US1834252A - Guitar tone bar - Google Patents

Description

D66. 1, 1931. MORGAN 1,834,252

GUITAR TONE BAR Filed July 17, 1930 M17528 F Morgan INVENTOR ATTORNEV Patented Dec. 1, 1931 i PATENT OFFICE M'ILAs E. MORGAN, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA enimn TONE BAR Application filed July 17,1930. Serial No. 468,658.

' This invention relates to a tone bar, or as such devices are ordinarilycalled, a steel for use in fretting the strings of a guitar or similar stringed instrument. The ordinary tone .z' bar is so shaped that the tones are not as resonant or as harmonious as they might be and practically impossible, in the use thereof, to produce tremolo tones. Another dis advantage presented by such devices as ordinarily employed is that the strings will frequently rattle, therefore the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tone bar which will overcome all of the disadvantages, outlined above, and one which will be so shaped as to permit of its beingmore conveniently grasped by the fingers of the left hand of the player and more readily manipulated than such devices as have previously been employed, the finger piece of the device embodying the invention being furthermore so formed as to enable the player to most effectually produce tremolo. V

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangementof the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, it

meral 4, as may be desired. The string engaging piece3 has its sides 5 downwardly diverged with respect to each other and merging on curved lines as indicated by the numeral 6 with the flat sides of the finger piece 65 3 and preferably the string engaging piece 3 will have a transversely convex rounded underside 7 which side is toengage the strings of the instrument.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be evidentthat due to the peculiar formation of the finger piece 3, the same may be more conveniently gripped and more conveniently manipulated than is possible by the use of finger pieces of he ordinary tone bars heretofore employed.

It will also beevident that'the rounded surface 7 of the string engaging piece 5, constitutes a means whereby a tremolo effect may be readily obtained by rocking the bar with a rapid back and forth motion while this face is in contact with the strings.

lVhat I claim is:

A bar to be used for producing tremolo sound upon a steel guitar consisting of an oblong body of uniform breadth and thickness throughout its length, saidbody having arcuately curved surfaces extending along its longitudinal edges and disposed transversely thereof, one of said surfaces being broader transversely than the other, the body having parallel side surfaces joining the edges of the narrower arcuate edge surface and having converging side surfaces joining the edges of the broader arcuate edge surface.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

. I MILAS F. Monhau.

preferably be made of steel or bronze and com prisesan integral cast or molded body which is so formed as to provide a finger piece which 45 is indicated in general by the numeral 1, and a string engaging piece which is indicatedin general by the numeral 2. The finger piece 1 has substantially parallel flat sides 3 and it maybe either flat at its upper side or-slightly convexly rounded as indicated by the nu-

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