GB2445589A

GB2445589A - Bridge support for a stringed musical instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2445589A
Application number: GB0700501A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen Ronald Clingan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-11
Filing date: 2007-01-11
Publication date: 2008-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-11
Also published as: GB0700501D0; GB2445589B

Abstract

A stringed musical instrument is provided with a structural connection 6 or bracing element inside the body of the instrument connecting the bridge 1 of the instrument to a location within the body, such as the neck block 7 or tail block 8, or other suitable location. The bracing element 6 is mounted in spaced relationship to the soundboard 2 or top of the instrument and may be pivotally attached to the neck block or tail block at the end remote from the bridge. It is designed to have little or no contact with the soundboard but carries the structural forces conventionally carried by the soundboard and its system of braces (5, fig 1). This allows the soundboard, and bracing if employed, to be substantially relieved of structural forces and to be optimised for acoustic performance only.

Description

/ 2445589

BRIDGE SUPPORT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a bridge support for a stringed instrument, which when attached, typically to an acoustic guitar, separates the acoustic functions and structural functions of the soundboard and bracing, improving the acoustic performance of the instrument whilst minhxnising adverse structural effects.

There are two conventional methods of attaching the bridge of an acoustic guitar or similar instrument to the soundboard or top.

Firstly, the strings may be attached to and restrained by the bridge, which is in turn rigidly fixed to the outside of the soundboard or top. This arrangement means that there are three main sets of forces on the bridge resulting from the tension in the strings; -a force in the direction of the strings and a reaction to this force from the soundboard or top which holds the bridge in its position, both of which act approximately along the length of the strings; -a twisting moment on the bridge arising from these two forces and the distance that separates their axes; and -a force approximately perpendicular to the soundboard of the guitar resulting from the separation between the plane of the strings and the plane of the soundboard and the reaction to this force provided by the soundboard.

Alternatively the strings pass over the bridge but are not fixed to or restrained by it.

Instead the strings are attached to and restrained by a tailpiece, which in turn is normally fixed to the end of the instrument body. This arrangement means that there is only one main set of forces on the bridge resulting from the tension in the strings, ie a force approximately perpendicular to the soundboard or top of the instrument resulting from the angle made by the strings where they pass over the bridge and the reaction to this force provided by the soundboard.

In order to maximise the acoustic output of an acoustic guitar or similar instrument and to opthnise its frequency response it is desirable to be able to reduce the thickness of the soundboard to an optimal thickness. However, with the conventional bridge configurations discussed above, the soundboard or top also performs structural functions in supporting the bridge and providing reaction forces arising from the tension in the strings.

Accordingly, the soundboard of an acoustic guitar or similar instrument is commonly reinforced with a bridge plate and a system of braces fixed to its inner surface which are intended to deal with these forces. The bracing also has significant effects on the acoustical response and behaviour of the soundboard. The design of the soundboard and bracing is therefore inherently a compromise.

Stringed instrument types may include but are not limited to the acoustic guitar, lute, ukulele, cello, violin or viola.

The present invention separates the acoustic functions and structural functions of the soundboard and bracing to improve the acoustic performance of the instrument whilst minimising adverse structural effects.

The present invention, therefore, conveniently provides a bridge support for a stringed instrument comprising a body comprising a soundboard and a bridge assembly for supporting the ends of the strings attached to the stringed instrument characterised in that the bridge assembly is supported within the body of the stringed instrument by a bracing element or elements located in spaced relationship with the soundboard.

Preferably, the bracing element is pivotally mounted within the body of the stringed instrument at a position remote from the bridge assembly.

Conveniently, the bridge assembly comprises an upper bridge member located on the soundboard and a lower bridge plate located within the body of the stringed instrument.

In one convenient embodiment provided by the invention the bridge plate may be fixed directly to the upper bridge member through the soundboard.

Preferably, the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the neckblock of the stringed instrument.

In a further convenient embodiment provided by the invention the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the tailbiock of the stringed instrument.

Preferably, the bracing element is made from thin section material and is tapered towards its pivoted end and the material for this section may be wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side section through a stringed instrument with the bridge supported by means of conventional bracing and Figure 2 shows a side section through a stringed instrument with the bridge supported by means of internal bracing as provided by the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a side section through a stringed instrument with the bridge I supported by means of conventional bracing 5 showing the strings 3 attached to and restrained by a bridge 1, which is rigidly fixed to the outside of the soundboard 2.

The bridge 3 is supported by the soundboard and additionally by the bridge plate 4 and bracing 5 fixed by glue or otherwise to the soundboard. The bracing 5 affects the acoustic performance of the soundboard 2. Also shown in Figure 1 are the neckblock 7 and the tailbiock 8.

Figure 2 shows a side section through a stringed instrument with the bridge I supported by means of a novel internal bracing element or elements 6 supporting the bridge I as provided by the present invention. The novel internal bracing element or elements 6 are pivotally attached 10 to the neckblock 7 allowing the bracing element or elements 6 to move in a direction perpendicular to the soundboard 2. The bridge 1 may be rigidly fixed to the sound board (by glue or other means), or may be joined with a connector or connectors 11 that pass through the soundboard 2 to allow movement of the bridge 1 and bridge plate 4 in the direction of the strings 3. A gap 9 between the novel bracing element or elements 6 and the soundboard 2 ensures that the soundboard is free to vibrate with minimal interference from the structural bracing element or elements 6. The novel internal bracing element or elements 6 may alternatively be pivotally attached to the tailblock 8.

Claims

1. A bridge support for a stringed instrument comprising a body comprising a soundboard and a bridge assembly for supporting the ends of the strings attached to the stringed instrument characterised in that the bridge assembly is supported within the body of the stringed instrument by a bracing element located in spaced relationship with the soundboard.

2. A bridge support according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bracing element is pivotally mounted within the body of the stringed instrument at a position remote from the bridge assembly.

3. A bridge support according to either one of Claims I and 2, characterised in that the bridge assembly comprises an upper bridge member located on the soundboard and lower bridge plate located within the body of the stringed instrument.

4. A bridge support according to Claim 3, characterised in that the bridge plate is fixed directly to the upper bridge member through the soundboard.

5. A bridge support according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the neckblock of a stringed instrument.

6. A bridge support according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the tailbiock of a stringed instrument.

7. A bridge support according any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the bracing element is made from thin section material and is tapered towards its pivoted end.

8. A bridge support according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in * *. * that the stringed instrument is an acoustic guitar. * ** * *** * ** * * * * * * * S * * S.

8. A bridge support according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the bracing element is made from wood, plastic, metal of other suitable material.

9. A bridge support according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the stringed instrument is an acoustic guitar.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A bridge support for a stringed instrument comprising a body comprising a soundboard and a bridge assembly for supporting the ends of the strings attached to the stringed instrument characterised in that the bridge assembly is supported within the body of the stringed instrument by a bracing element located in spaced relationship with the soundboard and wherein the bracing element is pivotally mounted within the body of the stringed instrument at a position remote from the bridge assembly.

2. A bridge support according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bridge assembly comprises an upper bridge member located on the soundboard and lower bridge plate located within the body of the stringed instrument.

3. A bridge support according to Claim 2, characterised in that the bridge plate is fixed directly to the upper bridge member through the soundboard.

4. A bridge support according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the neckblock of a stringed instrument.

5. A bridge support according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bracing element is pivotally connected within the body at or adjacent to the tailbiock of a stringed instrument.

6. A bridge support according any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the bracing element is made from thin section material and is tapered towards its pivoted end.

7. A bridge support according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the bracing element is made from wood, plastic, metal of other suitable material.