EP0273372B1 - Trussrod for string instruments - Google Patents

Trussrod for string instruments Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0273372B1
EP0273372B1 EP87119070A EP87119070A EP0273372B1 EP 0273372 B1 EP0273372 B1 EP 0273372B1 EP 87119070 A EP87119070 A EP 87119070A EP 87119070 A EP87119070 A EP 87119070A EP 0273372 B1 EP0273372 B1 EP 0273372B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rod member
trussrod
rod
neck
effective length
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP87119070A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0273372A2 (en
EP0273372A3 (en
Inventor
Walter Zeitler
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Wilfer Hans-Peter
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Wilfer Hans-Peter
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Application filed by Wilfer Hans-Peter filed Critical Wilfer Hans-Peter
Priority to AT87119070T priority Critical patent/ATE88592T1/en
Publication of EP0273372A2 publication Critical patent/EP0273372A2/en
Publication of EP0273372A3 publication Critical patent/EP0273372A3/en
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Publication of EP0273372B1 publication Critical patent/EP0273372B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D1/00—General design of stringed musical instruments
    • G10D1/04—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres
    • G10D1/05—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres with fret boards or fingerboards
    • G10D1/08—Guitars
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/06—Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a truss rod for stringed instruments, in particular bass guitars, which consists of two elongated rod parts which run parallel to one another and abut one another and which are firmly connected, for example riveted, at one end, while their other free ends are effective means Shorten the length of a shorter first rod part compared to the effective length of the other, longer second rod part, the truss rod can be inserted into an elongated blind hole in the instrument neck from the upper free neck end in such a way that the means for shortening the effective length of the first rod part from open end of the blind hole are accessible here, and the rod parts lie one above the other in a plane perpendicular to the fingerboard (preamble of claim 1).
  • Such truss rod is known from US-PS 4,308,780 and DE-GM 78 24 673. Such trusses will be inserted into the elongated blind hole in the instrument neck. They stay in this blind hole as soon as a certain tension of one of the rod parts is reached, as will be described in detail below. A separate attachment of the truss rod in the blind hole of the instrument neck is therefore not necessary.
  • By turning a union nut one of the rod parts is shortened in its effective length to the other rod part. The consequence of this is that the truss rod, which previously ran in a straight line, curves into an arc and thus also pulls the instrument neck into an arc shape, the convex side of which faces the strings resting on the fretboard of the neck. This counteracts the relatively strong tension exerted by the strings on the neck of the instrument.
  • the object of the invention is to design a truss rod according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it can be deformed either convexly or concavely to the instrument neck, but with the advantages of the loose insertion and removal of the truss rod into and from the blind hole of the instrument neck are to be retained.
  • a truss rod can be used both for the first-mentioned applications, namely bracing the truss rod in the convex arc described, as well as for the second-mentioned applications in which the truss rod inserted in the neck receives a curvature, the concave side of which is the fingerboard or the strings facing the instrument. So you can use the same truss rod for both applications.
  • a truss rod can be inserted into the blind hole of the instrument neck and can be clamped so tightly with the blind hole by slight tensioning, ie arching of the respective rod part in the desired direction, that the truss rod cannot accidentally slip out of the blind hole.
  • both truss rods can be adjusted in the desired manner.
  • the arrangement is preferably such that the truss rod parts do not protrude from the open end, ie are not visible from the outside. The truss rod can be easily pulled out.
  • a screw or nut is also provided as an additional means for shortening the effective length of the second rod part.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the invention is based on a truss rod, the first rod part carrying an external thread, and furthermore a union nut which fits onto the external thread is provided and which has a stop for the end face of the free end of the second, longer rod part forms (see the above-mentioned DE-GM 78 24 673).
  • the end of the second rod part has an internal thread and that an adjusting screw with its thread in the internal thread is provided, which has a stop, preferably in the form of its screw head, which is in contact with the end of the first, shorter rod part or on the screwed-on union nut is designed or determined (characterizing part of claim 3).
  • the truss rod generally numbered 1, consists of two truss rod parts, namely a first, shorter truss rod part 2 and a second, longer truss rod part 3. Both truss rod parts lie one above the other in a plane which is perpendicular to the fingerboard (see number 26 in FIG. 7); ie this level is the same as the drawing level in the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 to 7. Both Truss rod parts are firmly connected to one another at their ends on the right in the drawing, for example by rivets indicated by dash-dotted lines.
  • the end 5 of the shorter truss rod part 2 has an external thread 6 into which the internal thread 7 of a union nut 8 fits.
  • the end 9 of the longer truss rod part 3 is provided with an internal thread 10 into which the external thread 11 fits an adjusting screw 12 to be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5, 6.
  • the threads 6, 7 are preferably counter to the threads 10, 11.
  • the threads 6, 7 are preferably right-handed and the threads 10, 11 are left-handed. This ensures that actuating the adjusting screw does not accidentally take the union nut with it. Instead, however, the pitch of the threads 10, 11 could be different (larger or smaller) than the pitch of the threads 6, 7. This also prevents the union nut from turning unintentionally.
  • different gradients can also be used if you want to change the translation of the clamping force from the adjusting means to the truss rod parts accordingly.
  • the truss rod parts 2, 3 lie close together and are separated from one another only by a thin slot 13.
  • the union nut 8 After the union nut 8 has been screwed on, its inner surface 14 comes into contact with the end face 15 of the truss rod part 3. If it is subsequently rotated further, it moves in the direction of the arrow 16 in FIG. 2, the shorter truss rod part 2 counter to the arrow direction 16 in the union nut is pulled in.
  • This effective shortening of the length of the truss rod part 2 results in an effective extension of the truss rod part 3, so that it bulges upward (FIG. 3).
  • the convex side of this curvature is directed towards the fingerboard 26 (further details of the assembly of the truss rod and instrument neck can be found in FIG.
  • the above-mentioned internal thread 10 in conjunction with the set screw 12 serves as an additional adjusting means, namely to shorten the effective length of the second rod part 3 compared to the effective length of the first rod part 2.
  • the external thread 11 fits into the internal thread 10.
  • the head 18 of the set screw also forms its end face 19 on the right in FIGS. 5, 6 has a stop which comes to rest against the end face 20 of the union nut. 5, the surfaces 19, 20 lie against one another and the union nut is screwed onto the thread 6 to such an extent that it surrounds both truss rod parts 2, 3, but between the end surface 15 of the truss rod part 3 and the inner end surface 14 a distance a remains of the bottom 22 of the union nut.
  • the distance a is 4 mm.
  • the set screw 12 in one rotated in such a way that the truss rod part 3 is moved to the left in the direction of arrow 24 along the shaft 23 of the adjusting screw (with the distance a being shortened), this has an effective shortening of the upper truss rod part 3 and thus an effective extension of the lower truss rod part 2 in a row.
  • the adjusting screw 12 can be turned until the distance a has practically become zero according to FIG. 6.
  • the truss rod part 2 located below in the drawing bulges downward, with its concave side 2 ′ facing the neck side 17 ′, which contains the fingerboard 26 and strings 27.
  • the head 18 of the set screw 12 can have a hexagon socket 21 for inserting a socket wrench.
  • the same can be provided on the through bore 25 of the union nut 8. This means that the set screw 12 and union nut 8 can each be actuated from the free end 28 of the blind hole 29 by inserting appropriate socket wrenches (approximately in the direction of the arrow 30).

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Decoration Of Textiles (AREA)

Abstract

A neck rod member for stringed instruments, particularly for bass guitars. The rod member includes two oblong rod portions which extend parallel relative to each other and essentially contact one another. At one end of the rod member, the portions are fixedly connected to each other, for example, by rivets. At the other free ends of the rod portions, a mechanism for effectively shortening the length of one of the rod portions relative to the effective length of the other rod portion is provided. The neck of the instrument defines an oblong blind-end hole which is open at the free end of the neck. The rod member can be inserted into the blind-end hole in such a way that the mechanism for shortening the effective length of the first rod portion is accessible from the open end of the blind-end bore. The neck rod member includes another mechanism for shortening the effective length of the second rod portion relative to the effective length of the first rod portion. This second mechanism is also accessible from the open end of the blind-end hole.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Halsstab für Saiteninstrumente, insbesondere Bass-Gitarren, der aus zwei parallel zueinander verlaufenden und etwa aneinander anliegenden länglichen Stabteilen besteht, die an ihren einen Enden fest miteinander verbunden, z.B. vernietet, sind, während ihre anderen, freien Enden Mittel zum effektiven Verkürzen der Länge des einen kürzeren ersten Stabteiles gegenüber der effektiven Länge des anderen, längeren zweiten Stabteiles besitzen, wobei der Halsstab in ein längliches Sackloch im Instrumentenhals vom oberen freien Halsende her so einsteckbar ist, daß die Mittel zur Verkürzung der effektiven Länge des ersten Stabteiles vom offenen Ende des Sackloches her zugängig sind, und die Stabteile in einer zum Griffbrett senkrechten Ebene übereinander liegen (Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1). Ein solcher Halsstab ist aus der US-PS 4,308,780 und dem DE-GM 78 24 673 bekannt. Derartige Halsstäbe werden in das längliche Sackloch im Instrumentenhals hineingesteckt. Sie halten sich in diesem Sackloch, sobald eine gewisse Verspannung eines der Stabteile erreicht ist, wie es nachstehend im einzelnen beschrieben wird. Damit ist eine gesonderte Befestigung des Halsstabes in dem Sackloch des Instrumentenhalses nicht notwendig. Durch Verdrehen einer Überwurfmutter wird einer der Stabteile in seiner effektiven Länge zum anderen Stabteil verkürzt. Dies hat zur Folge, daß sich der zuvor etwa in einer geraden Linie verlaufende Halsstab zu einem Bogen krümmt und damit auch den Instrumentenhals in eine Bogenform zieht, deren konvexe Seite den auf dem Griffbrett des Halses aufliegenden Saiten zugewandt ist. Damit wird dem von den Saiten auf den Hals des Instrumentes ausgeübten, relativ starken Zug entgegengewirkt.The invention relates to a truss rod for stringed instruments, in particular bass guitars, which consists of two elongated rod parts which run parallel to one another and abut one another and which are firmly connected, for example riveted, at one end, while their other free ends are effective means Shorten the length of a shorter first rod part compared to the effective length of the other, longer second rod part, the truss rod can be inserted into an elongated blind hole in the instrument neck from the upper free neck end in such a way that the means for shortening the effective length of the first rod part from open end of the blind hole are accessible here, and the rod parts lie one above the other in a plane perpendicular to the fingerboard (preamble of claim 1). Such truss rod is known from US-PS 4,308,780 and DE-GM 78 24 673. Such trusses will be inserted into the elongated blind hole in the instrument neck. They stay in this blind hole as soon as a certain tension of one of the rod parts is reached, as will be described in detail below. A separate attachment of the truss rod in the blind hole of the instrument neck is therefore not necessary. By turning a union nut, one of the rod parts is shortened in its effective length to the other rod part. The consequence of this is that the truss rod, which previously ran in a straight line, curves into an arc and thus also pulls the instrument neck into an arc shape, the convex side of which faces the strings resting on the fretboard of the neck. This counteracts the relatively strong tension exerted by the strings on the neck of the instrument.

Andernfalls besteht die Gefahr, daß der Saitenzug den Hals umbiegt oder sogar umknickt. Bei Saiteninstrumenten, insbesondere Bass-Gitarren besonderer Ausführungen, kann aber die Anforderung auftreten (z.B. aufgrund der Holzmaserung des Halses oder auch aus anderen Gründen), daß der Halsstab auf den Hals des Instrumentes eine Kraft ausüben muß, die der Zugkraft der Saiten gleichgerichtet ist. Für diese Fälle ist aber der vorstehend beschriebene Halsstab nicht geeignet.Otherwise there is a risk that the string will bend or even bend the neck. With stringed instruments, especially bass guitars of special designs, the requirement may arise (e.g. due to the wood grain of the neck or for other reasons) that the truss rod must exert a force on the neck of the instrument which is equal to the tensile force of the strings. However, the truss rod described above is not suitable for these cases.

Aus der US-PS 4,557,174 ist ein aus einem einzigen Stück bestehender Halsstab bekannt, der in den Hals des Musikinstrumentes eingebracht wird, wobei dieser Halsstab etwa in seiner Mitte über eine Verankerung fest mit dem Instrumentenhals verbunden ist. Zuvor muß er in der Fabrik in der jeweils gewünschten Richtung gebogen sein. Dies und insbesondere die feste Verankerung im Instrumentenhals ist umständlich und in der Fertigung teuer. Außerdem kann ein solcher Halsstab, wenn er unbrauchbar wird oder beschädigt ist, nicht mehr ausgewechselt werden. Dies weicht grundsätzlich von der Anordnung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1 ab.From US-PS 4,557,174 a truss rod consisting of a single piece is known which is introduced into the neck of the musical instrument, this truss rod being firmly connected to the instrument neck approximately in the middle thereof by means of an anchor. Before doing this, it must be bent in the desired direction in the factory. This and in particular the firm anchoring in the instrument neck is cumbersome and expensive to manufacture. In addition, such a truss rod can no longer be replaced if it becomes unusable or damaged. This differs fundamentally from the arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

Die Aufgabe der Erfindung besteht demgegenüber darin, einen Halsstab gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1 so auszubilden, daß er wahlweise zum Instrumentenhals konvex oder konkav gewölbt verformbar ist, wobei aber die Vorteile des losen Einbringens und des Herausnehmens des Halsstabes in das bzw. aus dem Sackloch des Instrumentenhalses beibehalten werden sollen.In contrast, the object of the invention is to design a truss rod according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it can be deformed either convexly or concavely to the instrument neck, but with the advantages of the loose insertion and removal of the truss rod into and from the blind hole of the instrument neck are to be retained.

Die Lösung dieser Aufgabe wird zunächst, ausgehend vom eingangs genannten Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1, darin gesehen, daß zusätzlich Mittel zur Verkürzung der effektiven Länge des zweiten Stabteiles gegenüber der effektiven Länge des ersten Stabteiles am freien Ende des zweiten Stabteiles vorgesehen und ebenfalls vom offenen Ende des Sackloches der zugängig sind. Einen solchen Halsstab kann man sowohl für die erstgenannten Anwendungsfälle, nämlich Verspannen des Halsstabes in den beschriebenen konvexen Bogen, einsetzen, als auch für die zweitgenannten Anwendungsfälle, in denen der im Hals eingebrachte Halsstab eine Wölbung erhält, deren konkave Seite dem Griffbrett bzw. den Saiten des Instrumentes zugewandt ist. Man kann also ein und denselben Halsstab für beide Einsatzmöglichkeiten verwenden. Dies ergibt nicht nur fabrikatorisch eine Kostenersparnis, sondern vereinfacht erheblich beim Hersteller und beim Instrumentenbauer die Lagerhaltung. Schließlich hat der Anwender, d.h. der Benutzer der Gitarre, damit die Möglichkeit, sich jeweils diejenige Einstellung bzw. Wölbung des Halsstabes zu wählen, die ihm passend erscheint. Ein solcher Halsstab ist in das Sackloch des Instrumentenhalses einsteckbar und kann durch leichtes Verspannen, d.h. Wölben des jeweiligen Stabteiles in der gewünschten Richtung, so fest mit dem Sackloch verklemmt werden, daß der Halsstab nicht versehentlich aus dem Sackloch herausrutschen kann. Vom offenen Ende des Sackloches her sind beide Halsstabteile in der jeweils gewünschten Weise verstellbar. Bevorzugt ist die Anordnung so, daß die Halsstabteile aus dem offenen Ende nicht vorragen, d.h. von außen nicht sichtbar sind. Der Halsstab ist ohne weiteres herausziehbar.The solution to this problem is first seen, starting from the preamble of claim 1, that additional means for shortening the effective length of the second rod part compared to the effective length of the first rod part are provided at the free end of the second rod part and also from the open end of the Blind holes that are accessible. Such a truss rod can be used both for the first-mentioned applications, namely bracing the truss rod in the convex arc described, as well as for the second-mentioned applications in which the truss rod inserted in the neck receives a curvature, the concave side of which is the fingerboard or the strings facing the instrument. So you can use the same truss rod for both applications. This not only saves costs in terms of manufacturing, but also considerably simplifies storage for the manufacturer and the instrument maker. Finally, the user, ie the user of the guitar, has the opportunity to choose the setting or curvature of the truss rod that seems appropriate to him. Such a truss rod can be inserted into the blind hole of the instrument neck and can be clamped so tightly with the blind hole by slight tensioning, ie arching of the respective rod part in the desired direction, that the truss rod cannot accidentally slip out of the blind hole. From the open end of the blind hole, both truss rods can be adjusted in the desired manner. The arrangement is preferably such that the truss rod parts do not protrude from the open end, ie are not visible from the outside. The truss rod can be easily pulled out.

Gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung ist als zusätzliches Mittel zur Verkürzung der effektiven Länge des zweiten Stabteiles ebenfalls eine Schraube oder Mutter vorgesehen. Diese Merkmale des Anspruches 2 ergeben eine besonders leichte und vom offenen Ende des Sackloches her zugängliche Verstellmöglichkeit dieses Stabteiles.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a screw or nut is also provided as an additional means for shortening the effective length of the second rod part. These features of claim 2 result in a particularly easy and accessible from the open end of the blind hole adjustment of this rod part.

Eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Erfindung geht gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 3 von einem Halsstab aus, wobei der erste Stabteil ein Außengewinde trägt, und wobei ferner eine auf das Außengewinde passende Überwurfmutter vorgesehen ist, die einen Anschlag für die Stirnfläche des freien Endes des zweiten, längeren Stabteiles bildet (siehe hierzu das obengenannte DE-GM 78 24 673). Hierzu ist vorteilhafterweise vorgesehen, daß das Ende des zweiten Stabteiles ein Innengewinde aufweist, und daß eine mit ihrem Gewinde in das Innengewinde passende Stellschraube vorgesehen ist, die einen Anschlag, bevorzugt in Form ihres Schraubenkopfes, aufweist, der zur Anlage an das Ende des ersten, kürzeren Stabteiles oder an die darauf aufgeschraubte Überwurfmutter ausgebildet bzw. bestimmt ist (Kennzeichen des Anspruches 3). Man kann hierbei das vorbekannte Außengewinde am kürzeren Halsstabteil und die zugehörige Überwurfmutter weiter verwenden und muß lediglich das Innengewinde am zweiten, längeren Halsstabteil und die Stellschraube vorsehen. Dadurch ergeben sich, ausgehend von diesen bekannten Halsstäben, relativ geringe Umstellungskosten in der Fertigung. Auch muß der Benutzer in Relation zu diesem ihm bereits bekannten Halsstab kaum umdenken, sondern sich nur noch mit dem zusätzlichen Verstellmittel in Form der genannten Stellschraube vertraut machen. Ein weiterer Vorteil liegt darin, daß sich die Dicke dieses Endbereiches des Halsstabes gegenüber der bekannten Ausführung nicht vergrößert. Lediglich seine Länge wird geringfügig um die Dicke des Stellschraubenkopfes größer, was aber praktisch nicht ins Gewicht fällt.According to the preamble of claim 3, a further preferred embodiment of the invention is based on a truss rod, the first rod part carrying an external thread, and furthermore a union nut which fits onto the external thread is provided and which has a stop for the end face of the free end of the second, longer rod part forms (see the above-mentioned DE-GM 78 24 673). For this purpose, it is advantageously provided that the end of the second rod part has an internal thread and that an adjusting screw with its thread in the internal thread is provided, which has a stop, preferably in the form of its screw head, which is in contact with the end of the first, shorter rod part or on the screwed-on union nut is designed or determined (characterizing part of claim 3). You can continue to use the previously known external thread on the shorter truss rod part and the associated union nut and you only have to provide the internal thread on the second, longer truss rod part and the set screw. Based on these known neck rods, this results in relatively low conversion costs in production. Also, the user hardly has to rethink in relation to this truss rod, which is already known to him, but only has to familiarize himself with the additional adjusting means in the form of the adjusting screw mentioned. Another advantage is that the thickness of this end region of the truss rod does not increase compared to the known design. Only its length is slightly larger by the thickness of the adjusting screw head, but this is practically insignificant.

Um bei Betätigung der Stellschraube ein etwaiges ungewolltes Mitdrehen der Überwurfmutter zu verhindern, können vorsorglich hierzu Sicherungen vorgesehen sein. Hierzu wird auf den Inhalt der Ansprüche 4 und 5 verwiesen. Im übrigen wird hinsichtlich weiterer Merkmale der Erfindung Bezug auf den Inhalt der weiteren Unteransprüche genommen.In order to prevent any unintentional turning of the union nut when the adjusting screw is actuated, fuses can be provided as a precaution. For this purpose, reference is made to the content of claims 4 and 5. Otherwise, with regard to further features of the invention, reference is made to the content of the further subclaims.

Schließlich sind weitere Vorteile und Merkmale der Erfindung der nachstehenden Beschreibung und der zugehörigen Zeichnung von erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsmöglichkeiten zu entnehmen. In der schematischen Zeichnung zeigt:

Fig. 1:
einen Halsstab nach der Erfindung ohne Überwurfmutter und in der Seitenansicht,
Fig. 2:
eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1 mit Überwurfmutter, wobei der Halsstab unverspannt ist,
Fig. 3:
eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1 bzw. 2 mit Überwurfmutter, wobei der Halsstab konvex verspannt ist, und schematisch angedeutetem Instrumentenhals,
Fig. 4:
einen Querschnitt gemäß der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 2,
Fig. 5:
in einem Teilschnitt und vergrößerten Maßstab das linke Ende der Fig. 2 mit Stellschraube bei unverspanntem Halsstab,
Fig. 6:
den Teilschnitt gemäß Fig. 5 bei konkav verspanntem Halsstab, wobei strichpunktiert der Instrumentenhals angedeutet ist,
Fig. 7:
z.T. im Längsschnitt, z.T. in der Seitenansicht die Anordnung des Halsstabes im Hals eines Saiteninstrumentes, sowie den Hals.
Finally, further advantages and features of the invention can be found in the following description and the associated drawing of possible embodiments according to the invention. The schematic drawing shows:
Fig. 1:
a truss rod according to the invention without a union nut and in side view,
Fig. 2:
1 with cap nut, the truss rod is unstressed,
Fig. 3:
2 is a view according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a union nut, the truss rod being convexly braced, and a schematically indicated instrument neck,
Fig. 4:
3 shows a cross section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2,
Fig. 5:
in a partial section and on an enlarged scale, the left end of FIG. 2 with a set screw when the truss rod is not under tension,
Fig. 6:
5 with concave braced truss rod, with dash-dotted lines indicating the instrument neck,
Fig. 7:
partly in longitudinal section, partly in side view the arrangement of the truss rod in Neck of a stringed instrument, as well as the neck.

Der allgemein mit 1 bezifferte Halsstab besteht aus zwei Halsstabteilen, nämlich einem ersten, kürzeren Halsstabteil 2 und einem zweiten, längeren Halsstabteil 3. Beide Halsstabteile liegen übereinander in einer Ebene, die zum Griffbrett (siehe Ziffer 26 in Fig. 7) senkrecht verläuft; d.h. diese Ebene ist in den Darstellungen der Fig. 1 bis 3, 5 bis 7 gleich der Zeichenebene. Beide Halsstabteile sind an ihren in der Zeichnung rechts gelegenen Enden fest miteinander verbunden, z.B. durch strichpunktiert angedeutete Nieten. Ihre entgegengesetzt, d.h. in der Zeichnung links gelegenen freien Enden sind wie folgt ausgebildet:
Das Ende 5 des kürzeren Halsstabteiles 2 besitzt ein Außengewinde 6, in das das Innengewinde 7 einer Überwurfmutter 8 paßt. Das Ende 9 des längeren Halsstabteiles 3 ist mit einem Innengewinde 10 versehen, in das das Außengewinde 11 einer anhand der Fig. 5, 6 noch näher zu beschreibenden Stellschraube 12 paßt. Die Gewinde 6, 7 sind bevorzugt zu den Gewinden 10, 11 gegenläufig. Dabei sind bevorzugt die Gewinde 6, 7 rechtsgängig und die Gewinde 10, 11 linksgängig. Hiermit ist gesichert, daß ein Betätigen der Stellschraube nicht versehentlich die Überwurfmutter mitnimmt. Stattdessen könnte man aber auch die Steigung der Gewinde 10, 11 anders (größer oder kleiner) als die Steigung der Gewinde 6, 7 ausbilden. Auch hierdurch wird ein unerwünschtes Mitdrehen der Überwurfmutter verhindert. Im übrigen können unterschiedliche Steigungen auch dann angewendet werden, wenn man die Übersetzung der Spannkraft vom Stellmittel auf die Halsstabteile entsprechend ändern will.The truss rod, generally numbered 1, consists of two truss rod parts, namely a first, shorter truss rod part 2 and a second, longer truss rod part 3. Both truss rod parts lie one above the other in a plane which is perpendicular to the fingerboard (see number 26 in FIG. 7); ie this level is the same as the drawing level in the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 to 7. Both Truss rod parts are firmly connected to one another at their ends on the right in the drawing, for example by rivets indicated by dash-dotted lines. Their opposite, that is to say left in the drawing, free ends are formed as follows:
The end 5 of the shorter truss rod part 2 has an external thread 6 into which the internal thread 7 of a union nut 8 fits. The end 9 of the longer truss rod part 3 is provided with an internal thread 10 into which the external thread 11 fits an adjusting screw 12 to be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5, 6. The threads 6, 7 are preferably counter to the threads 10, 11. The threads 6, 7 are preferably right-handed and the threads 10, 11 are left-handed. This ensures that actuating the adjusting screw does not accidentally take the union nut with it. Instead, however, the pitch of the threads 10, 11 could be different (larger or smaller) than the pitch of the threads 6, 7. This also prevents the union nut from turning unintentionally. In addition, different gradients can also be used if you want to change the translation of the clamping force from the adjusting means to the truss rod parts accordingly.

Die Halsstabteile 2, 3 liegen dicht beieinander und sind nur durch einen dünnen Schlitz 13 voneinander getrennt. Nach Aufschrauben der Überwurfmutter 8 kommt ihre Innenfläche 14 zur Anlage an die Stirnfläche 15 des Halsstabteiles 3. Wird sie anschließend weitergedreht, so bewegt sie sich in Richtung des Pfeiles 16 der Fig. 2, wobei der kürzere Halsstabteil 2 entgegen der Pfeilrichtung 16 in die Überwurfmutter hineingezogen wird. Diese effektive Verkürzung der Länge des Halsstabteiles 2 hat eine demgegenüber effektive Verlängerung des Halsstabteiles 3 zur Folge, so daß sich dieser nach oben wölbt (Fig. 3). Die konvexe Seite dieser Wölbung ist zum Griffbrett 26 (nähere Einzelheiten des Zusammenbaus von Halsstab und Instrumentenhals sind Fig. 7 zu entnehmen) und damit zu den Saiten 27 des Halses 17 des Instrumentes 31 gerichtet, der in Fig. 3 nur strichpunktiert angedeutet ist. Es befinden sich die Saiten und das Griffbrett an der mit 17' bezifferten Seite des Halses. Dabei ist die vorgenannte Wölbung zwecks besserer Erläuterung in der Zeichnung etwas übertrieben dargestellt.The truss rod parts 2, 3 lie close together and are separated from one another only by a thin slot 13. After the union nut 8 has been screwed on, its inner surface 14 comes into contact with the end face 15 of the truss rod part 3. If it is subsequently rotated further, it moves in the direction of the arrow 16 in FIG. 2, the shorter truss rod part 2 counter to the arrow direction 16 in the union nut is pulled in. This effective shortening of the length of the truss rod part 2 results in an effective extension of the truss rod part 3, so that it bulges upward (FIG. 3). The convex side of this curvature is directed towards the fingerboard 26 (further details of the assembly of the truss rod and instrument neck can be found in FIG. 7) and thus towards the strings 27 of the neck 17 of the instrument 31, which is only indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 3. The strings and fingerboard are on the 17 'side of the neck. The aforementioned curvature is shown somewhat exaggerated in the drawing for a better explanation.

Als zusätzliches Stellmittel und zwar zur Verkürzung der effektiven Länge des zweiten Stabteiles 3 gegenüber der effektiven Länge des ersten Stabteiles 2 dient das vorgenannte Innengewinde 10 in Verbindung mit der Stellschraube 12. Deren Außengewinde 11 paßt in das Innengewinde 10. Der Kopf 18 der Stellschraube bildet mit seiner in den Fig. 5, 6 rechts gelegenen Stirnfläche 19 einen Anschlag, der zur Anlage an die Stirnseite 20 der Überwurfmutter kommt. In der Ausgangslage dieses Verstellvorganges gemäß Fig. 5 liegen die Flächen 19, 20 aneinander und die Überwurfmutter ist soweit auf das Gewinde 6 geschraubt, daß sie zwar beide Halsstabteile 2, 3 umgibt, jedoch zwischen der Stirnfläche 15 des Halsstabteiles 3 und der inneren Stirnfläche 14 des Bodens 22 der Überwurfmutter noch ein Abstand a verbleibt. Beispielsweise und gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform beträgt der Abstand a 4 mm. Wird nun die Stellschraube 12 in einer solchen Richtung verdreht, daß der Halsstabteil 3 in Richtung des Pfeiles 24 entlang des Schaftes 23 der Stellschraube nach links bewegt wird (wobei sich der Abstand a verkürzt), so hat dies eine effektive Verkürzung des oberen Halsstabteiles 3 und damit eine effektive Verlängerung des unteren Halsstabteiles 2 zur Folge. Die Stellschraube 12 kann soweit verdreht werden, bis gemäß Fig. 6 der Abstand a praktisch zu Null geworden ist. Der in der Zeichnung unten gelegene Halsstabteil 2 wölbt sich nach unten, womit seine konkave Seite 2' der Halsseite 17', welche Griffbrett 26 und Saiten 27 beinhaltet, zugewandt ist.The above-mentioned internal thread 10 in conjunction with the set screw 12 serves as an additional adjusting means, namely to shorten the effective length of the second rod part 3 compared to the effective length of the first rod part 2. The external thread 11 fits into the internal thread 10. The head 18 of the set screw also forms its end face 19 on the right in FIGS. 5, 6 has a stop which comes to rest against the end face 20 of the union nut. 5, the surfaces 19, 20 lie against one another and the union nut is screwed onto the thread 6 to such an extent that it surrounds both truss rod parts 2, 3, but between the end surface 15 of the truss rod part 3 and the inner end surface 14 a distance a remains of the bottom 22 of the union nut. For example and according to a preferred embodiment, the distance a is 4 mm. Now the set screw 12 in one rotated in such a way that the truss rod part 3 is moved to the left in the direction of arrow 24 along the shaft 23 of the adjusting screw (with the distance a being shortened), this has an effective shortening of the upper truss rod part 3 and thus an effective extension of the lower truss rod part 2 in a row. The adjusting screw 12 can be turned until the distance a has practically become zero according to FIG. 6. The truss rod part 2 located below in the drawing bulges downward, with its concave side 2 ′ facing the neck side 17 ′, which contains the fingerboard 26 and strings 27.

Zusammengefaßt ergibt sich, daß in der Anordnung mit Überwurfmutter und ohne Stellschraube gemäß den Fig. 1 bis 3 mit der konvexen Wölbung auf den Hals 17 Wölbungskräfte in Richtung der Pfeile A ausgeübt werden, während bei Einsatz und Verdrehen der Stellschraube 12 gemäß Fig. 5 bis 6 zur Richtung A umgekehrte Kräfte auf den Hals 17 ausgeübt werden, von denen in Fig. 6 nur der linke Kraftpfeil B gezeichnet ist.In summary, it results that in the arrangement with a union nut and without a set screw according to FIGS. 1 to 3 with the convex curvature on the neck 17, curvature forces are exerted in the direction of the arrows A, while when using and turning the set screw 12 according to FIGS. 5 to 6 reverse forces to the direction A are exerted on the neck 17, of which only the left force arrow B is drawn in Fig. 6.

Der Kopf 18 der Stellschraube 12 kann einen Innensechskant 21 zum Einsetzen eines Steckschlüssels aufweisen. Das gleiche kann an der Durchgangsbohrung 25 der Überwurfmutter 8 vorgesehen sein. Damit können Stellschraube 12 und Überwurfmutter 8 je für sich vom freien Ende 28 des Sackloches 29 her durch Einsetzen entsprechender Steckschlüssel (etwa in Pfeilrichtung 30 betätigt werden.The head 18 of the set screw 12 can have a hexagon socket 21 for inserting a socket wrench. The same can be provided on the through bore 25 of the union nut 8. This means that the set screw 12 and union nut 8 can each be actuated from the free end 28 of the blind hole 29 by inserting appropriate socket wrenches (approximately in the direction of the arrow 30).

Claims (9)

  1. Trussrod (1) for string instruments (3), especially base guitars, which consist of two mutually parallelly extending elongate rod members (2, 3), which lie generally one against the other and are firmly connected, for example rivetted, together at their one ends, while their other, free ends (5, 9) comprise means for the effective shortening of the length of the one, shorter first rod member (2) relative to the effective length of the other, longer second rod member (3), wherein the trussrod (1) is so insertable into an elongate blind bore (29) in the instrument neck (17) from the upper free end of the neck that the means (8) for the shortening of the effective length of the first rod member (2) are accessible from the open end of the blind bore (29), and the rod members are disposed one above the other in a plane perpendicular to the finger board, characterised thereby that additional means for shortening of the effective length of the second rod member (3) relative to the effective length of the first rod member (2) are provided at the free end of the second rod member (3) and similarly accessible from the open end (28) of the blind bore (29).
  2. Trussrod according to claim 1, wherein the shortening of the first rod member is effected by means of a screw or nut, characterised thereby that a screw or nut is similarly provided as additional means for the shortening of the effective length of the second rod member and is accessible from the open end of the blind bore.
  3. Trussrod according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first rod member (2) carries an external thread (10) and wherein further a cap screw (8), which fits on the external thread and forms or has an abutment for the end face (15) of the free end of the second, longer rod member (3), is provided, characterised thereby that the end (9) of the second rod member (3) has an internal thread (10) and that a setscrew (12), which fits by its thread (11) in the internal thread and which has an abutment, preferably in the form of its screw head (18, 19), constructed or intended for bearing on the end of the first, shorter rod member (2) or on the cap screw (8) screwed thereon, is provided.
  4. Trussrod according to claim 3, characterised thereby that the threads of the internal thread of the end (9) of the second rod member (3) have the reversed rotational sense relative to the threads (6) of the external thread of the first rod member (2).
  5. Trussrod according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised thereby that the inclination of the threads of the internal thread (10) of the end (9) of the second rod member (3) is different from the inclination of the threads (3) of the external thread of the first rod member (2).
  6. Trussrod according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised thereby that the free ends (5, 9) of the rod members (2, 3) are each in cross-section approximately half an annular cylinder, the outer circumference of which carries the external thread (6) or fits in the capscrew (8) and the inner circumference of which carries the internal thread (10) or fits over the shank (23) of the setscrew (12).
  7. Trussrod according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised thereby that the head (18) of the setscrew (12) is provided with inner edge openings for the insertion of a socket wrench.
  8. Trussrod according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised thereby that the base (22) of the capscrew (8) is provided with inner edge openings for the insertion of a socket wrench.
  9. Trussrod according to claim 7 or 8, characterised thereby that an internal hexagon is provided as inner edge opening.
EP87119070A 1986-12-30 1987-12-22 Trussrod for string instruments Expired - Lifetime EP0273372B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87119070T ATE88592T1 (en) 1986-12-30 1987-12-22 TRUSROD FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3644694 1986-12-30
DE19863644694 DE3644694A1 (en) 1986-12-30 1986-12-30 ROD FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0273372A2 EP0273372A2 (en) 1988-07-06
EP0273372A3 EP0273372A3 (en) 1989-08-16
EP0273372B1 true EP0273372B1 (en) 1993-04-21

Family

ID=6317364

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87119070A Expired - Lifetime EP0273372B1 (en) 1986-12-30 1987-12-22 Trussrod for string instruments

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Country Link
US (1) US4852449A (en)
EP (1) EP0273372B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE88592T1 (en)
DE (2) DE3644694A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2041260T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4123319A1 (en) * 1991-07-13 1993-01-21 Warwick Bass Guitars Inh Hans ROD FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS
US6259008B1 (en) * 1999-01-27 2001-07-10 Steven W. Eddinger Double-action truss rod for stringed instruments
DE50010644D1 (en) * 2000-11-01 2005-08-04 Hans-Peter Wilfer Neck for a stringed instrument
US7507887B1 (en) * 2007-06-08 2009-03-24 Blanchard Mark W Precision double acting truss for stringed musical instruments

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7824673U1 (en) * 1978-08-18 1979-03-01 Kollitz Brdr Musikinstr Ohg CLAMPING DEVICE FOR PLUCKING INSTRUMENTS

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2460943A (en) * 1947-10-30 1949-02-08 William W Nelson Neck straightening device for musical instruments
US3416399A (en) * 1966-07-28 1968-12-17 Giovanni E. Baldoni Reinforced guitar neck
US4203342A (en) * 1978-09-25 1980-05-20 Montgomery John R Device for affecting deflection control of an elongated musical instrument shaft
US4308780A (en) * 1980-04-17 1982-01-05 Les Guitares Norman Inc. Warp restoring device for the neck of a stringed musical instrument
US4508003A (en) * 1982-09-30 1985-04-02 Smakula Peter H Truss rod apparatus
US4557174A (en) * 1983-05-06 1985-12-10 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Guitar neck incorporating double-action truss rod apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7824673U1 (en) * 1978-08-18 1979-03-01 Kollitz Brdr Musikinstr Ohg CLAMPING DEVICE FOR PLUCKING INSTRUMENTS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3644694A1 (en) 1988-07-14
EP0273372A2 (en) 1988-07-06
DE3644694C2 (en) 1990-11-29
ES2041260T3 (en) 1993-11-16
US4852449A (en) 1989-08-01
DE3785564D1 (en) 1993-05-27
EP0273372A3 (en) 1989-08-16
ATE88592T1 (en) 1993-05-15

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