US3443468A - Mechanical fingering and picking device for electric bass guitar - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1969 R. A. KIDWELL MECHANICAL FINGERING AND PICKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR 4 v f O t e 9 h 5 Filed Dec. 2a, 1966 Em SQ BQ x k m QEQ 53mm 6 Raymond A. MUw/I INVENTOR.

May 13, 1969 R. A. KIDWELL MECHANICAL FINGERING AND PICKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR Sheet Filed Dec. 28, 1966 R NM Qv N\ N3 m WM m@ N .mm mm 4 G wE W3 4% 4% t3 w L aw FQ 4Q N $4 May 13, 1969 R A. KIDWELL 3,443,468

MECHANICAL FIPEGERING AND PICKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR Filed Dec. 28, 1966 Sheet 3 I02 Chard Selector P/ale Fig. 7 lea ET a2 Hg. 6

Raymond A. lfl'dwe/l IN VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,443,468 MECHANI'CAL FINGERING AND PICKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR Raymond A. Kidwell, 114 N. th St., Frederick, Okla. 73542 Filed Dec. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 605,238 Int. Cl. Gltld 3/00 US. Cl. 84315 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric bass guitar is supported atop a stand comparable in height and size to a coffee table. Foot operated mechanical fingers and picks selectively fret and pluck the guitars strings. Performer while simultaneously playing (1) harness-held harmonica and (2) hand playable companion guitar sits in front of bass guitar stand. Stand supported trippable levers are selectively operated by left foot and actuate applicable and removable fretting fingers. A heel-and-toe tiltable treadle for the right foot actuates push-pull rods having spring-biased pawls which in turn actuate ratchet wheels equipped with circumferential picks rhythmically producing slap-bass pizzicato accompaniment.

Background 0 the invention This invention relates, generally stated, to stringed musical instruments, an electric bass guitar for example, a portable stand atop which a conventional guitar is positioned and held in a horizontal upwardly facing ready-to play manner, and novel self-contained mechanized means mounted on the stand and so constructed that the usual strings can be fretted and stopped by mechanical fingering means and simultaneously but rhythmically plucked by flexibly pliant mechanically controlled picks or plectrums.

Description of the prior art The introductory statement of the over-all concept is not intended to convey the impression that mechanical playing means for guitars and the like is new. Many prior art string fingering mechanisms and plucking picks have been devised and, to a limited extent, acceptably used. Therefore, it should be pointed out at the outset that the herein disclosed invention is an innovation in that the stand not only supports a conventional unaltered electric bass guitar, it enables the performer to finger and pick the strings through the medium of feasible mechanical means which, in turn, is brought into play and is controlled with requisite nicety wholly by 1) foot pedals and 2) treadle means selectively actuated by the left and right feet, respectively, in keeping with the time signature and nature of the composition being played. Not only is the invention uniquely attractive in appearance, the performer, if qualified, can, when endowed with showmanship and dexterity of feet and mannerisms, put on a spectacular show, can offer a one-man ban act by playing a second guitar with his hands, can sing or, alternatively can add to his versatility by also playing a harness-held mouth organ or the like. Then, too, since a single guitarist can double up on two guitars (one treble and the other an accompaniment rhythm bass) the bass man normally required in a small group can be dispensed with.

For further background, the four open strings on an electric bass guitar are customarily tuned two octaves below middle C on a piano keyboard. Rearward string (1) is tuned to G, string (2) to D, string (3) to A, and forward string (4) is tuned to E. The guitar (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) is conventional and the supporting and positioning stand or equivalent portable support means is expressly designed and constructed to poise and present the guitar in a face-up ready-to-play position. The stand is characterized, generally construed, by a simple rearwardly downwardly inclined leg supported generally rectangular low level frame with cushioned pads or rests for the head and body ends of the guitar. Inasmuch as the performer has his hands occupied playing a primary guitar or other instrument, the bass guitar fingering and picking means is foot actuated and controlled. The left foot actuates seven foot pedals for selecting single note tones or chords identified (by a chord selector plate) as at GB-C-D-A-F and E. For best results finger-equipped lifting and lowering levers achieve this phase of the over-all operation. A single treadle for the right foot operates and beats out the variable rhythm patterns (usually two or four beats to each measure). More particularly, this single treadle is rocked back and forth alternatively with the heel and toe of the right foot and reciprocates substantially horizontal push-pull rods carrying properly located spring-biased pawls which, in turn, act on reel-like ratchet wheels equipped with string plucking picks. For best results the four reels or pick-wheels are freely rotatable 0n companion spring-returned carrier arms which are oriented above the four EAD and G strings and are raised and lowered in keeping with the string (or strings) to be rhythmically plucked.

Summary f the invention Briefly, I provide a stringed musical instrument, an electrified bass guitar for example, having a body with an elongated neck fixed to and extending from one end of said body, said neck terminating in a head and being provided with a string seating nut at the juncture of the head and neck a complemental bridge parallel to and spaced longitudinally from said nut at least one vibratory string stretched tautly across said bridge and nut and having its end portions anchored on the body and head respectively said head having regulable means thereon for raising and lowering the pitch of said string at will rigid support means positioning and holding said instrument in a horizontal playable plane with said string in an upwardly facing accessible position a lever operatively mounted on said support having a lower end providing a foot pedal and an upper end overlying and movable toward and from a predetermined portion of said string and mechanical string stopping fingering means carried by said upper end located proximal to and forcibly but releasably engageable with that portion of said string with which it is oriented whereby to select and fret a prescribed tone when firmly pressed upon said string.

Such adjustments as are deemed to be necessary by the manufacturer are available and accessible to permit one with nominal care and ability (perhaps the guitarist himself) to cope with and take care of this aspect of the matter, with the result that satisfactory functioning of the essential parts is assured. The seven foot controlled pivotal levers, various shaft members, linkage means and push-pull rods will be precision made to reduce friction and attending noises to a minimum. Therefore, and even though the guitars electrical magnetic pickups are sensitively responsive, any side noises will be offset and subdued by the heavy low register rhythmical pizzicato string plucking sound effects. The reel-like pick wheels are so mounted on reach arms that if they happen to turn in a wrong direction because of friction drag, lock nut means is available for correcting malfunctioning. In fact, slippage and tightness needs can be hand-tested and put in order when necessary. Then, too, the fact that the action of the circu'mferentially spaced timely plucking is amplified electrically permits picks of tested flexibility and durability to be used. Hence, the picks do not (at least should not) strike the strings so deeply that an undesirable jerky action results. In fact, adjusting screws atop the wheel arms are available. The guitar is not only correctly inclined from front to rear, a setscrew is accessible to relocate and align the guitar and strings with the mechanical fretting fingers and coordinating pickequipped Wheels. The customary machine screws on the head of the guitar are readily accessible for tuning the strings. The guitar itself is bodily insertable and removable without difficulty.

The right foot treadle is friction mounted and can slip if too much heel or toe pressure is applied. This feature takes care of the desired treadle angle by merely tilting without having to loosen the available nut. If undesirable slippage is present during ordinary playing, the nut is too loose and can and should be tightened to remedy the situation.

Generally stated the sequence of operation is a four-inone function: (1) contacting a selected pedal with toe of the left foot results in bringing a presser finger into play for fretting a single note tone or, alternatively, a chord (2) rocking the treadle brings the push-pull rods and (3) pawls into play thereby (4) actuating the pick-equipped free turning ratchet wheels.

More specifically, the stand is portable and characterized by a rearwardly downwardly inclined frame pro vided with suitable legs. The transverse end members of the topmost frame have cushioned pads fixed thereon and fashioned to effectually seat and retain an electric bass guitar in a horizontal up-facing playable position thereon. A plurality of elongated yoke-like or U-shaped carriers are used as adapters and for selectively raisable and lowerable reel-like ratchet wheels equipped with radial string plucking picks. A rearward limb of each carrier provides a shaft which is spring-biased and oscillatable in bracket-held bearing blocks. Each forward limb provides a reach arm whose free end carries and supports a complemental free turning pick-equipped ratchet wheel. This reach arm is alignable with an underlying string, the E string for example, and when it is pulled, by adjustable strap means, to a down position the accompanying wheel is then near enough to the companion string to allow the radical picks to function. A pivoted foot controlled lever has an upper end carrying the strap (FIG. 9) which actuates the reach arm. This upper end also carries a mechanical finger terminating in at least one (generally two) roller-like string depressing and fretting head. Accordingly, when the head of the finger is levered to assume a string contacting and fretting position, the complemental strap pulls the companion reach arm and pick-wheel into place above the string and novel treadle controlled means comes into play to actuate the picks and pluck the selected string. Each lever is actuated and controlled by the toe of the left foot and the single treadle means is actuated (determinable by the rhythm pattern) by the heel and toe of the right foot. While only one treadle is necessary, seven pedals are provided for a good range of harmonious chords.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a conventional electric bass guitar poised and supported in a playable position atop the leg supported stand and showing the mechanical pedal operated fingering means, simultaneously operable string picking or plucking means, and all components essential to the over-all fingering and picking result.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational View of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale with parts broken away taken on the plane of the vertical line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar enlarged and fragmentarily shown View looking in the opposite direction and taken on the plane of the irregular section line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view taken through one of the reciprocable or push-pull spring-loaded pawlequipped rods showing how the pawls alternately trip the ratcheting means of the two aligned forward and rearward pick wheels hereinafter designated as white and black respectively.

FIG. 6 is likewise an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken through the fingerboard showing the four strings, one of the finger operating levers and the pick wheel carrying reach arms with the pick wheels omitted.

FIG. 7 is likewise an enlarged detail view showing one of the aforementioned ratchet-type pick-equipped wheels and how it is operatively suspended.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section and elevation taken approximately on the plane of the line 88 of FIG. 1.

And FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view the significant purpose of Which is to illustrate the essence of the over-all invention.

Description 0 the preferred embodiment By way of introduction to the detailed description it seems appropriate to set forth that the concept is such that it comprehends playing an instrument with (1) a single string or (2) a plurality of strings. To be sure, the idea is to enable a performer (usually a guitarist) to play a lead guitar and bass guitar simultaneously while singing or, alternatively, while playing a harness-held mouth organ. However, it seems advisable to simplify the presentation by showing a regular electric bass guitar mechanically playable in FIGS. 1-4 with the essence of the overall concept in simplified form in FIG. 9 with certain details omitted for clearness. Also, in the main views (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) it will be noted that the four reels or ratchet wheels are distinguishably designated by'the printed legends white, red, blue and black from front to back. Further, the four customary strings are identified from front to back (FIG. 3) E4, A-3, D- 2 and G-1 in the order of a conventional electric bass guitar. It follows that mechanical fingering means is provided for each string and a pick-wheel is provided for each string. The white wheel (FIG. 1) is registrable with the E-string, the red wheel with the A-string, the blue wheel with the D-string and the black wheel with the G-string. As above implied, the novelty of the invention has to do with the single string concept (FIG. 9) and the multiple string electric bass guitar concept (FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular). Then, too, novelty is predicated on the stand, the foot trippable levers operating, fretting fingers, the right foot treadle, ratchet wheel picks, and push-pull rods and means operating the pick wheels.

Also and before taking up the primary component parts individually and collectively it is to be pointed out that inasmuch as a conventional electric bass guitar is being herein shown as exemplary of the stringed instrument under advisement and since it involves a duplication of fingering and picking mechanism, except for rearrangement, for each of the four strings, it is deemed advisable to stress the fact that, generally speaking, FIG. 9 (which is diagrammatic in character) is being utilized to emphasize the character and cooperation of the fingering and picking means for a single string.

The guitar is a conventional four-string electric bass guitar and is denoted generally by the numeral 12 and comprises a customary body portion the butt end of which is denoted at 14, the neck being denoted at 16, fingerboard 18 and frets at 20 (FIG. 6). When the guitar is placed in its playable generally horizontal position on the leg supported stand it occupies a rearwardly downwardly sloping position. The head is denoted at 22 and machine screws for tuning the strings are denoted at 24. The four conventional strings are designated, as usual, as E, A, D and G, respectively, but in practice are referred to in a reverse order as strings 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown (FIG. 4) and also by the alphabetical legends on the views of the drawings. The left hand end portions of the strings are connected to the tuning or machine screws 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The opposite end portions are trained over suitable bridge means 26 and anchored on tail means 28.

The fact that the fingering and picking means is actuated and controlled by the left foot and right foot respectively of the performer requires that the upwardly facing guitar must be cradled and held with requisite nicety on a practical support which in the form of the invention herein shown comprises a stand which as before suggested, is about the general size of a narrow width coffee table. The stand is such that the forward side, in front of which the guitarist sits, is relatively high which means that the rearward side slopes rearwardly and downwardly as perhaps best shown in FIG. 3. This stand comprises leg supported frame means, all legs being denoted at 30 and being arranged at the corner portions of a first or underneath frame 32 and a second or top frame 34 which is aligned with and superimposed on the firstnamed frame. The members of the frame 32 are preferably channel-shaped in cross-section. The members of the top frame 34 are preferably tubular and considering said frame 34 somewhat in detail it comprises a longitudinal forward frame member 36, an opposed longitudinal rear frame member 38, an a-rcuate end frame member and a complemental end frame member 42. The upper ends of the legs, which are also tubular, are suitably connected with both frames 32 and 34. The guitar head 22 is seated in an accommodating notch or seat 44 on a fixedly mounted cushioned rest or pad 46 as shown in FIG. 1. A similar cushioned pad 48 is notched at 50 and serves to support the butt end of the body. It will be noted that the transverse frame member 42 has one end hinged as at 52 (FIG. 1) and the other end adjustably mounted in the coacting support leg or post 30 in the manner shown in FIG. 8. To the ends desired, a plunger 54 operated by a spring 56 has a detent 58 adjustably connectible with keeper holes 60 provided therefor. It follows that while the transverse frame member 40 is fixed, the opposite member 42 is hinged and adjustable to assist in positioning the readily applicable and removable guitar in a satisfactorily playable position. As a further means of holding the guitar it will be noted that a suitably arched saddle is provided as at 62 (FIG. 4), one end of the saddle being hingedly mounted at 64 and the other end similarly hingedly mounted at 66 whereby the saddle can be swung forwardly or rearwardly or from left to right to position the rubber protector sleeve 68 underneath the guitar body. As a further precaution in locating the guitar in a steady playable position at tention is directed to a suitable stationary fixture 70 (FIG. 4) which is provided with a setscrew 72 and a swivelly mounted padded head 74 to engage the rim 76 of the guitar body. It follows that this dual-frame leg supported stand functions to permit the user to insert and place the guitar in steadied position so that it can be mechanically fingered and picked or plucked by the means or mechanism which will be fully described.

Referring again to FIG. 1 it will be noted that the rearward part of the stand is provided (left to right) with several longitudinally spaced upwardly inclined adapter brackets 79, 80 and 81. The numeral 82 (FIGS. 1 and 2) constitutes and provides a single appropriate reinforcing brace having forward ends 83 and 84 (FIG. 3) suitably anchored to promote rigidity. In FIG. 1 the numeral 86 designates a horizontal shaft journaled in bearings 88 and 89 mounted on the brackets 79 and 80. With further reference to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the numeral 90 designates a bearing block which is supported on the bracket 79 and which serves a purpose to be later described. With continued reference to the stand, attention is directed to the horizontal panel 92 at the front near the lower ends of the front legs and which is provided with a plurality of vertical slots (FIG, 2) each slot having a marginally cushioned liner 94 therein. Another significant component of the guitar stand comprises an elongated cushioned lever return bumper strip 96 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular and which is fixed in the channel of the coacting frame member 97 (FIG. 3). Referring again to the front panel 92 and to the interior of the slotted portion it will be seen that a substantially U-shaped member 98 is provided and it, in turn, is provided with a rubber cushioning sleeve 100 which serves as a limit stop in a manner to be later described. Either the limit stop means or the panel 92 is employed to support a horizontal forwardly downwardly inclined chord selector plate 102 which in practice is provided with alphabetical letters G, B, C, D, A, F, E (FIG. 1) which designate either notes or harmonious chords which are capable of being mechanically fingered by the mechanism of the invention. This chord plate may be considered a part of the stand. Referring now to FIG. 1 the numeral 104 designates a rod or shaft which extends between the two brackets 80 and 81 and which is provided with rod suspending sleeves 106 and guide collars 108.

It is believed that the description thus far will sufiice to comprehend the guitar 12, which is conventional, and the support stand, as a unit, on which the inclined ready-toplay guitar is supported.

It is now desirable to take up and dispose of the pedalactuated and controlled lever mechanism for fretting the strings and then the picking means and means for actuating and controlling the picking means. With respect to the lever mechaism it will be evident that there are seven selectively usable hingedly mounted trippable levers. It will be simpler to consider only one lever inasmuch as all of the levers are the same in construction. Each lever is denoted by the numeral 104 and is a substantially C- shaped rod of the curvature or general shape evident in side elevation in FIG. 3 and amply brought out in perspective in FIG. 9. In fact and with respect to FIG. 9 each lever and its construction can be more easily understood wherein it will be noted that the lower or forward end portion 106 is provided with a suitable cap-like tip 108. The median curvate or bight portion 110 is provided partially at the point shown in FIG, 3 wherein it bears against the constantly tensioned cushion 96, the function of which is to return the lever and foot pedal to its normal readyto-use position. The generally horizontal portion 112 of the lever is provided with a bearing 114 which is mounted for oscillation on the support shaft 86. The terminal end portion of the generally straight limb 112 is provided with strap anchoring brackets 116 and also with a suitably shaped finger 118 terminating in a roller-like head 120 which constitutes a string depressing and fretting member. Inasmuch as the lower tipped end 108 extends through one of the aforementioned slots 94 and beyond the same, it is in a position to be contacted with the toe of the left foot and thus depressed in a manner to rock the lever on its hinge point 114. The numeral 122 (FIG. 3) is a simple stabilizing brace for the arms or limbs of the overall lever 104. As shown in simplified FIG. 9 a single depressor 120 is illustrated on an appropriately shaped finger and this depressor is located over the E-string. In fact it is in a position so that when the pedal is operated the depressor comes down and stops the E-string at the third or G fret. This same principle is carried out in all of the levers 104 except that some of the fingers, also designated at 118, are provided with double ends and consequently are provided at end thereof with dual heads. The heads are arranged so that thye are above and coact with certain predetermined strings with the result that when the first lever at the left in FIG. 1 is depressed it produces either the G note or tone suggested in FIG. 9 or, when the pick means comes into play, produces a harmonious chord such as the GD chord. Instead of dwelling on this single and dual finger and head aspect it is believed that the simplified single finger representation in FIG. 9 should be sufiicient to shoW how any one of the hinged or pivoted levers come into play to actuate a finger 118 which in turn operates a string depressor head or equivalent member 120 to stop a given string at a predetermined fret. Inasmuch as a complete guitar has been shown it was deemed necessary to carry out the principle of lever-operated-fingers with string depressors coacting with all four of the strings in a more detailed manner. It is further evident that when a particular lever is depressed and released the spring-cushioned means 96 comes into play to return the lever to its normal or readyto-depress position. With the aid of the chord selector plate 102 and the chords thereon (designated by the alphabetical letters) the performer is in a position with his left foot to mechanically finger the four strings of the guitar singly and collectively according, of course, to the particular composition which is being played.

Not only is it necessary to mechanically finger or fret the strings it is also necessary to simultaneously pluck the strings. It follows that each string is provided with a pick-wheel. In other words there are four such pickwheels and in actual practice and also for convenience in the present disclosure these pick-wheels are designated (from front to back) as white, red, blue and black respectively. Here again and as each pick-wheel is the same in construction it is thought that the indicated colors (white, red, blue and black) will suffice to dilferentiate between the four wheels and to bring out the fact that each wheel is located in a manner to move toward and from the underlying string with which it is associated. With this in mind each wheel or reel is of a ratchet type and is denoted by the numeral 124 (FIG. 9). The reel or wheel comprises a first head 126 and a parallel second head 128, pins 130 being located therebetween and providing the desired ratcheting action. The head 128 is provided with six flexibly resilient circumferentially equidistant radial picks 132 which are arranged to strike a given string, for example the E-string in the manner suggested in FIG. 9. To position the ratchet wheels so that they will function properly and swing down to a playing level or position, and up to a non-playing position carriers are provided for each wheel. These carriers are basically the same in construction and it is only necessary to point out that each yokelike carrier is of the elongated U-shaped form, as clearly brought out in FIG. 9. However, and for convenience of distinction the so-called black carrier is denoted at 134, the red carrier 136, the blue carrier 138 and white carrier 140. Each carrier, being U-shaped, embodies a curvate bight portion 142, a rearward linearly straight limb 144 which serves as a shaft, and a forward limb 146 which serves as a reach arm. It is on the right hand end portion of the reach arm that a pick-equipped free-turning wheel 124 is mounted for rotation. Each rearward shaft 144 is mounted for oscillation in a bearing 148 in spaced cooperating blocks 90. A coiled spring 150 is provided and has its ends 152 suitably anchored to provide the desired oscillatory action. In other words the spring 150 normally acts on the shaft 144 so that the unified reach arm 146 is yieldingly lifted to an up position which clears the picks above the E or other string as is thought to be evident in FIG. 9. So that the reach arm will descend simultaneously with the desired lever means to obtain the desired fretting and picking action, leather or equvalent straps 154 are provided and are of the looped construction shown in FIG. 6 for example. The bracket 116 on the end of the lever, that is the end 156 has suitable apertured ears 158 and the lower looped ends of the straps are connected thereto. The upper end portions are laced at 160 through adjustable clip means 162 which is adjustable by a setscrew 164. Thus the straps 154 can be lengthened or shortened so that the free end portions 156 of the levers and the reach arms go down and up in proper synchronized relationship.

It is necessary now to provide means for transmitting motion to and turning the pick-wheels 124 to obtain the desired slap bass or pizzicato effect. Briefly, this means comprises a single foot treadle which is denoted generally by the numeral 166 in FIG. 4 and which has a toe portion 168 and a heel portion 170. The lever is keyed intermediate its ends on a rocker shaft 172 carried by a bracket 174, said rocker shaft operating a first rocker arm 176. The rocker shaft 176 is connected at 178 by links 180 to the lower end portion 182 of an upstanding second or main rocker arm 184, the pivot point of connection being denoted at 186. Suitable adjusting means for the rocker arm 184 is provided, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. This rocker arm has its upper median portion hingedly mounted at on an appropriate bracket 192 carried by the stand, as shown in FIG. 4. The upper end of the rocker arm 184 is provided with a yoke 194 which in turn is provided with an anchoring rod 196 to which several spaced parallel push- pull rods 198, 200 and 201 are adjustably connected as denoted generally at 202. These several rods as shown particularly in FIG. I extend at right angles to the strings of the guitar and have free end portions 204 riding freely in the aforementioned supporting collars 108 (FIG. 4). In other words, these several push-pull rods can be caused to ride or reciprocate back and forth being supported adjustably at the right hand end by the upper yoke 194 on the rocker arm 184 and freely slidable on the anti-friction collars or roller means 108 as is also evident in FIG. 4. These push-pull rods are provided with spring-loaded pawls. The rod 198 underlies the white and black reels and it is provided with forward and rearward pawls. The forward pawl is denoted at 206 and the rearward pawl at 208. Each pawl is pivotally mounted in a slot provided therefor as denoted at 210 (FIG. 5), the median portion of the pawl being acted upon by a coil or an equivalent spring 212. The free end of the pawl in each instance is arranged in the path so that it will engage the ratchet pins 130 on the respective white and black reels or pick-wheels in the manner evident from FIG. 5. In other words, when the push-pull rod 198 is shoved back and forth in the direction of the arrow means 214 it will be evident that the picks, that is the particular picks which are in a position above the selected string, will come into play to pluck the string. This is shown at the left in FIG. 1 wherein it is evident that when the push-pull rod 198 moves in the direction from left to right, the picks on the pick-wheel strike the G-string and provide the desired plucking action. Obviously in order to operate the fingering or fretting and picking means it is necessary for the user to be thoroughly familiar with the instrument, the strings, the chords to be selected and plucked much in the same manner as would be accomplished if the instrument were being played by the fingers of the players hands. Using the left foot the selector levers are chosen and depressed and whichever lever is actuated brings into play the mechanical fingering or fretting means desired. At the same time the strap means 154 which is attached to that particular lever acts on the reach arm 146 of the pick-wheel and the desired pickwheel comes down over the selected string and by operating the treadle means 166 with the heel and toe at the desired tempo and according to the rhythm pattern at hand the pizzicato or slap bass picking and sound eifect is achieved.

It is reiterated at this point that the over-all concept can be reasonably well and fairly understood by referring to FIG. 9 which shows a single trippable pivoted lever carrying a mechanical fretting finger as at 118 and 120 and which pulls the strap means '154 down to operate the reach arm 146 and to position the pick-wheel over the E-string so that when the push-pull rod 198 comes into play the picking result is had. As soon as the pedal is released the cushion means 96 returns the lever and the spring means 150 on the shaft or arm 144 returns the U- shaped yoke or carrier in a seemingly evident manner. Inasmuch as all of the features and advantages have been heretofore set forth it is believed that a more extended description is unnecessary.

With a vie-w toward better stabilizing and retaining the guitar in place it is deemed advisable to provide a tailpiece clamp, more specifically, a clamp which takes the form of a resilient clip which is attachable to the usual button 216 on the butt end of the instrument as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. This clip is denoted as a unit by the numeral 218 and is of general J-shaped form in edge elevation. It is made of a suitable grade of stainless steel or the like and the vertical limb has an opening therein (not detailed) which is fitted removably over the button 216. The leg portion of the clip or clamp depends to the approximate level shown in FIG. 2 wherein it terminates in a suitable jaw or detent 220 which is snapped releasably beneath the frame member 42 as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown an described.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a stringed musical instrument having a body provided with an elongated neck fixed to and extending from one end of said body, said neck terminating in a head and being provided with a string seating nut at the juncture of the head and neck, a complemental bridge parallel to and spaced longitudinally from said nut, at least one vibratory string stretched tautly across said bridge and nut and having its end portions anchored on the body and head, respectively, said head having regulable means thereon for raising and lowering the pitch of said string at will, rigid support means positioning and holding said instrument in a readily applicable and removable horizontal playing position with said string disposed in an upwardly facing accessible position, a rigid one-piece lever having a median portion pivotally operatively mounted on said support and having a free lower end constituting a foot pedal and a free upper end overlying, spaced above and movable toward and from a predetermined portion of said string, and mechanical string stopping fingering means carried by a terminal portion of said upper end, located proximal to, and forcibly but releasably engageable with that portion of said string with which it is oriented.

2. The combination according to claim 1, and wherein said neck is provided with a fretted fingerboard and said fingering means is characterized by a finger aligned with said string and terminating in a roller-like depressor head which is adapted to depress and stop its intended cooperating portion of said string behind the particular fret with which it is coordinated and related.

3. The combination according to claim 2, and wherein said support comprises a portable stand embodying a horizontally elongated inclined leg-supported frame having longitudinal side members joined by transverse end members, said end members having fixed cushioning pads atop which said head and butt end of said body, respectively, are removably seated and stationed to assume said playable position.

4. The combination according to claim 3, and wherein that portion of the frame which accommodates said body is also provided with an adjustable upwardly arched saddle having a protector sleeve underlying, seating and stabilizing the bottom side of the body which is seated firmly thereon.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said lever is substantially C-shaped in elevation and whose lower end is free and constitutes and provides a foot pedal, said upper end being straight and overlying said string in a position at right angles to the lengthwise axis of said string, the curvate median portion of said rod having a fixed sleeve providing a rocker bearing and mounted for oscillation on a fixed shaft provided on said support.

6. The combination according to claim 1, and in combination therewith, a reach arm disposed in a plane above and capable of movement in a path toward and from said string, pick-equipped means operatively mounted on said reach arm, the picks on said means being intermittently engageable with and disengageable from said string, means linking and connecting the upper end of said lever with an adjacent portion of said reach arm in a manner that when said upper end moves down to bring said fingering means into play said reach arm and pick-equipped means is simultaneously brought into play whereby the string is fingered and plucked at the same instant, pressure responsive means on said support and cooperable with said lever automatically acting on and adapted to return the lever to a normal neutral position, spring means acting on and automatically returning and maintaining said reach arm in its normal neutral pick means elevating and releasing state a foot treadle pivotally mounted on said support means, and means controlled by said treadle for actuating the pick means and plucking the stopped string in unison and also in keeping with a desired tempo and rhythm pattern.

7. The combination defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein the lower pedal end of said lever is at a level and locale that it is adapted to be actuated and controlled by the left foot of the performer, said treadle being located on the support relative thereto and pedal end of said lever that it can be conveniently actuated and controlled by the right foot of the performer, said treadle controlled means embodying a horizontal reciprocable push-pull rod having a spring-biased cam-like pawl, a linking and operating connection between said treadle and push-pull rod, said pick means comprising a ratchet wheel freely rotatable on said reach arm and provided with radial circumferentially spaced string plucking flexibly resilient picks, said wheel being aligned and in the path of reciprocation of said rod, whereby to permit said pawl to engage the ratchet means, for example, on the rearward stroke of the rod and releasably coact therewith on the forward return stroke.

8. In combination, a portable stand embodying a legsupported horizontal relatively low-level frame having end members with cushioned pads fixed thereon, an electric bass guitar poised in a playable position above said frame and embodying a body portion with its butt end securely seated on a cooperating underlying pad and the headed end of its fretted neck retentively seated on the coacting underlying cushioned pad, said guitar having the usual nut at the juncture of the head and fretted fingerboard of said neck and a string elevating bridge atop its body portion, and E-string strained over the nut and bridge, respectively, with one end wound on a pitch tuning key on said head and the other tail end anchored beyond said bridge, an elongated reach arm located in a plane above and capable of alignable movement toward and from said E-string, a ratchet wheel mounted for free turning rotation on an end of said reach arm adjacent said bridge, said wheel provided \with radial circumferentially spaced flexible plastic picks intermittently and timely engageable with and for mechanically but pliantly plucking said string in accordance 'with the time signature of the composition being played, bearing means bracketed on said frame, a shaft pournaled for rotation in said hearing means, said shaft being joined to said reach arm and being movable in conjunction with said reach arm, a coil spring encircling the journaled end portion of said shaft and secured to the shaft and bearing means, respectively, and tensioned to rock the shaft and lift said arm to assume a normal position elevating and spacing said wheel above said string but permitting the reach arm and wheel to assume a down position with the picks readied to pluck said string, first foot controlled means for lowering the arm and orienting the picks relative to the plucking level of the string, and second foot controlled means for rotating the wheel and picks to comply with the tempo and rhythmical beat desired by the performer.

9. The combination defined in and according to claim 8, and wherein said first foot controlled means comprises a substantially C-shaped trip lever having (1) a lower end fashioned to define and provide the desired foot pedal, (2) an upper horizontally disposed end overlying said string and terminating in a mechanical finger engageable with said string at will in a manner to depress the string and (3) a curvate median portion having a fixed sleeve providing a rocker bearing and mounted for free angular rotation on a fixed suspension shaft provided on said sup port.

10. The combination according to claim 9, and wherein said support is provided with an elastic bumper with which the curvate portion of said lever constantly is engaged in a manner to automatically act on and return and retain said trip lever in a predetermined pedal raising finger-releasing neutral position, and a reach arm pull-do wn strap having an upper end looped around and adjustably connected to said arm and a lower end connected to the underlying upper end portion of said lever.

11. In combination, a stand embodying a horizontally elongated frame having instrument basing supporting and retaining means, said frame provided with depending elevating legs adapted to rest on a fioor or the like, a stringed musical instrument having a body whose butt end is located and removably supported atop one end portion of said frame, said body provided at its other end with a fretted neck terminating in a head with said head removably located and operatively supported atop a corresponding end of said frame, said instrument having at least one vibratory tone producing string adjustably anchored, supported and stretched across the body and fretted neck in a position and manner that the median and one end portion can be fretted and the other end portion plucked with lectrum-type picks, a pedal-controlled means operatively mounted on said frame and actuatable by one foot of the performer, said means embodying string depressing and fretting members, rhythmically actuata-ble pick-equipped means intermittently engageable with said string, a treadle pivotally supported on said frame and actuatable by the other foot of the performer, and an operating connection between said treadle and pick-equipped means.

12. The structure defined in and according to claim 11 and wherein said pedal controlled means comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted side by side spaced parallel generally C-shaped levers, the lower end portion of each lever providing a pedal which can be tripped with the toe of the left foot, the upper end being horizontal and overlying the string and terminating in a laterally directed rigid finger, said finger terminating in a roller-like head which is movable toward and from and is adapted to engage the selected part of the string.

13. The structure defined in and according to claim 12 and wherein said pick-equipped means is characterized by an elongated U-shaped carrier member having a rearward arm providing a shaft, said shaft being mounted for oscillation in bearing means, the forward limb providing a reach arm, said reach arm being alignable with and movable toward and from a coacting string, said reach arm having a free end portion, said free end portion being provided with a ratchet wheel.

14. The structure defined in and according to claim 12 and wherein said pick-equipped means is characterized by an elongated U-shaped carrier member having a rearward arm providing a shaft, said shaft being mounted for oscillation in bearing means, the forward limb providing a reach arm, said reach arm being alignable with and movable toward and from a coacting string, said reach arm having a free end portion, said free end portion being provided with a ratchet wheel, said ratchel wheel embodying spaced parallel heads connected by ratchet pins, one of said heads being provided with circumferentially spaced radial flexible string contacting picks.

15. The structure defined in and according to claim 14 and in combination, a reciprocable push-pull rod coacting with said reel and having a spring-biased pawl, said pawl being engageable with said ratcheting pins, and means for reciprocating said rod comprising a rocker arm, a pivotally mounted foot pedal, and an operating connection between said treadle and a lower end of said rocker arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 370,582 10/1887 Wigand 84315 668,885 2/1901 Schneider 84320 1,871,021 8/1932 Zachrison 848 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

GARY M. POLUMBUS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 848, 320

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