US3478158A

US3478158A - Tone control means for electric guitars and the like

Info

Publication number: US3478158A
Application number: US551438A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles C Trainor
Original assignee: Avnet Inc
Current assignee: Avnet Inc
Priority date: 1966-05-19
Filing date: 1966-05-19
Publication date: 1969-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1986-11-11

Description

Nov. 11, 1969 c. c. TRAINOR 3,478,158

TONE CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRIC GUITARS AND THE LIKE Filed May 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

AMPL/F/g A. SPEA 1452 INVENTOR CHARL s c. T AINOR Y H ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 11, 1969 c. c. TRAINOR 3,478, 58

TONE CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRIC GUITARS AND THE'LIKE Filed May 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

54 56 58 60 62 64 g 74 8Q l az sq /,as 92% 494 96 493 102 104 r- 7 -r- 7 b 0 4 I q r 1 1 1 .JQI:

il-12m? c. T INOR W ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,478,158 TONE CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRIC GUITARS AND THE LIKE Charles C. Trainor, Bronx, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Avnet, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed May 19, 1966, Ser. No. 551,438

Int. Cl. Gh 3/00 US. Cl. 841.16 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to tone control means for electric guitars and the like.

With recent improvements in electronic technology, electric string instruments and especially electric guitars are enjoying a great vogue. Such instruments have steel strings or the like in close proximity to electrical transducers or pickups which generate electric signals proportional to the amplitude and in accord with the frequency of vibration of the associated strings. The output from the pickups is normally applied to the input terminals of an amplifier which amplifies these signals and energizes a loudspeaker.

In most string instruments including electrical string instruments, the strings are secured to a tailpiece fixed near one end of the sound box of the instrument and extend over a bridge which fixes one point support for the strings, and thence over the sound box of the instrument and the neck to the nut which provides the other point support, and then to the threaded pegs at the end of the neck on which the strings may be taken up to adjust the tension thereof. It has been known that the portions of the strings immediately adjacent the bridge yield a sharper tone than the portions of strings more remote therefrom, such as in the area where the neck joins the sound box. Armed with this knowledge various workers in the art have attempted to provide instruments which yield a variable tone output. However none of the previous attempts to accomplish this desirable goal have been altogether successful in that they have not been precise, or they have been cumbersome, or they have been extremely costly.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for providing for tonal control of an electric string instrument.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for conveniently and easily changing the tonal output of an electric string instrument such as an electric guitar while the instrument is in actual use.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved tonal quality selection mechanism for electric guitars and the like which mechanism is adapted to yield a wide variety of tonal effects by ready selection during the operation of the instrument.

In accordance with the present invention, the strings of a string instrument such as an electric guitar are divided into two groups. A pair of pickups are provided adjacent the bridge, one pickup for each group of strings. A second pair of pickups are provided adjacent the end of the neck of the instrument joining the sound box, associating one pickup from each of the second pair with one of the groups of strings. Switching means are incorporated to interconnect at least one of the pickups associated with one of the groups of strings with at least one of the pickups associated with the other of the groups of strings whereby to yield a number of permutations and combinations resulting in a variety of tonal qualities.

The above and other objects, characteristics and features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: a

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electric guitar embodying the present invention in combination with a schematically represented amplifier and loudspeaker; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electric pickup and switching apparatus embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, an electric string instrument here shown as an electric guitar 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The instrument includes the guitar 12 proper, an electronic amplifier A for amplifying the electric signals put out by the guitar 12 and a loudspeaker S for transducing the electric signals amplified by the amplifier A into sound waves. The guitar 12 comprises a sound box 14 and a neck 16 secured to one end of the sound box 14 and extending longitudinally away therefrom. Mounted on the box 14 is a tailpiece 18 for securing one end of each of the

strings

20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 thereto. The strings 20 to 30 inclusive extend over a transversely extending bridge 32 mounted at a mid-portion of the sound box 14 which bridge determines the forwardmost vibrational point for each of the strings. The strings then extend away from the tailpiece in spaced relation with the upper surface of the sound box 14 and neck 16 to the nut 34 and thence over the nut to the adjustable winding pegs 36, there being one winding peg for each string. The tension of the strings and, therefore, their vibrational characteristics, can be adjusted by the winding pegs 36 in the well-known manner. If it is desired to simultaneously vary the tension of all strings during the playing of the instrument, the tailpiece, as shown, may include an adjusting crank mechanism 38 manually actuated by a crank handle 40 which may be moved forwardly and rearwardly to change the tension on all of the strings simultaneously and thereby give a tonal change.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention the strings 20 to 30 inclusive are divided into two groups. Preferably, although not necessarily, the three

treble strings

20, 22 and 24 comprise one group of strings 42 and the

base strings

26, 28 and 30 comprise a second group of strings 44. Further, in accordance with the present invention, separate transducers are provided for each group of strings at each of two separate locations. That is to say at a location closely adjacent the bridge 32 a transducer assembly 46 is provided including a first transducer 1 associated only with the string group 42 and a second transducer 2 associated only with the string group 44. Additionally, a second transducer assembly 48 is provided at a location substantially spaced from the bridge 32, such as closely adjacent the end of the neck joined to the sound box which transducer assembly includes a third transducer 3 associated only with the string group 42 and a fourth transducer 4 associated only with the string group 44. Thus it will be seen that at each of two locations which are longitudinally spaced from one another along the strings separate transducers are provided for the treble strings and the bass strings. The specific construction of the transducers forms no portion of this invention per se and any suitable transducing means may be employed.

However, it has been found most convenient to employ variable reluctance-type transducers in the present invention in combination with magnetically permeable steel strings.

As noted in the introductory remarks of this specification, the strings to 30 tend to give a higher pitched tone adjacent the bridge 32 than adjacent the end of the neck 16. Therefore, for any given vibrating string, the transducer in the transducer assembly 46 will tend to pick up a higher or sharper tone than the corresponding transducer in the transducer assembly 48. This gives rise to the opportunity of giving a wide variety of tonal qualities to the music being played on the instrument 12 merely by selecting which of the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 will be operating at any given time. However, it will be obvious in making such selection that in order to get the full range of tone of the instrument, that at least one trans ducer associated with each string group must be operatmg.

For example, if the player desires to have the instrument playing slightly sharp, he would desire to have

pickups

1 and 2 operating and energizing the amplifier A which in turn energizes the speaker S, While

pickups

3 and 4 are out of circuit. Likewise if the player desired only lower tone qualities from the instrument, he would desire to have

pickups

3 and 4 actuated for energizing the amplifier A and the speaker S while the

pickups

1 and 2 would be deactivated or out of circuit. In addition, various tonal combinations are potentially available with this arrangement. For example, it may be desired to pick up the high tones of the treble string group 42 and the low tones of the bass string group 44 in which

event transducers

1 and 4 would be connected in circuit and

transducers

2 and 3 would be out of circuit. Conversely, if it is desired to have the slightly sharper bass tones and slightly deeper treble tones,

transducers

2 and 3 could be connected into circuit and

transducers

1 and 4 could be out of circuit. Moreover, if it is desired for the instrument to give a complete range of tone qualities, it is potentially available to connect into circuit all four

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 which, when so combined, would yield a normal sound of wide range at the speaker S through the single amplifier A.

Thus it will be seen by splitting the transducers into two groups of two each at two longitudinally spaced locations, there is potentially available a wide range of tonal qualities from a given electric guitar. However, in order to avail oneself of the potentialities of the system it is desirable to provide a simple, easily operated switching mechanism for making such selections. Such a mechanism is designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 50 and includes an apertured mounting plate 52 mounted on the upper or outer surface of the sound box 14 through which are disposed a plurality of selector keys or push buttons designated by the

reference numerals

54, 56, 58, 60 and 62. The push buttons 54 through 62 inclusive are of the well known mechanically interlocked type so that no two buttons can be depressed at the same time. As shown by the indicia on the plate 52 the button 54 is adapted to operate switches to include in circuit all four

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4, the button 56 is adapted to include in

circuit transducers

1 and 2 and to exclude

transducers

3 and 4, the button 58 is adapted to include

transducers

1 and 4 and to exclude

transducers

2 and 3, the button 60 is adapted to include in

circuit transducers

2 and 3 and to exclude

transducers

1 and 4, and the button 62 is adapted to include in

circuit transducers

3 and 4 and to exclude

transducers

1 and 2. The button 64 is adapted to de-energize the entire mechanism and take out of circuit all four transducers. The manner of the buttons accomplishing these ends will be described hereinafter in connection with the circuit diagram of FIG. 2.

To give additional opportunity for range of tonal selection, various electronic filtering means may be included in the circuitry between the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 and the amplifier A which filtering means may give a normal or medium tonal response, or tend to filter out the lower frequencies whereby to permit only the higher frequencies to pass through or, inversely, to filter out the higher frequencies and let only the low frequencies pass through. To operate the electronic filtering means three

selector buttons

66, 68 and 70 of the well known mechanically interlocked type are mounted on a mounting plate 72 secured to the upper surface of the sound box 14 for operating switch means for connecting into and out of circuit various filtering means to yield the tone selection above described. As can be seen from the indicia on the plate 72 in FIG. 1 the button 66 when depressed assures that the filtering means which filters out low frequencies and passes through to the amplifier input the higher frequencies is connected in circuit, the button 68 when depressed operates switches to establish circuits which pass the full range of frequencies produced by the transducers to the input of amplifier A, and the button 70 when depressed actuates switches which connect in a filtering circuit to filter out most of the higher frequencies and pass to the amplifier input only the lower frequencies.

In the various means above described for controlling tone, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the tonal differences between the outputs of

transducers

1 and 3 or 2 and 4 are not large but they are clearly discernible to the ear, as between, for example a note which is slightly sharp and one which is slightly fiat. On the other hand, the electronic filtering circuits controlled by

push buttons

66, 68 and 70 provide for the attenuation primarily of harmonic frequencies. While there will be some attenuation of fundamental frequencies, this is comparatively small as compared with attenuation of harmonics. Thus, the two tone controlling means perform different functions which combine to yield a highly flexible instrument.

The circuit means for selectively connecting the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 to the input of the monaural amplifier A and for selectively connecting in and out of circuit high and low filtering means is shown schematically in FIG. 2. As previously stated the switch actuating buttons 54 to 64 inclusive are all mechanically interlocked so that only one of said buttons can be depressed at a given time whereby to close the contacts of the switch associated therewith and to thereby leave open all other switches associated with the other buttons in this set. The mechanical interlocking mechanism is thoroughly conventional and well known in the art and is merely shown in the drawing by dotted lines designated by the reference numeral 74. Likewise the

buttons

66, 68 and 70' controlling the switch means for connecting into and out of the circuit the electronic filtering means are also mechanically interlocked so that only one of said three buttons can be depressed at a single time whereby to give one of the three filtering conditions above described. The mechanical interlocking linkage for the three

buttons

66, 68 and 70 is likewise thoroughly conventional and is merely represented herein by a dotted line designated by the reference numeral 76.

The button 54 which is adapted to connect all of the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 to the amplifier A controls a single contact 78 which is open when the button 54 is in its raised position and is closed when the button is in its down and depressed position. Button 56 controls a pair of

contacts

80 and 82 which are here shown as being connected by a jumper 84, which contacts are open when the button 56 is in its raised position and closed when the button 56 is in its depressed or down position. The button 58 similarly controls a pair of

contacts

86 and 88 which are connected by a jumper 90. Push button 60 controls a pair of

contacts

92 and 94 which are open when the push button is in its raised position and which are closed when the push button 60 is in its depressed or down position. Likewise push button 62 is associated with a pair of

contacts

96 and 98 which are interconnected by a jumper 100, which contacts are open with the button in its raised position and are closed with the button 62 in its depressed condition. Push button 64 is associated with a pair of

contacts

102 and 104 which contacts are interconnected by a jumper 106 and which contacts are normally opened with the button 64 in its raised position and are closed with the button 64 in its depressed condition.

The electronic tone selecting buttons, as previously described, actuate electronic filtering means through switches. The high frequency selection button 66 is not associated with any electrical contact means but must be included for its mechanical interlock so as to deactuate or raise either button 68 or button 70 when it is desired to filter out lower frequencies. The medium range button 68 is associated with a pair of contacts 108 and 110 which are interconnected by a jumper 112, the contacts 108 and 110 being open with the button 68 in its raised position and being closed with the button 68 in its depressed condition. Similarly the low frequency selector button 70 is associated with a pair of

contacts

114 and 116 which are interconnected by a jumper 118 and which are open when the button 70 is in its raised condition and which are closed when the button 70 is in its depressed condition. It will be understood that the mechanical interlocking

linkages

74 and 76 both operate to hold a depressed button in its depressed condition without application of external force until another button is manually depressed. Accordingly, if for example the button 56 is pushed down by a player, the

buttons

54, 58, 60, 62 and 64 will all be pushed upwardly by the linkage 74 and the button 56 will be retained in its depressed condition until operation of one of these other buttons. Interlock mechanism 76 cooperates in the same manner with respect to the

buttons

66, 68 and 70-.

It will be seen that the four

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 are all connected in series and are especially connected in a series additive or sequence circuit so that the outputs of all four will combine for application to the amplifier A. One of the endmost transducers, here shown as the transducer 4 has its outside terminal grounded at G as shown in FIG. 2. Let it be assumed that the All button 54 is depressed whereby to insure that the

buttons

56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 are all in their extended or up position. Accordingly, contact 78 associated with button 54 will be closed and all other contacts associated with the buttons 56 to 64 inclusive will be open. Let it further be assumed that the high frequency button 66 is depressed whereby to insure the extension of

buttons

68 and 70 and the opening of their associated contacts. With these

conditions persisting transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 will all be generating voltages responsive to the string vibrations immediately above them and will collectively generate signals between the left hand terminal of transducer 1 and the right hand grounded terminal of transducer 4. It will be noted that the ground for transducer 4 is also the ground for the volume control resistor or potentiometer R2. The left hand terminal of transducer 1 which makes up the left hand terminal of the entire signal generating means will be applied to the slide 120 of the potentiometer R2 through a low frequency blocking capacitor C1. This circuit may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1 through the capacitor C1 and to the slide 120. As capacitor C1 is adapted to provide a low impedance path to relatively high frequency signals and a high impedance path to low frequency signals, it is obvious that the high frequency signals will pass through capacitor C1 and be applied to the potentiometer R2. In view of the high impedance presented by capacitor C1 to the low frequency signals, these signals will tend to take a lower impedance path which may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1, over contact 78, through attenuator resistor R1 to ground G. Thus a fairly high frequency signal will be applied across the potentiometer R2 and through the plug connector P to the amplifier A and thence to the speaker S. However, it will be seen that these high frer 6 quencies have been generated by all four

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4.

If it is desired to operate with less than all of the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4 then one of the

buttons

56, 58, 60 or 62 must be depressed whereby to retract the All button 54 to open contact 78 and to close the contacts associated with the newly depressed button. In every case, upon doing this, certain transducers will be short circuited whereby to effectively take them out of circuit and leave in circuit as signal generating means only those transducers which have not been so short circuited. For example, if it is desired to obtain the signal output of

only transducers

1 and 2 both of which are located near the bridge 32 of the instrument, then button 56 is depressed to close

contacts

80 and 82 and to thereby

short circuit transducers

3 and 4. Such short circuiting can be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 3 over contact 80 which is now closed, over the jumper 84, over the now closed contact 82 to the right hand terminal of transducer 4. In addition to

short circuiting transducers

3 and 4, the closing of the

contacts

80 and 82 elfectively connects the right hand terminal of transducer 2 to ground connection G leaving the left hand terminal of transducer 1 connected a previously described. Accordingly the signal flow through the tone control mechanism will be precisely the same as above described.

Likewise, if it is desired to utilize the signals generated only by

transducers

1 and 4, it becomes necessary to take

transducers

2 and 3 out of circuit as by short circuiting. This may be accomplished by depressing button 58 whereby to raise the previously depressed button 56- to open

contacts

80 and 82 and to close

contacts

86 and 88. This eifectively

short circuits transducers

2 and 3 from the left hand terminal transducer 2, over contact 86. through jumper 90, over contact 88, and then to the right hand terminal of transducer 3. The short circuit path is also effective for connecting the right hand terminal of transducer 1 to the left hand terminal of transducer 4 whereby to keep them in series additive relationship so that they can continue to cooperate and produce a signal as previously described. If it is desired to operate with

only transducers

2 and 3 whereby to necessitate the removal of

transducers

1 and 4 from circuit as by short circuiting, button 60 is depressed whereby to retract button 58 through the mechanical linkage 74 and to close

contacts

92 and 94. Transducer 1 becomes short circuited over a circuit that can be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1, over contact 92, and back to the right hand terminal of transducer 1. At the same time transducer 4 is short circuited over a circuit which may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 4, over contact 94 back to the right hand terminal of trans ducer 4. The short circuits above traced effectively connect the left hand terminal of transducer 2 to the capacitor C1 and the right hand terminal of transducer 3 to the ground connection G. Accordingly, the remainder of the circuit functions as previously described. Likewise, when it is desired to operate with just

transducers

3 and 4 and therefore to

short circuit transducers

1 and 2 button 62 is depressed whereby to cause the withdrawal of button 60 through mechanical linkage 74 to open

contacts

92 and 94 and to close

contacts

96 and 98. The closing of

contacts

96 and 98 will provide for the short circuiting of

transducers

1 and 2 which short circuit may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1 over contact 96, through jumper 100, over contact 98 to the right hand terminal of transducer 2. This short circuit path will also effectively connect the left hand terminal of transducer 3 to capacitor C1 so that the circuit will operate in a normal manner. Likewise when it is desired to de-energize the guitar 10 the off button 64 is depressed to thereby retract all the buttons including the last depressed button 62 to open

contacts

96 and 98 and

close contacts

102 and 104. This will efiectively short circuit all four series connected transducers over a circuit which may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1 over contact 102, through jumper 106 and over contact 104 to the right hand terminal of transducer 4. If desired additional contact means (not shown) can be associated with the push button 64 to control the power supply to the amplifier A whereby to de-energize the entire system through the operation of the one push button 64.

It will be noted that additional short circuit paths are included in the circuit of FIG. 2 although they are not necessary to the operation. Thus by connecting the common terminal of

transducers

3 and 4 to jumper 84, the closing of

contacts

80 and 82 by the depression of button 56 will individually short circuit them to give added assurance of no signal leaking from the transducers. Similar connections are made from jumper 90 to the common terminal of

transducers

2 and 3 and from jumper 100 to the common terminals of

transducers

1 and 2 and from jumper 104 to the common terminals of

transducers

2 and 3. As already stated, while such added short circuit means are desirable, they are not wholly necessary to the present invention.

It will be noted that the circuit means associated with push buttons 54 through 64 inclusive are arranged to insure that at least one transducer associated witheach group of strings 42 and 44 is connected in circuit, whereby to insure that there is pick up from each of the six strings on the instrument. While it is conceivable that someone might desire to operate at some point with only the treble strings or only the bass strings, this can be effected by the manner of play and need not be effected through the use of electrical switching means.

The above description of the tone selector means including push buttons 54 through 64 inclusive has been described in combination with the electronic tone control means set for high frequency operation. As already stated the high frequency filtering is accomplished by interposing in the circuit between the transducers and the amplifier a capacitor C1 which is adapted to pass high frequencies at low impedance and to present high impedance to low frequency signals. Thus the low frequencies tend more to pass off to ground through the attenuating resistor R1. If a more balanced mode of operation is desired where there is substantially no filtering, then the button 68 is depressed to retract or raise the button 66 through the mechanical linkage 76 and to close contacts 108 and 110. The closing of these contacts elfectively short circuits the capacitor C1 which short circuiting can be traced from the upper terminal of the capacitor C1, through the contact 110, to the lower terminal of the capacitor C1 and thence to the potentiometer slide 120 of potentiometer R2. With such a connection all frequencies can be passed through to amplifier A whereby to give balance control. It will be noted that the closing of contact 108 provides a circuit path from the left hand terminal of transducer 1 to resistor R1 and thence through that resistor to ground. This circuit path tends to attenuate all frequencies and to compensate for any losses in the capacitor C1.

When it is desired to filter out the higher frequencies and pass to the potentiometer R2 (and amplifier A) only the lower frequencies generated by the

transducers

1, 2, 3 and 4, the push button 70 is depressed whereby to raise the button 68 through the mechanical interlocking means 76 to open contacts 108 and 110 and to close

contacts

114 and 116. The closing of contacts 114 establishes a second short circuit path around capacitor C1 which path may be traced from the upper terminal of capacitor C1. This provides for a bypassing of the capacitor C1 by the low frequency signals whereby to insure their application to the slide 120 of the potentiometer R2. In addition, the closing of contact 116 establishes a high frequency shunt path to ground connection G, whereby to filter off through this low impedance shunt path the high frequency signals. The shunt path may be traced from the left hand terminal of transducer 1, over -con tact 114, through jumper 118, over contact 116, and through capacitor C2 to ground. As stated capacitor C2 is adapted to present a low impedance to high frequency signals and a high impedance to low frequency signals. Therefore the high frequency signals will pass readily therethrough to ground and hence be shunted off from the potentiometer R2. However, the low frequency signals will not pass readily therethrough and therefore will be applied through the previously traced circuit to the slide 120 of the transducer R2.

It will be recognized that other types of switching arrangements can be made for taking various circuit elements hereindescribed into and out of the circuit arrangement without departing from the present invention. Thus, for example, means could be provided for open circuiting a given transducer to take it out of circuit rather than short circuiting said transducer. Such circuit design is well within the capacity of any one skilled in the art once the basic invention is presented as it is herein. Accordingly, for the purpose of this specification and the claims to follow, the term out of circuit may mean either open circuiting of a particular circuit element or the short circuiting of that element.

By dividing the strings of the instrument into two groups and by associating with each group of strings two longitudinally spaced transducers, one adjacent the area of vibration yielding sharp tones and one adjacent an area of vibration yielding deeper tones, and by interconnecting such transducers in such a manner as to be able to select various tonal combinations, an instrument with a great variety of tonal output can be achieved in accordance with this invention. The wide variety of tonal output so achievable can be further enhanced by adding to the tonal selection means electronic filtering circuits togive further selection of ultimate tonal output. Further frequency control may be effected manually as by the mechanical crank means 40 for simultaneously varying the tension on all strings to yield further tonal control. All of the selected frequencies, as already noted, are applied to a volume control potentiometer R2 which in turn is connected to a plug connector P or other connecting means to a single amplifier A which is adapted to amplify all signals in the audio range and to put out to a matched speaker S electric signals so amplified for transducing back into sound waves. Thus with a single amplifier and a single speaker a very wide variety of tonal effects can be accomplished by practicing the present invention.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of the present invention and have suggested modifications therein, other changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric stringed instrument comprising a plurality of side by side strings including a first group and a second group; a bridge extending transversely of said strings in engaging relation therewith; a first trans ducermeans disposed adjacent said bridge and including a first transducer in transducing relation with said first group of strings and being out of transducing relation with said second group of strings, and a second transducer in transducing relation with said second group of strings and being out of transducing relation with said first group of strings; a second transducer means disposed remote from said bridge and including a third transducer in transducing relation with said first group of strings and being out of transducing relation with said second group of strings, and a fourth transducer in transducing relation with said second group of strings and being out of transducing relation with said first group of strings; an amplifier having input and output means; a speaker connected to said amplifier output means; circuit means for connecting said two transducer means to said amplifier means; said circuit means including switch means for selectively and collectively connecting said transducers into and out of said circuit means.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes switches for simultaneously connecting at least one even numbered transducer and at least one odd numbered transducer into said circuit means.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth circuits for connecting said transducer to said amplifier input, and said switch means includes a first switch for establishing said first circuit with all four transducers in said first circuit, and a second switch for establishing said second circuit with said first and second transducers in said second circuit and said third and fourth transducers out of said second circuit, a third switch for establishing said third circuit with said first and fourth transducers in said third circuit and said second and third transducers out of said third circuit, a fourth switch for establishing said fourth circuit with said second and third transducers in said fourth circuit and said first and fourth transducers out of said fourth circuit, and a fifth switch for establishing said fifth circuit with said third and fourth transducers in said fifth circuit and said first and second transducers out of said fifth circuit.

4. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising frequency discriminating means, and means for connecting said frequency discriminating means into and for removing said frequency discriminating means from said circuit means.

5. The instrument of claim 3, further comprising frequency discriminating means, and means for connecting said frequency discriminating means into and for removing said frequency discriminating means from said circuit means.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein said frequency discriminating means includes a low frequency filter for substantially preventing the passage of low frequency signals therethrough, a high frequency filter for substantially preventing the passage of high frequency signals therethrough, and switch means for connecting said filters into and for removing said filters from said circuit means.

7. The instrument of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of mechanically interlocked pushbuttons, one for each switch, for operating said switches.

8. The instrument of claim 4, further comprising a mechanical means for simultaneously adjusting the tension on all of said strings.

9. The instrument of claim 8, wherein said instrument is an electric guitar comprising a sound box and a neck having one end secured to said sound box, said bridge being mounted on the upper surface of said sound box, a tail piece on said upper surface of said sound box between the end thereof remote from said necek and said bridge for anchoring one end of each of said strings, means adjacent the other end of said neck for anchoring the other ends of said strings, said first and second transducers being mounted in said upper surface of said sound box adjacent said bridge in underlying relation with said strings, said third and fourth transducers being mounted in said upper surface of said sound box adjacent said one end of said neck in underlying relation with said strings, said pushbuttons being mounted in said upper surface of said sound box.

10. The electric guitar of claim 10, further comprising manually operable means for moving said tail piece toward and away from said bridge to simultaneously adjust the tension on all of said strings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,897,709 8/1959 McCarty et al 84--1.16 X 3,035,472 5/1962 Freeman 841.l6 3,194,870 7/1965 Tondreau et al. 841.16 3,213,180 10/1965 Cookerly et al 84-1.16 3,290,424 12/1966 Fender 841.16

HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner S. CHATMON, 111., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 84-l.l4, 1.17

W105) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 56 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,478,158 Dated November 11, 1969 InVEntOI(S) Charles C. Trainor It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 1: "lower" should read low Column 6, line, line 34: "86." should read 86, Column 9, line 3:"claim 1 wherein" should read claim 1, wherein Column 10, line 4: "claim 4," should read claim 3, line 7: "claim 8," should read claim 7,--; line 12: "necek" should read neck line 23: "claim 10," should read claim 9,

SIGNED AND SEALED AUG 1970 (SEAL) EdwudlLIr. w m.

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