US1472991A - Guitar and the like - Google Patents

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Nov. 6, 1923. 1,412,991

J. I RIBYL GUITAR AND THE LIKE Filed July 26 1922 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

J'AROSLAV PIRIBYL, 0F PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

GUITAR AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAnosLAv PfcIBYL, a citizen or the Czechoslovakian Republic, residing at Prague, Czechoslovakia, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Guitars and the like, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to guitars, lutes and the like of the kind provided with two sets of strings of which one is carried underneath its finger-board so that it can be stopped by the thumb while the other set is stopped by the fingers in the usual manner. In known instruments of this kind the two string sets are carried in juxtaposition, an arrangement which prevents the thumb from reaching the lower strings with sufiicient freedom. The nuts moreover, are arranged so that the eflective length of both sets of strings is equal.

According to the present invention the two sets of strings are arranged so as to overlap at the head of the instrument whence they diverge towards two tail pieces arranged in juxtaposition on the belly. Owing to the overlapping position of the two sets of trings, the thumb will be able to reach conveniently a greater number of strings, the compass of the instrument being thereby greatly. enlarged. This effect is moreover-enhanced by arranging the nut for the lower strings so as to increase the effective length of the latter relative to the upper set by one semi-tone, an arrangement which is known per se in connection with instruments having two sets of strings carried in juxtaposition at the same side of the fingerboard.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawings represents a front view of the instrument,

Fig. 2, a side view of the same, and

Fig. 3, a rear view of the neck.

A guitar or lute is fitted with a neck It having on the top side a finger-board 1 and on the underside a finger-board 2. Two sets of strings 3 and 4 are provided, one for each 1922. Serial No. 577,688.

finger-board. The strings are carried from tail pieces 5 and 6, arranged side by side on the belly b, to the head k where they are connected to pegs s in the usual manner and where the two sets of strings overlap, the strings 3 being arranged above the fingerboard 1 and the strings l below the lingerboard 2. The strings 3 are the treble strings and are stopped by the fingers of the left hand, whereas the strings 4.- are the bass strings and are stopped by the thumb. The effective length of the bass strings is preferably reater than that of the treble strings, for w ich purpose the nut h for the former is arranged farther away from the tail piece 6 than the nut 7 for the latter from the tail piece 5.

The tail pieces 5 and 6 may be combined into one.

I claim:

1. The combination with a guitar or an instrument having a belly, of a neck having two linger-boards, one at the top and. the other at the underside, said finger-boards being arranged so that two sets of strings can be carried to an overlapping portion on the neck from tail pieces arranged in juxtaposition on the belly, one set above the up per finger-board and the other set below the 75 lower finger-board, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a guitar or an instrument having a belly, of a neck and two finger-boards, one at the top and the other at the underside, said finger-boards being arranged so that two sets of strings can be carried to an overlapping portion on the neck from tail pieces arranged in juxtaposition on the belly, one set above the upper linger-board and the other set below the lower linger-board, and nuts arranged so that the effective length of the lower set of strings is greater than that ol the upper set, substantially as and for the purpose set 9 forth v J ARQSLAV PRIBYL.

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