GB2072916A

GB2072916A - Stringed keyboard instruments

Info

Publication number: GB2072916A
Application number: GB8108421A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-03-29
Filing date: 1981-03-18
Publication date: 1981-10-07
Also published as: DE3012264C2; GB2072916B; DD160461A5; IT8119015A0; JPS57115594A; IT1169005B; DE3012264A1

Abstract

A stringed keyboard instrument has a plurality of strings 10 which are struck by respective tangents 15 mounted on respective playing keys 14. Each string has a muted portion 13 at one end and a stop in the form of a cross piece is provided on the side of each string opposite the tangent. In order to prevent the unwanted sound of the tangent striking the associated stop, the point at which the tangent strikes the string is offset from the stop forwards the muted portion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stringed keyboard instruments The invention relates to a stringed instrument with keyboard, such as a clavichord.

Such a stringed instrument is known from West German Patent Specification No. 1 273 964, in which a tangent of a playing key for each string lies opposite a fixed anvil, so that on pressing the key, the string becomes clamped between the tangent and anvil. Thus on pressing the key, the tangent strikes the anvil together with -the string, and produces a knocking sound through the strings and string frame, and this is electrically amplified by a sound pickup. In spite of the use of tangents constructed of plastics material which have a relatively soft engagement with the anvil, this noise cannot be completely eliminated, and is thus disturbing.

It is known from West German Patent Specification No. 1 273 964 to offset the tangent across the anvil surface from its ridge towards the muted string portion, but the string is still clamped between the tangent and anvil on pressing the key, and this offsetting serves only to vary the pitch in the manner of a vibrator, so that the string, instead of being clamped against the ridge of the anvil, is clamped in between the tangent and region of the anvil adjacent the ridge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stringed instrument with a keyboard in which noises due to the striking of the tangent and string against a fixed opposing stop or anvil are prevented.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stringed instrument with keyboard, wherein, for each string, there is provided a playing key which carries a tangent which strikes the associated string and which cooperates with a fixed opposing stop, the string including a mute on an end portion, the impact point of the tangent on the string being offset towards the muted string portion from the associated opposing stop, the stop being in the form of a cross-piece, such that there is a free string portion between the opposing stop and the tangent.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a stringed keyboard instrument comprising a plurality of strings, each string being muted at an end portion thereof, a playing key for each string which strikes the associated string, and a stop for each string arranged on the opposite side of the string to the associated playing key, the point at which the playing key strikes the associated string being between the stop and the muted portion.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figure which is a schematic view of a part of a stringed keyboard instrument.

A string 10 of the instrument, which may be of the clavichord type, is restrained at points 11 and 12, and is muted in an end portion by means of a mute 1 3, for example wool fibres or pieces of felt interwoven over the string 10. A key 14 with a tangent 1 5 is disposed above the string 10, and a fixed stop 16, in the form of a key felt piece, is associated with the key 14 in order to limit the stroke of the key 14. The impact of the key 14 on the stop 16 is the only mechanical noise which is generated in this stringed instrument, but it is not amplified and is no greater than in the case of grand or upright pianos.

A fixed cross-piece 27 is disposed below the string 10 in a position which is offset relatively to the tangent 15, and the pitch is determined by its upper ridge. The vibrations of the string 10 are sensed by a sound pickup 17', and the electrical vibrations are fed through a controller 1 8 and amplifier 1 9 to a loudspeaker 20.

On pressing the key 14, the tangent 1 5 engages the string 10 in the region of the muted string portion at a distance from the cross-piece 17, so that a free string portion exists between the tangent 1 5 and cross-piece 1 7 which is sufficiently resilient for no disturbing impact noises to arise. The distance between the tangent 1 5 and cross-piece 27 and, thus, the free string portion therebetween, may, for example, be a few millimetres.

In this manner, the tangent impact travels against the string and on to the opposing stop, the small string portion between the striking position and the opposing stop being sufficiently resilient for no disturbing impact to be generated on the sound pickup. In addition, in this manner, an improved vibration efficiency is attained, whereby the stringed instrument in response to correspondingly greater or lesser fierce operations of the key, produces corresponding volumes.

The string is in no way clamped between two parts which are brought into engagement, but instead is struck by the tangent at a distance from the fixed opposing stop. Consequently, an anvil with an associated stop surface is not provided, and instead the opposing stop is in the form of a cross-piece.

1. A stringed instrument with keyboard, wherein, for each string, there is provided a playing key which carries a tangent which strikes the associated string and which co-operates with a fixed opposing stop, the string including a mute on an end portion, the impact point of the tangent on the string being offset towards the muted string portion from the associated opposing stop, the stop being in the form of a cross-piece, such that there is a free string portion between the opposing stop and the tangent.

2. A stringed keyboard instrument comprising a plurality of strings, each string being muted at an end portion thereof, a playing key for each string which strikes the associated string, and a stop for each string arranged on the opposite side of the

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Stringed keyboard instruments The invention relates to a stringed instrument with keyboard, such as a clavichord. Such a stringed instrument is known from West German Patent Specification No. 1 273 964, in which a tangent of a playing key for each string lies opposite a fixed anvil, so that on pressing the key, the string becomes clamped between the tangent and anvil. Thus on pressing the key, the tangent strikes the anvil together with -the string, and produces a knocking sound through the strings and string frame, and this is electrically amplified by a sound pickup. In spite of the use of tangents constructed of plastics material which have a relatively soft engagement with the anvil, this noise cannot be completely eliminated, and is thus disturbing. It is known from West German Patent Specification No. 1 273 964 to offset the tangent across the anvil surface from its ridge towards the muted string portion, but the string is still clamped between the tangent and anvil on pressing the key, and this offsetting serves only to vary the pitch in the manner of a vibrator, so that the string, instead of being clamped against the ridge of the anvil, is clamped in between the tangent and region of the anvil adjacent the ridge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stringed instrument with a keyboard in which noises due to the striking of the tangent and string against a fixed opposing stop or anvil are prevented. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stringed instrument with keyboard, wherein, for each string, there is provided a playing key which carries a tangent which strikes the associated string and which cooperates with a fixed opposing stop, the string including a mute on an end portion, the impact point of the tangent on the string being offset towards the muted string portion from the associated opposing stop, the stop being in the form of a cross-piece, such that there is a free string portion between the opposing stop and the tangent. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a stringed keyboard instrument comprising a plurality of strings, each string being muted at an end portion thereof, a playing key for each string which strikes the associated string, and a stop for each string arranged on the opposite side of the string to the associated playing key, the point at which the playing key strikes the associated string being between the stop and the muted portion. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figure which is a schematic view of a part of a stringed keyboard instrument. A string 10 of the instrument, which may be of the clavichord type, is restrained at points 11 and 12, and is muted in an end portion by means of a mute 1 3, for example wool fibres or pieces of felt interwoven over the string 10. A key 14 with a tangent 1 5 is disposed above the string 10, and a fixed stop 16, in the form of a key felt piece, is associated with the key 14 in order to limit the stroke of the key 14. The impact of the key 14 on the stop 16 is the only mechanical noise which is generated in this stringed instrument, but it is not amplified and is no greater than in the case of grand or upright pianos. A fixed cross-piece 27 is disposed below the string 10 in a position which is offset relatively to the tangent 15, and the pitch is determined by its upper ridge. The vibrations of the string 10 are sensed by a sound pickup 17', and the electrical vibrations are fed through a controller 1 8 and amplifier 1 9 to a loudspeaker 20. On pressing the key 14, the tangent 1 5 engages the string 10 in the region of the muted string portion at a distance from the cross-piece 17, so that a free string portion exists between the tangent 1 5 and cross-piece 1 7 which is sufficiently resilient for no disturbing impact noises to arise. The distance between the tangent 1 5 and cross-piece 27 and, thus, the free string portion therebetween, may, for example, be a few millimetres. In this manner, the tangent impact travels against the string and on to the opposing stop, the small string portion between the striking position and the opposing stop being sufficiently resilient for no disturbing impact to be generated on the sound pickup. In addition, in this manner, an improved vibration efficiency is attained, whereby the stringed instrument in response to correspondingly greater or lesser fierce operations of the key, produces corresponding volumes. The string is in no way clamped between two parts which are brought into engagement, but instead is struck by the tangent at a distance from the fixed opposing stop. Consequently, an anvil with an associated stop surface is not provided, and instead the opposing stop is in the form of a cross-piece. CLAIMS

2. A stringed keyboard instrument comprising a plurality of strings, each string being muted at an end portion thereof, a playing key for each string which strikes the associated string, and a stop for each string arranged on the opposite side of the string to the associated playing key, the point at which the playing key strikes the associated string being between the stop and the muted portion.

3. A stringed instrument with a keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.