Adjustable bridge system for a stringed instrument

In an adjustable bridge assembly for a stringed musical instrument in which the bridge assembly includes a plurality of bridge elements, an adjustable bridge element, comprising:

• a structural base having a top side, a bottom side, a front end, a right side, a left side, a rear end, a rear end extension, a structural base bracket, a throughhole extending from said top side to said bottom side for insertion of an instrument string, height adjustment means proximate said front end and disposed in said top side;
• a saddle hingedly mounted on said structural base bracket, wherein said saddle has a front end, a right side, a left side, a rear end, a top side, a bottom side, an integral saddle axle disposed in said structural base bracket, height adjustment access means, and a saddle hole, wherein when said saddle is positioned on said structural base and pivoted fully downward proximate said top side of said structural base, said bottom side of said front end operatively engages said height adjustment means and said height adjustment means is accessible for making string height adjustments after a string has been customarily installed and is under tension, and the saddle hole is disposed immediately above the throughhole in said supporting base;
• a control anchor disposed at said rear of said supporting base, said control anchor having two arms which form a receiving slot to accommodate said rear extension of said supporting base, an integral ring having an elongate opening, and a raised structure interposed between said ring and said arms, said raised structure;
• lateral adjustment means inserted through said control anchor ring to secure said control anchor to the body of the stringed instrument;
• and
• longitudinal adjustment means for operatively connecting said control anchor to said rear extension of said structural base.

An adjustable bridge system for a stringed instrument for providing longitudinal and vertical adjustment of individual strings, comprising:

• a multi-element control anchor, having a base portion with side-by-side slots, each slot having a terminal end, a vertically disposed wall abutting said terminal ends and having a plurality of throughholes, each positioned above and projecting rearwardly from one of the slots, and at least one hole for an anchoring screw, wherein said vertically disposed wall is set at an angle such that the strings progressively shorten in length as measured from their connection at said saddle to their contact point over the musical instrument nut;
• a plurality of spaced-apart bridge elements generally disposed in a side-by-side relationship, each of said bridge elements installed on said multi-element control anchor, and each of said bridge elements including a structural base spaced apart from, and slidingly connected to, said multi-element control anchor with longitudinal adjustment means, and further including vertical adjustment means;
• and
• a saddle pivotally connected to said structural base and operatively engaging said vertical adjustment means.