Modular Guitar

Abstract

A modular guitar (1) comprising a neck (3) with a headstock (4), a body (15), a tailpiece (5), a bridge (6), and at least one pickup (7), the guitar having a string support (2) on which are arranged, on one side, the neck (3) and the headstock (4), and on the other side, the tailpiece (5), the bridge (6), and at least one pickup (7), the string support (2) including an interface bracket (9) for removable mounting of the guitar body (15). FIGURE 1

Description

Title of the invention: Modular Guitar Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular guitar, comprising a neck provided with a headstock, a body, a tailpiece, a bridge, at least one pickup, the guitar comprising a string support on which are arranged, on a first side, the neck and the headstock, on a second side, the tailpiece, the bridge and the pickup. Prior art

[0002] Modular guitars have been known for a long time. Indeed, several types of arrangements allow a guitar to be designed in several removable parts, for example to facilitate the transport and storage of the instrument.

[0003] For example, document US6025548 describes a take-apart guitar with a neck and headstock that can be disassembled and placed in the body of the guitar.

[0004] Document US3396621 describes a guitar with an interchangeable neck. The guitar is in two parts, a neck and a removable body. The removable body can be mounted by positioning it under the neck, on the side opposite the strings. Due to this arrangement, the demarcation between the neck and the body always remains visible, confining this type of construction to lower-end instruments.

[0005] Modular guitar arrangements with a laterally mountable body are also known. For example, US4873908 describes a guitar whose neck can be dressed by adding a body fixed by the side edges of the neck. As with the previous example, this arrangement results in a clearly visible demarcation between the two separable parts, affecting the appearance and finish of the instrument.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a guitar with better transport and storage capabilities, but without sacrificing the performance and integrity of the instrument.

[0007] To overcome these various drawbacks, the invention provides various technical means. Summary of the invention

[0008] First of all, a first objective of the invention is to provide a modular guitar whose different parts are easy to assemble.

[0009] Another objective of the invention is to provide a modular guitar making it possible to constitute a family of instruments.

[0010] To do this, the invention provides a modular guitar, comprising a neck provided with a headstock, a body, a tailpiece, a bridge, at least one pickup, the guitar comprising a string support on which are arranged, on a first side, the neck and the headstock, on a second side, the tailpiece, the bridge, the at least one microphone, the string stand comprising a mounting interface bracket and the guitar body being removably mountable on the mounting interface bracket.

[0011] These features make it possible to obtain a guitar whose modularity allows either to facilitate transport and / or storage, or to be able to create a family or batch of several bodies which can be assembled and disassembled in order to have several guitars in one. The single string support allows the user to benefit from constant grip characteristics, facilitating the use of the instrument.

[0012] Finally, as with any conventional guitar, the neck stops with the frets, allowing for a unitary body, leaving only the functional elements such as the pickups, bridge and tailpiece visible.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the guitar body comprises at least one cutout.

[0014] These features allow the key elements of the functional part, in particular the pickups, tailpiece and bridge, to be placed on the string rest. The cutouts allow the required space to be freed up for the functional elements to reach the top of the guitar, in close proximity to the strings for the pickups, and for holding and adjusting the strings for the tailpiece and bridge.

[0015] According to various embodiments, at least one of the cutouts allows the passage of a microphone, and / or the tailpiece and / or the bridge, and / or the adjustment buttons.

[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment, the string support forms two planes offset by a distance corresponding at least to the thickness of the guitar body, the first plane corresponding to the plane FF formed by the frets and the second plane corresponding to the plane SLSI formed by the surface of the fixing interface support.

[0017] This arrangement in two offset planes makes it possible to provide space for the fixing interface support and the installation of the guitar body. In addition, the removable guitar body is specifically designed to be positioned on the code support, on the string side, unlike known guitars, where the cover is installed from below the guitar. The two planes are advantageously parallel.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the body is translucent (allows the passage of light) and a light source is arranged near the fixing support-interface.

[0019] This architecture allows for unique visual effects to be achieved with the instrument.

[0020] According to another advantageous embodiment, the body and the cutouts are in two parts. Preferably, these two parts can be mounted and / or dismounted laterally.

[0021] This variant embodiment makes it easier to assemble and disassemble the body from the sides rather than from above without having to remove the strings from the instrument. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] All the details of the embodiment are given in the following description, supplemented by figures 1 to 7 presented solely for the purposes of non-limiting examples, and in which: Fig.l

[0023] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a first example of a modular guitar whose body is shown in the pre-assembled position, from above the string rest; Fig.2

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows the modular guitar of [Fig.l] in side view, before putting in place of the body on the string support; Fig.3

[0025] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows the guitar of [Fig.2], in side view, after assembly of the body; Fig.4

[0026] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows the assembled guitar of [Fig.3] in top view; Fig.5

[0027] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a second example of a guitar modular whose body carries the adjustment buttons; Fig.6

[0028] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a third example of a guitar modular with partial fixed cladding; Fig.7

[0029] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a fourth example of a guitar modular with another way of installing the removable body. Description of the embodiments

[0030] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an example of a modular guitar 1, in disassembled mode in Figures 1 and 2 and in assembled mode in Figures 3 and 4. As illustrated, in this exemplary embodiment, the guitar is designed in two parts. The first part comprises the key functional elements to enable the guitar to function. The second part serves primarily as a body. The first part consists of a string support 2, and comprises the neck 3 and the headstock 4, as well as the tailpiece 5, the bridge 6, and at least one pickup 7.

[0031] To allow the guitar body 15 to be placed and fixed on the string support 2, the latter comprises a fixing interface support 9. The string support 2 therefore also serves as a support for the guitar body 15. The support 15 can be removably mounted on the fixing support 9. The fixing is implemented by any means, such as screws, clips, or other. The body is thus placed on top of the 2-string support, and presents an appearance without discontinuity or rupture zone.

[0032] In order for the upper face of the body 15 to be positioned without interfering with the location of the strings 10, the support-fixing 9 is offset or set back opposite the upper surface of the neck on which the frets 12 are arranged. Thus, as shown in [Fig. 2], the string support 2 forms two parallel planes offset by a distance corresponding at least to the thickness EC of the guitar body 15, the first plane corresponding to the plane FF formed by the frets 12 and the second plane corresponding to the plane SI-SI formed by the surface of the support-interface 9 for fixing. As shown in [Fig. 3], this architecture makes it possible to lower the body 15 opposite the plane FF, so that the pickups 7, the tailpiece 5 and the bridge 6 are prominent relative to the body 15. The thickness EC of the body is also adapted to enable these latter characteristics to be obtained.

[0033] To allow the passage of the pickups 7, the tailpiece 5 and the bridge 6, the guitar body 15 has cutouts adapted to the dimensions and locations of these elements on the string support. Thus, at least one of the cutouts 16 allows the passage of a pickup 7, at least one of the cutouts 17 allows the passage of the tailpiece 5 and the bridge 6.

[0034] Furthermore, in the example of figures 1 to 4, at least one of the cutouts 18 allows the passage of the buttons 13 for adjusting the guitar.

[0035] [Fig. 5] illustrates a second embodiment in which the guitar adjustment knobs 13 are arranged on the body 15. Connectors allow the knobs 13 to be connected to the string support. [Fig. 5] shows the connector 19 provided on the support-fixation 9, behind the tailpiece 5.

[0036] [Fig. 6] illustrates a third embodiment in which the string support 2 comprises a partial covering 20 extending on one side of the microphones 7 and carrying the adjustment knobs 13 of the guitar. To complete the covering, the removable body 15 is shaped so as to complete the partial covering 20 and comprises a central zone, for fixing on the string support and a lateral part, on the side opposite the partial covering 20.

[0037] [Fig. 7] illustrates a fourth embodiment, in which the body 15 and the cutouts 16, 17 are in two parts, so as to allow the body to be put in place from the sides rather than from above as provided in the previous examples. In the example illustrated, the cutout between the two parts of the body 15 is rectilinear and corresponds to the median axis of the string support 2. Other arrangements with another position and / or shape of cutout can be implemented.

[0038] According to an alternative embodiment, the body 15 is translucent (it allows the passage of light) and a light source 14 is arranged in the vicinity of the fixing interface support 9. For example, in the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, the light source surrounds the pickups 7 and / or the tailpiece 5. List of reference signs

[0039] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Modular Guitar String Holder Neck Head Tailpiece Easel Microphone Mechanics Mounting interface bracket 10. Strings 11. Nut 12. Fret 13. Adjustment button 14. Light source 15. Guitar body (or top) 16. Micro cutouts 17. Bridge and tailpiece cutouts 18. Cutouts for adjustment buttons 19. Button connector 20. Partial dressing

Claims

Claims

1. Modular guitar (1), comprising a neck (3) provided with a headstock (4), a body (15), a tailpiece (5), a bridge (6), at least one pickup (7), the guitar comprising a string support (2) on which are arranged, on a first side, the neck (3) and the headstock (4), on a second side, the tailpiece (5), the bridge (6), the at least one pickup (7), characterized in that the string support (2) comprises a fixing interface support (9) and in that the guitar body (15) is removably mountable on the fixing interface support (9).

2. A guitar according to claim 1, wherein the guitar body (15) comprises at least one cutout (16, 17, 18).

3. Guitar according to claim 2, in which at least one of the cutouts (16) allows the passage of a microphone (7).

4. Guitar according to claim 2, in which at least one of the cutouts (16) allows the passage of the tailpiece (5) and the bridge (6).

5. Guitar according to claim 2, in which at least one of the cutouts (16) allows the passage of the adjustment buttons (13).

6. Guitar according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the string support (2) forms two planes offset by a distance corresponding at least to the thickness EC of the guitar body (15), the first plane corresponding to the plane FF formed by the frets (12) and the second plane corresponding to the plane SI-SI formed by the surface of the fixing interface support (9).

7. A guitar according to claim 6, wherein the two planes FF and SI-SI are parallel.

8. A guitar according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (15) is translucent and a light source (14) is arranged proximate the fixing interface support (9).

9. A guitar according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (15) and cutouts (16, 17) are in two parts.

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