AU2017101286A4 - Acoustic Instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

An acoustic musical instrument for generating musical notes when played by a user, the musical instrument comprising: a substantially hollow body portion; a 5 neck portion extending from the body portion and comprising a fingerboard; a series of string arranged along at least the fingerboard for generating the musical notes; wherein the body portion is adapted to form a seat upon which the user can be seated while playing the musical instrument. 1.000M 1_010 1.003 1.005 1.006 1-0

Description

Acoustic Instrument

Technical field

This invention relates to an acoustic musical instrument comprising strings. In particular, the acoustic musical instrument is a bass guitar.

Background

Bass guitars are often used as part of an accompaniment to music played by a band or musical group. They produce low frequency musical notes and are normally regarded as part of the rhythm section along with the drums.

Acoustic bass guitars are designed to produce sound without the use of electronic amplification. Acoustic bass guitars utilise a hollow body which is designed by its shape and size to convert energy from the vibrating strings of the guitar to sound energy so that it may be audible to an audience.

An ongoing problem with acoustic bass guitars is that they are rarely loud enough to be heard amongst other instruments in an ensemble or musical group, the primary reason for this is that to produce a useful amount of low frequency sound energy, the volume of air inside the body needs to be much larger than that of an acoustic 6 stringed guitar. Some modern bass guitars have sound pick-ups installed to facilitate electronic amplification of the sound they produce, so that they may be heard amongst the other instruments.

There exist a need for an improved acoustic musical instrument such as a bass guitar that overcomes or at least ameliorates at least some of the problems of the prior art.

Summary of invention A first aspect of the invention provides an acoustic musical instrument for generating musical notes when played by a user, the musical instrument comprising a substantially hollow body portion; a neck portion extending from the body portion and comprising a fingerboard; a series of strings arranged along at least the fingerboard for generating the musical notes; wherein the body portion is adapted to form a seat upon which the user can be seated while playing the musical instrument.

The body portion of the musical instrument can be adapted to be positioned on the ground so that the musical instrument can stand unsupported. A guitar with a large body is difficult to hold in a conventional way, either resting on a thigh while seated or suspended by a sash type strap over the neck and shoulder. The present invention can in some embodiments provide a useful alternative, since the musical instrument can be unsupported. Conventional guitars will not support themselves and require a support stand to hold them upright while not in use.

The body portion can comprises a bottom wall, side walls and a top wall. The top wall can be adapted to form the seat for the user. A further problem arises with any instrument that requires the player to be seated. Many musicians desire the ability to be animated. They want to be able to move their bodies in sync with the music. This is difficult and limiting while seated. In an embodiment of the present invention, the musical instrument can be pivoted along at least one edge. The pivot can in some embodiments be provided by at least one edge of the body portion which can contact the ground being radiused or chamfered. The pivot can be provided by a pivot point that allows a see-saw type of movement. The pivot in the body portion can allow the user of the musical instrument to rock backwards and forwards.

Brief Description of the Figures

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not drawn to scale and which are exemplary only and in which:

Figure 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of musical instrument.

Figure 2 shows the instrument of Figure 1 with a person seated on the seat. Figure 3 and Figure 4 show alternative embodiments of the instrument which can pivot about the base.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an acoustic bass guitar having a hollow body 1.001. The body may be made of wood, either solid or laminated. In an embodiment, the laminated wood veneer can be at least about 10, 12 or 14 mm thick all round. The hollow body of Figure 1 is 12 mm thick all round, 2.7mm thick front, 7mm thick back. Alternatively, the hollow body could be made of fibreglass. If the acoustic instrument is made from fibreglass it may be weatherproof, which has advantages if the instrument is used or kept outside.

The hollow body can have an internal volume in the range of from about 25 to 65 litres. In some embodiments the internal volume is not less than about 25, 30, 40, 50 or 65 litres to produce low frequency sound. An average human un-amplified singing voice produces about 60 decibels (dB) of sound pressure measured at one meter distant from the source. A strummed acoustic 6 string guitar with an internal volume of 16 litres produces about 60 dB. The hollow body 1.001 of the instrument of Figure 1 has an internal volume of about 33 litres and at this size, the acoustic instrument produces sound at a level of about 60 dB. As the internal volume increase the level of sound produced will increase. For example, if the hollow body has an internal volume of about 40 litres, the sound produced may be in the range of about 65 to 70 dB.

The sound produced by the instrument is preferably loud enough to be heard amongst other instruments, so 60 dB is a preferred minimum sound level. The maximum, any stringed acoustic instrument is likely to produce is 80db at 1 meter. The mathematical progression based on acoustic 6 string guitars and double bass instruments suggests that a hollow body having an internal volume of about 56 litres would be optimum for sound production.

The hollow body should be of a suitable height to allow it to be comfortably sat upon by a human player. The suitable height can be the height of a chair, so that the users feet are firmly planted on the floor. In some embodiments, the hollow body is much smaller so as to provide an instrument that is usable by a small child. However, it is preferred that the internal volume of the hollow body is still close to the range defined so as to provide the required low frequency sound.

The top corners of the hollow body can be radiused 1.005 for player comfort. A seat can be formed on the top surface. The seat can comprise a back support. The seat can include a cushion. Figure 2 shows a person 1.000 in position on the instrument.

One or more lower surfaces of the hollow body can be shaped 1.006 to facilitate rocking back and forth. The shaping can be as shown in Figures 1 and 2 where an edge of base 1.009 is radiused. The shaping can be as shown in Figure 3, where base 3.009 is chamfered 3.012. The chamfered edge 3.012 may provide an alternative base wall. The instrument can rest on the large flat surface 3.009 when not in use, and be pivoted to chamfered edge 3.012 during use.

Alternatively, in order to provide a pivot about one point, the base could have a rail arrangement. In an embodiment, there can be curved rails of the type used in e.g. rocking-horses. Alternatively, the pivot can be provided about pivot point mounted in surface 4.009 which can be a wedge 4.013. The instrument can be caused to see-saw about the wedge 4.013 when in use.

The base 1.009 can be of sufficient size to provide ample support so that it remains upright and stable under normal conditions. In order to be stable, the base needs to make contact with the ground at three or more points at least 140, 150 or 160 mm from a the Centre of Gravity measured horizontally. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the support points (corners of the base) are located from at least 150 mm out from the point vertically under the Centre of Gravity. A neck 1.002 is firmly attached to the body 1.001. The neck can be attached at an angle in the range of from about 60 to 80 degrees measured from horizontal. The pivot point of the instrument can be disposed at a diagonal opposite to the neck extension, so that the user can hold the instrument with good control while rocking naturally.

The strings 1.003 can be suspended under tension between the nut 1.010 and the bridge 1.011. There can be 4, 5 or 6 strings and optionally more or less, although this would be less common. While being played the strings are held against the fingerboard 1.007 by the player at various places and simultaneously plucked, strummed or otherwise caused to vibrate by the player to produce the desired musical note.

The soundhole 1.004 may be any shape. In the Figures, the shape has been chosen to be an aesthetically pleasing design. In Figure 1, the soundhole shape is a comma shape. In Figure 4, the soundhole shape is a circle. In order to maximize the loudness of the hollow body (resonator), the ideal opening size of the soundhole (in terms of its radius) should be about 1/4 of the overall radius of a sphere of equal volume. The soundhole may have an area in the range of from about 70 cm2 to 120 cm2. This works out to be about 73 cm2 for a 30 litre body and about 117cm2 for a 60 litre body. The soundhole may be positioned anywhere on the body, but preferably is located on the front wall for sound projection.

The instrument may include any number of pick-up devices for external amplification including piezo, magnetic or microphone types of pickups.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. An acoustic musical instrument for generating musical notes when played by a user, the musical instrument comprising a substantially hollow body portion; a neck portion extending from the body portion and comprising a fingerboard; a series of string arranged along at least the fingerboard for generating the musical notes; wherein the body portion is adapted to form a seat upon which the user can be seated while playing the musical instrument.
2. 2. The acoustic stringed musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the hollow body portion is in the range of from about 40 to about 60 litres.
3. 3. The acoustic stringed musical instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower edge of the body portion is pivotable.
4. 4. The acoustic stringed musical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the pivot is provided by a radiussed or chamfered edge portion.
5. 5. Use of the acoustic stringed musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4.