Stringed instrument and associated fret mapping method
OwnerGary O. Muncy, James Norman Griffittsinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stringed instrument and associated fret mapping method. The instrument includes a neck having a fret board provided with a plurality of frets having offset string contact regions along their length, whereby accurate intonation of a note is achieved when a string is brought into contact with one of the string contact regions and a note is played. The fret mapping method utilizes a test instrument having a fret board that is longitudinally movable toward and away from the nut of the test instrument. The method utilizes this movable fret board to determine the desired locations of string contact regions for frets on the fret board of a stringed instrument of the present invention.
Claims12
A stringed instrument for producing musical notes from a plurality of strings supported thereon, said stringed instrument comprising:
- a body provided with a bridge for supporting the plurality of strings;
- a neck secured to said body, said neck including a fret board extending longitudinally along a substantial portion of said neck and defining a distal end, said neck further including a nut proximate said distal end of said fret board for supporting the plurality of strings, said fret board being provided with a plurality of frets having string to fret contact regions being longitudinally offset with respect to said fret board along the length of each of said plurality of frets, whereby substantially accurate intonation of a note is achieved when a string is brought into contact with one of said string contact regions and a note is played,
- wherein said fret board defines periodic transversely oriented facets which undulate along the length of said fret board such that said fret board defines a playing surface which rises to high points where said frets are located, and inclines to low points disposed between said frets, and
- wherein each string contact region defines a linear section and wherein displaced string contact regions adjacently disposed on a fret are joined by a raised transition section.
A stringed instrument for producing musical notes from a plurality of strings supported thereon, said stringed instrument comprising:
- a body provided with a bridge for supporting the plurality of strings;
- a neck secured to said body, said neck including a fret board extending longitudinally along a substantial portion of said neck and defining a distal end, said neck further including a nut proximate said distal end of said fret board for supporting the plurality of strings, said fret board being provided with a plurality of frets having string to fret contact regions being longitudinally offset with respect to said fret board along the length of each of said plurality of frets, whereby substantially accurate intonation of a note is achieved when a string is brought into contact with one of said string contact regions and a note is played, said fret board defining periodic transversely oriented facets which undulate along the length of said fret board such that said fret board defines a playing surface which rises to high points where said frets are located, and inclines to low points disposed between said frets,
- wherein each string contact region defines a linear section, and wherein displaced string contact regions adjacently disposed on a said fret are joined by a raised transition section.
A stringed instrument for producing musical notes from a plurality of strings supported thereon, said stringed instrument comprising:
- a body provided with a bridge for supporting the plurality of strings;
- and
- a neck secured to said body, said neck including a fret board extending longitudinally along a substantial portion of said neck and defining a distal end, said neck further including a nut proximate said distal end of said fret board for supporting the plurality of strings, said fret board being provided with a plurality of frets having string contact regions being longitudinally offset with respect to said fret board along the length of each of said plurality of frets, whereby substantially accurate intonation of a note is achieved when a string is brought into contact with one of said string contact regions and a note is played, at least one of said plurality of frets being fabricated of a gemstone material, said fret board defining periodic transversely oriented facets which undulate along the length of said fret board such that said fret board defines a playing surface which rises to high points where said frets are located, and inclines to low points disposed between said frets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.