Bridge and saddle for stringed musical instruments
OwnerGeorge E. Dickson, IIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved saddle (53) for stringed musical instruments comprised of a single unitary member configured in a somewhat comblike structure, the backbone portion (60) of which is curved and forms a string-engaging and supporting surface. The teeth-forming portions (61) form a plurality of sound-coupling and supporting pedestals, each of which lies directly beneath a string and terminates in a distal end that is adapted to bear against a bridge plate (57) the soundboard of the instrument.
Claims22
A saddle for a stringed musical instrument, said saddle being adapted for engagement with a slot formed in the top of a bridge plate affixed to the instrument, comprising:
- an elongated comb-shaped member including
- an elongated backbone portion forming an upper surface of the saddle and having particular positions for engagement by each string of the instrument;
- and
- a plurality of tooth-like portions extending transverse to the length of said backbone portion, the distal end of each tooth-like portion forming a foot for engaging the bridge plate of the instrument, said tooth-like portions forming pedestals for directly supporting a corresponding string and for transmitting vibratory energy from the supported string to the soundboard of the instrument via the bridge plate, said saddle being adapted for use with a six-string guitar and including six pedestals each adapted to support one of the six guitar strings.
Apparatus for supporting the strings of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- an elongated comb-shaped member including
- an elongated backbone portion forming an upper surface of the member and having particular positions for engagement by each string of the instrument;
- and
- a plurality of tooth-like portions extending transverse to the length of said backbone portion, said tooth-like portions forming pedestals for directly supporting a string and for transmitting vibratory energy from the supported string to said instrument, said member including six pedestals each adapted to support at least one guitar string.
A bridge assembly for a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- a bridge plate for attachment to a surface of said instrument;
- and
- an elongated comb-shaped saddle adapted to mate with said bridge plate and including
- an elongated backbone portion forming an upper surface of the saddle and having particular positions for engagement by each string of the instrument;
- and
- a plurality of tooth-like portions extending transverse to the length of said backbone portion, the distal ends of each said tooth-like portion forming a foot for engaging said bridge plate, said tooth-like portions forming pedestals for directly supporting a string and for transmitting vibratory energy from the supported string to said soundboard, said saddle being adapted for use with an n-string instrument and including n pedestals each adapted to support one of the n strings, wherein n is an integer in the range of 4 through 6.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.