer that is not fixedly attached to the body of the musical instrument. Relative motion between the primary transducer and the secondary transducer generates a “body sound” signal within the secondary transducer. The string sound signal and the body sound signal are combined to generate a signal representing the acoustical response of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A removable and portable single pickup unit for stringed instruments such as guitars, and the like. The unit can be mounted inside of a sound hole of an acoustic guitar without damaging the guitar. The unit can combine inputs from three different pickups(such as a magnetic sensor, vibratory transducer, and a microphone) into a single small housing. The unit can include a pre-amplifier and circuitry within the unit along with three rotatable rheostat type control knobs for each of the pickups, and an overall volume control knob that are easily reachable to the user's fingers while the fingers are on the strings. An output cable connects the unit to a single external amplifier or three individual amplifiers for each of the three different pickups.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing an acoustic correction filter applicable to a stringed instrument, which is composed of a string member operable to undergo a vibration, a support member for supporting the string member, a body member responsive to the vibration transmitted through the support member for generating a natural sound and a mute attachment for muting the natural sound. The acoustic correction filter is operable when the natural sound is muted by the mute attachment for filtering a signal derived from the vibration so as to create an artificial sound instead of the muted natural sound.

Abstract: An electromagnetic Humbucker Pick-up for stringed musical instruments is disclosed. The device is a former (7) with two coils of wire (3) & (4) wound on having a common axis perpendicular to a set of ferrous strings (13), the first coil of wire (3) is directly beneath the strings (13), the second coil of wire (4) is beneath the first coil of wire (3). Two permanent magnet means (1) & (2) generating opposing magnetic fields (5) & (6). The first permanent magnet means (1) is magnetically polarized in the opposite direction to that of the second permanent magnet means (2). The two permanent magnet means (1) & (2) are situated across the center of the former (7). The first permanent magnet means (1) is in the center of the first coil of wire (3) and the second permanent magnet means (2) is in the center of the second coil of wire (4).

Abstract: An improved electric guitar and pickguard assembly are provided. The pickguard assembly includes a traditionally shaped deck plate for mounting to the body of an electric guitar. The deck plate is constructed at least partially, or entirely, of a multi-layered printed circuit board for providing electrical pathways for communicating power and signals between electrical components mounted to the deck plate. Preferably, the deck plate's printed circuit board includes an integrated wireless transmitter and an integrated synthesizer which eliminates the need for a phantom pickup.

Abstract: A noise sensing bobbin-coil assembly for use in conjunction with a musical instrument pickup is disclosed. In particular, the bobbin of the bobbin-coil assembly is adapted to resist induced eddy currents thereby allowing a fewer number of coils to be used which in turn reduces undesirable interaction with the musical instrument pickup.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup having a central core bobbin with a first winding wound around the central core bobbin and a second winding wound around the first winding. Both ends of each winding are attached to a respective termination point. Each termination point is connected to an amplification source wherein the tones of the instrument strings are amplified.

Abstract: A noise sensing bobbin-coil assembly for use in conjunction with a musical instrument pickup is disclosed. In particular, the bobbin of the bobbin-coil assembly is adapted to resist induced eddy currents thereby allowing a fewer number of coils to be used which in turn reduces undesirable interaction with the musical instrument pickup.

Abstract: A pick-up assembly for a stringed musical instrument includes first and second identical pick-ups in respective housings. The first pick-up is positioned toward strings of the instrument and the second pick-up is positioned toward inside of the instrument. The first and second pick-ups are attached back to back with a hard rubber sound suppressing material sandwiched between the back of the two housings. The sound suppressing material has the same size as the back of the housing. The second pick-up is grounded with a metal wire.

Abstract: An electromagnetic Humbucker Pick-up for stringed musical instruments is disclosed. The device is a former (7) with two coils of wire (3) & (4) wound on having a common axis perpendicular to a set of ferrous strings (13), the first coil of wire (3) is directly beneath the strings (13), the second coil of wire (4) is beneath the second coil of wire (3). Two permanent magnet means (1) & (2) generating opposing magnetic fields (5) & (6). The first permanent magnet means (1) is magnetically polarized in the opposite direction to that of the second permanent magnet means (2). The two permanent magnet means (1) & (2) are situated across and down the center of the former. (7) The first permanent magnet means (1) is in the center of the first coil of wire (3) and the second permanent magnet means (2) is in the center of the second coil of wire (4).

Abstract: A sound pickup switching apparatus for a string instrument having a plurality of sound pickups, in particular for an electric guitar. The apparatus includes an operable switching device which is intended to connect the coils of the sound pickups in different combinations in order to produce an output signal of different tonality. A voice signal production apparatus, depending on the respective state of the switching device, produces a voice signal designating the state. The string instrument includes a voice signal production apparatus which makes it possible to output states of the string instrument by voice.

Abstract: A pickup has an upper bobbin which is elongated along a longitudinal plane, a lower bobbin which is elongated along the longitudinal plane, permanent magnetic pole pieces situated within holes in the upper and lower bobbins, screws holding said bobbins together, a lower winding wound longitudinally around the lower bobbin, and a single, uniformally flat non-magnetized ferromagnetic plate having opposing ends. The ends are parallel to the longitudinal plane and terminate in a plane approximately below the upper winding. The plate is completely dispose beneath the bobbins and parallel thereto.

Abstract: A cancellation circuit removes interfering signals from desired signals in electrical systems having antennas or other electromagnetic pickup systems. The cancellation circuit provides amplitude adjustment and phase adjustment to electrical signals induced in an electrical system by received electromagnetic signals. The amplitude-adjusted and phase-adjusted signals are combined to cancel the effects of electromagnetic interference. In an electromagnetic receiver, a plurality of receiver elements provide the cancellation circuit with different proportions of desired and interfering signals to enable removal of the interfering signals. An electromagnetic-wave transmitter having multiple transmitter elements is provided with a cancellation circuit for canceling electromagnetic signals in at least one predetermined region of space.

Abstract: An electric guitar pickup system is provided to generate a plurality of selectable desired Gibson and Fender tonality sounds from a single guitar. The pickup system includes a bridge pickup unit, a neck pickup unit, and a multiple position tonality select switch for selectively connecting the bridge pickup unit and the neck pickup unit in a plurality of desired pickup combinations, thereby selecting from a plurality of desired Fender and Gibson tonality signals. The bridge pickup unit includes a dual coil flat humbucker pickup to produce Gibson tonalities and further includes a dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup to produce Fender tonalities. The neck pickup unit similarly includes a dual coil flat humbucker pickup together with a dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup to produce both Gibson and Fender tonalities.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of movable strings includes a bobbin extending longitudinally, at least one magnet disposed within the bobbin for producing a magnetic polarity, and a coil extending longitudinally on each side of the bobbin for damping hum in the sensor assembly due to stray magnetic fields.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed instrument comprises a first uppermost coil and a second lowermost coil with the axes of the coils coincident. Permanent magnet pole pieces are arranged in the first coil and metallic non-magnetized pole pieces are arranged in the second coil. Oppositely directed U-shaped shields each having a web and outwardly directed opposed flanges are arranged back to back and receive the coils to shield the coils from each other both magnetically and inductively.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup for stringed musical instruments has at least one bobbin mountable to the instrument beneath the instrument's strings, each of the bobbins having a body and a coil wrapped around the body, the body having one or more holes therethrough positioned below the strings. A magnetic device for generating a magnetic field around the bobbins and one or more pole pieces extended through the holes is also included. Ferromagnetic material is positioned within the body of one or more of the bobbins or between the bobbin(s) and the musical instrument to increase the device's inductance.

Abstract: A pickup system for an electrical musical instrument having strings includes two pickup windings to respond to playing of the strings. A third winding is included. A switch connects any of the three windings in electrical series with either of the remaining two windings so that any of three respective pairs of connected windings can be selected. The windings of each of the respective pairs are connected such that interference such as 60-hertz hum is canceled.

Abstract: A pickup for an electric guitar includes a housing made to fill an existing cavity in an electric guitar body originally used for a dual-coil humbucking pickup. The pickup also has a single pickup coil mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed instrument comprises a first uppermost coil, and a second lowermost coil with the axes of the coils coincident. At least one permanent magnet pole piece associated with the coils and a shield of magnetically permeable material arranged between the coils with the shield having one or more walls which extend over sides of the coils.