GB2280299A

GB2280299A - Bridge and tailpiece for a string instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2280299A
Application number: GB9314933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sumio Yamamoto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-19
Filing date: 1993-07-19
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Also published as: GB9314933D0

Abstract

A bridge and tailpiece, for a string instrument, which can change the pitch and timbre of a string comprises a body part (36), a groove formed in the body part (36) in the same direction as the string to be held there being one groove for each string of the instrument and located in each groove, a bridge (42) and holding part (39) each of which is capable of moving in the groove. The bridge (42) and the holding part (39) each has means for fixing it at a certain position in the groove specifically screws (43), (40), wherein the relative positions of the bridge (42) and holding part (39) determine the angle of the strip at the bridge. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION Tailpiece for a string instrument BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tailpiece for a string instrument such as a vase guitar and, more particularly, change in sound spectrum, sound pith and timbre.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, many types of tailpiece has been known for a string instrument. Two types of tailpiece will be described below with reference to Figures.

One type is what the Japanese examined publication SHO 57-3026 discloses. The tailpiece is shown in sectional view in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, a bridge 31 is fixed on a body 19 of string instrument.

The body 19 of string instrument has a guide hole 20. A holding part 9 is installed in the guide hole 20 so that the holding part 9 is capable of moving up or down by with a bottle 16 and a spring 17. Therefore, the rise and fall of the holding part 9 can change the height hl of string from the surface of the body.

The other type is what the Japanese unexamined publication SHO 63-165696 discloses. The tailpiece is shown in sectional view in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, a body 2 of string instrument has a recess 5. The tailpiece span the recess 5. The tailpiece has a guide part 10 and a holding part 9 for holding the string 4, the holding part being capable of moving through the guide part. Also, the tailpiece has a bridge 14 and a moving part 15 for moving the bridge 14.

However, the above-described types of tailpiece has the following problems.

In the tailpiece of the one type, an angle taken by the string at the bridge depend on the height Hl. The height can not be changed in a large extent.

Therefore, the tailpiece of the one type can not change sound pitch and timbre in a large extent.

In the tailpiece of the other type, to change the holding part position and the bridge position the guide part and the moving part are necessary, respectively. This fact made structure of the tailpiece complicated. Also, since the holding part is hung on the guide part there are a little drawbacks to a firm hold.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tailpiece of a string instrument which can change sound pitch and timbre in a large extent and sustain sound pitch and timbre.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tailpiece of a string instrument tG pw tStS: a) a body part, b) guide means formed on the body part in the same direction as the string to be held, and c) a bridge and holding means provided for the guide means so that each of them is capable of moving on the guide means, the bridge and the holding means having each fixing means of fixing itself at a certain position in the guide means wherein when the string is contact with the bridge and held with the holding means an angle at the bridge taken by the string depend on the positionings of both the bridge and the holding means.

The above, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a type of tailpiece according to prior art.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing another type of tailpiece according to prior art.

Fig. 3 is a front view showing a vase guitar.

Fig. 4 is the front enlarged detail view showing a tailpiece according one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along with a line V V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view as Fig. 4 is viewed in direction Q.

Figs. 7A and 7B are a schematical partial sectional view as Fig. 6 is enlarged, the Fig. 7A showing a state where the holding part is free to move on the groove and the Fig. 7B showing a state where the holding part is fixed in the groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There will be described below a tailpiece of a string instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures.

Fig. 3 shows a vase guitar 1 which is one of string instruments in a front view. Fig. 4 shows a tailpiece 36 in the front enlarged detailed view.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the vase guitar 30 has a body 32. The tailpiece 36 is installed on a bottom 33 of the body 32 with screws or the like (not shown). This tailpiece 36 has a body part 29 which is provided with the same number of grooves 38 of guide means as the number of the strings 34 so that the grooves 38 are each in the same direction as the string to be held. Incidently, a symbol "37" II shows holes and a symbol "5" a neck 35 of the vase guitar.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along with line V-V of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a view as Fig. 4 is viewed in direction Q. Figs. 7A and 7B are partial views as Fig. 6 is enlarged. Fig. 7A shows a state where the holding part 39 is free to move on the groove 38. Fig. 7B shows a state where the holding part 39 is fixed in the groove 38.

Holding parts 39 are of holding means and provided for their respective grooves 38 so that each holding part is capable of moving on the groove 38. The holding part 39 has a shape like a letter "T" upset in sectional view. The holding part 39 comprises fixing means with a screw 40. Tightening of the screw 40 can change the holding part 39 of this state into another state where the holding part 39 is fixed at a certain position in the groove 38.

Specifically, referring to Figs. 7A and 7B, as the screw 40 is tighten the holding part is elevated.

The screw 40 continue to be tightened until a bottom portion 49a of the holding part 39 is pushed against a cap part 48a. Therefore, the holding is fixed at the position in the groove 38.

Meanwhile when the screw 40 in this state of Fig. 7B is loosed the holding part 39 is lowered and is capable of moving on the groove 38. Note that the holding part 39 has a hole 41 for passing through and holding the string.

Bridges 42 are provided for their respective grooves 38 so that each bridge is capable of moving on the groove 38. The bridge 39 has a shape like a letter "T" upset in sectional view. The bridge 42 comprises fixing means with a screw 43. Tightening of the screw 43 can change the bridge 42 of this state into another state where the bridge 42 is fixed at a certain position in the groove 38.

Specifically, as similarly to the above, as the screw 43 is tighten the bridge is elevated. The screw 43 continue to be tightened until a bottom portion 42a of the bridge 42 is pushed against a cap part 48a.

Therefore, the bridge 42 is fixed at the position in the groove 38.

Meanwhile when the screw 43 in this state is loosed the bridge 42 is lowered and is capable of moving on the groove 38. After the holding part 39 and the bridge 42 are fixed at the respective positions in the groove 38, the strings are tuned. At that time, the tailpiece holds one end of the string the other end of which is held with a tuning pegs of the string instrument. Specifically, the string is contact with the bridge 42 and held at the holding part 39 wherein an obtuse angle R is taken by the string at the bridge 42.

The obtuse angle depends on the positionings of both the bridge 42 and the holding part 39.

Specifically, as the holding part 39 get near the bridge 42 the obtuse angle R decreases while as the holding part 39 get away the bridge 42 the obtuse angle R increases.

Meanwhile, the bridge 42 has a bridge body part 112 which has a recess 42b of a sectional shape of a letter "V" for holding the string, and a bridge base 212 holding the bridge body part 112 with a screw 312. The screw 312 can move the bridge body part 112 up or down.

Meanwhile, there are some approaches to a change in the obtuse angle. For example, this change can be implemented with only the holding part 39, only the bridge 42 or both the holding part 39 and the bridge 42.

Furthermore, to change the obtuse angle R, a rise and fall of the bridge body part 112, or combination of them may be used. The positioning of the bridge 42 may be also used to adjust the string length for tuning. These change must be implemented when the string are in loosed state.

The tailpiece according to the above embodiments of the present invention comprising the body part 32, the groove formed on the body part 32 in the same direction as the string 34 to be held, and the bridge 42 and the holding part 39 which is capable of moving on the groove and have their respective screws 40 and 43 fixing itself at a certain position in the groove 38 wherein when the string 34 is contact with the bridge 42 and held with the holding part 39 the obtuse angle R at the bridge 42 taken by the string depend on the positionings of both the bridge 42 and the holding part 39.

Since the bridge 42 and the holding part 39 is fixed firmly at a desired position, vibrations of the entire of the string are transmitted correctly to microphones provide for the body 32 of the string instrument 30. Also, the sound pitch of a string can be kept for long time.

The tailpiece can change a large extent the obtuse angle R because the bridge 42 and the holding part 39 are each positioned at any position on the groove 38.

Also, the correct positioning and of the holding part 39 lead to the fact the string can be gotten a desired sound tone.

Also, it is easy to install the tailpiece on bodies of any other string instruments.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted here that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, they should be construed as included therein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tailpiece of a string instrument which holds one end of a string, the tailpiece comprising: a) a body part, b) guide means formed on the body part in the same direction as the string to be held, and c) a bridge and holding means provided for the guide means so that each of them is capable of moving on the guide means, the bridge and the holding means having each fixing means of fixing itself at a certain position in the guide means wherein when the string is contact with the bridge and held with the holding means an angle at the bridge taken by the string depend on the positionings of both the bridge and the holding means.

2. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, wherein the bridge has a recess for holding the string.

3. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing means has a screw.

4. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the guide means is a groove.

5. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 4, wherein the fixing means has a screw.

6. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 5, wherein the guide means is a groove of a sectional shape like a letter "T" upset.

7. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the string instrument is a vase guitar.

8. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the string instrument is an electric guitar.

9. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the string instrument is an acoustic guitar.

10. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the bridge can be moved up or down.

11. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 10, wherein the bridge comprises a bridge body part a bridge base and a screw jointing the bridge body part and the bridge base.

12. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 11, wherein the bridge body part has a recess for holding the string.

13. A tailpiece of a string instrument according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the holding means is a holding part with a hole for holding the string.

14. A musical instrument having a string bent over a bridge, wherein the bridge position is adjustable and wherein the angle of bending of the string is adjustable independently of the bridge position.

15. A stringed instrument having a tailpiece substantially as described herein with reference to any of Figures 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.