GB2256077A - Combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for allowing a player to produce a vibrato effect comprises a bridge 3 mounted on a block together with string fixing means 2 and a tremolo arm 1, the block being mounted on the instrument body by a leaf spring. The tension in the leaf spring balances the tension in the springs 8. The bridge height may be adjusted by fixing screws 5 through the spring and the strings may be fine tuned by fingerwheels 7 cooperating with threaded tubes which form the string fixing means 2. The leaf spring may be designed to flex differently along its length so that the springs remain in tune with each other during vibrato. The short distance between the bridge and instrument body is said to reduce the losses of sustain and tone. <IMAGE>

Description

COMBINED BRIDGE/VIBRATO SYSTEM FOR GUITAR.

This invention consists of a combined bridge/vibrato system for the guitar.

In use the player may, at will, sharpen or flatten the pitch of the guitars strings, by either raising, or depressing, the attached actuating lever or arm.

In use the strings are each fed into the fine tuner mechanisms, from which they are led over the individually adjustable bridges, and then over the top nut to the headstock, where they are secured.

The bridge/fine tuner assembly has, secured to its underside, a leaf spring, suitably shaped, and then, via fixing screws, this leaf spring is fastened to the guitars top.

This uninterrupted and very short path from the bridge to the guitars top, confers considerable benefits in reducing potential losses of sustain and tone from the guitar.

When no string tension is acting upon the unit, the shape of the spring forces the rearward portion of the device hard down onto the guitar top.

As the guitar is tuned to pitch, string tension acts so as to rotate the bridge about the longitudinal flexural axis of the spring. This results in the rear of the bridge rising up and away from the guitar top.

This rotating of the unit will affect the height of the arm from the guitars top, assuming same to be in the playing position, at approximately right angles to the unit.

Provision of some means for the player to set this height to his requirement, when the guitar is tuned to pitch is important.

In this design, the fixing screws fastened through the spring are located just behind its leading edge, which is folded down, through a right angle, so as to form a small step at the extreme forward edge. It is the bottom edge of this step that bears down onto the guitar top. On installation, the screws are 'nipped' down, but not tightened excessively. When the guitar is brought to tune, any further tightening of these screws will excert a downwards force behind the contact point, or step of the spring, and this will then act, so as to rotate the bridge backwards, against the pull of the strings. Clearly, easing the screws will reverse this process.

Via this facility, the player may adjust the arm height setting.

As the spring is the lowest portion of the unit, no carving of the guitar top is necessary to fit the device.

Simply introducing a shim between the spring step, and the top, will raise the whole unit away from the top. This enables the unit to adapt to any reasonable variation in string heights. The player obtains the vibrato by alternetly raising and lowering the arm. This rocks the bridge about the longitudinal flexural axis of the spring. No mechanical bearings are required, all necessary motion arising from the spring flexibility. Hence no bearing drag exists, and the unit returns properly to pitch when the arm is released.

If so desired the spring maybe shaped, so that when in use, instead of the bridge rocking evenly, relative to the guitar top, that side of the bridge bearing the thicker strings will move rather more than the side bearing the thinner strings, i.e. the bridge will now rock about the lateral as well as the longitudinal flexural iS of the spring. This will enable the player to raise or lower the pitch, whilst retaining the relative tuning of the strings. That is to say chords may have their pitch shifted without becoming discordant.

Facility may be provided for the fine tuning of each string.

The fine tuners consist of threaded tubes, through which the strings pass and into which they are finally anchored. Means are provided to ensure the tubes can slide freely within the unit, but may not rotate. Rotation of the finger wheels, through which the tubes are threaded, will increase the string tension, and hence its pitch, should the finger wheel rotation be such as to jack the tube to the rear of the unit. Reversal of the finger wheel rotation will decrease string tension, and hence flatten the pitch.

It will be seen that the finger wheels are dispensed in two rows of three respectively. This greatly facilitates operation, due to best possible spacing, within acceptable overall unit size.

As may be seen, the operating rims of the finger wheels face upward.

Each may be adjusted, by any one finger of the players picking hand.

He has no need to relinquish his plectrum to fine tune. This is of considerable assistance to the player.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS.

   a) A combined b-ridge/vibrato system for guitar, by which an attached leaf spring constitutes the sole means of attaching the unit to the guitar.

   b) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, in which the intimate attachement of bridge to the guitar top, significantly reduces losses of sustain and tone.

   c) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, where the attachment screws also serve to adjust the arm height setting.

   d) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which requires no carving of the guitar top to install same.

   e) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which is adaptable for a wide variation in string height.

   f) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, utilising only the flexibility of a leaf spring to effect its operation.

   g) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, that requires no mechanical bearings to operate. Hence experiancing no bearing drag, and ensuring accurate return to the pitch set after use.

   h) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which will retain the correct intervals between the guitars strings, when they are flattened or sharpened, through employment of the unit.

   i) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, offering fine tuning facility, via the agency of finger wheel operation. The operating rims of the finger wheels facing upwards.

   j) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, having two seperate rows of three fine tune finger wheels respectively.

   k) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, wherein one finger operation of the fine tune facility is possible by the picking hand, and without need to relinquish the plectrum.

   1) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, substantially as herein before described.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows a) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, by which an attached leaf spring (4) constitutes the sole means of attaching the unit to the guitar.

   b) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, in which the intimate attachment of bridge to the guitar top, significantly reduces losses of sustain and tone.

   c) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, where t fixing screws (5) also serve to adjust the arm (1) height setting.

   d) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which requires no carving of the guitar top to install same.

   e) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which adaptable for a wide variation in string (8) height.

   f) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, utilising only the flexibility of a leaf spring (4) to effect its operation.

   g) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, that requires no mechanical bearings to operate. Hence experiencing no bearing drag, and ensuring accurate return to the pitch set after use.

   h) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, which Will retain the correct intervals between the gutars strings (3), when they are flattened or sharpened, through employment of the unit.

   i) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, offerin fine tuning facility, via the agency of finger wheel (7) operation.

   The operating rims of the finger wheels (7) facing upwards.

   j) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, having two seperate rows of three fine tune (2) finger wheels (7) respectively.

   k) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, wherein one finger operation of the fine tune (2) facility is possible by the picking hand, and without need to relinquish the plectrum.

   1) A combined bridge/vibrato system for guitar, substantially as herein before described.