Stringed Instrument Improvement

Control apparatus for a pitch changing device for a musical instrument, said instrument having at least two strings suspended in tension relative to a body, a major span of said at least two strings substantially defining a string plane, said pitch changing device comprising a first member adapted to directly or indirectly engage at least two said strings, such that displacement of said first member relative to a base causes a change in tension of said at least two strings, said apparatus comprising:

• a control lever,
• at least one spring,
• at least one fulcrum defining discrete first and second control axes,
• a distal portion of said lever defining a handle,
• said handle angularly displaceable in first and second control directions from a neutral position about said first and second control axes respectively,
• the direction of said first control axis configured to be substantially normal to the direction of said second axis when said handle is at said neutral position,
• said control lever pivotable in said first control direction about said first control axis and in said second control direction about said second control axis,
• said lever adapted to directly or indirectly engage said first member and at least one said spring such that rotation of said lever in at least one of said two control directions causes a change in string tension, and
• such that displacement from said neutral position of said handle in each of said first and second control directions is opposed by one or more of said spring force and said string tension,
• return of said handle to said neutral position from said displacement urged by one or more of said strings and springs.

Apparatus according to claim 13, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one bias limiter,
• an adjuster defining a transposer,
• said transposer comprising a lock,
• said pitch changing device configured or configurable to substantially maintain relative pitch among said at least two strings during displacement of said first member from a home position,
• said first member urged in a bias direction by said string tension or by at least one said spring opposing said string tension,
• said bias limiter comprising first and second components,
• said components adapted to be directly or indirectly associated with said first member and said base, respectively,
• engagement of said first and second components of said bias limiter adapted to resist displacement by said strings or springs in said bias direction of said first member from said home position,
• said lever adapted to directly or indirectly engage said first member and said base, such that rotation of said lever about a control axis displaces said first member from said home position,
• said transposer adapted to directly or indirectly position said first or second component of said bias limiter relative to said base, said first member, or said control lever,
• said displacement by said transposer displacing said home position of said first member relative to said base,
• said lock adapted to enable fixing said adjuster at a position defining a transposed home position of said first member,
• such that subsequent rotation of said control lever in at least one direction causes a displacement of said first member from said transposed home position, and such that while so displaced said first member is urged toward said transposed home position by said strings or said spring.

Control apparatus for a pitch changing device for a musical instrument, said instrument having at least two strings suspended in tension relative to a body, a major span of said at least two stings substantially defining a string plane, said body defining the location of a reference plane parallel to said string plane, said strings between said reference plane and a pick space proximate said strings, said pitch changing device comprising a first member adapted to directly or indirectly engage at least two said strings, such that displacement of said first member relative to a base causes a change in tension of said at least two strings, said control apparatus comprising:

• at least one fulcrum defining at least one control axis,
• a control lever pivotable about at least one said control axis,
• at least one spring,
• a distal end portion of said lever defining a handle,
• said lever and said at least one fulcrum configured to enable manual displacement of said handle in first and second control directions from a neutral position, each of said control directions substantially tangential about a said control axis associated with said control direction,
• said handle, when at said neutral position, substantially defining the location of a neutral plane, said neutral plane perpendicular to said reference plane and parallel to said major span of at least one said string,
• said first control direction corresponding to the smaller angular displacement of said handle about said associated control axis from said neutral plane toward said pick space,
• said second control direction corresponding to the smaller angular displacement of said handle about said associated control axis from said neutral position toward said reference plane,
• said lever adapted to directly or indirectly engage said first member, such that displacement from a neutral position of said handle in at least one said control direction causes an increase or decrease in said string tension, and
• such that displacement from said neutral position of said handle in each of said first and second control directions is opposed by one or more of said spring force and said string tension,
• said handle urged to return from said displacement by one or more of said spring force and said string tension.

Apparatus for a pitch changing device for a musical instrument, said instrument having multiple strings suspended in tension, where said pitch changing device is adapted to alter the tension of one or more strings in response to motion from a neutral position of either of at least two string-engaging members relative to a base, said apparatus comprising

• first and second members, each displaceable relative to a base, each adapted to engage a discrete complement of at least one string,
• at least one spring engaging said first member in opposition to the tension of said at least one string,
• a first stop comprising surfaces of engagement between said first and second members,
• said spring adapted to urge said first member in a direction of engagement with said second member at said first stop,
• said second member adapted to urge said first member in a direction of reduced string tension by engagement at said first stop,
• a control lever adapted to enable displacement of said second member at least in a direction of increasing string tension from a prior position,
• such that said displacement enables said at least one bias spring to displace said first member in a direction of increasing string tension.

Pitch control apparatus according to claim 36, said apparatus comprising:

• bridge saddles substantially defining a bridge,
• said bridge saddles associated with said second member,
• said main fulcrum adapted to connect said first and second members,
• said main axis substantially parallel to said bridge,
• said first member pivotable about said main axis relative to said second member,
• such that displacement of said second member relative to said base causes displacement of said first member relative to said base,
• said second member configured such that displacement of said second member in a direction of reduced string tension elevates said bridge saddles from said instrument body.

Control apparatus for a pitch change device for a musical instrument, said instrument comprising at least two strings suspended in tension over a major span relative to a body, said major span of said at least two strings substantially defining a string plane, said pitch changing device comprising a first member adapted to directly or indirectly engage at least two said strings, such that displacement of said first member relative to a base causes a change in tension of said at least two strings, said apparatus comprising:

• a compensator,
• a second member, said first and second members each adapted to directly or indirectly engage a common set of at least two strings,
• a main fulcrum comprising a main axis,
• said first member pivotable about said main axis such that angular displacement of said first member about said main axis results in an increase or decrease of tension in said set,
• said engagement of said first member with at least one said string configurable to substantially maintain relative pitch among the strings of said set during initial displacement of said first member about said main axis from a neutral position,
• said second member displaceable relative to a base and configured or configurable such that displacement of said second member results in a more uniform change in the stretch of said strings than does displacement of said first member,
• said apparatus comprising at least one displaceable control member, displacement of said control member adapted to change the angle of rotation of said first member about said main axis,
• said compensator adapted to mechanically translate displacement of said control member or of said first member into displacement of said second member relative to said base,
• said apparatus comprising at least one adjuster,
• said at least one adjuster adapted to enable said translation to be characterized such that displacement of said second member by said compensator substantially offsets deflection of said instrument due to rotation of said first member about said main axis.