Pickup for stringed instruments

Abstract

The invention concerns a pickup for stringed instruments, consisting of a housing, arranged on the body of the instrument beneath the strings, in which at least one magnet surrounded by a coil is arranged that generates a magnetic field, wherein the coil is electrically connected to at least one amplifier and at least one loudspeaker and wherein movements of the strings in the magnetic field induce current in the coil. The problem for the invention is now to provide a novel pickup for stringed instruments that allows many different sounds to be produced easily and without replacing the pickup. The solution to the problem is that the pickup has at least one device for influencing the magnetic field of the magnet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to pickups for stringed instruments, consisting of a housing arranged on the body of the instrument below the strings in which at least one magnet surrounded by a coil is arranged, which magnet generates a magnetic field, wherein the coil is electrically connected to at least one amplifier and at least one loudspeaker and wherein current is induced in the coil by movements of the strings in the magnetic field, that the pickup has at least one device for changing the magnetic field of the magnet, by means of which the magnetic field and thus the sound of the instrument is changed.

[0002] Such a pickup is known, for example, from the prior art US 2014 / 0373701 A1. Furthermore, such a pickup is also known from the publications JP H05 73061 A, DE 970 536 C, and US 2018 / 102121 A1.

[0003] In principle, even with current technology, strengthening or weakening the magnetic flux between the strings and the pickup results in changes in the pickup's output signal and thus also in a change in the sound. If tonal changes are desired, the position of an additional magnet can be adjusted before use, allowing the pickup, consisting of a magnet and coil, to be adjusted by means of a screw. This can achieve tonal changes on the electric guitar.

[0004] Sound changes are also possible by replacing pickups.

[0005] It is also known that metal covers on magnetic pickups produce a damping effect in higher frequency ranges (caused by eddy currents). For this reason, covers are sometimes omitted, or covers with cutouts and interruptions are used, or closed metal covers are installed if this damping effect is desired.

[0006] The object of the invention is to create a new pickup for stringed instruments with which many different sound patterns can be realized in a simple manner and without replacing the pickup, even while playing.

[0007] The solution to the problem results from the following features of claim 1:

[0008] A pickup for stringed instruments, comprising a housing arranged on the body of the instrument below the strings, in which at least one magnet surrounded by a coil is arranged, which generates a magnetic field, wherein the coil is electrically connected to at least one amplifier and at least one loudspeaker, and wherein current is induced in the coil by movements of the strings in the magnetic field, that the pickup has at least one device for changing the magnetic field of the magnet, by which the magnetic field and thus the sound of the instrument is changed characterized by that the housing is provided with a cover made of electrically conductive material, which is designed as a device facing the strings of the instrument for continuously changing the opening state for the purpose of controlling the damping.

[0009] This design has the significant advantage that the sound pattern can be continuously changed through the modified damping.

[0010] The device for continuously changing the opening state of the cover of the housing can, on the one hand, consist of two perforated plates guided on the cover area and having aligned hole patterns, which are movable relative to each other and can thus achieve different opening states and damping effects.

[0011] It is also possible for the device for continuously changing the opening state to be designed in the manner of a metal slatted roller blind guided on the cover side of the housing, whereby different opening states and damping effects can be achieved by different positions of the slats.

[0012] In another solution, the device for influencing the magnetic field is formed by at least one adjustable resistor (potentiometer), which can be used to easily change the magnetic field and thus the sound of the instrument.

[0013] According to the invention, the resistance (potentiometer) can be controlled manually or electronically.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the device for influencing the magnetic field is formed by at least one further permanent magnet, electromagnet, or at least one component made of ferromagnetic material, which changes the magnetic field and thus the sound of the instrument by changing its position relative to the first permanent magnet.

[0015] Advantageously, the sound is modified without any direct intervention in the existing circuitry. This feature is particularly useful when using tube amplifiers, which are still very popular. Additional effects devices are often omitted. These are a disadvantage, as they lose or impair the typical sound character, considered warm, balanced, and natural. However, this sound character is fully preserved when using the invention.

[0016] Furthermore, the object of the invention can also be achieved in that the device for changing the magnetic field is formed from a magnet (25) arranged in a positionally adjustable manner within the coil (26).

[0017] Another advantage is that, if necessary, an overdrive of the amplifier preamp can be generated or, if present, intensified. This may eliminate the need for overdrive and related effects devices, or their application can be expanded with appropriate use of the invention.

[0018] Completely independent of the amplifier design and additional effects devices used, the invention significantly expands the possibilities for sound design because it enables the creation of an instrument with freely and easily adjustable pickup characteristics. This significantly simplifies the use of a single instrument for different musical styles.

[0019] Typically, the position change of the additional permanent magnet, electromagnet, or at least one component made of ferromagnetic material occurs at right angles to the strings. However, it is also possible that the position change is caused by rotation (pivoting) of the additional permanent magnet, electromagnet, or at least one other component made of ferromagnetic material.

[0020] It is also possible to arrange the magnets or the ferromagnetic component outside or inside the housing.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment of the further permanent magnet, electromagnet or ferromagnetic component is carried out manually, although this can of course also be carried out electrically.

[0022] In the present invention, a pickup for the purpose of controlling the damping is designed as a cover of the housing made of electrically conductive material facing the strings of the instrument as a device for continuously changing the opening state.

[0023] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments.

[0024] They show: Figure 1 shows a plan view of an electric guitar, Figure 2 shows a partial sectional view of a pickup according to the state of the art, Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view according to section areas III-III in Figure 1 , Figure 4 Partial sectional view of another embodiment of a pickup with two electromagnets and Figures 5a - 5c Representations of a housing cover of a pickup in different positions.

[0025] In the drawings, a pickup for stringed instruments is designated overall by reference number 10.

[0026] The Figure 1 shows a top view of an electric guitar 11. The electric guitar 11 has a body 12, a neck 13 with a fingerboard 14, and a headstock 15 with tuning mechanisms 16. Strings 18 are stretched between a bridge 17 arranged on the body 12, which serves as a string holder, and the tuning mechanisms 16.

[0027] Between the bridge 17 and the neck 13 there is a recess 19 (see Figures 3 and 4 ) of the body 12, the pickup 10 is arranged, which is connected via a cable 20 to an amplifier V and a loudspeaker L.

[0028] Finally, a connection socket 21, a volume and tone control 22 and a pickup actuator 23 are arranged on the body 12.

[0029] In the Figure 2A pickup A is shown according to the state of the art. It is located in a recess B in the body C of an electric guitar. The pickup A consists of a housing D with a cover E, in which a magnet F is located, surrounded by a coil G. The strings H run above the cover.

[0030] With the help of the electromagnetic pickup A, consisting of a permanent magnet F and a coil G, the string vibrations of an electric guitar are converted into electrical signals (alternating current). Specifically, the movement of the strings H in the magnetic field changes the field strength, whereby an alternating voltage with the frequency of the vibration of the string H is generated in the coil G through electromagnetic induction. As already mentioned above, Figure 1 As described, this electrical signal is fed to an amplifier (not shown) and then converted into a loudspeaker signal.

[0031] In the Figure 3A first embodiment of a pickup 10 according to the invention is shown. The pickup 10 consists of a housing 24, a magnet 25, a coil 26 surrounding the magnet 25, and a cover 27 of the housing 24. Two permanent magnets 28 are arranged on either side of the pickup 10, which in this case are vertically movable.

[0032] In principle, however, it is also conceivable that in a variation of this embodiment, the permanent magnets 28 are pivoted.

[0033] The position of the additional magnet(s) 28 can be continuously adjusted either via a mechanical pickup actuator 23 or via an electrical pickup actuator 23, which is not shown in detail. Furthermore, this allows the magnetic field generated by the pickup 10 to be continuously increased or decreased, since a movement of the strings 18 while playing the electric guitar also generates a varying degree of electromagnetic induction and thus a changed alternating voltage. This then leads to the different sound patterns advantageous according to the invention.

[0034] In the Figure 4 a pickup 10 is shown, which basically corresponds to the embodiment according to Figure 3However, in this case, the additional magnets 28 are designed as electromagnets 29 consisting of an iron core and a coil, which are also vertically movable. Here, too, pivoting or rotating the electromagnets 29 is possible.

[0035] Ultimately, the Figures 5a to 5c A possible design of the cover 27 of the housing 24 according to the inventive principle, for the purpose of continuously adjusting the damping. Here, the cover 27 is formed, for example, from two covers 30 that can be moved horizontally relative to one another, each having offset longitudinal slots 31. Depending on the position of the covers 30 relative to one another, the opening state of the housing 24 can be changed.

[0036] When the covers 30 are arranged offset from one another, the housing 24 is completely closed and maximum damping is achieved.

[0037] When the longitudinal slots 31 in both covers 30 are aligned, the housing 24 is maximally open and thus the damping is minimal.

[0038] Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the covers 30 to have hole arrangements instead of longitudinal slots 31 or for the device for continuously changing the opening state to be designed in the manner of a metal slatted roller blind guided on the cover side of the housing, whereby different opening states and damping effects can be achieved by different positions of the slats. List of reference symbols

[0039] 10 pickup 11 electric guitar 12 Corpus 13 Neck 14 fingerboard 15 headstock 16 Adjustment mechanisms 17 Bridge with string holder 18 strings 19 depression 20 Cable 21 connection socket 22 Volume and tone controls 23 Pickup operation 24 Housing 25 magnet 26 Sink 27 Cover of the housing 28 Permanent magnets, additional magnets 29 Electromagnets 30 Covers V amplifier 31 Longitudinal slots L Speaker A pickup B depression C Corpus D Housing E Lid F magnet G Sink H strings

Claims

1. Pickup (10) for stringed instruments, consisting of a housing (24), arranged on the body (12) of the instrument below the strings (18), in which at least one magnet (25) that is surrounded by a coil (26) and creates a magnetic field is arranged, wherein the coil (26) is electrically connected to at least one amplifier (V) and at least one loudspeaker (L) and wherein current is induced in the coil (26) by moving the strings (18) in the magnetic field, that the pickup (10) has at least one device for changing the magnetic field (28, 29) of the magnet (25), by means of which device the magnetic field and thus the sound characteristics of the instrument (11) are changed, characterised in that the housing (24) is provided with a cover (27) consisting of electrically conductive material, which, to control the attenuation, is designed as a device facing the strings (18) of the instrument (11) for continuous adjustment of the open position.

2. Pickup (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for continuous adjustment of the open position of the cover of the housing (27) consists of two perforated sheets having flush hole patterns and supported on the cover region, which perforated sheets can move relative to each other and thus can achieve different open positions and attenuation effects.

3. Pickup (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for continuous adjustment of the open position is designed in the form of a metal lamella bracing supported on the cover of the housing (24), wherein differing open positions and attenuation effects can be achieved due to different positions of the lamellae.

4. Pickup (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for changing the magnetic field is formed from at least one adjustable resistor (potentiometer) which acts on an electromagnet (29).

5. Pickup (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for changing the magnetic field is formed from at least one further permanent magnet (28), electromagnet (29) or at least one component consisting of ferromagnetic material, the location of which can be changed with respect to the first permanent magnet (28).

6. Pickup (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for changing the magnetic field is formed from a magnet (25) the position of which can be changed inside the coil (26).

7. Pickup (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that the position change occurs at a right angle to the direction of the strings (18).

8. Pickup (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the further permanent magnet (28), electromagnet (29) or the ferromagnetic component is arranged outside the housing (24).

9. Pickup (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the further permanent magnet (28), electromagnet (29) or the ferromagnetic component is arranged inside the housing (24).

10. Pickup (10) according to claim 1 or one of claims 5 - 8, characterised in that the adjustment of the further permanent magnet (28), electromagnet (29) or ferromagnetic component occurs manually.

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