US3550496A

US3550496A - Tiltable guitar neck incorporating thrust-absorbing,pivot and locking element

Info

Publication number: US3550496A
Application number: US841240A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence L Fender
Original assignee: Columbia Broadcasting System Inc
Current assignee: CBS Broadcasting Inc; Fender Musical Instruments Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-14
Filing date: 1969-07-14
Publication date: 1970-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-29

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Clarence L. Fender 3,204,510 9/1965 Hopf H 84/291 I i Fl-l fll ll, il f- 3,251,257 5/1966 Bunker 84/293X 1969 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales ,[45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 A" G d C [731' Assignee Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. omey ausewl an an New York, N.Y. a corporation of New York ABSTRACT: A Spanish guitar of the type in which a remova- [54] '"LTABLE GUITAR NECK INCORPORATING ble neck is secured by screwsto the guitar body, the inner end THRUSTABSORBING PWOT AND LOCKING of the neck seating on the guitar body at cooperating surfaces ELEMENT which are generally parallel to the neck. First and second 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. thrust-absorbing washers are mounted respectively to the neck and guitar body at such cooperating surfaces, and US. Cl. receive a bolt extends erpendicular to the cooperating lllt- CL Glod surfaces. Such bolt serves as an axis element about which the guitar neck pivots when it is being adjusted ubstantially in the 267, 291 plane of the face of the guitar body, as a locking element to prevent undesired inclination of the guitar neck, and as a [56] References Cited shear-absorbing element to absorb the thrust of the guitar UNITED STATES PATENTS strings. A set screw is threaded through one of the washers and 2,793,556 5/1957 Maccaferri 84/293X into engagement with the other, in order to change the degree 3,l96,730 7/1965 Daniel 84/293 of inclination of the neck.

PATENTED ninzelsm SHEET, 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. 64485'4/615 4. 55/1/05? pr me/mm.

TILTABLE GUITAR NECK INCORPORATING TI-IRUST- ABSORBING, PIVOT AND LOCKING ELEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of guitars of the Spanish" type, including acoustic, electric and acoustic-electric. More specifically, the field is that of joint means for mounting guitar necks to guitar bodies in an adjustable manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,507, there is shown (element 51) a thrust-absorbing means adapted to withstand the tension of the guitar strings, but such means necessitated the use of shims (52) which were laborious to employ in the factory and which made it difficult for the guitarist to adjust the inclination of the neck when desired.

Various U.S. Pats., for example, Nos. 1,755,019; 1,818,631; 2,335,244; 2,497,116; 3,196,730; 3,204,510 and 3,251,257, teach devices which are adapted to permit variations in neck inclination through use of screws or other threaded fastener means. However, the constructions described in such patents are not commercially practical, for various reasons including excessive expense and complexity, insufficient strength, requirement for excessive clearances, unsightliness, inability to adjust not only the neck inclination but also the position of the neck in the plane of the face of the guitar body, etc. Very importantly, the guitars described in such references did not incorporate any element adapted to perform the thrust-absorbing function of the above-indicated element 51 of US. Pat. No. 3,302,507, but instead relied upon such things as wooden shoulders to absorb thrust.

There therefore exists a distinct need for a highly practical and mass-producible neck-mounting or joint means which permits simple adjustment not only of neck inclination but also of neck position in the plane of the face of the body, and wherein the thrust of the strings is absorbed without the necessity of a special or additional thrust-absorbing element and without need for cooperating wooden shoulders or the like. The neck mounting and adjusting means should be able to maintain the neck in any desired inclined position not only after the guitar strings are mounted and tensioned, but also prior to and during mounting and tensioning thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention accomplishes the above-indicated results by providing a bolt which extends generally perpendicular to the face of the guitar body and through cooperating washers which are securely mounted at the adjacent neck and body surfaces. The bolt is threadedly associated with only one of the washers, so that turning of the bolt maintains (clamps or locks) such washer in abutment with inclination-adjusting means such as a setscrew threaded through one of the washers. The bolt (together with the associated washers) is the primary thrust-absorbing means for absorbing the tension of the strings, and is utilized in conjunction with a plurality of screws to effect mounting of the neck. The bolt also acts as a pivot axis during adjustment of the neck parallel to the plane of the body. One edge of the guitar body serves as a fulcrum during adjustment of the neck to inclined positions relative to the body.

BRIEF DESCRlPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a solid-body electric guitar incorporating the present neck-mounting and neck-adjusting means;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded fragmentary isometric view illustrating the under surface of the inner end of the guitar neck, and the adjacent upper surface of the guitar body;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the cooperating portions of the neck and body, the neck being horizontal as distinguished from inclined;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing the neck in inclined position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom'plan view illustrating the decorative washer means which seats the heads of the screws and the bolt; and

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG. 3 but illustrating the use of the invention-on a hollow-body acoustic guitar as distinguished from a solid-body electric guitar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will first be described as incorporated in a solid-body electric guitar having a body 10 and a neck 11. A plurality of tensioned strings 12 are stretched over body 10 and neck 11 between a bridge device 13 and tuning screws 14 located on the head end of the neck.

Throughout this specification and claims, the expression inclination adjustment, and similar expressions, denote-the inclination of the neck 11 relative to a plane containing the upper surface of body 10. Such inclination adjustment aids in determining the spacing of the strings 12 above the frets 16 on the upper surface of the neck. Throughout this specification and claims, the expression lateral adjustment," and similar expressions, are employed to denote adjustment of neck 11 generally in (or parallel to) the plane of the upper surface of body 10. Lateral adjustment is effected by pivoting neck 11 generally in or parallel to such plane in order to change the angle between the longitudinal axis of the neck and the longitudinal axis of the guitar body. Both inclination adjustment and lateral adjustment are only effected through small angles and with high degrees of precision.

The solid wooden body 10 of the guitar is shown in FIGS. 2 -4 as having formed therein a recess, channel or socket the bottom wall 17 of which is generally parallel to the face of the guitar body. The recess, channel or socket also has side and end walls 18, it being emphasized, however, that such side and end walls 18 are not required to aid in seating of the neck or in strengthening the connection between the neck and the guitar body.

The inner end of neck I1 (remote from tuning screws 14) is (FIG. 2) shaped with a lower flat surface '19 adapted to seat on body surface 17 when the neck is in the noninclined condition of FIG. 3. The inner neck end also has side and end walls 21 adapted to be close to but not normally in contact with the corresponding body walls 18.

The curvature of the neck 11 may be changed through use of a tension rod 22 and associated nut 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are mounted beneath the fret board 24. For a complete description of the present neck 11, which is but one of numerous necks which may be mounted and adjusted by the present invention, reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,143,028, issued Aug. 4, 1964, for an Adjustable Neck Construction for Guitars and the Like.

The inner neck end is secured in the body socket by means of first and

second screws

26 and 27, and a bolt 28. The

screws

26,27 extend upwardly throughbody 10 in equally-spaced relationship from a fulcrum edge 29 of such body. The fulcrum edge is provided at the end of surface 17 which is relatively adjacent the head of the guitar. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the under surface 19 of the neck end is always in contact with the fulcrum edge 29, so that such edge properly orients the neck relative to the body and serves (in combination with the adjustment element described hereinafter) as part of a rigid line-point support for the neck. Edge 29 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guitar, and is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the neck.

The

screws

26,27 are ordinary wood screws which extend through (but are not threadedly related with) bores 31,32 (FIG. 2) in the body, such bores being located equal distances on opposite sides of (and parallel to) a plane which is perpendicular to the guitar body and contains the longitudinal axis thereof. For reasons stated hereinafter, the

bores

31,32 need not be large in diameter but instead may'have the normal working tolerance or clearance relative to the outer diameters of the

screws

26,27 The upper pointed ends of the

screws

26,27 are inserted into, and threadedly lock with, bores 33,34

provided in the neck and having diameters smaller than those 4 of

bores

31,32.

The bolt 28 extends upwardly through body in perpendicular relationship relative to surface 17, and in parallel relationship relative to the

screws

26,27 The bolt is located generally in the above-indicated perpendicular plane which extends between the two

screws

26,27. Furthermore, the bolt is spaced a relatively long distance away from fulcrum edge 29 in a direction toward the tail of the guitar) whereas the

screws

26,27 are relatively close to such edge 29. The bolt 28 is relatively large in diameter since it is adapted to absorb large amounts of thrust or shear. The bore 36 which is provided in body 10 for bolt 28 need not be very large in diameter, since it need only have a normal working tolerance or clearance relative to the bolt.

The nut which is associated with the bolt 28 is an internallythreaded washer 37 having a relatively large diameter and substantial thickness. Nut or washer 37 is seated snugly in a correspondingly-sized circular recess 38 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is formed in the underside of the neck. The depth of the recess is preferably such the lower surface thereof is flush with or slightly depressed beneath (that is to say, at ahigher elevation than) surface 19. The threaded end of bolt 28, which is threadedly associated with the nut or washer 37, extends into a bore 39 in neck 11 and which is concentric with the recess 38 for the washer. Recess 38 and bore 39 may be rapidly and economically formed, with great precision, by first drilling the bore 39 and then using the previously-drilled hole as a center for a spot facer which forms recess 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, and in dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, the nut or washer 37 is rigidly locked in recess 38 by means of wood screws 41 which extend through suitable countcrbored bores in the nut. The lower surfaces of the heads of screws 44 are substantially flush with the lower surface of the washer 37. Because of the presence of screws 44, tightening of bolt 28 will not pull the washer out of its recess, but instead will pull the entire inner end of the guitar neck downwardly against an inclination adjustment means described hereinafter.

A second washer, numbered 42, is mounted snugly in a recess 43 provided in body 10 and registered with recess 38. Washer 42 preferably corresponds to washer 37 except that the central bore in the washer 42 is not threadedly associated with bolt 28 but instead is barely large enough to permit passage of such bolt therethrough without resulting in binding. Screws 44 are employed to lock the washer 42 in its recess, and have flush heads as do screws 41. The recess 43 is rapidly and economically formed by spot facing, using the bore36 as the centering means.

The means for determining the inclination of the neck is a setscrew 46 which is threaded through an internally-threaded bore in washer 42. Setscrew 46 is located on the opposite side of bolt 28 from

screws

26,27, and is preferably contained in the above-indicated perpendicular plane which extends midway between

such screws

26,27. The upper end ofsetscrew 46 seats against the lower surface of washer 37, whereas the lower end of the setscrew extends into a bore 47 which passes (parallel to bore 36) through the guitar body to the lower surface thereof. A wrench socket 48 is formed in the lower end of the setscrew and is adapted to receive a small-diameter adjustment wrench inserted through bore 47.

A decorative washer plate or pad 51 is mounted on the lower surface of the guitar body and has openings therethrough to receive the

screws

26,27 and the bolt 28. Also, a small opening 52 is formed in the washer plate 51 to receive the adjustment wrench for setscrew 46. The heads of the screws-26,27 and bolt 28 are preferably conical, and seat in corresponding conical surfaces of the washer plate.

OPERATlON, EMBODIMENT OF FlGS.l-5

Screws

26,27 serve the purpose of absorbing the tension which is created due to the pull of the guitar strings 12, such guitar strings tending to lift the head of the guitar and thus incline the neck upwardly. The

screws

26,27 do not absorb shear or thrust (forces parallel to surfaces 17 and 19) to any substantial extent. Such screws are sufficiently close to fulcrum edge 29 that the neck may be adjusted without loosening or tightening the screws.

Because of the fact that the washer-shaped nut 37 and the washer 42 are seated very snugly in their associated

recesses

38 and 43, and also because these elements are firmly locked by

screws

41 and 44 to the guitar neckarid the guitar body, respectively, they operate efficiently to transmit thrust (forces parallel to

surfaces

17 and 19, due to the tension of the strings) from the neck to the body. The edges of large-

diameter washers

37 and 42 have much bearing area and therefore transmit thrust effectively relative to the cylindrical walls of

recesses

38 and 43.

The thrust or shear forces are transmitted entirely through the bolt 28 which, as stated above, is sufficiently large in diameter to perform this function. Because the bolt is threadedly associated with nut or washer 37, and because the diameter ofthe bolt is only very slightly less than the diameter of the central hole in washer 42, the thrust or shear will be absorbed without permitting substantial movement of the neck 11 longitudinally of the guitar body 10.

To effect the lateral adjustment defined at the beginning of this specification, in order that the neck will be in the proper alignment relative to the axis of the guitar body, the assembler at the factory only inserts the tension screws 26,27 to a somewhat limited extent, and does not tighten these screws initially. He then employs the bolt28 as an axis means about which the neck 11 is pivoted in a horizontal plane (assuming that the guitar body 10 is horizontal) until the lateral adjustment of the neck is correct. Such lateral adjustment may, if desired, be made when strings 12 are in mounted condition but not tightened excessively.

It is then merely necessary to completely tighten the

screws

26 and 27, which will serve to maintain the desired lateral adjustment throughout the life of the guitar. The tightening of

screws

26,27 pulls the neck down tightly on edge 29 and thus creates a large amount of friction preventing pivoting of the neck about bolt 28. The neck is initially assembled (and lateral adjustment made) with surfaces 1719 in flatwise engagement, FIG. 3. Inclination of the neck (for example, to the FIG. 4 position) increases the pressure at edge 29, so that the friction lock is effectively maintained at all times.

The described lateral adjustment is through only a very small angle but one which must be critically determined, if the neck position is to be proper relative to body position. The normal working clearance or tolerance provided between

screws

26,27 and the bores through body 10 therefor is sufficient to permit such lateral adjustment through the necessary slight angle.

There will next be described the inclination adjustment. The construction of neck 11, and the manner of association thereof with the body, are caused to be such that it will never be desired to incline the neck counterclockwise from the seated position shown in F IG. 3. The guitar is initially assembled in the FIG. 3 position, as indicated above, with setscrew 46 adjusted downwardly sufficiently far to permit the

surfaces

17 and 19 to closely engageeach other. It is emphasized that even prior to full tensioning of the strings 12, the neck is rigidly as sociated with the guitar body due to the action of tensi on'scr'eii/s 26,27 (which are-then in tightened condition) and due to the fact that the bolt 28 pulls downwardly on its nut 37 ."which is in turn rigidly locked to the neck.

After initial assembly, and after the described lateral adjustment of the neck, the strings 12 are tensioned to the'proper degree, following which a determination is made as to whether or not the strings 12 are an excessive distance above the frets 16 (FIG. 1). If they are, the assembler at the factory merely turns the bolt 28 to release the locking action performed thereby, inserts a wrench through hole 52 and bore 47 into socket 48, and turns the setscrew 46 sufficiently far to cause the strings to be the correct distance from the frets.

Thereafter, bolt 28 is tightened in order to maintain washer or nut 37 seated rightly on the upper end of setscrew 46. It is emphasized that this tightening by the bolt 28 does not adversely affect the adjustment'effected by the setscrew. The adjusted position may be, for example, that shown in FIG. 4. As previously indicated, there is no necessity for loosening or tightening the tension screws 26 and 27 at any time after the lateral adjustment step.

The inclination of the neck 11 due to adjustment step. FIG. 3 to the FIG. 4 position does not create any substantial weakening action (resulting from bending) of

screws

26 and 27. This is because the lower surface 19 of the neck slides slightly to the left relative to fulcrum edge 29 as the neck inclination is adjusted from the FIG. 3 position to the FIG. 4 position. Such sliding tends to counteract any tendency to bend the tension screws 26,27 and makes it unnecessary to provide anything more than the normal working clearance between such screws and the bores provided in body therefor.

Should the passage of time affect the neck in such manner that an inclination adjustment is necessary by the musician long after the guitar has left the factory, the musician merely repeats the above operations of loosening the bolt 28, adjusting setscrew 46 and then tightening the bolt again to provide a clamping action. The inclination adjustment is extremely easy and may be done without use of excessive force to turn the setscrew 46, even when the strings are in place and tensioned. One reason for such ease of operation is that there is normally clearance between the

surfaces

18 and 21 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that no binding results at such surfaces.

In summary, it will be seen that the bolt 28 serves as a pivot axis element for lateral adjustment of neck 11 during assembly at the factory, serves (together with washers 37 and 42) as a shear-absorbing or thrust-absorbing means to counteract the string tension and properly transmit the forces resulting from such tension from the neck 11 to the body 10, and serves as a clamping or locking means to maintain washer 37 properly seated on setscrew 46 both prior to and after mounting and tensioning of the strings 12.

The inner portion of the neck is either seated flatwise on surface 17 (FIG. 3), or else is seated by a highly stable (and locked) line-point relationship (FIG. 4). The line is the fulcrum edge 29; the point is the top of setscrew 46; and the locking is effected by bolt 28.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6

FIG. 6 shows the exact same mounting and adjustment means as described relative to the previous embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, except that the guitar is not a solid-body electric but is instead a hollow-body acoustic guitar as described in the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,507. The parts in FIG. 6 have been numbered correspondingly to FIGS. 1-5, except that the reference numerals are followed by the letter a in some instances. It is emphasized that the thrust-absorbing element 51 and shims 52 described in such patent are omitted, as are the two tension screws 50 which are closest to the tail region (remote from the tuning screws). The screws and bolt are sufficiently long to pass through the neck block of the guitar body. r

I claim:

1. A guitar having an adjustable neck, which comprises:

a guitar body having a face portion and also having a mounting portion adapted to mount the inner end ofa neck;

a guitar neck having an inner end disposed in overlapping relationship on said neck-mounting portion of said body, said neck being generally parallel to said face portion;

a plurality of guitar strings connected in tensioned relationship between said body and the end of said neck remote therefrom;

"an elongated thrust-absorbing, pivot and locking element provided at said neck-mounting portion and extending transversely to said face portion;

first means to associate said element with said inner end of said neck in such manner that thrust forces created in said neck as the result of the tension of said strings will be transmitted to said element to create corresponding shear forces therein;

second means to associate said element with said body in such manner that said shear forces will be transmitted to said body and absorbed thereby;

means to effect an inclination adjustment of said neck relative to said body;

means responsive to rotation of said element about the iongitudinal axis thereof to lock said neck in an inclined condition determined by said inclination adjustment means; and

means to lock said neck against pivotal movement about said element to thereby maintain said neck in a predetermined condition of lateral adjustment relative to said body.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said element is a bolt extending through said mounting portion and generally perpendicularly to said face portion.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said element is a bolt extending through said mounting portion and generally perpendicularly to said face portion, in which said first means to associate said bolt with said inner neck end is a nut rigidly connected to such neck end, and in which said means responsive to rotation of said bolt about the longitudinal axis thereof is the internally-threaded bore in said nut.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to effect an inclination adjustment of said neck is a setscrew threaded through one of said first and second means, said setscrew being adapted to bear against the other of said first and second means, said setscrew being adjustable from the exterior of the guitar.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to lock said neck against pivotal movement about said element constitutes first and second tension screws extended through at least portions of said body and neck to connect the same to each other, said tension screws being between said element and said remote end of said neck.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a fulcrum edge is provided on said neck-mounting portion between said element and said remote end of said neck, said edge serving as a seat and stable support for said neck, said edge and said neck being so related to each other that said neck may shift toward or sway from the tail portion of said body.

7. For use on a guitar the body of which has a face portion and also has a portion adapted to mount the inner end of a neck, said guitar having a neck generally parallel to said face portion and having an inner end disposed in overlapping relationship on said neck-mounting portion of said body, said guitar also having a plurality of guitar strings connected in tensioned relationship between said body and the end of said neck remote therefrom, a neck-mounting and neck-adjusting means which comprises:

an elongated thrust-absorbing pivot and locking element provided at said neck-mounting portion and extending through said neck-mounting portion transversely to said face portion;

means to effect an inclination adjustmentof said neck relative to said body;

means responsive to rotation of said element about the longitudinal axis thereof to lock said neck in an inclined condition determined by said inclination-adjustment means; and

8. A joint means for making an adjustable connection between a guitar body and a guitar neck which extends from one end of the face of said body and generally parallel to such face, said one body end having formed therein a socket adapted to receive the inner end of said neck, the bottom wall of said socket being generally parallel to said face, said joint means comprising:

tionship whereby said nut will transmit thrust forces from said neck to said bolt, and said washer will transmit thrust forces from said bolt to said body; I a setscrew threaded through said washer and adapted to exert a bearing force against the under side of said neck; said setscrew being accessible from the exterior of said body for adjustment therefrom; first and second wood screws extended upwardly through said body and threaded into said vneck; and said wood screws being located near the outer end of said socket relatively adjacent the head end of said neck. 9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said setscrew is disposed on the opposite side of said bolt from said wood screws, and exerts said bearing force against said nut.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said body is provided with a fulcrum edge at the outer end of said socket,

said fulcrum edge being generally parallel to said face of said body and being transverse to the axis thereof, said fulcrum edge being adapted to seat the under side of said neck whereby to cooperate with said setscrew in providing a linepoint support therefor at desired inclined positions, said bolt locking said neck in said inclined positions.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which a washer plate is provided on the under side of said guitar body to receive the head of said bolt and the heads of said wood screws, said washer plate having an opening therethrough through which an adjustment tool may be inserted through said body to adjust said setscrew.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 8., in which means are provided to lock said nut to said neck, and in which means are provided to lock said washer to said body.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 50, 96 a e December 29, 1970 Inventor(s) Clarence L. Fender It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that: said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, the last line of claim 6, cancel "sway" and substitute away Column 8, line 6, after "therefrom;" insert and line 8, after "neck;" cancel "and".

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of August 1971.

SEAL Attest:

EDWARD M.FLEICHER,JR. Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J. Commissioner of Patent