Musical instrument vibrato mounting adapter apparatus
AssigneeU.E. Corp.
InventorTerrance Dennis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibrato mounting apparatus for mounting a vibrato device, such as a Bigsby Vibrato, to an electric guitar without making changes to the guitar body is herein disclosed. The vibrato device replaces the stop tailpiece of the guitar leaving available mounting holes for the mounting apparatus. The vibrato device is then mounted to the apparatus without the need to alter the guitar by drilling holes. The mounting apparatus locates the vibrato device on the guitar in a manner to maintain the critical bend angle of the guitar strings over the bridge. With a minimalist profile, the mounting apparatus is essentially concealed from view and presents a small burden in weight to the guitar. An alternative embodiment provides a method for mounting the apparatus so as to preserve the design string dynamics.
Claims10
An apparatus to mount a vibrato device to a guitar having stop tailpiece mounting holes and a strap anchor mounting hole, the vibrato device having forward mounting apertures on a horizontal member and rearward mounting apertures on a vertical member hinge-ably attached to the horizontal member, comprising:
- a first plate adapted to mount to the guitar by means of the stop tailpiece mounting holes, the first plate having mounting apertures there through corresponding to the forward mounting apertures of the vibrato device;
- and
- a second plate adapted to mount by means of the strap anchor mounting hole, the second plate having mounting apertures there through corresponding to the rearward mounting apertures of the vibrato device;
- whereas the vibrato device mounted to the first plate and the second plate avoids drilling new holes in the guitar.
A method of mounting a vibrato device to a guitar having strings, a bridge, a stop tailpiece with stop tailpiece mounting holes and a strap anchor with a strap anchor mounting hole, the vibrato device having forward mounting apertures on a horizontal member and rearward mounting apertures on a vertical member hinge-ably attached to the horizontal member, the vibrato device further having a string hold-down bar, the method comprising the steps:
- providing a first plate adapted to mount to the guitar by means of the stop tailpiece mounting holes, the first plate having mounting apertures there through corresponding to the forward mounting apertures of the vibrato device;
- and a second plate adapted to mount by means of the strap anchor mounting hole, the second plate having mounting apertures there through corresponding to the rearward mounting apertures of the vibrato device;
- removing the stop tailpiece from the guitar;
- removing the guitar strings from the stop tailpiece;
- removing the strap anchor from the guitar;
- mounting the first plate to the stop tailpiece mounting holes;
- mounting the second plate to the strap anchor mounting hole;
- mounting the vibrato device to the first plate and the second plate so as to position the hold-down bar at a location preserving the original vertical angle of the strings relative to the bridge;
- and
- restringing the guitar strings to the vibrato device;
- whereas the positioning of the vibrato device maintains the design dynamic of the strings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.