Musical instrument bridge system
AssigneeAngel's Music, LLC
InventorJames Gary Hernon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bridge for a stringed musical instrument is provided. The bridge is machined solid from various metals, selected for their metallurgic and sonorous qualities. It is machined as a movable one-piece solid body and plate, selectively used in combination with a separate machined tremolo block and tremolo arm, or a fixed two-piece system: a body and mounting plate. Increased mass of a rounded, machined design and the qualities of the bridge metals combine to improve sustain of the instrument. The bridge's preferred rounded ergonomic design allows the player hand protection from the string saddles and screws, the bridge itself visually compliments typical guitar contours and provides a surface for branding. It may replace existing bridges or be used in new instruments.
Claims26
A bridge for stringed musical instruments comprising:
- a bridge body machined solid from metal selected for metallurgic and sound transmission qualities, wherein the bridge body has a mass in a range of approximately 133 g to 417 g;
- and,
- a bridge plate.
A one-piece tremolo bridge for a stringed musical instrument comprising:
- a bridge body;
- a bridge plate configured to anchor strings of the stringed musical instrument strings to a body of the stringed musical instrument, wherein the bridge body and bridge plate are integral and machined solid from metals selected for metallurgic and sound transmission qualities;
- a tremolo block rigidly attached to the bottom of the bridge plate, wherein the tremolo block is machined solid from metals selected for metallurgic and sound transmission qualities;
- and,
- a tremolo arm anchored in the tremolo block configured to pivot the bridge body, the bridge plate and the tremolo block together.
A two-piece fixed bridge for a stringed musical instrument comprising:
- a bridge body machined solid from metal selected for metallurgic and sound transmission qualities;
- and,
- string holes in the bridge body, and,
- a bridge plate affixed to the bridge body anchoring the bridge body to the stringed musical instrument, wherein the bridge plate has holes aligned for through the body strings to allow selective through the body or bridge stringing for alternate string tones.
(canceled)
A bridge for stringed musical instruments comprising:
- a bridge body formed solid from metal selected for metallurgic and sound transmission qualities defined at least by sound speed transmission qualities in excess 10,000 feet per second at 25 degrees Celsius, wherein the bridge body has rounded ergonomic edges configured to protect a hand of a player from the string saddles and screws;
- and,
- a bridge plate.
A tremolo bridge system for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- a solid bridge body formed as a unitary structural component and configured to be mounted to a surface of an instrument body;
- a tremolo block rigidly coupled to the bridge body such that the bridge body and the tremolo block move together relative to the instrument body during tremolo operation;
- a bridge plate coupled to the bridge body;
- and,
- a plurality of individual string saddles positioned on the bridge plate and adjustably mounted to the bridge body with adjustment screws;
- wherein strings are anchored within the tremolo block and extend across the plurality of individual string saddles.
A fixed bridge system for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- a solid bridge body formed as a unitary structural component and configured to be rigidly mounted to an instrument body;
- a plurality of individual string saddles positioned on a bridge plate and adjustably mounted to the bridge body with adjustment screws;
- and,
- a removable bridge plate coupled to an underside of the bridge body and configured to mount the bridge body to the instrument body, the bridge plate defining at least one pickup configuration;
- wherein the removable bridge plate is interchangeable with alternative bridge plates having different pickup configurations;
- and,
- wherein strings extend across the plurality of individual string saddles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.