US 4,359,923 AGranted

Unitary guitar construction

OwnerJames W. Brunetinventor

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Abstract

A guitar construction having a complete body, neck, head, nut and tail piece formed as a single, integral, metal casting with tuning pegs, finger board, bridge and strings mounted thereon. The body portion is in the usual bell-shaped outline, formed by a continuous metal rib with a plurality of other ribs, all integrally formed in the same casting, extending across the space enclosed by the continuous rib and themselves defining a plurality of other spaces extending through the body. Solid, planar sheets, preferably of transparent plastic, cover the front and rear sides of an opening defined by one set of ribs to form a hollow chamber. The bridge is affixed to one of the ribs defining the chamber to produce a resonant effect similar to that of a hollow body guitar, while retaining the open appearance and unitary construction. Conventional pick-up means for an electronic amplification system are mounted in one of the enclosed spaces.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A guitar, or similar stringed instrument, comprising:

(a) a unitary, metal casting forming a body, a neck formed integrally with said body and extending from one side thereof, and a head formed integrally with said neck and extending from the end thereof opposite said body;
(b) said body having an outline defined by a continuous metal rib and a plurality of internal ribs formed integrally with and extending through the space enclosed by said continuous rib;
(c) a plurality of tensioned strings extending between anchored position on said head and a tail piece on said body;
(d) at least two planar sheets affixed to opposite sides of certain of said ribs to define an enclosed, hollow chamber underlying said strings between said neck and said tail piece;
(e) a bridge supporting said strings in spaced relation to one of said sheets and affixed to at least one of said certain ribs defining said chamber, whereby vibrations of said strings are transmitted through said bridge and the rib to which it is affixed into said chamber;
and
(f) electrical pick-up means mounted upon and supported solely by one of said sheets in spaced relation to said strings and overlying said chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.