GB2366442A - Device for preserving the magnetism of a musical instrument pick-up - Google Patents

Abstract

A ferromagnetic preserver 1 attaches to the surface of an electromagnetic musical instrument pick-up 2 by magnetic attraction when the instrument is not being played, thereby reducing the loss of strength of the magnet over time, and thereby helping to maintain the sound quality of the instrument as it ages.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Musical Instrument Pickup Preserver The invention relates to musical instruments of the type which employ one or more electo-magnetic transducers (pick-ups) utilizing permanent bar magnets.

It is well-known that permanent magnets lose their strength of magnetisation over a medium to long time-scale. In the case of permanent magnets used in musical instruments this results in a loss of quality of sound produced when the instrument is played through an amplifier. Thus, instruments over a certain number of years old show a loss in the power of the output electrical signal .

The object of this invention is to provide a method for reducing the loss in magnetisation, which can be easily attached to the pick-up(s) when the instrument is not in use, and can be detached when required quickly and easily.

Accordingly, this invention provides for a ferromagnetic preserver, of solid or articulated construction, to make contact with the pickup along its upper surface and to have sufficient cross-sectional area to provide a low reluctance to its magnetic flux. The preserver is held in place by magnetic attraction.

The prefered embodiment of of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a side view of the preserver in position on a pickup of the type used on a six-string electric guitar.

FIGURE 2 shows the end view of the preserver in position FIGURE 3 shows the view looking down onto the preserver in position on the pickup. As shown in figure 1, the preserver (1) has a curvature which is substantially that of the pickup (2) in order to maximise the area of contact. The ends of the preserver (3) are given a profile which enables it to be easily gripped by the fingers and detached from the transducer's surface when not in use. The thickness of the material is such as to allow it to fit between the upper surface of the pickup and the instrument's strings (4). The fixing method is independent of any mechanical attachment to the surface of the instrument (5).

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Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS 1. A device for use with musical instruments, intended to maintain the long-term quality of the electrical signal produced by their electromagnetic transducers (pick-ups).
2. 2. The device is easy to apply and to remove.