WO1994016431A1 - Coupling structure for fixing the neck of a stringed musical instrument - Google Patents

Coupling structure for fixing the neck of a stringed musical instrument Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994016431A1
WO1994016431A1 PCT/FI1994/000020 FI9400020W WO9416431A1 WO 1994016431 A1 WO1994016431 A1 WO 1994016431A1 FI 9400020 W FI9400020 W FI 9400020W WO 9416431 A1 WO9416431 A1 WO 9416431A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
neck
sound box
instrument
sound
trough
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI1994/000020
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kari Nieminen
Original Assignee
Kari Nieminen
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kari Nieminen filed Critical Kari Nieminen
Publication of WO1994016431A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994016431A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D1/00—General design of stringed musical instruments
    • G10D1/04—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres
    • G10D1/05—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres with fret boards or fingerboards
    • G10D1/08—Guitars
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/06—Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fastening structure for fastening the neck of a stringed instrument to the sound box of the instrument as well as an instrument neck for use in connection with such a fastening structure.
  • the fingerboard In traditional attachments of the neck of a stringed instrument, e.g. a guitar, effected by using a dovetail joint and its derivatives, the fingerboard is highly susceptible to buckling or flexure as a result of tension on the strings and climatic conditions.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a more rigid fastening structure for the neck of an instrument yet without impairing the acoustic characteristics of the instrument.
  • this object has been resolved in such a manner that and a fastening structure of the invention is characterized in that the sound board of the sound box is provided on the section thereof closer to the neck of an instrument with a trough-like groove, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the neck and in which the end of the neck is adapted to be engaged.
  • the neck attachment is sturdier and more rigid than in prior known types of joints and no above described buckling effect is experienced, since the neck attachment will be more rigid and tension of the strings will be better equalized on the sound board and waists of an instrument.
  • Said trough-like groove may comprise a separate profiled element mounted on the sound box or it may be laminated, shaped or cast during the manufacturing process as part of the sound box.
  • a preferred arrangement is such that said trough-like groove is adapted to brace itself against the sound board of the sound box and a waist portion connecting the sound board and the back of the sound box.
  • a neck fastening structure of the invention is quicker and easier to manufacture industrially than the traditional structure.
  • the neck can also be designed to be removable.
  • the fastening must bve effected by using a properly selected adhesive which can be subjected to a thermal treatment for opening the joint whenever necessary.
  • the neck of an instrument extends almost over the entire length and width of the fingerboard into the interior of the sound box.
  • the novel neck fastening method has a beneficial effect on the sound of an instrument.
  • the sound vibrations are more readily transmitted to the sound board and sound box of an instrument by virtue of the novel lightweight structure.
  • a fastening structure of the invention is applicable e.g. for traditional instrument necks manufactured from solid or laminated wood as well as for a variety of necks made of composites.
  • the material for a fastening trough or profile can be e.g. wood, polymer or a composite.
  • a neck for a stringed instrument used in connection with a fastening structure of the invention is characterized in that said instrument neck is made at least partially hollow and that the hollow section of the neck is in an unobstructed contact with the sound box of an instrument.
  • the thin and hollow neck of an instrument is used as an acoustic resonance space, which is in an open contact with a sound box through the bottom end of the neck.
  • the open construction of the neck end assists in the transmission of vibration by air into the sound box.
  • When plucking a string its vibration transmits from the string to the bridge and the sound board. It is principally the sound board that vibrates and the waists and the back reflect this vibration. The reflection of sound is transmitted out of the sound box through a sound hole or holes.
  • Some of the vibration of a string is transmitted to the neck by way of the fingerboard and the nut, depending on the fingering of a musician.
  • the vibration of a string is transmitted to the sound box by way of the neck attachment.
  • Extremely light structures in the neck and neck attachment to the sound box enhance significantly the resonance qualities of an instrument and the transmission of vibration between the neck and the sound box.
  • the neck is preferably made of a composite of epoxy resin and carbon fiber.
  • the use of a composite enables the neck to become highly rigid and that prevents the neck from bending.
  • the carbon fiber enables the manufacture of a hollow neck which is nonetheless sufficiently rigid.
  • the manufacturing costs of the neck are lower since it involves less material.
  • the manufacturing process is speedy and flexible.
  • the neck structure is lighter than before by virtue of a thinner and firmer profile.
  • the novel neck structure is suitable for composites, which enables the manufacture of a very thin-walled but sufficiently rigid neck for a musical instrument.
  • Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a joint structure between the sound box and the neck of an instrument.
  • Fig. 2 shows a section along a line II-II in fig. 1.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in schematic longitudinal and cross- sections a fastening structure for fastening a guitar neck 1 to a guitar body or sound box 2.
  • the sound box 2 includes a sound board 3, which is provided on the section thereof closer to the instrument neck 1 with a longitudinally extending trough-like groove 4, wherein the end of said neck 1 is adapted to be secured e.g. by gluing or pasting.
  • the groove 4 may comprise a separate profiled element 5 fastened to the sound box 2 or it may be laminated, shaped or casat as a part of the sound box 2 during the manufacturing process.
  • the groove 4 comprises a separate, trough-like, cross-sectionally essentially U-shaped profiled element 5.
  • the U-profile 5 includes side walls 11 whose edge surfaces 12 are pasted essentially over the entire length thereof to the sound board 3 of said sound box 2.
  • the U-profile is by its outer surface pasted to a shoe brace 12 used for bracing a waist portion 6 connecting the sound board 3 and the back 10 of said sound box 2.
  • the waist portion 6 is preferably adapted to extend over the front surface of the U-profile and, in addition, the waist portion 6 and said front sirface of the U-profile are pasted to each other. If necessary, the bracing of U-profile 5 and/or neck 1 can be improved by means of separate reinforcing ribs.
  • the U-profile 5 can be laminated, shaped or cast as a part of the sound box 2 during the manufacturing process.
  • the inner surfaces of both side walls 11 of U-profile 5 are provided with a recess 7, the neck 1 being provided with matching protrusions 8 to be engaged therein.
  • the recesses 7 and protrusions 8 are adapted to extend in the longitudinal direction of neck 1 but can also extend transversely to said longitudinal direction.
  • the recesses 7 and the protrusions 8 are shaped to secure a relative engagement of themselves.
  • a guitar-neck fastening structure of the invention renders it possible to make the instrument neck 1 at least partially hollow and that a hollow section 9 included in the neck 1 has an unobstructed communication with the instrument sound box 2.
  • the neck 1 is open by its end surface facing towards the sound box 2.
  • a neck 1 that is hollow and open relative to the sound box 2 stands to gain some acoustic benefits, as referred to above.
  • the neck 1 need not be hollow but can also be made of a traditionally used solid material.
  • the hollow profile for neck 1 shown in fig. 2 is provided with a partition 14 for reinforcing the structure.
  • a fingerboard 15 On top of the neck 1 is further mounted a fingerboard 15, which can also be made as an integral part of the neck 1.
  • the profiled element 5 is preferably dimensioned in a manner such that, with the exception of fingerboard 15, the neck 1 is embedded within the groove consisting of said profiled element 5.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening structure for fastening the neck (1) of a stringed instrument to the sound box (2) of the instrument. The sound board (3) of the sound box (2) is provided on the section thereof closer to the neck (1) of an instrument with a trough-like groove (4) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the neck (1) and comprising a profiled element (5) for fastening the end of the neck (1) in a manner such that said profiled element (5) is adapted to brace itself against the sound board (3) of the sound box (2) and against a waist portion (6) connecting the sound board (3) and the back (10) of the sound box (2).

Description

COUPLING STRUCTURE FOR FIXING THE NECK OF Λ STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.
The present invention relates to a fastening structure for fastening the neck of a stringed instrument to the sound box of the instrument as well as an instrument neck for use in connection with such a fastening structure.
In traditional attachments of the neck of a stringed instrument, e.g. a guitar, effected by using a dovetail joint and its derivatives, the fingerboard is highly susceptible to buckling or flexure as a result of tension on the strings and climatic conditions.
An object of the invention is to provide a more rigid fastening structure for the neck of an instrument yet without impairing the acoustic characteristics of the instrument.
According to the invention, this object has been resolved in such a manner that and a fastening structure of the invention is characterized in that the sound board of the sound box is provided on the section thereof closer to the neck of an instrument with a trough-like groove, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the neck and in which the end of the neck is adapted to be engaged. By virtue of this novel joint the neck attachment is sturdier and more rigid than in prior known types of joints and no above described buckling effect is experienced, since the neck attachment will be more rigid and tension of the strings will be better equalized on the sound board and waists of an instrument.
Said trough-like groove may comprise a separate profiled element mounted on the sound box or it may be laminated, shaped or cast during the manufacturing process as part of the sound box.
A preferred arrangement is such that said trough-like groove is adapted to brace itself against the sound board of the sound box and a waist portion connecting the sound board and the back of the sound box.
A neck fastening structure of the invention is quicker and easier to manufacture industrially than the traditional structure. The neck can also be designed to be removable. Thus, the fastening must bve effected by using a properly selected adhesive which can be subjected to a thermal treatment for opening the joint whenever necessary.
The neck of an instrument extends almost over the entire length and width of the fingerboard into the interior of the sound box. The novel neck fastening method has a beneficial effect on the sound of an instrument. The sound vibrations are more readily transmitted to the sound board and sound box of an instrument by virtue of the novel lightweight structure. Especially the notes played on the section of the fingerboard closer to the sound box sound better than with the necks designed by using traditional neck fastening methods. In a solution of the invention, it has been possible to reduce and lighten the mass of a shoe brace, which contributes to the enhancement of the resonance qualities of an instrument.
A fastening structure of the invention is applicable e.g. for traditional instrument necks manufactured from solid or laminated wood as well as for a variety of necks made of composites. The material for a fastening trough or profile can be e.g. wood, polymer or a composite. A neck for a stringed instrument used in connection with a fastening structure of the invention is characterized in that said instrument neck is made at least partially hollow and that the hollow section of the neck is in an unobstructed contact with the sound box of an instrument.
In a solution of the invention, the thin and hollow neck of an instrument is used as an acoustic resonance space, which is in an open contact with a sound box through the bottom end of the neck. The open construction of the neck end assists in the transmission of vibration by air into the sound box. When plucking a string, its vibration transmits from the string to the bridge and the sound board. It is principally the sound board that vibrates and the waists and the back reflect this vibration. The reflection of sound is transmitted out of the sound box through a sound hole or holes. Some of the vibration of a string is transmitted to the neck by way of the fingerboard and the nut, depending on the fingering of a musician. Thus, the vibration of a string is transmitted to the sound box by way of the neck attachment. Extremely light structures in the neck and neck attachment to the sound box enhance significantly the resonance qualities of an instrument and the transmission of vibration between the neck and the sound box.
The neck is preferably made of a composite of epoxy resin and carbon fiber. The use of a composite enables the neck to become highly rigid and that prevents the neck from bending. The carbon fiber enables the manufacture of a hollow neck which is nonetheless sufficiently rigid. The manufacturing costs of the neck are lower since it involves less material. The manufacturing process is speedy and flexible. The neck structure is lighter than before by virtue of a thinner and firmer profile. The novel neck structure is suitable for composites, which enables the manufacture of a very thin-walled but sufficiently rigid neck for a musical instrument.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a joint structure between the sound box and the neck of an instrument.
Fig. 2 shows a section along a line II-II in fig. 1.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in schematic longitudinal and cross- sections a fastening structure for fastening a guitar neck 1 to a guitar body or sound box 2.
The sound box 2 includes a sound board 3, which is provided on the section thereof closer to the instrument neck 1 with a longitudinally extending trough-like groove 4, wherein the end of said neck 1 is adapted to be secured e.g. by gluing or pasting. The groove 4 may comprise a separate profiled element 5 fastened to the sound box 2 or it may be laminated, shaped or casat as a part of the sound box 2 during the manufacturing process.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, the groove 4 comprises a separate, trough-like, cross-sectionally essentially U-shaped profiled element 5. The U-profile 5 includes side walls 11 whose edge surfaces 12 are pasted essentially over the entire length thereof to the sound board 3 of said sound box 2. In addition, the U-profile is by its outer surface pasted to a shoe brace 12 used for bracing a waist portion 6 connecting the sound board 3 and the back 10 of said sound box 2. The waist portion 6 is preferably adapted to extend over the front surface of the U-profile and, in addition, the waist portion 6 and said front sirface of the U-profile are pasted to each other. If necessary, the bracing of U-profile 5 and/or neck 1 can be improved by means of separate reinforcing ribs.
Unlike the solution shown in the drawing, the U-profile 5 can be laminated, shaped or cast as a part of the sound box 2 during the manufacturing process.
In figs. 2, the inner surfaces of both side walls 11 of U-profile 5 are provided with a recess 7, the neck 1 being provided with matching protrusions 8 to be engaged therein. In fig. 2, the recesses 7 and protrusions 8 are adapted to extend in the longitudinal direction of neck 1 but can also extend transversely to said longitudinal direction. The recesses 7 and the protrusions 8 are shaped to secure a relative engagement of themselves.
A guitar-neck fastening structure of the invention renders it possible to make the instrument neck 1 at least partially hollow and that a hollow section 9 included in the neck 1 has an unobstructed communication with the instrument sound box 2. In fig. 1, the neck 1 is open by its end surface facing towards the sound box 2. A neck 1 that is hollow and open relative to the sound box 2 stands to gain some acoustic benefits, as referred to above. However, it is obvious that the neck 1 need not be hollow but can also be made of a traditionally used solid material.
The hollow profile for neck 1 shown in fig. 2 is provided with a partition 14 for reinforcing the structure. On top of the neck 1 is further mounted a fingerboard 15, which can also be made as an integral part of the neck 1.
The profiled element 5 is preferably dimensioned in a manner such that, with the exception of fingerboard 15, the neck 1 is embedded within the groove consisting of said profiled element 5.

Claims

Claims
1. A fastening structure for fastening the neck (1) of a stringed instrument to the sound box (2) of the instrument, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sound board (3) of the sound box (2) is provided on the section thereof closer to the neck (1) of an instrument with a trough-like groove (4) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the neck (1) and comprising a profiled element (5) for fastening the end of the neck (1) in a manner such that said profiled element (5) is adapted to brace itself against the sound board (3) of the sound box (2) and against a waist portion (6) connecting the sound board (3) and the back (10) of the sound box (2).
2. A fastening structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said trough-like groove (4) comprises a separate profiled element (5) fastened to the sound box (2).
3. A fastening structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said trough-like groove (4) is laminated, shaped or cast as a part of the sound box (2) during the manufacturing process.
4. A fastening structure as set forth in any of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said trough-like groove (4) is provided with one or more recesses (7) or ridges for engaging in a matching protrusion (8) or recess included in the neck (1 ) .
5. A fastening structure as set forth in claim 4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said recesses (7) or ridges are adapted to extend longitudinally or transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of said trough-like groove (4).
PCT/FI1994/000020 1993-01-18 1994-01-18 Coupling structure for fixing the neck of a stringed musical instrument WO1994016431A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI930189A FI930189A0 (en) 1993-01-18 1993-01-18 FAESTEKONSTRUKTION FOER FAESTNING AV ETT STRAENGINSTRUMENTS HALS SAMT I SAMBAND MED FAESTEKONSTRUKTION ANVAEND HALS
FI930189 1993-01-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994016431A1 true WO1994016431A1 (en) 1994-07-21

Family

ID=8536780

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI1994/000020 WO1994016431A1 (en) 1993-01-18 1994-01-18 Coupling structure for fixing the neck of a stringed musical instrument

Country Status (2)

Country Link
FI (1) FI930189A0 (en)
WO (1) WO1994016431A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2289568A (en) * 1994-05-18 1995-11-22 Barry Roger Sims Strengthened stringed instrument

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3204510A (en) * 1963-01-24 1965-09-07 Hopf Dieter Stringed instrument
US3439570A (en) * 1967-10-16 1969-04-22 Emerson L Lee Stringed musical instruments having a slidably mounted neck
US4144793A (en) * 1977-06-20 1979-03-20 Soika Emil H Stringed instrument construction employing an integral, hollow, one piece body portion

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3204510A (en) * 1963-01-24 1965-09-07 Hopf Dieter Stringed instrument
US3439570A (en) * 1967-10-16 1969-04-22 Emerson L Lee Stringed musical instruments having a slidably mounted neck
US4144793A (en) * 1977-06-20 1979-03-20 Soika Emil H Stringed instrument construction employing an integral, hollow, one piece body portion

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2289568A (en) * 1994-05-18 1995-11-22 Barry Roger Sims Strengthened stringed instrument

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI930189A0 (en) 1993-01-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
USRE43075E1 (en) Headblock and fingerboard support
US4145948A (en) Graphite composite neck for stringed musical instruments
US4313362A (en) Guitar construction
US4084476A (en) Reinforced stringed musical instrument neck
JP5109666B2 (en) String instrument tailpiece holding structure
US7678978B2 (en) Guitar body reinforcement
US4200023A (en) Stringed musical instrument neck and body structure
US6372970B1 (en) Stringed musical instrument body and neck assembly
US20080053288A1 (en) Bracing and bridge system for stringed instruments
US6051764A (en) Stringed musical instrument formed from bamboo plates
US5025695A (en) Stringed instrument with inwardly extending neck
US6333454B1 (en) Acoustic support structure for stringed musical instruments and method of making same
US6888055B2 (en) Guitar neck support rod
US7842868B2 (en) Stringed instrument neck structure adjusting arrangement
US6982372B2 (en) Acoustic musical instrument and method
NL8001635A (en) RESONANCE BOTTOM.
US20020162442A1 (en) Stringed musical instrument with soundbox extension
WO1994016431A1 (en) Coupling structure for fixing the neck of a stringed musical instrument
JPS63132292A (en) Acoustic type stringed instrument
US20170278489A1 (en) Stringed Instrument With Vibrating Rear Diaphragm
US8389837B1 (en) Stringed instrument having a fretboard cantilevered over the soundboard
CA2367627C (en) Neck block system for acoustic stringed instruments
US6255566B1 (en) Unitary guitar construction
US20030106409A1 (en) Neck for stringed musical instrument
CA1292897C (en) Stringed instrument with inwardly extending neck

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA DE ES GB JP US

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: US

Ref document number: 1995 481254

Date of ref document: 19950628

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA