DE102010028597B4 - Electronic string instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic string instrument in which the total number of strings (6) is an integer multiple of 2 and in which the longitudinal axes of the strings are arranged along a circular arc segment when viewed in the cross section of the strings, with a pickup system (4) which detects the string vibrations by electromagnetic means using Technology converts into electrical output signals, wherein: - a pair of strings (6a, 6b: 6c, 6d) a single-coil pickup (16; 18) each with a pair of ferromagnetic pickup elements (20, 26) in a common coil core (22 , 32; 22 ', 32') is assigned; and - each coil core (22, 32; 22 ', 32') is arranged on the body (38) of the instrument (2) in such a way that a distance between the individual strings of a pair of strings (6a, 6b; 6c, 6d) and the respective doffer faces (28, 30) of the pickup elements (20, 26) can be adjusted to at least approximately the same value in that each coil core (22, 32; 22 ', 32') is arranged on a carrier plate (34; 36) which is opposite the The instrument body (38) is adjustable so that ...

Description

The invention relates to an electronic stringed instrument in which the total number of strings is an integer multiple of two and in which the string longitudinal axes are arranged in the string cross-section along a circular arc segment, wherein a pickup system the string vibrations by electromagnetic means of single-coil technology in electrical output signals converts.

A typical example of such an electronic stringed instrument is an electronic violin or violin. It is already pointed out that such an electronic violin is used in the description of the present invention as an example of an electronic stringed instrument; however, the present invention is not limited to a violin, but may be applied to other electronic stringed instruments, such as a cello, a viola, a bass, or the like.

Tapping string vibrations from stringed instruments and outputting them as an electrical signal has been known since about the 1930s. At first, this technique was used on guitars. For this purpose, a pickup or Pickup is used, which is simplified in one of the number of strings of the instrument corresponding number of magnets, in particular ferromagnetic rods, which are arranged at a distance to and below the respective strings so that one of the rod end faces to the string has. The ferromagnetic rods are accommodated in a common bobbin, which is provided with a circumferential coil winding.

With such a single-coil pickup, the string vibrations can be picked up by electromagnetic means and output as output signals.

A newer technique for pickups compared to the single-coil technique uses so-called piezoelectric transducers, which detect the string vibrations on a piezoelectric path. Unlike single-coil electromagnetic pickups, piezo pickups need to be associated with a resonant component of the instrument, so they can not operate non-contact with the string. Also, piezoelectric transducers are susceptible to interference and do not provide as natural sound as electromagnetic transducers. Due to its weaker output, the sound is also "thinner" than with electromagnetic pickups.

It is therefore inclined to give preference to electromagnetic customers, which manifests itself in the now more than 70 years existing popularity of electric guitars, which still essentially work with the old single-coil technology as a pickup.

Single-coil pickups, so pickups in which the ferromagnetic rods are enclosed by a common, wound with the coil bobbin, are easily used whenever the longitudinal axes of the strings of the instrument in the string cross-section are substantially in a plane, such as this is the case with guitars.

In stringed instruments, such as violins, however, the string longitudinal axes seen in the string cross-section are not in a plane, but on a circular arc segment, otherwise the painting of a single page with a bow would not be possible. However, the use of a single-coil pickup then means that the faces of the individual ferromagnetic pickup elements come to lie at different distances to the associated strings: In a violin with four strings then the two outer strings would have a distance a to the associated consumer end faces and the two middle strings a distance A = a + x, wherein x results from the arrangement of the string longitudinal axes on the circular arc segment (the plane of the bobbin in which the customer end faces are located, can be understood in bilateral extension as a secant). These different distances of the consumer end faces to the respective strings results in an inhomogeneous sound.

As a countermeasure would be conceivable to incorporate the ferromagnetic pickup elements in different heights in the common bobbin, so in the case of a violin with four pickup elements, the two middle pickup elements further protrude from the bobbin, so as to let go the above difference x to zero, so that a = A applies, so all customer end faces are substantially equidistant from their associated string. This is structurally complex and due to the different installation depths of the pickup elements in the bobbin in turn results in inhomogeneities in the sound.

Another possibility would be to use a single-coil pickup for all strings of the instrument together, but each string to assign a separate single-coil pickup, so a pickup consisting of ferromagnetic pickup element in a bobbin velvet around the bobbin running around Kitchen sink. These individual pickups (for example, four pieces in a violin classical design) could then be arranged in accordance with different altitudes in order to obtain equal distances between the string and the customer end face on all four strings. This approach would be structurally very expensive, since the individual bobbins with the rotating coil winding have a comparatively large amount of space that can not be readily made available especially for violins with the small-sized body. In addition, increases by the number of strings corresponding number of individual pickups the price of the instrument and also the wiring complexity increases in proportion to the number of individual pickups.

This problem would be amplified in particular if, in addition to the pure pickups, so-called humbucker pickups are connected in parallel, as has also been known for a long time, such humbucker systems being used specifically for suppressing noise. Since each ferromagnetic pickup element a separate humbucker pickup element must be connected in parallel, this would mean the arrangement of a total of eight pickups in individual coils in a four-sided violin.

Finally, it would be conceivable to use a bobbin having a curvature corresponding to the curved arrangement of the strings. Although then the customer end faces would be substantially constant, d. H. arranged at equal distances from the respective strings, but the curved bobbin would require an extremely complex and only with great effort to be produced coil winding.

From the US 5,027,691 A An electronic string instrument in the form of an electronic violin has become known in which an electromagnetic single-coil pickup in the space between fingerboard and bridge "floating" and adjustable is arranged. Since a single-coil pickup is used here, which is common to all (four) strings of the instrument, the problem arises of an inhomogeneous sound pattern due to different distances between the strings and the pickup or the individual pickup elements.

From the US 5,229,537 A Also, there has been known an electronic string instrument in the form of a violin, in which a vibration-absorbing electromagnetic coil is in physical contact with the bridge over which the strings are stretched together. In this construction, the principle known per se of piezoelectric vibration sensors is thus applied to an electromagnetic transducer.

Other types of electronic stringed instruments or stringed instruments are generally found in the US 5,085,115 A or the US 4,919,033 A ,

The US 4,142,435 A shows the procedure to associate a single electromagnetic pickup element to each string, wherein due to the curved arrangement of the string longitudinal axes, the pickup elements are to be arranged at different altitudes. This is particularly evident in 3 this document recognizable.

In which DE 20 2004 018 U is in a four-stringed stringed instrument, z. As a violin, each two strings associated with a pickup, whose position is chosen so that it is located centrally between the strings of a pair of strings.

The US 2,933,967 A shows a stringed instrument in which each string is associated with a single Tonaufnehmerelement. Here, the pickup elements are arranged in a common holder and individually adjustable in height relative to this and thus the associated string.

The US 4,378,722 A Finally, shows an electronically amplifiable stringed instrument in which each string is assigned its own coil, each string through its associated coil coaxially / axially. It is possible to make the rectilinear or curved arranged juxtaposition of the individual coils with the thus coaxially extending strings adjustable so that a holder receiving all the coils with respect to the instrument body is one or both sides adjustable in height. However, a compromise must be found between the smallest possible opening width of the coil, on the one hand to obtain the greatest possible proximity to the string passing through and on the other hand to avoid contact of the coil walls by the vibrating string, otherwise the phenomenon of string biting, which is not tolerable in practice, occurs ,

In a (theoretically to be achieved) exactly coaxial course of the individual strings in the respective bobbins approximately according to 1 and 7 to 10 of the US 4,378,722 A This compromise can be achieved and adhered to. However, as soon as a one- or two-sided adjustment of the individual coils receiving holder to the instrument body and thus the rigid course of the string arrangement, the exact concentric throughput of the string is no longer given by the respective bobbin; the string or more strings will be the associated one Coil wall approach so far that from a certain vibration amplitude, the string can strike the coil wall. This is particularly blatant in an arcuate arrangement of the individual strings in the case of a stringed instrument, since then an adjustment of the bobbin holder leads to no longer surveyable and therefore no longer controllable adjustment movements of the other bobbin with respect to their respective strings.

The invention thus sees its object to provide an electronic stringed instrument, in which using the single-coil Tonabnehmertechnik a homogeneous sound image is obtainable.

According to the invention, an electronic string instrument is created to solve this problem, in which the total number of strings is an integer multiple of 2 and in which the string longitudinal axes are arranged along a circular arc segment seen in the string cross-section, with a pickup system, the electromagnetic vibrations by means of single pickup Coil technology converts into electrical output signals, wherein each pair of strings is associated with a single-coil pickup, each with a pair of ferromagnetic pickup elements in a common coil core; and each spool core is disposed on the body of the instrument such that a distance between the individual strings of a pair of strings and respective doffer faces of the doffer elements is adjustable at least approximately to an equal value by locating each spool core on a support plate which is adjustable relative to the instrument body is stored, that it is permanently tiltable about an axis and thus adjustable, which of the Seitenhalbierenden the longitudinal extent at least approximately corresponds and which is parallel to the string longitudinal axes of the string pair.

The fact that not every single string is assigned its own single-coil pickup, but a pair of strings, the number of pickups is halved compared to an individual pairing string / pickup. At the same time, the arrangement of the pickups per pair of strings is such that the distances between the strings and the associated consumer end faces are at least approximately equal. This results in a saving of material, costs and installation space on the one hand, but a completely homogeneous sound on the other. Also, subsequently, that is, after installation of the coil cores adjustments can be made, with which the orientation and in particular the distance between each consumer end face of a pickup element and its associated string is adjustable. By doing so, certain parameters can be adjusted, changed, taken into account or otherwise taken into account, which have an effect on the playability, the type and quality of the signal output by the pickup, etc.

If each spool core is arranged on a carrier plate which is adjustably mounted relative to the instrument body, each spool core with its fastening means provided for this purpose is fixed permanently and essentially immovably to a carrier plate and it is then the carrier plate which is mounted so as to be adjustable relative to the instrument body. It is thus not dependent on the retaining means on the part of the spool core to form the adjusting means for the spool core, but can provide optimized fastening means on the support plate for the respective Justierzwecke and also installation conditions.

The support plate is also mounted relative to the instrument body such that it is permanently tiltable about an axis and thus adjustable, which corresponds at least approximately the Seitenhalbierenden the longitudinal extension (the support plate) and which is parallel to the strings longitudinal axes of the pair of strings. This makes it possible to align the receiving end faces of the pickup element pair in a bobbin precisely with respect to the respective associated string, that is, in particular to adjust the distance between said end face and the associated string.

Each support plate may be elongated / rectangular with a longitudinal extent which is greater than the clear distance between a pair of strings. This first ensures that the respective bobbin comes to lie exactly and reproducibly under the associated pair of strings. Furthermore, in this case are usually the carrier plate side mounting and thus adjusting means on both sides or outside of the respective side pair and are thus better accessible by appropriate tools.

Further preferably, each single-coil pickup is assigned a further pickup in humbucker circuit and arranged identical with respect to the respective pair of strings. The resulting advantages in the game practice are known per se in the field of electrically / electronically amplified stringed instruments for a long time. Nevertheless, they represent a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Preferably, in this case, the single-coil pickup and the humbucker pickup are arranged together on a support plate and thus adjustable as a pair or a unit.

Preferably, with an arrangement of two coil cores (corresponding to four strings of the musical instrument), the two surfaces of the coil cores in which the consumer end faces lie form an obtuse angle between them. This makes it possible, with a simple basic construction already a largely identical arrangement - as far as the distance between the customer end face and string - to achieve the respective bobbin to the associated pair of strings. Put simply, in this arrangement, each support plate represents a secant to the imaginary arc segment on which a string pair of the musical instrument lies. For more than two strings, so for example four or six strings each bobbin is corresponding to a pair of strings on a secant to said pair of strings such that the customer end faces of the bobbin concerned have substantially identical distance to the respective strings of the string pair. The support plates themselves, on which then the bobbins are, include in such an arrangement between said obtuse angle.

Due to the advantageous embodiment that each support plate has a longitudinal extent which is greater than the clear distance between a pair of strings, according to a further preferred embodiment, the arrangement of a plurality of coil cores (including the associated carrier plates) in plan view along the side longitudinal axes offset from one another. The mutually facing narrow sides of the carrier plates do not abut each other, even if the respective carrier plates have a longitudinal extension, which goes well beyond the clearance of a respective pair of strings.

Further details, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a purely illustrative and non-limiting embodiment with reference to the drawings.

It shows:

1 a plan view of the arrangement of bobbins of a pickup system in a string instrument according to the invention;

2 a side view of the pickup in the direction of arrow II in 1 ,

The figures show a total of 2 designated, but only partially illustrated stringed instrument 2 in which a pickup system 4 under a plurality of strings 6 is arranged. In the string instrument shown in the drawing 2 it is a violin or violin, so that the classic violin or violin style following in the illustrated embodiment a total of four strings 6a to 6d available. The strings 6 run from a in 1 not shown, in the upper part of 1 located tailpiece over a bridge 8th and then at a distance to a fingerboard to a pegbox also not shown in the drawing.

According to 2 lie here the individual strings 6a to 6d not in a common plane, but are the upper free outer contour of the bridge 8th following stretched so that their longitudinal axes in cross section according to 2 essentially along a circular arc segment 12 are arranged. Based on a base area 14 of the instrument body are thus the two middle strings 6b and 6c higher than the two lateral or outer strings 6a and 6d ,

The pickup system 4 has in the illustrated embodiment, two single-coil pickups or pickups 16 and 18 on. Here is the pickup 16 the strings 6a and 6b assigned and the pickup 18 the strings 6c and 6d , Every pickup 16 respectively. 18 thus picks up vibrations of a string pair assigned to it ( 6a . 6b respectively. 6c . 6d ), wherein this tap takes place in a known manner, for example, based on the pickup 16 and the string 6a a ferromagnetic element 20 in a bobbin 22 embedded, being around the bobbin 22 a winding 24 is laid. The ferromagnetic element 20 this is the string 6a assigned. Because the pickup 16 is present for a pair of strings, located in the bobbin 22 another ferromagnetic element 26 which vibrations of the string 6b able to absorb.

The structure of the pickup 16 (and thus also of the pickup 18 , which is identical thereto) thus corresponds in a known manner to that of a single-coil pickup; Such pickups have long been known and a further detailed explanation, structure and operation can therefore be dispensed with.

According to 2 end the ferromagnetic elements 20 and 26 in faces 28 respectively. 30 which is substantially flush with the upper surface or plane of the bobbin 22 are.

It should be pointed out again at this point that concerning the pickup 16 made statements equally to the pickup 18 unless otherwise stated.

The bobbin 22 in the pickup 16 and analogous to the bobbin 22 ' in the pickup 18 is in a likewise known manner further bobbin 32 in the pickup 16 respectively. 32 ' in the pickup 18 assigned. The pickup pair 22 and 32 respectively. 22 ' and 32 ' forms in a known manner a humbucker arrangement. The structure and mode of operation of such humbucker systems are also general state of the art, so that details thereof, for example, the polarity and interconnection of the respective ferromagnetic elements in the individual bobbins 22 . 32 . 22 ' and 32 ' will not be discussed here. It should also be noted that the training of the pickup 16 respectively. 18 as a humbucker system facultative and not mandatory.

The from the two coil bobbins 22 and 32 formed pickups 16 is on a backing plate 34 constructed, that is the carrier plate 34 superimposed on spool-side fastening means, not shown, the two bobbin 22 and 32 ,

The same applies to the pickup 18 too, where the two bobbins 22 ' and 32 ' from another carrier plate 36 be stored.

In the following again be primarily on the pickup 16 received; The statements made in this regard equally apply - unless explicitly stated otherwise - also to the pickup 18 to.

According to 2 shows the body 38 of the stringed instrument 2 a recess or cutout on which a bevel 40 that forms the 2 has obvious course, that is the bevel 40 runs in 2 from top right to bottom left. On the upper surface in the bevel 40 is the carrier plate 34 arranged by adjustable or adjustable fastening means. In one embodiment, these fasteners may be provided by a number of screws 42 be formed, which corresponding holes in the support plate 34 interspersed and in the material of the corpus 38 are screwed, being between the bottom of the carrier plate 34 and the top of the chamfer 40 around each of the screws 42 a compression spring 44 is placed, which under bias the carrier plate 34 from the surface of the bevel 40 tries to push away. By appropriate screwing or unscrewing the respective screws 42 with simultaneous compression or release of the associated springs 44 Thus, the orientation of the respective carrier plate (here: carrier plate 34 ) against the surface of the chamfer 40 be set. Is the carrier plate by z. B. four screws 42 and fourfold spring loaded on the bevel 40 stored, the support plate can be adjusted by several axes or in several degrees of freedom, the most important axis is an axis A, as will be described below. A different number of screws 42 However, it is equally possible, for. B. three screws, in which case two of them on one of the narrow sides of the support plate 34 and one centered on the opposite narrow side.

The carrier plate 34 (and thus also the carrier plate 36 ) has that special 1 apparent elongated / rectangular structure with a longitudinal extent, which is greater than the clear distance between a pair of strings (here: strings 6a . 6b ), wherein the adjustment of the carrier plate 34 opposite the bevel 40 in particular can be done by the carrier plate 34 about an axis A ( 1 ) is permanently tiltable and thus adjustable, which substantially the Seitenhalbierenden the longitudinal extent of the support plate 34 corresponds, wherein this axis A is substantially parallel to the string longitudinal axes of the string pair 6a and 6b is.

One recognizes in particular from the representation of 2 in that, during a movement, the carrier plate 34 about the axis A and / or parallel to the surface of the chamfer 40 or by other relative movements to the bevel 40 , caused by screwing in or unscrewing the screws 42 the respective distance between an end face 28 respectively. 30 opposite the associated string 6a respectively. 6b permanently adjustable, that is adjustable.

As can be seen from the drawing, is in the direction of the strings 6 seen in the direction of tailpiece another bevel 46 in the corpus 38 formed, which to the course of the chamfer 40 is directed opposite, that is, it runs in 2 from top left to bottom right. In the projection of 2 close the surfaces of the two bevels 40 and 46 between them an obtuse angle α.

Similar to bevel 40 wear the bevel 46 on the carrier plate 36 the other pickup 18 with the bobbins 22 ' and 32 ' , Vibrations of the strings 6c and 6d be through this further pickup 18 tapped and therefore the arrangement of the bobbin 22 ' and 32 ' the course of the chamfer 46 following, that is the carrier plate 36 is so analogous to the bevel 46 obliquely that the end faces of the ferromagnetic elements in the bobbins 22 ' and 32 ' essentially the same distance to the associated strings 6c and 6d to have.

Also in the case of the carrier plate 36 is the orientation of said support plate opposite the bevel 46 adjustable or adjustable due to the mounting of the carrier plate 36 opposite the bevel 46 through to the screws 42 and 44 analogue storage and adjustment means.

From the top view of 1 shows that due to the longitudinal extent of the carrier plates 34 and 36 and also due to the longitudinal extent of the bobbin 22 . 32 . 22 ' and 32 ' a juxtaposed arrangement of the bobbins in the pickups 16 and 18 not possible. As a result, the two pickups 16 and 18 in the longitudinal or direction of the strings 6 in the out 1 apparent way offset each other.

Due to the oblique arrangement of the individual bobbins in the pickups 16 and 18 will, as in particular 2 As a result, the effect of the surfaces of the bobbins in which the end surfaces of the ferromagnetic elements terminate becomes the imaginary circle on which the strings are wound 6a to 6d each forming a secant. This allows together with the adjustable storage of the carrier plates 34 and 36 opposite their respective bevels 40 and 46 a finer adjustability of the respective distances between the individual end faces of the ferromagnetic elements and the associated strings.

The preceding description referred to a stringed instrument 2 with a total of four strings. If there are more strings, for example six strings, then another pickup would have to be provided, which then appears in the depiction of 1 between the two pickups 16 and 18 and whose upper surface in which the end faces of the ferromagnetic elements open, substantially parallel to the base surface 14 would run and would be adjustable with respect to this base. The in here in 1 above and below subsequent pickups (pickups 16 and 18 ) would have the back then 2 apparent oblique arrangement.

In a design of the stringed instrument with z. B. five or seven strings, ie a number of strings, which is not an integer multiple of 2, the subject of the present invention is also applicable. For example, in five strings, the middle of the strings (ie, the third string) would have a single pickup and the pair of strings (strings 1 and 2 respectively. 4 and 5 ) would be picked up via a pickup assembly according to the present invention. Analogously, it would be moved to other numbers of strings. However, it is preferable to always tapped the maximum possible number of pairs of strings with the diagonally positioned pickups according to the present invention, in order to obtain or eliminate the relevant advantages as comprehensively as possible.

The fact that the number of strings of the stringed instrument is preferably an integer multiple of 2 and each pair of strings is associated with a bobbin having at least two ferromagnetic elements and by the described and illustrated adjustable support of the bobbin of the respective pickup is a precise adjustment of the distance between the ferromagnetic element and its associated string possible. In particular, it is possible for all the strings to be equidistant from the respective ferromagnetic element without one or more of these elements having to protrude from the bobbin or its upper surface. All ferromagnetic elements have the same installation position or immersion depth in the bobbin and thus the stringed instrument according to the present invention is characterized by a particularly homogeneous sound.

It is understood that instead of the described and illustrated adjusting means in the form of screws 42 and 44 also other adjustment means between the slopes 40 respectively. 46 and respective carrier plates 34 respectively. 36 possible are.

Claims (6)

Electronic string instrument in which the total number of strings ( 6 ) is an integer multiple of 2 and in which the string longitudinal axes are arranged in the string cross section along a circular arc segment, with a pickup system ( 4 ), which converts the string vibrations by electromagnetic means by means of single-coil technology into electrical output signals, wherein: - one pair of strings ( 6a . 6b : 6c . 6d ) a single-coil pickup ( 16 ; 18 ) each with a pair of ferromagnetic pickup elements ( 20 . 26 ) in a common coil core ( 22 . 32 ; 22 ' . 32 ' ) assigned; and - each spool core ( 22 . 32 ; 22 ' . 32 ' ) on the body ( 38 ) of the instrument ( 2 ) is arranged such that a distance between the individual strings of a string pair ( 6a . 6b ; 6c . 6d ) and respective customer end faces ( 28 . 30 ) of the customer elements ( 20 . 26 ) is adjustable by at least approximately to an equal value that each spool core ( 22 . 32 ; 22 ' . 32 ' ) on a carrier plate ( 34 ; 36 ) which is opposite the instrument body ( 38 ) is mounted so that it is permanently tiltable about an axis (A) and thus adjustable, which of the Seitenhalbierenden the longitudinal extent at least approximately corresponds and which is parallel to the string longitudinal axes of the string pair. Electronic stringed instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that each support plate ( 34 . 36 ) is elongated / rectangular with a longitudinal extent which is greater than the clear distance between a pair of strings. Electronic stringed instrument according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each single-coil pickup another pickup is assigned in humbucker circuit and arranged identical with respect to the respective string pair. Electronic stringed instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that the single-coil pickup and the humbucker pickup together on a support plate ( 34 . 36 ) are arranged. Electronic stringed instrument according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in an arrangement of two coil cores ( 22 . 22 ' respectively. 32 . 32 ' ) corresponding to four strings, the two surfaces of the coil cores in which the customer end faces are an obtuse angle (α) between them. Electronic stringed instrument according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coil cores are arranged offset from each other in plan view along the string longitudinal axes.

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