GB2119148A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

A Guitar or like musical instrument, moulded in one piece from polymeric material, has a head region H1 to which playing strings are attached by turnable tuning pegs H10 so as to extend over and be spaced from, a neck region N1, by Nut H8. The strings pass along the neck with its frets as shown N2/4, over a playing surface PS6 at least part of which is occupied by a snap-on magnetic pickup housing FH9, over Bridge B6 and into attachment holes B8 in body portion B2. A pivoting ring R1 is situated at the centre of balance, to accept a detachable strap secured by a spring hook. The frets themselves may be partly or wholly replaced by electrical contacts, connected by electrical wiring W1, as is pickup FH9, to electronic equipment and controls which may be in a detachable module FH3, or extra tailpiece EB1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Integrally moulded musical instrument The present invention relates to an integral moulding for a stringed electric musical instrument, enabling the neck and body of said instrument to be moulded in one piece, particularly enabling integrally moulded conformations and/or apertures to either project to form the Bridge, Nut and frets, or be adapted to receive ancillary Bridge, Nut, frets, tuning pegs, string eyelets, pick-ups, electrical connection means and other suitable fittings such as "snap-on" moulded electronic units, also particularly enabling the incorporation of a dual electronic sound function.

Previously, the manufacture of a common electric musical instrument, such as a Guitar, was achieved using machines to cut out the required shapes individually from wood, in at least two main parts, consisting of the neck and the body, which would then be fixed together followed by extensive fitting by hand of individual Bridge, Nut, frets, tuning pegs, pick-ups and electronic equipment. However, such methods have the disadvantage that they employ skilled labour in time consuming operations therefore making the product expensive, also there are inevitable inaccuracies and variations in each individual assembly therefore resulting in a high chance of faulty instruments and/or undesirably lowtoler- ance to errors.Other disadvantages are that the common instrument is difficult to service or repair therefore making it expensive and also it is only capable of producing one sound at any given time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing an electric musical instrument, avoiding in main the complexity and inaccuracy of manufacture and maintenance in the prior art and which is both unique in its simple form and in its additional electronic sound capability.

According to the present invention there is provided a definition of the broad scope of said invention, where, in one aspect the invention consists in an elongate integral moulding of synthetic polymeric material for use in a stringed musical instrument and exhibiting a playing face extending over a major part of its length, comprising: a) a head region apertured to receive turnable tuning pegs for the playing strings.

b) a neck region having at its head end an integrally moulded conformation either projecting to form a nut, or adapted to receive a removable nut.

c) a body region possessing (i) towards its neck end, a further moulded conformation either projecting to form a Bridge or adapted to receive a removable Bridge (ii) between this further moulded conformation and the neck, a recess for holding a magnetic pick-up beneath the path of the strings (iii) on the other side of this further moulded conformation, either a plurality of through holes for holding the ends of the playing strings, or, a further moulded conformation adapted to receive a removable tail piece, also for holding the ends of the playing strings. (iv) beyond the through holes, a second recess for electrical connection means communicating by means of either surface grooves, for holding electrical wiring, or said wiring being fixed to the surface, with the first recess.

Conveniently, the Nut and/or Bridge will be moulded in situ. Preferably, moreover, the neck region possesses either transverse integral moulded frets or conformations to hold removable metal frets in the correct locations.

The frets may be partially or wholly replaced each by a row of separate electrical contacts, the successive rows being spaced as frets. Thus, any given note, made by a playing string contacting such a fret, corresponds to a unique signal, which can be fed via electrical wiring, held in a surface groove, communicating directly to electronic equipment such as a synthesizer, thus enabling production of timbre and/or tone independent to that produced by the playing strings. Also preferably, there would be provided for each of the two signals, both an independant control means for volume and/or tone and switch means for selection of either signal or both simultaneously.Preferably the synthesizer, control and switch means, would be conveniently mounted in a third recess also situated beyond the through holes in the body region and between the other two recesses, with electrical wiring communicating by means of surface grooves with the first two recesses.

In a preferred configuration, the body is provided with pairs of grooves, in side walls thereof, each pair having one groove to one or other side of the first or the third recess, located to secure the end portions of a resilient flexible housing for the pick-up or synthesizer/control means respectively.

In another preferred configuration the body is provided with a small recess situated on the centre of balance at the back, being the opposite side to the playing face of said instrument, to receive a securing means for a pivoting ring, which when in position would be used for attaching a hook with a spring return closure means, fitted to an independant belt or band, which would then be worn around the waist of the player to support said instrument.

While the moulded article described above is a separate vendible article, the invention also extends, in another aspect, to a stringed musical instrument having the moulded article together with a plurality of playing strings, a magnetic pick-up, synthesizer/ control means and electrical connection means.

In further applications to the present invention: 1) the integral moulding may use any suitable mouldable material.

2) the said integral moulding may be applied to any appropriate electronic stringed musical instrument which may for example be a Bass guitar or Mandolin.

3) the said integral moulding may incorporate a strengthening tension rod, allowing flexibility of design and materials.

4) All moulded conformations and/or apertures, may be in any desirable position.

5) the integral moulding may take any design form.

6) may have inbuilt signal transmitters and power supplies to replace the need for external connec tions.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the preferred example of an integrally moulded six stringed electric musical instrument, complete, incorporating all preferred features in position, from a three-dimentional point of view using an approximate scale of 1:5.

Figure li illustrates the support belt from which said instrument can be hung.

Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the head region, (H1),from Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the neck region, (N1), from Figure 1.

Figure 3i illustrates a detail of the switch contact frets, (N4), from Figure 3.

Figure 4 illustrates a detail of the body region, (B2),from Figure 1.

Figure 4i illustrates the resilient flexible housing for the pickup, (FH9), from Figure 4.

Figure 5illustrates a further detail of the body region, (EB1),from Figure 1.

Figure 5i illustrates a second resilient flexible housing for the synthesizer and control means, (FH3), from Figure 5.

Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram to show the electronic layout for said instrument.

In Figure 1, the integral moulding forming the head region H1 starts from a rectangular point H2 widening over the playing face plane towards the neck, in which six tuning pegs H10 are positioned in the corresponding number of apertures H1 2 and the ends of six playing strings are positioned in said tuning pegs H14 having first been guided over the Nut H8 which defines the start of the neck region N1, continuing to widen along the same plane, along which six transverse switch fret systems are positioned N4allowing a player a full rangeofthrity-six corresponding notes to the playing strings.Beyond these switch frets, the remaining eighteen frets are projected as part of the integral mould N2 beyond the last fret is the body region EB1, B2, which still continues to widen along the same plane until a rectangular end is reached EB2, in which the six playing strings are shown to be coming through six holes B8 in which the ends are held in position on the opposite side, then over an integrally moulded projecting Bridge B6, 'snap-on' pick-up housing FH9, then continuing over the frets on the neck region PS6. Beyond the holes the 'snap-on' control module can be seen in position FH3 with the communicating electrical wiring W1 to the connector means EB5 and other electronics also on view. The instruments supporting ring is positioned centrally for balance Ri.

Figure 1 i shows the waist belt WB1 incorporating a spring return closure hook WB2 which when attached to the said instruments supporting ring is the support means while playing said instrument.

In Figure 2, the head portion is integrally moulded, to form a rectangular section H1 commencing from an end point H2 widening equally across the playing face and opposite under side H3 until the neck region is reached H4 where said underside gradually curves upwards H5 to form a rounded underside to the neck region H6 the two regions H7 being divided by an integrally moulded transverse Nut on the face H8 incorporating six recesses to guide six playing strings H9 over the Nut and into six tuning pegs H10 positioned by screw means H11 into six independant apertures H12 grooved extensively on the face side H13to make the threading ofthe playing strings easier H14 and to prevent said strings slipping from the Nut recesses by means of a tension created by such an acute angle from the Nut to the pegs.

In Figure 3 the neck region consists of an extended playing face N1 integrally moulded with transverse projecting frets over a major part of its length N2 and towards the head end with transverse recesses N3 to hold removable electrical switch frets N4 each having attached to the underside electrical wiring communicating along said recesses N5, to a surface groove N6 running along the side of the curved underside N7 of said neck region.

In Figure 3i a typical single row of the electrical switch frets are made up of a row of separate electrical contacts F1 spaced by insuiating means F2, the whole performing as one transverse fret F3 conducting each corresponding unique signal, made by a playing string contacting such a fret, through electrical wiring means F4.

Continuing in Figure 4, the integrally moulded neck region said underside, gradually curves back outwards from the last fret B1 to form the rectangular body shape B2 before the recess for fitting the magnetic pick-up is reached B3. A surface groove communicates along the top surface, (being the upper adjacent side to the playing face), from the said recess to a second body region holding the electrical wiring B4, and both above and below the said recess is situated a surface groove B5i, B5ii, aligned to secure the end portions of the resilient flexible housing for the pick-up, Figure 4i, beyond the recess is an integrally moulded projecting transverse Bridge B6 incorporating six recesses to guide the playing strings B7, from the six apertures throgh the body 8, eyelets being fitted either side of such apertures B9 to spread strain on the body from the playing strings B10.The aperture being considerably large to a small depth on the back side of said apertures B11,to accommodate the string securing ends. Also a continuation from the neck, of the undersides surface groove, for holding electrical wiring from the switch frets continues across this area B12.

In Figure 4i the magnetic pick-up is fixed in position FH8 on the inside of a resilient flexible housing FH9, slightly wider than the body recess to coverthe said recess edges, and has projecting end portions FH10 on opposing sides of the said housing, that flexibly 'snap-on' into the aligning body grooves on the instrument.

In Figure 5, an integrally moulded end body portion, has a rectangular shape EB1 projecting on the upper adjacent side to the playing face to form a point EB2 beyond that of the opposite underside EB3 forming the rectangular end shape, in which a rounded recess EB4 will hold electrical connector means EB5 positioned by screw means EB6. From the said recess a through hole large enough for accepting the con necting electrical wire EB7 to the top side of said instrument, from which a surface groove EB8 connects the wire to a second recess running transversely EB9 over the playing face for holding the control means Figure 5i.The surface groove continues from the opposite side of the second recess, to hold the electrical wiring, coming into the control means from the magnetic pick-up EB10, a further surface groove is continued from the neck region, along the underside of the instruments body, holding the electrical wiring communicating from the switch frets to the control means EB1 1. The second said recess has a surface groove, both above and below it respectively, to locate the end portions of a resilient flexible housing for the control means EB12, EB12ii.

In Figure 5i the controlling electronics are fixed inside a resilient flexible housing FH3 wide enough to overlap the said second recess edges, so that only the controls are visible. The slide volume control knobs for each respective sound signal FH1, FH2, project on the upper surface being the top side of said housing, (Also three individual switches project on the front of said housing) being on the same plane as the said instruments playing face, one being a three way selector for the two independent sound signals, or a combination of both FH4, another, situated below the first, being a four way selector of differing synthesized voices i) flute ii) violin iii) organ iv) piano FH5 and the other, situated below the first two, being a three way selector, to shift the pitch of said synthesized voices by three octaves FH6.The compact resilient flexible housing is then secured to the instrument by means of the projecting moulded conformations FH7 aligning with the surface grooves situated either side of the instruments said second recess.

In Figure 6, the electronic layout for the said instrument is shown in block diagram form. The sounds are derived from either, a standard magnetic pick-up P1 to give a conventional Guitar sound from the playing strings, or from a synthesizer circuit S1, SH1, to produce a unique signal, activated by a switch matrix/network SM1 where only one of six rows of frets are shown SM2 in a row of separate electrical contacts SM3 spaced to form the whole fret, each such separate contact acting as a swithch that closes when a playing string makes contact with it SM4, this signal is then transmitted through electrical wiring El to the synthesizer circuit Sla where the sound that is created has a selection of four different voices preferably violin, organ, flute and piano operated by a four position switch S1 b, the sound then passes through a pitch control circuit S1c then via a three position switch S1 d which will shift the pitch through a range of three octaves.

These two independant sound signals, plus a combination of both S1 e are selected by a three position switch Self, both sounds having independantlyvari- able volume controls for the magnetic pick-up circuit Slg and for the synthesizer circuit 51 h respectively.

The signal output from the sound selector switch S1 feeds to the internal connector E2 which can then drive an external amplifier and power supply, via an externally screened connecting cable which also serves to power the internal electronics.

Claims (10)

1. An elongate integral moulding of synthetic polymeric material for use in a stringed musical instrument, and exhibiting a playing face extending over a major part of its length, comprising: a) a head region apertured to receive turnable tuning pegs for the playing strings b) a neck region having at its head end an integrally moulded coformation either projecting to form a Nut, or adapted to receive a removable Nut c) a body region possessing (i) towards its neck end, a further moulded conformation either projecting to form a Bridge or adapted to receive a removable Bridge (ii) between this further moulded conformation and the neck, a recess for holding a magnetic pick-up beneath the path of the strings. (iii) on the other side of this further moulded conformation, a plurality of through holes for holding the ends of the playing strings or a further moulded conformation adapted to receive a removable tail piece, also for holding the ends of the playing strings, (iv) beyond the through holes, a second recess for electrical connection means communicating by means of either surface grooves, for holding electrical wiring, or said wiring being fixed to the surface, with the first recess.

2. A moulding as claimed in claim 1, in which the Nut and/or Bridge is moulded in situ.

3. A moulding as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which the neck region possesses either transverse integral moulded frets or conformations to hold removable metal frets in the correct locations.

4. A moulding as claimed in claim 3 in which the frets are partially or wholly replaced each by a row of separate electrical contacts, the successive rows being spaced as frets.

5. A moulding as claimed in claims 1,2,3, and 4, in which the body region possesses, beyond the through holes a third recess for holding a synthesizer and control means.

6. A moulding as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the body is provided with pairs of grooves in side walls thereof, each pair having one groove to one or other side of the first or third recesses located to secure the end portions of a resilient flexible housing for the pick-up or synthesizer/control means respectively.

7. A moulding as claimed in claim 1 in which the body is provided with a small recess situated on the centre of balance to receive a securing means for a pivoting ring to enable an independant waist strap to be connected by a removable hook.

8. A moulding as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

9. A mould for preparing the moulding as claimed in any one of claims 1-8,

10. Astringed musical instrument constituted by the moulding as claimed in any of claims 1-8, together with a plurality of playing strings, a magnetic pick-up, synthesizer and control means and electrical connection means.