CA2811930A1

CA2811930A1 - Autry acoustic guitar tremolo

Info

Publication number: CA2811930A1
Application number: CA2811930A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Autry Combs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-02
Filing date: 2009-09-02
Publication date: 2011-03-02
Also published as: CA2676726A1; CA2676726C

Abstract

This invention is a Spring Activated Guitar Tremolo that can be mounted on most hollow body acoustic guitars. This device features a paddle activated floating bridge that pivots on two studded bushings implanted in the guitar body. A lower arm attached to the bottom of the paddle extends into the body of the acoustic guitar. The lower arm is then attached to two tension springs. A tension adjusting bolt is installed through the lower neck of the guitar into the guitar body which is in turn attached to two tension springs. The springs are stretched to balance the tension pull of the strings of a tuned guitar. Strings are loaded from the breast plate over an adjustable bridge nut. The top of the breast plate extends to form a paddle that creates vibrato tremolo sounds when applying a downward pressure on the paddle.

Description

P171 6--() DESCRIPTION
AUTRY ACOUSTIC GUITAR TREMELO BRIDGE
The embodiments of the invention and its working properties are described below:
1. A paddle activated floating guitar bridge for use on acoustic hollow body guitars.
A vibrato tremolo sound is achieved by applying pressure to the bridge paddle by the guitar player. This creates a variation in the guitar string tension causing a tremolo sound.

2. The guitar bridge is mounted on two knurled bushings that are tapped to receive 5/16 inch threaded studs. The studs are grooved under the head for the guitar bridge to pivot against. (refer to figure 1). Raising or lowering the studs enables the player to choose the desired string clearance on the fret board. The guitar bridge has two ears, one on each side that are shaped to fit against the studs.
The spacing of the ears are 3 % inches apart. The guitar bridge is 3 inches wide inside the ears.

3. The bridge nut string saddle is housed in a machined slot that is angled for proper intonation. The housed saddle can be adjusted toward or away from the neck for proper string length intonation.
The saddle can also be adjusted from side to side for proper string alignment to the neck, and is held in place by two adjusting screws on each side of the bridge.
(refer to figure 1). The bridge bottom where the saddle rests is 1 7/8 inches long and 3 inches wide. (refer to figure 1).

4. At 1 7/8 inches the bridge is angled 90 degrees up 5/8 of an inch to create the back breast plate. Six holes are drilled at this point for string loading (refer to figure 1) . The bridge is then right angled 90 degrees and extends 2 inches to create the player paddle. The total length of the bridge unit is 3 7/8 inches.

(refer to figure 1).

5. A 3 inch long arm is attached to the underside of the bridge paddle that extends downward through the body of the guitar where the arm attaches to the tension spring mechanism. Three 1/8 inch holes are % inch apart at the low end of the arm for a variation in spring tension leverage. (refer to figure 2). A rod with two claws extends forward and is attached to two springs. This rod attaches the springs to the 3 inch long arm. (refer to figure 2). The lower part of the guitar neck is drilled % inch to accept a 3 inch long stove bolt. The bolt is inserted through the neck into a nut with two claws that attach to the tension strings.

Tightening of the bolt increases the tension of the springs to the arm balancing the string pull generated by a tuned guitar. (refer to figure 2)

6. A tremolo setting screw known as the" trem setter" passes through a lug attached to the lower part of the paddle. The screw then extends into the guitar body a Eg'e P7/01µ) PPG rs ?fig is adjusted to take a small amount of string tension allowing the guitar player to rest his hand on the paddle without causing the string tone to go sharp or flat.
(refer to figure 3).

7. This invention's alternate mounting consists of two mounting plates, each with pivoting lugs 3/8 inch high on the forward end of the plate. Holes are drilled for mounting plate screws to fasten the plates to the guitar body. Also, a 1/8 inch hole in the bottom plate is drilled to accept the trem setter adjusting screw.
(refer to photo #1 and #2).

Claims

AUTRY ACOUSTIC GUITAR TREMOLO

CLAIM

The embodiments of the invention which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

A paddle activated floating guitar bridge tremolo. The manifold combination of components described as follows and each are claimed.

1. A floating guitar bridge pivoting on two knurled bushing studs. The studs are grooved to accept pivot ears of the floating bridge (refer to figure #1). This includes an adjustable nut string saddle with proper intonation angle that rests on the floating bridge. The rear of the bridge rises to 5/8 inches and extends 2 1/2 inches to form strings. An arm extends from the underside of the paddle to the inside of the guitar.

(refer to figure #2).

2. The tension spring assembly from the lower arm attaches to an extending rod inside the guitar. The extending rod has two claws on the forward end to accept two drilled on each wing to accept the tension springs.

3. A lug is fixed to the underside of the floating bridge paddle (refer to figure #4). This tension springs (refer to figure #2). One 1/4 inch bolt 3 1/2 inches long with a wing nut lug has a claw that a tension adjusting screw is inserted and screwed into the body of the guitar.

4. Refer to figure #4 for an underside view of the bridge mounting and lower arm tension springs and tension adjusting bolts.

5. This invention's alternate mounting consists of two mounting plates, each with pivoting lugs 3/8 inch high on the forward end of the plate. Holes are drilled for mounting plate screws to fasten the plates to the guitar body. Also, an 1/8 inch hole in the bottom plate is drilled to accept the trem setter adjusting screw.
(refer to photo #1 and #2).