GB1604540A - Method for altering tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument - Google Patents

Description

(54) METHOD FOR ALTERING TONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRINGED INSTRUMENT (71) I, LA VERNE JOHN TWIFORD, of 4640 E. Lewis, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, United States of America, citizen of the United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a method for altering tonal qualities of a stringed musical instrument.

Typical stringed musical instruments have a bridge member which extends across and is supported by the "table" of the instrument.

Throughout this specification, in describing a stringed instrument, reference is made to forward and rear ends or edges. By forward end/edge is meant that end/edge of the hollow tone producing structure at which the neck and fingerboard are attached and by rear end/edge is meant that end/edge of the hollow structure remote from the neck and fingerboard at which the tailpiece is attached.

The table of a stringed instrument typically comprises a thin sheet of wood, moulded to form the proper curvature for the particular instrument, with the grain of the wood extending longitudinally from the rear toward the forward end of the instrument where the neck and fingerboard are attached.

The bridge maintains the strings of the instrument spaced above the fingerboard and the table and assists in maintaining the proper transverse spacing of the substantially parallel strings.

Prior art bridges for stringed instruments typically comprise an intermediate arch or support portion with integrally formed feet which rest upon the table of the instrument and the feet of the prior art bridges extend transversely of the grain of the wood forming the table.

The techniques involved in the manufacture of stringed instruments have reached a very high degree of refinement, and in fact, constitute a sophisticated art. The desired tonal qualities of the various stringed instruments have become more or less standardized and the degree to which these tonal standards are achieved by a particular stringed instrument profoundly affects the price at which the instrument is sold to the performer.

It would be highly desirable, however, to provide means and methods for altering the tonal qualities of a particular stringed instrument. Such alteration could enable one to rapidly and very inexpensively upgrade the tonal qualities of a less expensive instrument to more closely achieve the tonal qualities of a much more expensive instrument. Alternatively, specific tonal qualities of even a very expensive instrument could be altered to suit the performer's desires.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for altering the tonal characteristics of a stronged instrument of the violin family in comparison with the tonal qualities of the same instrument provided with a prior art bridge.

The musical instruments upon which the bridge may be employed are any of the members of the violin family, for example viola, violincello, and base viol.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for altering the tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument of the violin family having an elongate hollow tone-producing structure having a curved upper table surface of wood, the grain of which extends longitudinally of the elongate structure and internal tone-affecting components; an elongate neck extending forwardly of the tone-producing structure and including a fingerboard portion; a plurality of transversely spaced tunable strings under tension, the forward ends of which are attached to the outer end of said neck and at other ends are attached to the rear portion of said tone-producing structure, and an upstanding bridge member mounted transversely on the table between the forward and rear edges thereof, to maintain said tunable strings spaced above said fingerboard and said table, said bridge having feet which contact said upper table surface and which extend transversely across said table and perpendicular to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed said method comprising the steps of: removing said bridge member having said transversely extending feet; and increasing the sonority. projection and bombastic tonal qualities of said instrument without modification of said toneproducing structure, by fitting said instrument with a bridge which has a pair of symmetrical elongate feet formed integrally therewith, forming the contact between the bridge and the table of said instrument, said feet having bottom surfaces extending at right angles to said bridge in directions substantially parallel to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed and shaped, contoured and dimensioned to continuously contact said curved table along lines which are longer than the width of said feet, said tone-producing structure and said internal components being maintained in their original structural condition.

With reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general arrangement of the parts of a conventional stringed instrument, in this case, for purposes of illustration, a violin; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion of the stringed instrument of Fig. 1, showing a bridge for use in the method according to the present invention on such a stringed instrument.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, a con invention} violin having a table portion 10 and a back (not shown) 11, joined at their respective peripheries by "ribs" 12 to form an elongate hollow tone-producing structure.

The table 10 is formed of wood, the grain of which extends longitudinally in the direction of arrows A from the rear edge 13 to the forward edge 14 of the tone-producing structure. An elongate neck 15 extends forwardly from the forward edge 14 of the toneproducing structure and carries a fingerboard portion 16 along the top surface thereof.

Four transversely spaced strings 17 are attached at their forward end to pegs 18 rotatable in the scroll 19. The rear ends of the strings 17 are attached to a tailpiece 20. A chin rest 21 is provided so that the instrument can be held between the performers chin and shoulder. A bridge 22 rests upon the table 10 and spaces the strings 17 vertically from the fingerboard 16 and the table 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the feet 22a of the bridge 22 extend parellel to the bridge 22, i.e., across the grain of the table 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, a bridge 30 for use in the present invention generally comprising a transverse bridge or arch portion 31 and elongate feet 32 which extend at right angles to the arch portion 31, i.e., parellel to the direction (indicated by arrows B) of the grain of the wood from which table 33 is formed.

The length (indicated by arrows C) of the elongate feet 32 is such that they extend along the grain of the wood of the table for a distance longer than the width (indicated by arrows D) of the feet.

According to the present invention. the bridge is mounted upon a stringed instrument in substantially the same manner and in the position as prior art bridges and maintains the transverse spacing of the strings and the vertical spacing of the strings above the fingerboard and table of the instrument at distances substantially equal to those maintained by prior art bridges. However, because according to the present invention the feet of the bridge extend along, instead of across, the grain of the wood of which the table is formed, the tonal qualities of the instrument are thereby markedly altered.While certain of the tonal qualities such as richness, sweetness, balance and fullness, of the instrument are substantially improved, the bridge markedly affects those qualities which are associated with the ability of the instrument to be heard clearly in ensemble with other instruments, i.e., sonority, projection and bombastic quality. It is frequently these latter qualities which suffer most in less expensive instruments and when the method of the present invention is employed, these latter qualities are substantially improved, with lesser improvements in the richness, sweetness, balance and fullness qualities to achieve a sound similar to that of a much more expensive instrument.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A method for altering the tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument of the violin family having an elongate hollow tone-producing structure having a curved upper table surface of wood, the grain of which extends longitudinally of the elongate structure and internal tone-affecting components; an elongate neck extending forwardly of the tone-producing structure and including a fingerboard portion; a plurality of transversely spaced tunable strings under tension, the forward ends of which are attached to the outer end of said neck and at other ends are attached to the rear portion of said tone-producing structure, and an upstanding bridge member mounted transversely on the table between the forward and rear edges thereof, to maintain said tunable strings spaced above said fingerboard and said table, said bridge having feet which contact said upper table surface and which extend transversely across said table and perpendicular to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed said method comprising the steps of: removing said bridge member having said transversely extending feet, and increasing the sonority, projection and bombastic tonal qualities of said instrument without modification of said tone

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. comprising the steps of: removing said bridge member having said transversely extending feet; and increasing the sonority. projection and bombastic tonal qualities of said instrument without modification of said toneproducing structure, by fitting said instrument with a bridge which has a pair of symmetrical elongate feet formed integrally therewith, forming the contact between the bridge and the table of said instrument, said feet having bottom surfaces extending at right angles to said bridge in directions substantially parallel to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed and shaped, contoured and dimensioned to continuously contact said curved table along lines which are longer than the width of said feet, said tone-producing structure and said internal components being maintained in their original structural condition. With reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general arrangement of the parts of a conventional stringed instrument, in this case, for purposes of illustration, a violin; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion of the stringed instrument of Fig. 1, showing a bridge for use in the method according to the present invention on such a stringed instrument. In the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, a con invention} violin having a table portion 10 and a back (not shown) 11, joined at their respective peripheries by "ribs" 12 to form an elongate hollow tone-producing structure. The table 10 is formed of wood, the grain of which extends longitudinally in the direction of arrows A from the rear edge 13 to the forward edge 14 of the tone-producing structure. An elongate neck 15 extends forwardly from the forward edge 14 of the toneproducing structure and carries a fingerboard portion 16 along the top surface thereof. Four transversely spaced strings 17 are attached at their forward end to pegs 18 rotatable in the scroll 19. The rear ends of the strings 17 are attached to a tailpiece 20. A chin rest 21 is provided so that the instrument can be held between the performers chin and shoulder. A bridge 22 rests upon the table 10 and spaces the strings 17 vertically from the fingerboard 16 and the table 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the feet 22a of the bridge 22 extend parellel to the bridge 22, i.e., across the grain of the table 10. As shown in Fig. 2, a bridge 30 for use in the present invention generally comprising a transverse bridge or arch portion 31 and elongate feet 32 which extend at right angles to the arch portion 31, i.e., parellel to the direction (indicated by arrows B) of the grain of the wood from which table 33 is formed. The length (indicated by arrows C) of the elongate feet 32 is such that they extend along the grain of the wood of the table for a distance longer than the width (indicated by arrows D) of the feet. According to the present invention. the bridge is mounted upon a stringed instrument in substantially the same manner and in the position as prior art bridges and maintains the transverse spacing of the strings and the vertical spacing of the strings above the fingerboard and table of the instrument at distances substantially equal to those maintained by prior art bridges. However, because according to the present invention the feet of the bridge extend along, instead of across, the grain of the wood of which the table is formed, the tonal qualities of the instrument are thereby markedly altered.While certain of the tonal qualities such as richness, sweetness, balance and fullness, of the instrument are substantially improved, the bridge markedly affects those qualities which are associated with the ability of the instrument to be heard clearly in ensemble with other instruments, i.e., sonority, projection and bombastic quality. It is frequently these latter qualities which suffer most in less expensive instruments and when the method of the present invention is employed, these latter qualities are substantially improved, with lesser improvements in the richness, sweetness, balance and fullness qualities to achieve a sound similar to that of a much more expensive instrument. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method for altering the tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument of the violin family having an elongate hollow tone-producing structure having a curved upper table surface of wood, the grain of which extends longitudinally of the elongate structure and internal tone-affecting components; an elongate neck extending forwardly of the tone-producing structure and including a fingerboard portion; a plurality of transversely spaced tunable strings under tension, the forward ends of which are attached to the outer end of said neck and at other ends are attached to the rear portion of said tone-producing structure, and an upstanding bridge member mounted transversely on the table between the forward and rear edges thereof, to maintain said tunable strings spaced above said fingerboard and said table, said bridge having feet which contact said upper table surface and which extend transversely across said table and perpendicular to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed said method comprising the steps of: removing said bridge member having said transversely extending feet, and increasing the sonority, projection and bombastic tonal qualities of said instrument without modification of said tone

producing structure by fitting said instrument with a bridge which has a pair of symmetrical elongate feet formed integrally therewith, forming the contact between the bridge and the table of said instrument, said feet having bottom surfaces extending at right angles to said bridge in directions substantially parallel to the grain of the wood from which said table is formed and shaped, contoured and dimensioned to continuously contact said curved table along lines which are longer than the width of said feet, said tone-producing structure and said internal components being maintained in their original structural condition.

2. A method of altering the tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument of the violin family, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

3. A stringed instrument of the violin family whose tonal characertistics have been altered by the method according to claim 1 or 2.