Variable tone configuration control for string instruments

A variable tone configuration control for string instruments, comprising:

• a pair of pickup coils disposed on a string instrument for inducing voltages therein responsive to vibration of at least on string of the string instrument;
• and
• a pair of potentiometers each having a displaceable contact, said pair of potentiometers being mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel of said displaceable contacts thereof, each of said displaceable contacts being coupled to a respective one of said pair of pickup coils, each of said pair of potentiometers having a respective pair of terminals coupled to opposing ends of a resistive element thereof at corresponding end positions of said mechanical travel, one of said pair of terminals of each of said pickup coils being coupled to a respective one of a pair of output terminals, said pair of potentiometers controlling a current path selectively through one or both of said pair of pickup coils to thereby provide selective operative coupling of said pair of pickup coils coupled in series with respect to said output terminals responsive to said displaceable contacts being positioned at one end of said mechanical travel, or said pair of pickup coils coupled in parallel with respect to said output terminals responsive to said displaceable contacts being positioned at an opposing end of said mechanical travel, or a single one of said pair of pickup coils coupled to said output terminals responsive to said displaceable contacts being positioned at another position other than one of said ends of mechanical travel.

A variable tone configuration control for string instruments, comprising:

• a pair of pickup coils disposed on a string instrument for inducing voltages therein responsive to vibration of at least on string of the string instrument;
• and
• a first potentiometer having a first displaceable contact and a second potentiometer having a second displaceable contact, said first and second displaceable contacts being mechanically coupled for concurrent mechanical travel thereof, said first and second potentiometers being coupled to a pair of output terminals and said pair of pickup coils, said first potentiometer having a first substantial resistance disposed between a first end position of said mechanical travel of said first displaceable contact and a position intermediate said first end position and an opposing second end position of said mechanical travel, said first potentiometer having a first insignificant resistance disposed between said intermediate position and said second end position of said mechanical travel of said first displaceable contact, and said mechanical travel of said second displaceable contact having a first end position, an intermediate position and second end position disposed in respective correspondence with said first end position, said intermediate position and said second end position of said first displaceable contact's mechanical travel, said second potentiometer having a second substantial resistance disposed between said intermediate position of said second displaceable contact's mechanical travel and said second end position thereof and a second insignificant resistance disposed between said intermediate position of said second displaceable contact's mechanical travel and said first end position thereof, said first and second potentiometers controlling a current path selectively through one or both of said pair of pickup coils, said current path being selective between (a) said pair of pickup coils being coupled in series with respect to said output terminals, (b) said pair of pickup coils being coupled in parallel with respect to said output terminals, and (c) a single one of said pair of pickup coils being coupled to said output terminals, said selection of said single one of said pair of pickup coils being responsive to said first and second displaceable contacts being respectively disposed at said intermediate positions of said corresponding mechanical travel thereof.