Reed wind instrument acoustic improvement device

Abstract

To provide a lightweight acoustic improvement device that can be stably attached to various ligatures and musical instruments, to improve reed vibration efficiency, and to realize sound creation that meets needs of users.SOLUTION: The acoustic improvement device is composed of a viscoelastic material 2b, a leather member 8, a hook and loop fastener 3b, and a hook and loop fastener 4b. The viscoelastic material 2b and the leather member 8 are approximately the same shape when viewed from the front, and a width of each of both ends in a longitudinal direction is small, and a width of a center part is large. A concave portion at an upper end part of the center part is provided so that the upper end part becomes flat when wrapped around a wind musical instrument. The viscoelastic material 2b is formed of a polymer gel material that has damping and elastic properties. The leather member 8 is a synthetic leather. The viscoelastic material 2b and the leather member 8 have a thickness of approximately 1 mm, and are bonded together. On the viscoelastic material 2b and the leather member 8, the hook and loop fastener 3b is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction and on the viscoelastic material 2b side, and the hook and loop fastener 4b is provided at the other end and on the leather member 8 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for improving the acoustics of reed wind instruments. [Background technology]

[0002] In woodwind instruments, the source of the sound is the vibration of the reed caused by the player's breath, and this vibration is transmitted from the mouthpiece to the neck and barrel, and there is a value judgment that the more the instrument vibrates, the better the instrument is, and in the case of saxophones, in order to ensure that the vibration is transmitted to the bell of the instrument, efforts have been made to make the reed vibrate more lightly by changing the ends of the U-shaped tube from glue to soldering, and by devising the shape and material of the ligature, to make the reed vibrate more lightly and to make the vibration of the instrument, including the mouthpiece, greater. On the other hand, there are currently methods such as placing a metal plate across both the mouthpiece and neck when playing, which transmits the mouthpiece vibration to the instrument more than normal, increasing the feeling of playing and the volume, and replacing the screw that connects the lower part of the saxophone neck to the upper part of the instrument body with a weight attached to the screw to improve the playing sound.

[0003] When playing, when the reed vibration is transmitted to the mouthpiece, the vibration amplitude frequencies of both reeds resonate in sync. In conventional technology, the vibrations of both reeds interfere with and are superimposed within the mouthpiece, resulting in a distorted amplitude waveform.

[0004] If we look at this in terms of the relationship between "reed vibration and sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece" and "sympathetic vibration of the bare speaker vibrating paper and the speaker frame suspended by a string," the reed and vibrating paper are the vibration source that causes the mouthpiece and speaker frame to vibrate in sympathetic vibration. When the speaker is suspended by a string and music is played, the speaker's vibrating paper vibrates back and forth, and the speaker frame vibrates back and forth in response to this vibration, and the original movement of the speaker vibrating paper is hindered by the amount of movement. It is also a well-known fact that the sympathetic vibration of the speaker frame returns to the vibrating paper with a time lag, hindering its movement and distorting the sound, making it impossible to reproduce good sound. It is also a well-known fact that the distorted reproduced sound can be normalized and improved by attaching the speaker to a thick speaker box and stopping the sympathetic vibration of the speaker frame.

[0005] The speaker frame will be described from the hypothetical viewpoint of being stretched and transformed from the neck into the body like a reed wind instrument, as shown in Figure 30. This modified speaker frame wind instrument 17 is a modified bare speaker supported only by the string of the neck strap, the right thumb, and the fingertips of both hands. In this case, the speaker vibrating paper is the vibration source of the sound, and this sound source moves toward the inside of this hypothetical instrument as shown by arrow 18 in Figure 30. This instrument is designed to taper from the thickness of the sound source to the maximum thickness at the sound exit bell, so the sound naturally becomes louder, and the vibration of the exit bell also becomes louder accordingly.

[0006] The frame resonant vibration of the modified speaker frame wind instrument 17, which has become even stronger as described above, returns to the vibrating paper with a time lag, impeding its movement and distorting the sound, preventing the original good vibration from being exerted. Here, we have looked at the commonalities between the bare speaker frame and the modified speaker frame for wind instruments 17 from the same perspective, but the big difference between the two is that the bare speaker is attached and fixed to a thick speaker box, which means that the resonant vibration of the frame does not return to the vibrating paper with a time lag, allowing the original rich sound to be reproduced, but the modified speaker frame for wind instruments 17 moves around during performance, so it cannot be firmly fixed. In other words, the movement of the vibrating paper, which is the sound source of the Modified Speaker Frame Wind Instrument 17, is constantly hindered by the sympathetic vibration of the modified speaker frame, preventing it from producing its original vibration, and there was no solution for reproducing a rich sound.

[0007] So, in a word, the solution to make it possible for a real reed wind instrument with the same structure as this modified speaker frame wind instrument 17 to reproduce a rich sound is to dampen and suppress the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece and the instrument that receives the vibration from the reed. This has the same effect as attaching and fixing a bare speaker to a thick speaker box.

[0008] In recent years, the general idea is that, rather than stopping the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece, neck, and instrument body, a better sound, a better instrument, and easier playing can be achieved by making the reed vibrate more lightly and resonating louder. Both manufacturers and players are turning their attention in this direction. In fact, there are known ligatures that achieve high sound quality and playing feel by resonating more in this way (see Non-Patent Document 1).

[0009] However, the reed vibration induces sympathetic vibration in the mouthpiece, resulting in some distorted vibration amplitude waveforms. No one noticed that this was mixed in with the sound being played, and instrument manufacturers, people in the music industry, players, and audiences all unquestioningly recognized it as the instrument's unique "finished sound." I will explain this in more detail later, but for example, there is a difference between the sound you get when cutting a thin plywood board with a saw, as the board goes up and down and doesn't cut quickly, and the sound you get when the board is firmly fixed and cuts quickly, and I still recognize the sound of the former board, when the board is not cutting quickly, as the "complete sound".

[0010] Therefore, the inventor has already proposed an acoustic improvement device that improves reed vibration efficiency compared to conventional methods, thereby enabling the creation of sounds that have a favorable effect on sound quality and allows the sound quality of the played instrument to be adjusted to suit the player's preferences (see Patent Document 1). The ligature and ligature cover of Patent Document 1 are ligature covers that can be attached to ligature for wind instruments detachably, and the ligature cover is made of metal with vibration-damping properties, and has a substantially cylindrical shape with a slit in a part thereof, forming a C-shape in a plan view. By using a metal with vibration-damping properties, the force of the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece can be effectively damped and suppressed.

[0011] However, the sound improvement device of Patent Document 1 can only accommodate some ligature shapes, and cannot accommodate all the various types of ligatures. Also, due to subtle differences in the thickness of each mouthpiece, the proper mounting position may shift, resulting in mouthpieces that cannot be used with this sound improvement device, so it is necessary to create several types in multiple shapes to accommodate them. Another drawback is that the weight around the mouthpiece becomes heavy after the sound improvement device is attached. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-145451 A [Non-patent literature]

[0013] [Non-Patent Document 1] Eddie Daniels Expressions Ligatures | EDDIE DANIELS EXPRESSIONS LIGATURES (https: / / www.brain-music.com / accessories / ) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] In view of this situation, the present invention aims to provide an acoustic improvement device that is lightweight, can be stably attached to a variety of ligatures and instruments, improves reed vibration efficiency, and enables sound creation that meets the user's needs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, the acoustic improvement device of the present invention is a device that can be freely attached and detached to a wind instrument that vibrates a reed with the player's breath, and a strip-shaped viscoelastic material made of a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity is wrapped around the ligature, mouthpiece, neck or barrel. In a reed wind instrument, after the reed is fixed, a polymer gel material having damping properties and elasticity is wrapped around the ligature, mouthpiece, neck or barrel to dampen and suppress the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece and the instrument when played, to break up the vibration waveform sound, and to increase the volume of the instrument. The place to wrap is not limited to any one of the ligature, mouthpiece, neck or barrel, and may be wrapped so as to cover, for example, the ligature and mouthpiece, or the mouthpiece and barrel, or the mouthpiece and neck. By wrapping the band-shaped viscoelastic body around the instrument, it can be stably attached to a variety of ligatures and instruments. Since a vibration-damping member made of metal alone is not attached, it can also be made lighter. A fixing part may be provided for more stable attachment. A hook-and-loop fastener is preferably used as the fixing part, as it allows for flexible fixing. The acoustic improvement device of the present invention can be used for all wind instruments that use reeds. In a wind instrument in which the reed vibrates with the player's breath, the reed is fixed to the mouthpiece with a ligature, and then the acoustic improvement device for wind instruments of the present invention, made of a polymer gel that has both damping and elasticity, is placed on the mouthpiece and various parts of the instrument to dampen and suppress the vibration of the mouthpiece when playing.

[0016] If we take an earthquake as an example to explain this acoustic improvement device, when an earthquake occurs the building vibrates and shakes. If a seismic isolation device is installed inside a building, the vibrations cancel each other out at the same time as the earthquake, reducing the shaking of the entire building. This is a mass-adding mechanism, a device that makes it difficult for earthquake vibrations to be transmitted to a building. In the five-story pagoda of Horyuji Temple in Nara, the central pillar is only loosely connected to the other framework with mounting fixtures, so that during an earthquake, each floor stacked on top of the other will sway laterally in opposite directions, and the timing between the central pillar and the other parts will be misaligned, absorbing the earthquake vibrations.

[0017] Assuming that the vibrations emitted from the reed of a wind instrument are a small earthquake source, as mentioned above, and that the mouthpiece vibrates in sympathetic response to the vibrations of the reed, earthquakes and reeds have something in common in that they both induce vibrations in the building and the mouthpiece.

[0018] The commonalities between this reed vibration and mouthpiece vibration and the aforementioned mass addition mechanism that absorbs vibrations and swaying of buildings caused by earthquakes will now be explained. In Figure 29, the upper waveform is the reed amplitude frequency that produces the force, and the lower waveform is the mouthpiece amplitude frequency that receives the force. The time axis is compressed to the smallest unit. The following example will be explained focusing on the fact that both vibration amplitude frequencies fluctuate simultaneously and in the same shape.

[0019] For example, when considering the relationship between a knife and a whetstone, the knife is the side that exerts the force, and the whetstone is the side that receives the force. When sharpening a knife, if the knife moves 10 cm on the whetstone and the whetstone moves 5 cm in the same direction at the same time, the knife will only be sharpened for a length of 5 cm.

[0020] In addition, when comparing the whip and bowl used to whip eggs, the whip is the one that exerts the force, and the bowl is the one that receives the force. When putting eggs in a bowl and whipping them with a whip, if you turn the whip clockwise, the bowl will rotate clockwise accordingly.

[0021] In the relationship between a saw and a thin plywood, the saw is the side that exerts the force, and the thin plywood is the side that receives the force. When cutting this thin board with a saw, the thin board moves up and down in response to the up and down movement of the saw.

[0022] Next, in the relationship between the hammer and the thin board, the hammer is the side that exerts the force, and the thin board is the side that receives the force. When you hammer a nail into a thin board that is sticking out from the edge of a workbench, the thin board bends downwards at the same time.

[0023] Finally, when considering the relationship between the diaphragm of a bare speaker hung on a string and the speaker frame, the diaphragm is the side that produces the force, and the frame is the side that receives the force. In this state, the frame resonates violently as soon as sound is produced.

[0024] As shown in Figure 29, the reed amplitude frequency of the side that produces the "force" and the mouthpiece amplitude frequency of the side that receives the "force" move (vibrate) simultaneously in the same direction, and in the above five examples, the efficiency of sharpening a knife is reduced by 50%, the bowl rotates around under the force of the whipper, making it almost inefficient to whip, a thin board moves up and down with the saw, making cutting less efficient, and the board bends downwards at the part of the nail driven in by a hammer. And the sound quality coming out of a bare speaker is reproduced at a biased frequency, making it impossible to produce a decent sound.

[0025] However, by fixing the whetstone that receives this "force", by stopping the bowl with one hand to stop it from rotating, by holding down the thin board firmly with one's hand to stop it from moving up and down, by moving the part where the nails are hammered onto the workbench, and by firmly fixing the speakers to speaker boxes made of thick boards, all the knives can be sharpened more efficiently, the efficiency of whipping eggs with a whisk also increases, and the work efficiency of saws and hammers improves, and the speakers can reproduce good sound quality with even frequencies.

[0026] Based on the above, in this invention, in order to dampen and suppress the vibration of the mouthpiece and the instrument body that receive the "force", the reed is fixed to the mouthpiece with a ligature, and then the acoustic improvement device for wind instruments of this invention, made of a polymer gel that has both damping and elasticity, is placed on the mouthpiece of the clarinet to dampen and suppress the vibration. In this way, this material has the same effect as the "central pillar" that changes the vibration frequency of the mouthpiece that vibrates in sympathy with the reed and shifts the timing, and the volume and sound quality of the clarinet are improved even when playing with the same breath.

[0027] As mentioned briefly above, this is the result of the "sound" changing from when cutting plywood with a saw, which is made when the board moves up and down, making it difficult to cut, to the "sound" of when the board is held firmly in place and the saw cuts more efficiently.

[0028] In this way, by absorbing, suppressing and changing (shifting the timing) the amplitude waveform of the reed and the amplitude waveform of the mouthpiece or instrument that vibrates in sympathy, the reed is not hindered by the sympathetic vibration of the mouthpiece or instrument and returns to an environment where it has its original power, so even if you play with the same breath as normal, there is no change in the vibrating mass of the reed (reed weight) that produces the "power", but the reed behaves as if its natural frequency is lower and its elasticity is softer. This reed vibration is extremely meaningful for wind players, something that has never been experienced before.

[0029] When the acoustic improvement device of the present invention is installed on a mouthpiece, the speed of the reed vibration, which produces sound as the thin reed repeatedly sticks to and releases from the mouthpiece, is maximized. Compared to the amplitude waveform frequency when playing the same pitch on a clarinet with a normal mouthpiece, the amplitude waveform frequency of the reed increases, improving the volume and sound quality. Many players have difficulty playing in the mid-low range of the soprano saxophone because the sound tends to be distorted, but this problem is no longer an issue. It is also noteworthy that the weight of the product of the present invention is about 5 to 10 g, which is about 1 / 6 to 1 / 3 of the weight when the technology of Patent Document 1 is used. It is so light that you won't even notice it's attached to the instrument, and it helps support the instrument and reduces the strain on the neck that comes with holding the instrument with the strap.

[0030] As mentioned above, the use of this polymer gel material with vibration-damping properties has increased reed vibration, but even if a building equipped with a mass-addition mechanism is used to absorb and suppress shaking during an earthquake, the vibrating mass (weight of the earth) producing the "force" is so incredibly heavy and large that even if an earthquake hits, the seismic vibrations will not increase any further, just as they would if the acoustic improvement device for wind instruments of the present invention was used.

[0031] To explain the effect of increased reed vibration in simple terms, imagine the feeling of playing as if you were to blow into one thin straw as opposed to making sound by blowing into two straws at the same time, or you can combine the sounds made by two players at the same time and produce them by yourself.This makes it easier to play with a wide dynamic range that produces rich, loud sounds as well as small, delicate sounds, and a powerful presence.

[0032] In addition, children with different physiques and players with smaller physiques can now play with a powerful, loud sound. And when practicing at night in a normal room, you can muffle the sound by inserting a towel or something into the bell, so you can play quietly without disturbing those around you. And the best part is that the instrument sounds great in any range, just as you want it to, which improves the intonation and expressiveness of the sound and helps you improve your playing skills more quickly.

[0033] In the acoustic improvement device of the present invention, the viscoelastic body may be a mixture of a polymer gel and a powder material made of a metal having vibration-damping properties. By mixing and molding a powder material made of a metal having vibration-damping properties with a polymer gel, the viscoelastic body can be firmly abutted against the musical instrument, and the vibration-damping properties of the metal can be fully exhibited. As the metal having vibration-damping properties, pure magnesium, a magnesium alloy, a vibration-damping alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or the like can be used.

[0034] The acoustic improvement device of the present invention may be provided with a band of a metal having vibration-damping properties or a coating containing a metal having vibration-damping properties on the outer surface of the viscoelastic body. This allows the device to be manufactured at a lower cost than when a powder material is kneaded and molded into a polymer gel. Again, the metal having vibration-damping properties may be pure magnesium, a magnesium alloy, a vibration-damping alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. The coating film is preferably formed by applying a paint containing a metal having vibration-damping properties to the outer surface of the viscoelastic body, and a paint made by mixing a known vibration-damping and sound-insulating material with liquid rubber is preferably used as the paint. A polymer-based water-based vibration-damping and sound-insulating paste compound is preferably used as the vibration-damping and sound-insulating material, and a water-based liquid rubber mainly composed of acrylic resin is preferably used as the liquid rubber. By using such a paint, peeling due to repeated bending after hardening can be prevented.

[0035] The acoustic improvement device of the present invention may be provided with a leather member on at least the outer surface side of the viscoelastic body. By providing a leather member on the outer surface side, a luxurious appearance can be achieved and aesthetics can be improved. Furthermore, by providing a leather member not only on the outer surface side but also on the inner surface side of the viscoelastic body, deterioration and damage to the viscoelastic body when the acoustic improvement device of the present invention is used repeatedly can be effectively prevented. The acoustic improvement device of the present invention may also be provided with a band-shaped elastic member on both sides of the viscoelastic body. This allows the elasticity of the member to ensure stable attachment when wrapped around a ligature, mouthpiece, neck, or barrel. It is preferable to have a fixing portion for stable attachment, and a hook-and-loop fastener is preferably used as the fixing portion because it allows for flexible attachment.

[0036] In the acoustic improvement device of the present invention, the viscoelastic body is preferably provided with a through hole and a notch for avoiding interference with the fastener of the ligature. By providing the through hole and the notch, the viscoelastic body can be prevented from interfering with the fastener of the ligature, and as a result, the viscoelastic body can be firmly attached to the ligature body, thereby improving the acoustic improvement effect.

[0037] The sound improvement device of the present invention may be provided with a storage section having an open upper end on the outermost surface of the sound improvement device. By providing the storage section, it becomes easy to store coins or the like in the storage section and freely change the sound quality. Effect of the Invention

[0038] The acoustic improvement device of the present invention has the advantages of being lightweight, being able to be stably attached to a variety of ligatures and musical instruments, improving reed vibration efficiency, and enabling the creation of sounds that meet the user's needs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view and a rear view of the acoustic improvement device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an acoustic improvement device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] Image of the installation of the acoustic improvement device of Example 1 on a ligature [Figure 4] A voice scope measurement diagram when the acoustic improvement device of Example 1 is attached to a ligature [Diagram 5] Image of attaching the sound improvement device of Example 1 to a mouthpiece [Figure 6] A sound scope measurement diagram when the sound improvement device of Example 1 is attached to a mouthpiece [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view and a rear view of the acoustic improvement device of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the acoustic improvement device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] Image of the acoustic improvement device of Example 2 attached to the ligature [Figure 10] Image of installation of the acoustic improvement devices of Examples 1 and 2 [Figure 11] A sound scope measurement diagram when the sound improvement devices of Examples 1 and 2 are installed [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a front view and a rear view of the acoustic improvement device of the third embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a plan view of the acoustic improvement device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 14] Illustrative installation diagram of the acoustic improvement device of the third embodiment [Figure 15] Image of installation of the acoustic improvement device of Example 3 (1) [Figure 16] Image of installation of the acoustic improvement device of Example 3 (2) [Figure 17] Audio scope measurement diagram when the acoustic improvement device of Example 3 is installed [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a front view and a rear view of the acoustic improvement device of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a plan view of the acoustic improvement device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] Image of installation of the acoustic improvement device of Example 4 [Figure 21] A sound scope measurement diagram when the sound improvement device of Example 4 is installed [Figure 22] 5 is a plan view of the acoustic improvement device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 6 is a front view and a rear view of the acoustic improvement device according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 24] 6 is a plan view of the acoustic improvement device according to the sixth embodiment. [Diagram 25] Cross-sectional image of the acoustic improvement device of Example 6 [Figure 26] Image of installation of the acoustic improvement device of Example 6 [Figure 27] Left side view of the clarinet without the acoustic improvement device installed [Figure 28] Audioscope measurement diagram in normal condition [Figure 29] Schematic diagram of vibration amplitude waveform of reed and mouthpiece [Diagram 30] Example of combining a wind instrument with a general speaker DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples and illustrated examples, and many modifications and variations are possible.

[0041] FIG. 27 shows a left side view of a clarinet without an acoustic improvement device. In a clarinet 10, a reed 12 is attached to a mouthpiece 11 using a ligature 7. The ligature 7 is fastened using fasteners (7a, 7b). Generally, there are two types of ligatures: a "normal fastening" type in which the fastener is located on the reed 12 side, and a "reverse fastening" type in which the fastener is located on the opposite side of the reed 12. Here, a "reverse fastening" type ligature is used. Note that the components below the barrel 13 are not shown. FIG. 28 shows a sound scope measurement diagram in a normal state. As a measurement method, a clarinet 10 with a reed 12 fixed to a mouthpiece 11 using a ligature 7 was used to play the scale of "G" with both fingers off the key, and the amplitude frequency in the normal state was measured. As for the instruments and accessories used, an "SML" clarinet, a "Vandoren 5RV" mouthpiece, a "Légère 2" reed, and a "Selmer" ligature were used. As shown in FIG. 28, the measured amplitude frequency showed that the reed vibrated 1,500 times per second. EXAMPLES

[0042] Figures 1 and 2 are external views of the acoustic improvement device of the first embodiment, with Figure 1(1) being a front view, Figure 1(2) being a rear view, and Figure 2 being a plan view. Figure 3 shows an image of the acoustic improvement device of the first embodiment attached to a ligature. 1(1) or (2), the acoustic improvement device 1 of the first embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2 and hook-and-loop fasteners (3, 4), with the hook-and-loop fastener 3 being provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the viscoelastic body 2 and the hook-and-loop fastener 4 being provided at the other end. The viscoelastic body 2 is a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity. As shown in Fig. 2, a loop portion 32 is provided on a base portion 31 of the hook and loop fastener 3, and a hook portion 42 is provided on a base portion 41 of the hook and loop fastener 4. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, when the sound improvement device 1 is wrapped around the clarinet 10 and attached, the loop portion 32 and the hook portion 42 engage with each other to be fixed. As shown in Fig. 1 (1) or (2), the hook and loop fastener 4 and a part of the hook and loop fastener 3 are provided with a width smaller than that of the viscoelastic body 2, so that when the sound improvement device 1 is wrapped around the clarinet 10, the hook and loop fastener 4 can be fixed without interfering with the fasteners (7a, 7b) as shown in Fig. 3. Note that, contrary to this embodiment, a hook portion may be provided on the base portion 31 of the hook and loop portion may be provided on the base portion 41 of the hook and loop fastener 4.

[0043] A reed 12 was fixed to the mouthpiece 11 of a clarinet 10 with a ligature 7, and then both ends of a viscoelastic body 2 were fixed to the ligature 7 of the mouthpiece 11 with hook-and-loop fasteners (3, 4) as shown in Figure 3, and a test was conducted to measure the amplitude frequency when playing. The viscoelastic body 2 is 2 mm thick, 2 cm wide, 9 cm long, weighs 5.5 g, and has a liquid rubber coating on its surface. The instruments and accessories used were an "SML" clarinet, a "Vandoren 5RV" mouthpiece, a "Légère 2" reed, and a "Selmer" ligature, and the measurements were taken by playing the scale of "G" with both fingers off the key. As shown in Figure 4, the measured amplitude frequency was 2100 vibrations per second, which is 1.4 times that of a normal Clarinet 10, or a 40% increase in reed vibration.

[0044] Next, the mounting position of the sound improvement device 1 was changed, and a measurement test was carried out on the amplitude frequency during playing. Figure 5 shows an image of the sound improvement device of Example 1 being mounted on a mouthpiece. As shown in Figure 5, the sound improvement device 1 is mounted by wrapping it diagonally around a part of the ligature 7, the mouthpiece 11, and the reed 12. The instrument and accessories used are the same as when it was mounted on the ligature 7. As shown in Figure 6, the measured amplitude frequency was 3,350 vibrations per second, which is 2.2 times that of a normal clarinet, or 120 percent more vibrations of the reed. EXAMPLES

[0045] Figures 7 and 8 are external views of the acoustic improvement device of Example 2, with Figure 7(1) being a front view, Figure 7(2) being a rear view, and Figure 8 being a plan view. Also, Figure 9 shows an image of the acoustic improvement device of Example 2 attached to a ligature. 7(1) or (2), the acoustic improvement device 1a of the second embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2a and hook-and-loop fasteners (3a, 4a), with the hook-and-loop fastener 3a being provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the viscoelastic body 2a and the hook-and-loop fastener 4a being provided at the other end. The viscoelastic body 2a is a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity. As shown in Fig. 8, a loop portion 32a is provided on a base portion 31a of the hook and loop fastener 3a, and a hook portion 42a is provided on a base portion 41a of the hook and loop fastener 4. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9, when the sound improvement device 1a is wrapped around the clarinet 10 and attached, the loop portion 32a and the hook portion 42a can engage with each other and be fixed. As shown in Fig. 7(1) or (2), the hook and loop fastener 4a has a through hole 5 and the hook and loop fastener 3a has a notch 6. Therefore, even if a ligature 70 that is fixed with only one fastener 7c is used as shown in Fig. 9, when the sound improvement device 1a is wrapped around the clarinet 10, the hook and loop fastener 4a can be fixed without interfering with the fastener 7c.

[0046] The acoustic improvement device 1a of the second embodiment can be used alone as shown in FIG. 9, but can also be used in combination with the acoustic improvement device 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 shows an image of the installation of the acoustic improvement devices of the first and second embodiments. Here, the acoustic improvement device 1 of the first embodiment is installed around the joint between the mouthpiece 11 and the barrel 13 of the clarinet 10, and the acoustic improvement device 1a of the second embodiment is installed below the barrel 13. Also, unlike the example shown in FIG. 9, the acoustic improvement device 1a of the second embodiment is fixed not only by engaging the hook-and-loop fastener 3a with the hook-and-loop fastener 4a, but also by using a rubber band 19. Here, one rubber band 19 is wrapped around in a double layer. In this condition, a test was conducted to measure the amplitude frequency when playing. Viscoelastic body 2 is 2 mm thick, 2 cm wide, 9 cm long, and weighs 5.5 g. Viscoelastic body 2a is 2 mm thick, 2 cm wide, 11 cm long, and weighs 7.5 g. Both have liquid rubber applied to their surfaces. The instruments and accessories used are the same as in Example 1. As shown in Figure 11, the measured amplitude frequency was 2,800 vibrations per second, which is 1.86 times that of a normal clarinet, or an 86 percent increase in reed vibration. EXAMPLES

[0047] Figures 12 and 13 are external views of the acoustic improvement device of the third embodiment, with Figure 12(1) being a front view, Figure 12(2) being a rear view, and Figure 13 being a plan view. Also, Figure 14 shows an image of the acoustic improvement device of the third embodiment attached to a ligature. As shown in FIG. 12(1) or (2), the sound improvement device 1b of the third embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2b, a leather member 8, and hook-and-loop fasteners (3, 4). The viscoelastic body 2b and the leather member 8 have substantially the same shape when viewed from the front, and are narrow at both ends in the longitudinal direction and wide at the center. The recess at the upper end of the center is provided so that the upper end becomes flat when wrapped around a wind instrument. The viscoelastic body 2b is formed of a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity. The leather member 8 is synthetic leather, but a natural material may also be used. The viscoelastic body 2b and the leather member 8 each have a thickness of approximately 1 mm, and are bonded together using a known adhesive (not shown) as shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the leather member 8 is provided only on the outer surface side of the viscoelastic body 2b. However, unlike this, the leather member 8 having substantially the same shape as the viscoelastic body 2b when viewed from the front may also be provided on the inner surface side of the viscoelastic body 2b. This prevents the viscoelastic body 2b from coming into direct contact with the mouthpiece 11 or the ligature 7 when attached to the clarinet 10, effectively preventing deterioration or damage to the viscoelastic body 2b when used repeatedly. In the viscoelastic body 2b and the leather member 8, a hook-and-loop fastener 3b is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction on the viscoelastic body 2b side, and a hook-and-loop fastener 4b is provided at the other end on the leather member 8 side. When a leather member 8 is also provided on the inner surface side of the viscoelastic body 2b, the hook-and-loop fastener 4b is provided on the leather member 8 provided on the inner surface side.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 13, a loop portion 32b is provided on a base portion 31b of a hook and loop fastener 3, and a hook portion 42b is provided on a base portion 41b of a hook and loop fastener 4b. 14, the sound improvement device 1b is attached by wrapping around the mouthpiece 11 and ligature 7 of a clarinet 10 with the leather member 8 on the outside and the viscoelastic body 2b on the inside. By wrapping the leather member 8 on the outside, a high-quality texture with a good appearance can be achieved. When attaching, the fastener 7a of the ligature 7 is inserted into the through hole 5b and wrapped around so that the fastener 7b is positioned at the cutout portion 6b, thereby allowing the viscoelastic body 2b to be firmly abutted against the mouthpiece 11 and the ligature 7, thereby improving the acoustic improvement effect.

[0049] 15 and 16 are installation images of the sound improvement device of Example 3, with Fig. 15 showing a rear view and Fig. 16 showing a left side view. As described above, the sound improvement device 1b is provided with narrow widths at both ends in the longitudinal direction, so that, as shown in Fig. 15 or 16, the viscoelastic body 2b and the leather member 8 are provided up to a high position on the front side of the mouthpiece 11 where the reed 12 is not provided, but the viscoelastic body 2b is lower and contacts only the ligature 7 on the rear side where the reed 12 is provided, and does not contact the reed 12 itself. This makes it possible to effectively dampen and suppress the strong resonant vibration part of the mouthpiece without impeding the function of the reed 12. The instruments and accessories used were the same as in Example 1. As shown in Figure 17, the measured amplitude frequency showed that the reed vibrated 2850 times per second, which is 1.9 times higher than that of a normal clarinet, meaning that the reed vibration increased by 90 percent. EXAMPLES

[0050] 18 and 19 are external views of the sound improving device of the fourth embodiment, with FIG. 18(1) being a front view, FIG. 18(2) being a rear view, and FIG. 19 being a plan view. As shown in FIG. 18(1) or (2), the acoustic improvement device 1c of the fourth embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2c, a leather member 8c, hook-and-loop fasteners (3, 4), and a storage section 9. The viscoelastic body 2c and the leather member 8c have substantially the same shape when viewed from the front, and the viscoelastic body 2b is formed of a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity. The leather member 8c is synthetic leather, but a natural material may also be used. The viscoelastic body 2c and the leather member 8c each have a thickness of approximately 1 mm, and are bonded together as shown in FIG. 19.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 18(1), the storage section 9 is provided on the leather member 8c. As shown in FIG. 18(1) or FIG. 19, the upper end of the storage section 9 is open and is structured to be able to store two 10-yen coins 14. Also, the player can freely change the tone and playing feel of the instrument by changing the number and type of coins attached. For example, a 1-yen coin produces a soft tone, a 5-yen coin produces a sound that seems to fly forward, a 10-yen coin produces a louder sound and a better playing feel, and a 500-yen coin produces an even louder sound. Also, various combinations of soft materials such as rubber and sponge can be stored in the storage section 9 to match these, allowing the player to freely choose the tone and playing feel that they like. The structure of the hook and loop fasteners (3, 4) is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0052] FIG. 20 shows an image of the acoustic improvement device of the fourth embodiment attached to the ligature. Here, the acoustic improvement device 1c is attached to the barrel 13, not to the ligature 7, but it is also possible to attach it by wrapping it around the ligature 7 as in the first embodiment. A 500-yen coin 14a was inserted into the storage section 9. In this state, a measurement test was performed on the amplitude frequency when playing. The instrument and accessories used were the same as those in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, the measured amplitude frequency was 2850 times the reed vibration per second. This is 1.9 times that of a normal clarinet, meaning that the reed vibration has increased by 90 percent. EXAMPLES

[0053] FIG. 22 shows a plan view of the sound improvement device of the fifth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 22, the sound improvement device 1d of the fifth embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2b, a leather member 8, a vibration-damping member 15, and a hook-and-loop fastener (3, 4), and the vibration-damping member 15 is provided between the viscoelastic body 2b and the leather member 8. The viscoelastic body 2b and the vibration-damping member 15, or the leather member 8 and the vibration-damping member 15, are bonded with a known adhesive (not shown). By providing the vibration-damping member 15, the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece can be effectively damped and suppressed, and the sound improvement effect is improved. Other than the provision of the vibration-damping member 15, the sound improvement device 1d is the same as the sound improvement device 1b of the third embodiment. The vibration-damping member 15 is a strip-shaped body made of a metal having vibration-damping properties, and pure magnesium, a magnesium alloy, or other vibration-damping alloys are used as the metal. The vibration-damping member 15 has a thickness of 0.25 mm and can be easily bent by hand. In this embodiment, a strip made of a metal having vibration-damping properties is used as the vibration-damping member 15, but for example, the vibration-damping member 15 may also be a coating film formed by applying paint containing a metal having vibration-damping properties to the surface of the viscoelastic body 2b. EXAMPLES

[0054] Figures 23 and 24 are external views of the sound improvement device of Example 6, with Figure 23(1) being a front view, Figure 23(2) being a rear view, and Figure 24 being a plan view. Figure 25 is a cross-sectional image of the sound improvement device of Example 6, showing the AA cross-section shown in Figure 23(1). Also, Figure 26 shows an installation image of the sound improvement device of Example 6. As shown in Figs. 23 to 25, the acoustic improvement device 1e of the sixth embodiment is composed of a viscoelastic body 2d, elastic belts (20a, 20b), hook-and-loop fasteners (3c, 4c), and a storage section 9a. The viscoelastic body 2 is a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity. The elastic belts (20a, 20b) are woven rubber made of polyester and rubber, but other elastic materials may be used. As shown in Fig. 25, the elastic belts 20a and 20b are sewn together with the viscoelastic body 2d sandwiched therebetween, and the upper ends are closed as shown in Fig. 24. Although not shown, the lower ends are also closed. The elastic belts 20a and 20b may be bonded together by a method other than sewing, for example, they may be bonded together using a known adhesive.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 23, a hook and loop fastener 3c is provided on the side of elastic belt 20b at one end in the longitudinal direction of elastic belts (20a, 20b), and a hook and loop fastener 4c is provided on the side of elastic belt 20a at the other end. As shown in Fig. 24, a loop portion 32c is provided on a base portion 31c of hook and loop fastener 3c, and a hook portion 42c is provided on a base portion 41c of hook and loop fastener 4c. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 26, when sound improvement device 1e is wrapped around clarinet 10 and attached, loop portion 32c and hook portion 42c can be engaged with each other to fix the device in place. As shown in FIG. 23, the width of the elastic belts (20a, 20b) in the short direction is approximately the same. However, as in the acoustic improvement device 1 of Example 1, the width of the elastic belts (20a, 20b) may be made smaller in part to avoid interference with the fasteners (7a, 7b), and a through hole or a cutout portion may be provided as in the acoustic improvement device 1a of Example 2.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 23(1), the storage section 9a is provided on the elastic belt 20a. As shown in FIG. 23(1) or FIG. 24, the upper end of the storage section 9a is open and is structured to be able to store two 10-yen coins 14. In addition, the player can freely change the tone and blowing feel of the instrument by changing the number and type of coins attached. For example, a 1-yen coin produces a soft tone, a 5-yen coin produces a sound that seems to fly forward, a 10-yen coin produces a louder sound and a better blowing feel, and a 500-yen coin produces an even louder sound. In addition, various combinations of soft materials such as rubber and sponge can be stored in the storage section 9a to suit these, allowing the player to freely choose the tone and blowing feel that they like. Since the storage section 9a is made of the same elastic material as the elastic belts (20a, 20b), when the elastic belts (20a, 20b) are stretched, the storage section 9a also stretches at the same time, improving the flexibility of installation.

[0057] In FIG. 26, the acoustic improvement device 1e is attached on the barrel 13, not on the ligature 7, but may be attached by wrapping it diagonally around a part of the ligature 7, the mouthpiece 11, and the reed 12 as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5. A 500-yen coin 14a is inserted in the storage section 9a. The acoustic improvement device 1e is made of a highly elastic material, so that one type of device can be used even if the diameter of the mouthpiece of an alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, etc. changes, and when attaching it to various types of ligatures, it can be fixed by pulling it lightly even if the hook-and-loop fasteners (3c, 4c) do not reach. In addition, the elastic belts (20a, 20b) and the storage section 9a are made of an elastic material containing rubber, so they also have the effect of absorbing vibrations.

[0058] (summary) In "sympathetic vibration between a bare speaker suspended by a string and the speaker frame" and "sympathetic vibration between reed vibration and the mouthpiece," there are commonalities between the vibrating side and the receiving side of the vibration. When a bare speaker is hung by a string and played back, the diaphragm and the speaker frame vibrate in sympathetic vibration, resulting in poor sound quality. However, it is a fact that the reproduced sound improves when the speaker is fixed to a box made of thick boards to suppress the sympathetic vibration. In reed wind instruments, the mouthpiece and the instrument also vibrate in sympathy with the vibration of the reed. Since the instrument moves with the player, it was not possible to suppress and fix the vibration of the entire instrument like a speaker frame. Rather than saying that it is not possible to fix it, the majority opinion is that there is no advantage to stopping the vibration of the instrument, and there are only disadvantages. This is because since the appearance of saxophones, clarinets, etc., it has been natural and understood that the reed is the source of sound, that it vibrates the mouthpiece and the instrument body, and that the sound that comes out is louder, and that it is the law of nature. It was an unquestioned common understanding that damping and suppressing the original mouthpiece vibration would make the sound coming out of the instrument quieter, and no one had seriously considered this issue.

[0059] Therefore, currently, manufacturers are focusing on research and development into improving the playing feel by developing ligatures, mouthpieces, and reeds that cause the instrument to respond lightly when played, in order to make the instrument easier to play and produce a good sound. However, when the reed vibration is transmitted to the mouthpiece and vibrates in sympathy, the vibration amplitude frequencies of both interfere and overlap inside the mouthpiece, creating a distorted amplitude waveform, which inevitably comes out of the instrument along with the sound. However, when the resonant vibration of the mouthpiece or instrument, which is synchronized with the reed vibration, is damped and suppressed, a strange thing happens. That is, the reed vibration increases. Until now, everyone had thought that reducing the vibration of the mouthpiece or the instrument itself only had "disadvantages."

[0060] As mentioned above, when the side that produces the vibration "force" and the side that receives the vibration "force" are vibrating at the same time, if the vibration "force" on the receiving side is absorbed and suppressed to change the vibration frequency, the vibration "force" on the side that produces the vibration increases. By breaking the synchronization between the reed vibration and the mouthpiece vibration in this way and creating a difference, it has become possible to improve the acoustic effects of the instrument, such as the volume and playing feel.

[0061] (Other Examples) In the acoustic improvement devices of the first to fourth embodiments, a viscoelastic body formed by kneading a powder material made of a metal having vibration-damping properties may be used as the polymer gel material. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] The present invention is useful as a device for improving the acoustics of a wind instrument. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1,1a~1d Sound improvement device 2, 2a-2d Viscoelastic body 3,3a~3c,4,4a~4c Hook and loop fastener 5,5b Through hole 6,6b Notch 7,70 Ligature 7a~7c Fasteners 8,8c Leather materials 9,9a Storage section 10. Clarinet 11 Mouthpiece 12 Lead 13 Barrel 14 10 yen coin 14a 500 yen coin 15 Vibration-damping materials 16 Speakers 17 Modified speaker frame wind instrument 18 Arrow 19 Rubber Bands 20a, 20b Elastic belt 31,31b,41,41b base 32, 32a~32c Loop section 42, 42a~42c Hook part

Claims

1. A device that can be detachably attached to a wind instrument that vibrates a reed with the breath of a wind player, An acoustic improvement device comprising a strip-shaped viscoelastic body made of a polymer gel having damping properties and elasticity, wrapped around a ligature, mouthpiece, neck or barrel.

2. 2. The acoustic improvement device according to claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic body is formed by kneading the polymer gel with a powder material made of a metal having vibration-damping properties.

3. 2. The acoustic improvement device according to claim 1, wherein a strip of a metal having vibration-damping properties or a coating containing a metal having vibration-damping properties is provided on the outer surface side of the viscoelastic body.

4. 2. The acoustic improvement device according to claim 1, wherein a leather member is provided on at least an outer surface side of the viscoelastic body.

5. 2. The acoustic improvement device according to claim 1, wherein strip-shaped elastic members are provided on both sides of the viscoelastic body.

6. 2. The acoustic improvement device according to claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic body is provided with a through hole and a notch for avoiding interference with a fastener of a ligature.

7. 2. The sound improvement device according to claim 1, wherein a receiving section having an open upper end is provided on an outermost surface of the sound improvement device.

Images