Abstract: A bridge pickup for stringed musical instruments is described that incorporates piezoelectric pickups and an integrated magnetic sustain system.

Abstract: An apparatus is to assist an unskilled player in playing a musical instrument by detecting the quantity of the player's manipulation against the instrument, modifying the detected manipulation quantity with reference to a recommended manipulation to a degree according to a given assistance coefficient, and actuating the instrument with the modified manipulation quantity. For a brass instrument, the apparatus comprises an embouchure sensor and a breath pressure sensor to detect the embouchure and the breath pressure of the player as he/she plays the brass instrument. The detected embouchure and breath pressure are then modified with reference to a recommended embouchure and breath pressure weighted by a given assistance coefficient. The apparatus actuates the brass instrument based on the modified embouchure and breath pressure.

Abstract: A hybrid wind musical instrument is a combination between an alto saxophone and an electronic system so that a player can perform a music tune selectively through acoustic tones and electronic tones; although various parts and accessories are assembled into the alto saxophone, a bell brace makes it possible to sustain a control unit of the electronic system without damage of alto saxophone and undesirable influence on acoustic characteristics of the tubular instrument body.

Abstract: An animal call includes a mouthpiece, a barrel, and a reed. The mouthpiece defines an air channel therein and has a reed bed proximate the air channel. The barrel is coupled to the mouthpiece and has an internal chamber that is fluidically coupled to the air channel of the mouthpiece. A surface comprising the air channel varies in order to maintain a substantially constant cross-sectional area magnitude along a length of the channel. The reed is disposed adjacent the air channel and proximate the reed bed.

Abstract: An electric acoustic violin is a combination of an acoustic violin and an electric system, and the electric system includes a pickup unit for converting the vibrations of the strings to an electric signal; and a hollow space is formed in the bridge for receiving the pickup unit so that the vibrations are transferred from the strings through the bridge to the pickup unit, whereby the pickup unit faithfully converts the vibrations to the electric signal without any influence of the tension exerted on the bridge by the strings.