US2031706A

US2031706A - Stringed musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US2031706A
Application number: US654714A
Authority: US
Inventors: George D Hambrecht; Paine James Weldon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-02-01
Filing date: 1933-02-01
Publication date: 1936-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1953-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1936. G, D, HAMBRECHT P -r L 2,031,706

STRINGED MUSYICAL INSTRUMENT I Filed Feb. 1, 1933 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George D. Hambrecht and James Weldon Paine, Canajoharie, N. Y.

Application February 1, 1933, Serial No. 654,714

19 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments which may be played with a bow, the fingers, with picks, or in any desired manner.

'Ihe primary object of the invention is to increase the volume and improve the tone of stringed musical instruments by means of improvements in the mode of fastening the strings to the sounding board or sounding device, and by improvements in the mounting of the bridge and the construction of the tail piece.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in which the improvements are shown as applied to a particular form of stringed instrument, although it will be understood that in its broadest aspects the invention is of general application.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stringed musical instrument provided with the improvements;

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

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The body of the stringed instrument, which may be of any known or desired construction, is designated by the reference numeral III and includes a sounding board or sounding device II. The reference numeral I2 denotes the neck portion of the instrument which may be equipped with pegs I3 for adjustment of strings I4, the mode of attachment of Which at the other end of the instrument constitutes our invention. Sound holes within the sounding board II are designated at I5.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a tail piece I6 is yieldingly connected at one end to the end of the instrument opposite the neck portion I2 as by a hinge or other flexible connection I1. An arched adjusting member or bar I8 extends across the instrument from edge to edge, but is not permanently fastened thereto, being held in position by means of the tension of the strings which. pass through openings in the bridge and are secured to the tail piece I6. It will be noted that the end of `the tail piece to which the strings are attached rests upon the member I8 so that by adjustment thereof the tension of the strings may be varied.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a bridge I9, located adjacent the adjusting member I8 and on the side opposite the tail piece, for conducting the vibrations from the strings to the sounding board or sounding device of the instrument. As shown, the bridge is suitably secured to the sounding board and provided with openings 20-20 through which the strings I4 pass before reaching the tail piece. These openings are lower than the point of attachment of the strings to the tail piece so that the end portions of the strings will be inclined upwardly as indicated at 2 I. The tension of the strings and the angle of inclination of the end portions 2| may be initially adjusted by adjusting the member I8 and thus changing the inclination of the hinged tail piece I6.

Preferably bars 22 extending transversely of the instrument IIl, together with bars 23 extending lengthwise thereof, are placed under the top or sounding board I I and secured thereto in any suitable manner. Their function is (l) to strengthen the sounding board and (2) to aid in conducting the vibrations to the sound hole or holes I5.

It will be noted that, owing to the arrangement above described, tensioning of the strings will cause the sounding board to be pulled upwardly with respect to the bottom of the instrument. The adjusting member or bar I8 is so constructed that there is room for the sounding board to expand upwardly beneath the arch thereof'. 'I'he adjustability of the bar with reference to the v tail piece creates a lever action on top of the sounding board increasing the upward pull.

'I'he entire top or sounding board is under 25 upward tension because it is securely fastened at the edges and the strings are attached in the center by the bridge through which the strings pass to the adjusting bar I 8 and tail piece. This bar not being fastened to the center of the top or sounding board, as are the bridges in other types, permits the entire top or sounding board to be pulled upward, which straightens out the fibers as before mentioned.

It is to be understood that the principles of the invention apply to all similar instruments, the guitar having been shown for illustration purposes only.

'Ihe invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be un- 40 derstood that modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A stringed musical instrument including a sounding board, strings extending substantially parallel with the sounding board, means whereby an upward pull is exerted upon the sounding board when the strings are subjected to tension, and slidable means for varying the upward pull.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, a tailpiece iiexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument, and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and means for varying the angle of inclination of the tailpiece, said means including an adjustment bar slidable relative to the sounding board beneath the tailpiece.

3. In a stringed musical instrument, an inclined tailpiece ilexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument, and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and means comprising an adjustable bar slidable beneath the tailpiece for varying the angle of inclination of the tailpiece.

4. A stringed musical'instrument, including a sounding board, strings extending substantially parallel with the sounding board, means attached to the sounding board for conducting vibrations from the strings to the sounding board and means, including a slidable bar, for exerting an upward pull upon the rst-named means when the strings are under tension.

5. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, means mounted on the sounding board for conducting the vibrations of the strings to the sounding board, an adjustable bar slidably mounted adjacent said means and a tailpiece onv the opposite side of the bar from said means, said tailpiece being hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument while the other end rests upon the bar, the strings of the instrument being attached to the latter end of the tailpiece at a level above the level of said sound conducting means, and means for tensioning the strings of the instrument.

6. In a stringed musical instrument of the` character described, a tailpiece hinged at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and adjusting means for said tailpiece comprising a barv slidable beneath the tailpiece.

7. A musical instrument having a sounding vboard and strings extending substantially parallel with the sounding board, and means, including a slidable bar, for exerting an upward pull on the sounding board when the strings are subjected to tension.

8. In a guitar, a bridge having strings attached thereto, and means, including a slidable bar, for exerting an upward pull on said bridge when the strings are subjected to tension.

9. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to the sounding board,

strings passing through the bridge, a tailpiece flexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and means for varying the inclination of the tailpiece, said means comprising a slidable bar beneath the tailpiece.

10. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece flexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and connected at its other end to the strings of the instrument, and means for holding the string engaging end of the tailpiece at a level above the bridge.

11. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece exibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and connected at its other end to the strings of the instrument, means for holding the string engaging end of the tailpiece at a level above the bridge, and means for tensioning said strings.

12. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece flexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument at a level above the bridge, and means for vary" ing the inclination of said tailpiece.

13. A stringed musical instrument, including a sounding board and strings adapted to be suspended under tension in spaced relation to said sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board having means for attachment of said strings, and a tailpiece secured to the body of the instrument at one end and inclined at an angle above said sounding board, a b-ar slidable beneath said tailpiece and supporting the upper end of the tailpiece at a level higher than the bridge, said strings being attached to the tailpiece at said higher level, whereby when the strings are under tension an upward pull is exerted upon the sounding board.

14. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, and an inclined tailpiece flexibly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and means for retaining the end of the tailpiece to which the strings are attached at a level higher than their point of contact with the bridge.

15. In a guitar, an adjustable tailpiece hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument, and having its 4other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and an adjusting bar slidably mounted beneath the tailpiece.

16. In a guitar, a sounding board, a bridge secured to the sounding board, strings passing through the bridge, a tailpiece hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument, and means for varying the inclination of the tailpiece, said means comprising a slidab-le bar beneath the tailpiece.

17. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and connected at its other end to the strings of the instrument', and means for holding the string engaging end of the tailpiece at a level above the bridge.

18. In a stringed musical instrument, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and connected at its other end to the strings of the instrument, means for holding the string engaging end of the tailpiece at a level above the bridge, and means for tensioning said strings.

19. In a guitar, a sounding board, a bridge secured to said sounding board, strings passing through said bridge, an inclined tailpiece hingedly connected at one end to the body of the instrument and having its other end connected to the strings of the instrument at a level above the bridge, and means for varying the inclination of said tailpiece.

GEORGE D. HAMBRECHT. J. WELDON PAINE.