piezoelectric element in vibration-absorbing material in such a way as to damp high-frequency resonance and to enhance low-frequency sensitivity, thereby giving "a soft tone" and reducing the danger of howling when substantial amplification is used.-RWP

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the frame supporting the pivot rod. The player alters string tension by rocking the instrument about the pivot rod. The string passes at a fixed height over the pickup 30 determined by guide 34. The pat- ent was re-issued in order to change some of the original wording and to add a new claim.-RWP

4,051,761

43.75.De METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE TONE

CHARACTERISTIC OF TONE GENERATING

ELEMENTS AND A DEVICE THEREFOR

Artur Nylen, Charleston Heights, South Carolina 4 October 1977 (Class 84/1.15); filed 3 June 1975

This patent covers a system for the electronic amplification of both bowed and plucked stringed instruments. Variable-reluctance pickups are employed with magnets separate from the coil struc- tures to allow individual adjustment of sensitivity for each string. The wording and illustrations of the patent are not unambiguous, but it appears to this reviewer that each magnet assembly is designed to be attached to its string. If so, the localized mass loading of the string would surely disturb the near-harmonic relationship of the normal modes of the string, with unfortunate consequences for the tone and intonation.-RWP

4,054,808

43.75. De VIBRATION DETECTING DEVICE HAVING A

PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMIC PLATE AND A METHOD

FOR ADAPTING THE SAME FOR USE IN MUSICAL

INSTRUMENTS

Toshiharu Tanaka, assignor to Matsushita Electric Industrial Company

18 October 1977 (Class 310/323); filed 14 August 1975

This is a pickup "to be mounted on a musical instrument, such as a guitar or violin." The novel feature consists of encasing the

4,068,553

43.75.De STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

John Dopyera, Escondido, California 17 January 1978 (Class 84/296); filed 7 April 1976

This patent has the same abstract, the same figures, and nearly the same text as 4,172,404 reviewed below. The claims differ. This patent covers the resonator structure housed within the instrument body.-RWP

4,090,427

43.75. De STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

BODY

Charles H. Kaman, Farmington, Connecticut 23 May 1978 (Class 84/291); filed 23 June 1976

This invention deals with acoustic guitars. "The general object of this invention is to provide a construction for a stringed musical instrument body wherein the natural frequency of the top plate is modified and may be controlled by the means attaching it to the adjacent side-wall of the body. In particular, the top plate is at- tached to the side wall by an intermediate mounting member or ring which resiliently supports the top plate relative to the side wall. The resiliency of the mounting member may be readily controlled by design factors to produce different members of different 'springi- ness.' Therefore, by matching a given top plate with a mounting member of proper springiness, a desired top plate natural frequency may be readily obtained without the need to graduate or otherwise rework the top plate .... Preferably, the mounting member is made of a molded plastic material, such a composite material consisting of fiberglass fibers and resin, and has curved outer surface providing the instrument body with a comfortable round top edge."-RWP

4,095,503

43.75. De MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

Carl Haagenson, Garden Grove, California 20 June 1978 (Class 84/173); filed 20 December 1976

This is a washtub bass which includes everything but the wash- tub. "A variable can size adjustment means is provided whereby

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body members of different lengths and sizes may be utilized." The user supplies his own "resonating body" in the form of "a gasoline drum, a pan, or a metal trash can" or the like.-RWP

2128 J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 67(6), June 1980; 0001-4966/80/062128-01500.80; ¸ 1980 Acoust. Soc. Am.; Patent Reviews 2128

Redistribution subject to ASA license or copyright; see http://acousticalsociety.org/content/terms. Download to IP: 128.138.73.68 On: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 03:50:55