A string instrument excitation device and a vibration transmission section which are part thereof, a string instrument excitation system including the same, and a method for installing the string instrument excitation device.

Abstract

The present invention provides a string instrument excitation device and its vibration transmission section, a string instrument excitation system including the string instrument excitation device, and a method for attaching the string instrument excitation device, which are easy to manufacture and easy to attach to and detach from the string instrument, and which have good vibration transmission efficiency and acoustic characteristics. [Solution] The structure of the vibration transmission section 40 to which the vibration device 30 is attached consists of a single member extending in the direction in which the multiple strings 15 are aligned, and has a portion that biases at least two strings in the direction in which the multiple strings are aligned, and is configured to hold the vibration transmission section 40 using the tension of the strings, and the longitudinal dimension of at least two strings of the vibration transmission section is set to 9 mm or less.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stringed instrument excitation device, a vibration transmission part which is a part thereof, a stringed instrument excitation system including them, and a method for attaching a stringed instrument excitation device.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a stringed instrument has a resonance body composed of a front plate (body plate), a back plate, and side plates, and a sound hole is formed in the front plate. Further, in the stringed instrument, a plate-shaped bridge base member is fixed to the front plate with an adhesive, and a bridge extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the strings is attached on the bridge base member to support the strings.

[0003] Each string is locked to a bridge pin whose one end is attached to the bridge base member beyond the upper part of the bridge. Each of these strings is pressed against the upper surface of the bridge by applying tension by a tension adjustment mechanism provided on the head side (tail side), and is defined at an effective position by the bridge. Using such a stringed instrument, a stringed instrument excitation device and a stringed instrument excitation system including the stringed instrument excitation device that transmit vibration to the stringed instrument through the bridge of the stringed instrument or directly to each string of the stringed instrument from the outside by vibration means such as a piezoelectric vibrator or a speaker, and cause the stringed instrument to produce sound in the same manner as when playing the stringed instrument have been proposed.

[0004] The inventor of the present invention developed a stringed instrument excitation device and a stringed instrument excitation system prior to the present invention as shown in Patent Document 1 below. In FIGS. 1 to 11 and FIGS. 14 to 23 of Patent Document 1, a stringed instrument excitation device having a vibration transmission part with a structure that sandwiches each string from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each string (for convenience, this direction is referred to as the left-right direction) is disclosed. Further, in FIGS. 24 to 26 of Patent Document 1, a stringed instrument excitation device having a vibration transmission part with a structure that sandwiches each string from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction of each string (for convenience, this direction is referred to as the up-down direction) is disclosed.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 2, listed below, discloses a vibration device and vibration system that sandwiches the strings of a stringed instrument between two plate-like members from above and below.

[0006] The vibration transmission section described in Figures 1 to 11 and Figures 14 to 23 of Patent Document 1, which has a structure that sandwiches each string from the left and right directions, has a considerable size in the longitudinal direction of the string, or the manner in which the vibration transmission section and the string make contact causes the string to deform into an S-shape, and the distance in the longitudinal direction of the string at the contact point between the vibration transmission section and the string is relatively long, so the contact distance and contact point between the vibration transmission section and the string change each time the string instrument excitation device is attached to each string, and there was a problem that the characteristics changed each time the string instrument excitation device was attached to each string. In addition, the vibration transmission efficiency was not necessarily high.

[0007] The vibration transmission unit described in Figures 24 to 26 of Patent Document 1, which has a structure that clamps each string from above and below, transmits vibrations to each string from above and below, allowing for excitation in a state close to actual performance. However, in this configuration, the structure that clamps each string from above and below is an S-shaped string mounting groove horizontally cut from the mounting surface of the main body substrate, which presents the following problem. That is, in the process of providing the S-shaped string mounting groove in the main body substrate, it is not easy to set the vertical dimension of this groove. For example, the thickness (diameter) of a violin's G string is about 0.78 to 0.90 mm, and the thickness of an E string is about 0.26 mm. If the vertical dimension of the groove is smaller than these thicknesses, the string cannot be held in the groove, so it is necessary to make it about the same as or greater than the thickness of the string. However, the thickness of strings varies slightly from string manufacturer to string manufacturer, and even within the same manufacturer, there is a certain degree of variation. Therefore, if the thickness of the string is smaller than the vertical dimension of the groove, the string will move around in the groove, which not only makes it difficult to securely fix the string instrument vibration device to the string, but can also prevent vibrations from being efficiently transmitted to the string.

[0008] Furthermore, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, two plate-like members are joined by screws, and the distance between the two plate-like members is adjusted. Therefore, in order to attach this configuration to a string, it is necessary to first loosen the screws, engage the string with the distance between the two plate-like members being greater than the thickness of the string, and then tighten the screws to narrow the distance between the two plate-like members. Also, in order to disengage this configuration from the string, it is necessary to loosen the screws. Thus, the configuration described in Patent Document 2 is cumbersome and time-consuming because it requires tightening and loosening screws when attaching and detaching it from the string. Moreover, the configuration in Patent Document 2 needs to be prepared for each string, and when applied to all strings of a stringed instrument with multiple strings, there is a problem of the large number of parts.

[0009] Furthermore, prior to the present invention, as shown in Patent Document 3 below, the inventors developed a string instrument excitation device and a vibration transmission unit which is a part thereof, a string instrument excitation system including the same, and a method for attaching the string instrument excitation device. Figures 1 to 13 and Figures 19 to 27 of Patent Document 3 disclose a structure for the vibration transmission unit to which the vibration device is attached, which is a flat plate, rod, or column extending in the longitudinal direction, and is provided with a string pressing unit and a string pulling unit so that it is positioned above or below multiple strings using the tension of multiple strings and is held in place. Compared to the structures disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the string instrument excitation device according to Patent Document 3 has a shorter time for attachment and removal, but there was a need for something that could be attached and removed even more easily and quickly and has high acoustic performance. In addition, since the string instrument excitation device according to Patent Document 3 has a structure that presses down or pulls up all the strings of the string instrument by the string pressing unit and the string pulling unit, there was a need for further improvement in the efficiency of vibration transmission to the strings and further improvement in the frequency characteristics during playback. In other words, the string instrument excitation device was required to resonate and vibrate over a wide range of frequencies, including high frequencies, just as the string instrument itself would when played live. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7098219, Figures 1-11, Figures 14-23 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-061728, Figure 3 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7486862, Figures 1-13, Figures 19-27 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] There was a need for a vibration transmission unit that could be attached to the strings of a stringed instrument, was easy to manufacture, could be easily attached to the strings and securely fixed, could be easily attached to and detached from the strings, could efficiently transmit vibrations to the strings, and could obtain good reproduction characteristics; a stringed instrument excitation device having such a vibration transmission unit; a stringed instrument excitation system including such a stringed instrument excitation device; and a method for attaching the stringed instrument excitation device.

[0012] Furthermore, there was a need for such string instrument excitation devices and string instrument excitation systems including such string instrument excitation devices, which are capable of simultaneously exciting at least two strings with a single string instrument excitation device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to solve the above problems and to further improve the string instrument excitation device described in the prior application, the inventors diligently continued their research after the filing of the prior application and have now completed the present invention. In the present invention, unlike Patent Document 1, the string is not clamped from both sides or above and below the string, nor is the string instrument excitation device attached to the string by tightening it with screws, nor is it like Patent Document 2, in which the vibration transmission part of the string instrument excitation device biases all the strings by pushing them down or pulling them up relative to the string instrument body. Instead, the vibration transmission part consists of a single member that extends in the direction in which the multiple strings of the string instrument are aligned, so that when viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, at least one of the two strings is biased to the left and the other string is biased to the right, and the longitudinal dimension of the vibration transmission part is set to 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

[0014] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the vibration transmission unit biases at least one of the two strings to the left and the other string to the right when viewed from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument, and also biases at least the other string upward to pull it up.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the portion in contact with the strings of at least one string biasing to the left and at least one other string biasing to the right are curved along the longitudinal direction of the string to form a convex surface, and / or the portion in contact with the strings is curved along the height direction of the bridge of the stringed instrument to form a convex surface.

[0016] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device of the present invention to a string instrument, in order to facilitate attachment, the vibration transmission part of the string instrument excitation device is positioned a few centimeters towards the neck from the bridge and placed on at least two strings. The vibration transmission part is then moved downward to narrow or widen the distance between these two strings and guide them into one or two notches provided in the vibration transmission part. After guiding these strings into one or two notches and all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is moved closer to the bridge.

[0017] In other words, according to the present invention, a string instrument excitation device is attached to at least two strings of a plurality of strings of a string instrument, wherein the plurality of strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument while in contact with the upper part of the bridge of the string instrument, and when the bridge is viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, the direction from the left end of the bridge to the right end of the bridge is defined as the right direction, and the direction from the right end of the bridge to the left end of the bridge is defined as the left direction, and the vibration device vibrates in response to an input signal, and the vibration transmission part is connected to the vibration device and transmits vibrations from the vibration device to the at least two strings, and is made of a single member that extends in the direction in which the plurality of strings are aligned when attached to the at least two strings, and the vibration transmission part is the A string instrument excitation device is provided, which, when attached to the at least two strings near the bridge, has a portion that biases one of the at least two strings to the left and a portion that biases the other of the at least two strings to the right when viewed from the tailpiece side, and the longitudinal dimension of the at least two strings of the vibration transmission portion is 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a vibration transmission unit is provided to which a vibration device that vibrates in response to an input signal can be connected, which is attached to at least two of the multiple strings of a stringed instrument, and which is a single member that extends in the direction in which the multiple strings are aligned when attached to the at least two strings, wherein the multiple strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the stringed instrument while in contact with the upper part of the bridge of the stringed instrument, and when the bridge is viewed from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument, the direction from the left end of the bridge to the right end of the bridge is defined as the right direction, and the direction from the right end of the bridge to the left end of the bridge is defined as the left direction, and when the vibration transmission unit is attached to the at least two strings, when viewed from the tailpiece side, it has a portion that biases one of the at least two strings in the left direction and a portion that biases the other of the at least two strings in the right direction, and the longitudinal dimension of the vibration transmission unit in the at least two strings is 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a stringed instrument excitation system is provided, comprising a stringed instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a sound source signal supply means for supplying a sound source signal to the vibration device of the stringed instrument excitation device.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for attaching a string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or claim 10 to at least two of the strings of a string instrument, wherein, when the strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument, the side facing the body of the string instrument is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least one notch, the notch has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the two adjacent strings are moved so as to narrow the distance between them, the two adjacent strings are guided into the notch through the opening, the distance between the two adjacent strings is returned to the state before it was narrowed, and the two adjacent strings are brought into contact with the right and left arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the notch, respectively, in order to attach the string instrument excitation device to the string instrument.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a method for attaching a string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or claim 10 to at least two of the strings of a string instrument, wherein when the strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument, the side facing the body of the string instrument is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least one notch, the notch has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, and one of the two adjacent strings is the vibration transmission part A method is provided for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission part is moved downward so as to be guided into the interior of the notch through the opening of the notch in the part, then the vibration transmission part is moved to the right or left until one of the strings touches the right or left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch, then one of the two adjacent strings is guided into the interior of the notch through the opening of the notch in the vibration transmission part, and then the vibration transmission part is moved until the other string touches the left or right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is a method for attaching the string instrument excitation device described in claim 8 or 11 to at least two strings of a string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument being lower and the opposite side being upper, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least two notches, each of the at least two notches having an opening at the bottom of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the adjacent strings are moved to widen the distance between them, the adjacent strings are guided into the two notches through the openings of the at least two notches of the vibration transmission part, the adjacent strings are returned to the state before the distance between the adjacent strings was widened, and the adjacent strings are brought into contact with the walls constituting the two notches, and the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to the string instrument is provided.

[0023] Moreover, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 8, 9, and 11 to at least two strings of the stringed instrument. When the side of the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the main body of the stringed instrument is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, at least two notches are provided in the vibration transmission portion. The two notches each have an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission portion. When these notches are referred to as the first and second notches, the vibration transmission portion is disposed above two adjacent strings among the at least two strings. Among the two adjacent strings, one string is moved downward so that it is guided into the first notch through the opening of the first notch of the vibration transmission portion. Then, among the two adjacent strings, the other string is guided into the second notch through the opening of the second notch, and the vibration transmission portion is moved downward and in the left-right direction so that the two adjacent strings respectively contact the wall portions constituting the two notches. A method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device to the stringed instrument is provided.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a method for attaching the string instrument excitation device described in claim 9 to at least four strings of a string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least four notches, each of the at least four notches having an opening at the bottom of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings on the left or right side when viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, and the two adjacent strings on the left or right side are connected through the openings of the two notches on the left or right side of the four notches. A method is provided for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, which involves moving two adjacent strings on the left or right side so that they are guided into the openings of the two left or right notches, respectively; then positioning the vibration transmission unit above two adjacent strings on the right or left side when viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument; moving two adjacent strings on the right side so that the two adjacent strings on the right or left side are guided into the openings of the other two notches among the four notches, excluding the two left or right notches, respectively, so that at least four strings are in contact with the walls constituting the four notches.

[0025] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device according to claim 9 to at least four strings of the stringed instrument. When the side of the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the main body of the stringed instrument is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, at least four cutouts are provided in the vibration transmission part. Each of the at least four cutouts has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission part. The vibration transmission part is disposed above two adjacent strings on the left or right side as viewed from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument among the at least four strings. The vibration transmission part is moved downward so that the two adjacent strings on the left or right side are respectively guided into the interiors of the openings of the two cutouts on the left or right side through the respective openings of the two cutouts on the left or right side among the four cutouts. Then, the vibration transmission part is disposed above two adjacent strings on the right or left side as viewed from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument, and the vibration transmission part is moved downward so that the two adjacent strings on the right or left side are respectively guided into the interiors of the openings of the other two cutouts through the respective openings of the other two cutouts among the four cutouts, which are other than the two cutouts on the left or right side. There is provided a method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device to the stringed instrument by moving the vibration transmission part left and right so that the at least four strings respectively contact the wall parts constituting the four cutouts.

[0026] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device according to claim 3 or 4 to four strings of the stringed instrument. The vibration transmission part is disposed above the at least two strings at a position moved several centimeters from the piece toward the neck side of the stringed instrument. The vibration transmission part is moved downward so as to narrow or widen the interval between the at least two strings and guide them into one or two cutouts provided in the vibration transmission part. Then, the at least two strings are guided into the one or two cutouts. After all four strings are inserted into the respective cutouts of the vibration transmission part, there is provided a method of attaching the stringed instrument excitation device to the stringed instrument by moving the vibration transmission part closer to the piece.

[0027] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the longitudinal dimension of at least two strings in the vibration transmission section is 6 mm or less.

[0028] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that, when attached to the at least two strings, the vibration transmission section has a portion located to the right of the rightmost of the at least two strings, biasing the rightmost string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the leftmost of the at least two strings, biasing the leftmost string to the right.

[0029] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that, when attached to the at least two strings, the vibration transmission section has a portion located to the left of the rightmost of the at least two strings, biasing the rightmost string to the right, and a portion located to the right of the leftmost of the at least two strings, biasing the leftmost string to the left.

[0030] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that, in addition to the two biasing parts, there is a part that biases at least one of the strings other than the at least two strings upward.

[0031] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the latter having a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right, a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left, a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right, and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the latter having a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left, a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right, a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the latter having a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left, a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left, a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right, and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the latter having a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right, a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right, a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left, and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the vibration transmission section has a portion located below the first string that biases the first string upward, a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right, a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left, and a portion located below the fourth string that biases the fourth string upward. This is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four strings of the string instrument, and when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the vibration transmission section has a portion located below the first string that biases the first string upward, a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left, a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right, and a portion located below the fourth string that biases the fourth string upward. This is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the portion of the leftward biasing portion and / or the rightward biasing portion that contacts the at least one string and / or the other string curves along the longitudinal direction of the at least one string and / or the other string to form a convex surface, and / or the portion of the at least one string and / or the other string that contacts the bridge curves along the height direction of the bridge to form a convex surface.

[0038] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, the portion that biases at least some of the strings of the plurality of strings is a notch provided in the vibration transmission section, and the notch has an opening inside it on the side facing the string instrument body for guiding the strings, which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] One preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the side of the notch provided in the vibration transmission section of the string instrument excitation device that contacts the string is arc-shaped or U-shaped.

[0040] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the vibration transmission section is composed of a plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar member.

[0041] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the vibration transmission section is made of wood or synthetic resin.

[0042] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, the vibration transmission section being made of spruce wood is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, and when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second, third, and fourth strings, it is a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the vibration transmission section has a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right, and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left.

[0044] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, and when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second, third, and fourth strings, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the vibration transmission section has a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right.

[0045] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, and when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, then it is a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the vibration transmission section has a part located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right, and a part located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left.

[0046] In each of the above-described string instrument excitation devices, when the vibration transmission section is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, and when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings are designated as the second, third, and fourth strings as they move to the right, it is a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the vibration transmission section has a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right.

[0047] In the vibration transmission section of the present invention, having a longitudinal dimension of 6 mm or less is one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] In the string instrument excitation system described above, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the sound source signal supply means either reads sound source data pre-stored in a storage means and supplies the sound source signal, or supplies the sound source signal using sound source data supplied from an external source.

[0049] In a method for attaching a string instrument excitation device to each of the at least two strings described above, one preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes setting the string instrument body side of the vibration transmission unit downwards and the opposite side upwards, defining the direction from the downward to the upward direction of the vibration transmission unit as the upward direction, guiding the other strings other than the at least two strings to another notch provided in the vibration transmission unit, and guiding the other strings so that a part of the other notch pulls the other strings upward, or moving the vibration transmission unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0050] According to the present invention, when viewed from the tailpiece side of a stringed instrument, the vibration transmission part has a portion that biases at least one of the two strings to the left and a portion that biases at least one of the two strings to the right, and the longitudinal dimension of at least two strings of the vibration transmission part is set to 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less. As a result, vibrations can be efficiently transmitted from the vibration transmission part to at least two strings, good acoustic characteristics can be obtained, the stringed instrument excitation device can be easily attached to multiple strings of a stringed instrument, and the vibration transmission part is stably held.

[0051] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the string instrument excitation device can be easily removed from the string instrument.

[0052] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, when viewed from the tailpiece side of a stringed instrument, the vibration transmission unit biases at least two strings to the right or left, and biases at least one other string upward, thereby efficiently transmitting vibrations from the vibration transmission unit to these strings, resulting in good acoustic characteristics, allowing the stringed instrument excitation device to be easily attached to multiple strings of a stringed instrument, and ensuring that the vibration transmission unit is stably maintained.

[0053] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, the portion that biases the string to the left and / or the portion that biases the string to the right, in contact with the string, is curved at least along the longitudinal direction of the string to form a convex surface, and / or the portion that contacts the string is curved along the height direction of the bridge of the stringed instrument to form a convex surface. As a result, the contact area between the string and the vibration transmission portion is reduced, eliminating variations in the manner of contact each time the stringed instrument excitation device is attached to the stringed instrument, and enabling high vibration transmission efficiency and excellent acoustic characteristics.

[0054] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device of the present invention to a string instrument, the vibration transmission part of the string instrument excitation device is positioned a few centimeters towards the neck from the bridge and placed on at least two strings. The vibration transmission part is then moved downward to guide these two strings into one or two notches provided in the vibration transmission part, either by narrowing or widening the distance between them. After all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is moved closer to the bridge, thereby facilitating attachment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0055] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a stringed instrument equipped with the first embodiment of the stringed instrument excitation device of the present invention, along with a sound source device and the like. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view showing the first embodiment attached to a string. [Figure 3] This is a partial perspective view showing a first modified example of the first embodiment, in which the string instrument excitation device according to the first embodiment is attached to the strings at a different position than that shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 4] This diagram, viewed from the tailpiece side, shows the positional relationship between the bridge and each string of a stringed instrument, illustrating various embodiments of the stringed instrument excitation device of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in the first embodiment, as seen from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument. [Figure 6] The positions of each string in Figure 5 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 5, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 7] This figure shows a second modified example of the first embodiment, and is a front view of the vibration transmission section as seen from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission section shown in Figure 7, taken by cutting along the line VIII-VIII indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, and viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 9]Figures 7 and 8 show a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission unit attached to the strings of a stringed instrument, similar to Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in a second embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument. [Figure 11] The positions of each string in Figure 10 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 10, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 12] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in the third embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument. [Figure 13] The positions of each string in Figure 12 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 12, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 14] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in the fourth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument. [Figure 15] The positions of each string in Figure 14 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 14, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 16] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in the fifth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument. [Figure 17] The positions of each string in Figure 15 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 15, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 18] This is a front view of the vibration transmission section in the sixth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument. [Figure 19] The positions of each string in Figure 18 are shown with solid lines, similar to Figure 18, while the positions of each string in Figure 4 are shown with dotted lines. [Figure 20] This graph shows the frequency characteristics as regeneration characteristics when using the string instrument excitation device previously developed by the present inventor. [Figure 21] This graph shows the frequency characteristics as the regeneration characteristics when using the string instrument excitation device of the present invention.

[0056] The first to sixth embodiments and their variations will be described below with reference to the drawings. Common parts in each figure are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. The string instrument excitation devices of the first to sixth embodiments and their variations are applicable to any string instrument having three or more strings, such as violins, violas, cellos, double basses, guitars, acoustic guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, banjos, harps, shamisen, kotos, and biwas, but the preferred embodiments will be described as examples applied to violins. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a violin as a string instrument with the string instrument excitation device of the first embodiment attached. The string instrument excitation device of the present invention, or the entire string instrument before its vibration transmission part is attached, is referred to as the body of the string instrument. In this specification and drawings, the view from the tailpiece side to the neck side of the string instrument is considered a front view.

[0057] The string instrument excitation devices of the first to sixth embodiments and their variations are driven by an input signal supplied from an external source. Figure 1 shows a sound source device 50 that supplies such an input signal, and a phase inversion circuit 60 that amplifies and inverts the signal from the sound source device 50. The output signal of the phase inversion circuit 60 is supplied to the vibration device 30 of the string instrument excitation device 100. In addition to the configuration shown in Figure 1, the sound source device can also be configured to supply sound source data of a pre-recorded performance of a string instrument or similar sound source data received from a broadcast.

[0058] The string instrument excitation device of the present invention can be attached to the strings on the neck side (right side in the figure) of the bridge 20, or to the tail side (left side in the figure). The first embodiment in Figure 1 shows the case where it is attached to the strings on the neck side of the bridge 20, and shows the configuration of the string instrument excitation device 100 attached to four strings 15 (G string 15g, D string 15d, A string 15a, E string 15e). The present invention has a novel feature in the configuration of the vibration transmission part of the string instrument excitation device, and since the configuration differs for each embodiment, different reference numerals are used for the vibration transmission part for each embodiment, but the reference numeral for the string instrument excitation device is unified to 100.

[0059] As shown in Figure 1, the string instrument excitation system S comprises a sound source device 50 and a string instrument excitation device 100 that vibrates (excites) the strings 15 of the string instrument 1 based on sound source signals from the sound source device 50. The string instrument excitation device 100 comprises a vibration device 30 that vibrates in response to sound source signals supplied from the sound source device 50 and a vibration transmission unit 40 that transmits the vibrations received from the vibration device 30 to the strings 15. The string instrument excitation device 100 of the present invention transmits vibrations from the vibration device 30 to the violin 1 (string instrument) to produce high-quality sound from the violin 1 (string instrument). The sound source device 50 is a sound source that reproduces sound source signals, and the output sound source signals are input to the vibration device 30.

[0060] Violin 1 is a general-purpose violin. However, the stringed instrument excitation device of the present invention is not limited to violins, and as mentioned above, it is applicable to various stringed instruments. Violin 1 comprises a body 5 consisting of a top plate 2, a back plate 3, and side plates 4; a fingerboard 6 extending from the top plate 2 towards the head; and a neck 7 fixed to the top of the body 5 on the head side and the back of the fingerboard 6. The head 8 of the neck 7 forms a spiral 9 and is equipped with tuning pegs 10. A tailpiece 11 is fixed to the tail side of the top plate 2, and an adjuster 12 is attached to the tailpiece 11. A pair of f-holes 13 opening into the body 5 are formed in the top plate 2. The body 5 constitutes a Helmholtz resonator.

[0061] The bass bar (not shown) on the underside of the top plate 2 reinforces the top plate 2 and strengthens and stabilizes the bass resonance. Inside the body 5, there is a cylindrical structure called a soundpost (not shown), which transmits vibrations that reach the top plate 2 through the bridge 20 to the back plate 3. In the case of violin 1, there are four strings 15, which, when viewed from the tail side (left side in Figure 2), are bass strings on the left and treble strings on the right, in order from the treble strings: E string 15e, A string 15a, D string 15d, and G string 15g. These four strings 15e, 15a, 15d, and 15g are connected from the tailpiece 11 fixed to the body 5, pass over the bridge 20, hook onto the nut 16 at the end of the fingerboard 6, and are wound onto the tuning pegs 10 at the end of the nut 16. In this specification, any string or the strings as a whole may be indicated by the reference numeral 15.

[0062] <Piece 20> The bridge 20, which is installed on the top plate 2 (see Figure 1) of the violin 1, has the following configuration. As shown in Figure 2, the bridge 20 has an upper surface 20a that supports the strings 15, and string grooves 20b formed at predetermined intervals on the upper surface 20a. The upper surface 20a is formed as a gently curved surface that is convex upwards. The bridge 20 supports the four strings 15e, 15a, 15d, and 15g in predetermined positions by the string grooves 20b, and transmits the vibrations of the strings 15e, 15a, 15d, and 15g to the top plate 2 (see Figure 2). The bridge 20 is installed on the top plate 2 between the fingerboard 6 and the tailpiece 11 (see Figure 1), approximately perpendicular to the top plate 2, and is removable.

[0063] Bridge 20 is not symmetrical; its height differs on the G string (lower pitch string 15g) side and the E string (higher pitch string 15e) side. This asymmetrical height ensures that the four strings (15e, 15a, 15d, and 15g) are in a position that is easy to handle with bowing and posture.

[0064] The piece 20 has a spiral-shaped opening 20f in the thickness direction at its center, and below the opening 20f, there are two openings 20g (circular notches on the left and right sides of the piece) formed on the side end faces, with one end of the spiral shape connecting to the side end face. The piece 20 has two feet 20h and openings 20f, 29g, etc. (see Figure 3).

[0065] Furthermore, the thickness of the bridge 20 gradually changes such that the thickness of the foot portion 20h is greater than the thickness of the upper portion 20a. In addition, one surface of the bridge 20 is flat, and the other opposing surface is formed in a convex shape. Maple wood is used as an example for the bridge 20. Maple wood has a high density and regularly packed wood fibers so that it can effectively transmit sound.

[0066] <Sound source device 50> The sound source device 50 is a sound source that reproduces a sound source signal. The sound source device 50 can be any electronic device that outputs a sound source signal to the vibration device 30. The sound source device 50 outputs the sound of a stringed instrument such as a violin as the sound source. When the sound of a stringed instrument is output as the sound source, it is possible to reproduce musical tones that are close to those of an actual performance and have a high degree of realism.

[0067] The sound source device 50 includes a CPU 51, memory 52, input circuit 53, and output circuit 54. The CPU 51 reads the string vibration sound program 52a stored in ROM or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), which is an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, and loads it into RAM to perform string vibration control. Based on the input signals input via the input circuit 53, the CPU 51 outputs control signals for controlling each part via the output circuit 54.

[0068] Memory 52 consists of ROM, RAM, EEPROM, etc., which contain programs for various processes. Memory 52 also includes external storage devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD). Memory 52 stores a control program, including the string vibration sound program 52a.

[0069] Input signals from input devices 55 such as keyboards and mice are input to the input circuit 53. The output circuit 54 outputs signals for outputting the sound source signal output result (for example, display signals for display on the display unit 56). The output circuit 54 may also have a driver for driving the vibration device 30, in which case it is possible to output the sound source signal from the sound source device 50 directly to the vibration device 30.

[0070] <Phase Inversion Circuit 60> • Amplification function The phase inversion circuit 60 amplifies the sound source signal output from the sound source device 50 into a sound source signal that drives the speaker 20. ·Phase inversion function The phase inversion circuit 60 inverts one polarity of the sound source signal output from the sound source device 50 and outputs it to the vibration device 30. • Process circuit function Experiments by the inventors have shown that there is no significant difference in the excitation characteristics of each string in acoustic measurements. However, in actual performance, each string is responsible for a specific pitch. Therefore, the phase inversion circuit 60 is equipped with a process circuit function. The process circuit function equalizes the sound source signal for each string according to the pitch that each string is responsible for. The process circuit function also adjusts the characteristics for simultaneous excitation of two or more strings. In addition to equalization, the process circuit function also performs a process to invert the polarity of the left and right channels. Note that the sound source device 50 shown in Figure 1 is configured to read the above-mentioned string excitation sound program 52a, which is sound source data pre-stored in the memory 52 that functions as a storage means, but it can also be configured to process sound source data supplied from an external source as appropriate and output a sound source signal.

[0071] <Vibration device 30> The vibration device 30 vibrates its diaphragm in response to a sound source signal output from the sound source device 50 and amplified by the phase inversion circuit 60. A small speaker can be used as the vibration device 30. A super magnetostrictive speaker can be used as the small speaker. Generally, a speaker comprises a voice coil that vibrates in the forward and backward direction in response to an electrical signal, and a diaphragm (both not shown) directly connected to the voice coil. The vibration of this diaphragm radiates sound with a waveform equal to the sound source signal into the air. A part of the vibration transmission section 40 is directly attached to the circular cone paper, which is the diaphragm of the vibration device 30, with adhesive. As a result, the vibration of the diaphragm (cone paper) of the vibration device 30 is directly transmitted to the vibration transmission section 40. Note that the vibration device 30 is not limited to a speaker; any transducer that converts electrical signals into vibrations can be used.

[0072] Recently, piezoelectric thin-film speakers, which use IC technology to arrange hundreds to thousands of piezoelectric elements on a thin film, have been put into practical use. Piezoelectric thin-film speakers offer improved performance, such as enabling the reproduction of low frequencies that were difficult to reproduce with bulk materials. Because the piezoelectric thin-film speaker is, for example, a 20mm x 30mm film, it can be directly bonded to a part of the vibration transmission section 40.

[0073] A supermagnetostrictive speaker is a flat panel speaker that uses a vibrator made of supermagnetostrictive material. The vibrator made of supermagnetostrictive material has a structure in which a coil is wound around a cylindrical supermagnetostrictive element. When a sound current flows through the coil, the supermagnetostrictive element expands and contracts, and this force causes a thick acrylic plate to vibrate, thereby reproducing sound.

[0074] The above describes an example in which the string instrument excitation device 100 is attached to the neck-side string 15. However, as shown in Figure 3, which illustrates a first modification of the first embodiment described later, the string instrument excitation device 100 may also be attached to the tail-side string 15. By attaching the string instrument excitation device 100 to the tail-side string 15, the neck side of the bridge 20 can be plucked with a bow (bowing), and the excitation of the string by the string instrument excitation device 100 can be combined with actual playing. This combination includes performing the excitation and actual playing with a time difference, or simultaneously, to superimpose the vibration sounds of the string 15 using two methods. Note that the embodiments and their modifications described later will describe examples in which the device is attached to the neck-side string 15.

[0075] [String instrument excitation device configuration] The vibration transmission section 40 of the string instrument excitation device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 extends in its longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction in which the multiple strings 15 are lined up. Figure 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view centered on the string instrument excitation device 100 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a first modified example of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, similar to Figure 2. The string instrument excitation device 100 shown in Figure 2 and the string instrument excitation device 100 shown in Figure 3 differ in their mounting positions to the strings, but the string instrument excitation device 100 itself has the same configuration.

[0076] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the string instrument excitation device 100 is attached to the four strings 15 at a position close to the bridge 20. Of the vibration devices 30 and vibration transmission parts 40 that make up the string instrument excitation device 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3, the plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar vibration transmission parts 40 extend in the direction in which the strings 15 are aligned, i.e., in the Y direction in Figures 2 and 3. The method of attaching the string instrument excitation device 100 to the string instrument 1 will be described later.

[0077] Figure 4 shows the positional relationship between a portion of the bridge 20 of the stringed instrument 1, including its upper surface 20a, and the four strings 15, and is a view of the bridge 20 from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument 1. In Figure 4, for simplicity, openings 20f, 20g, etc., shown in Figure 3, etc., are omitted from the illustration. Before the stringed instrument excitation device 100 is attached to the stringed instrument 1, the four strings 15 are positioned along the curved surface of the upper surface 20a of the bridge 20, so they are spaced equally in the direction of alignment (Y direction) and at different heights in the height direction (Z direction). That is, when viewed in the height direction, there is a predetermined distance between adjacent strings 15. For convenience, the vertical distance between adjacent strings 15 before the stringed instrument excitation device 100 is attached to the stringed instrument 1 is called the normal distance. For violin 1, the height difference between the G string (15g) and the D string (15d) is 5mm, while the height difference between the A string (15a) and the E string (15e) is 4.5mm. Since the four strings 15 are at different heights, the height (Z-direction) of the plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar vibration transmission unit 40 to which it is attached is set to be greater than the normal vertical spacing between the multiple strings 15. As one example, the height of the vibration transmission unit 40 can be set to 13mm. . On the upper surface 20a of the bridge 20, grooves 20b (see Figures 2 and 3) are provided, with a depth corresponding to the radius of each string 15, to prevent each string 15 from moving in the Y direction. In Figure 4, H1 is the difference in height (Z direction) between the G string 15g and the D string 15d, W1 is the difference in the direction (Y direction) in which the strings 15 of the G string 15g and the D string 15d are aligned, H2 is the difference in height (Z direction) between the A string 15a and the E string 15e, and W2 is the difference in the direction (Y direction) in which the strings 15 of the A string 15a and the E string 15e are aligned.

[0078] Figure 5 is a front view of the vibration transmission unit 40 in the first embodiment, as seen from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument 1. In Figure 5 and other drawings showing the vibration transmission unit, the vibration devices shown in Figures 1 to 3 are omitted. The vibration transmission unit 40 has a lower part 40b facing the body of the stringed instrument 1 and an upper part 40a on the opposite side, and has a plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar body made of a single member that extends in the Y direction shown in Figure 2, that is, the direction in which the multiple strings are aligned. Here, "made of a single member" means that the main part of the vibration transmission unit 40 is made of a single member, and does not mean that there are no other members such as accessories or ornaments. The body of the vibration transmission unit 40 is provided with two notches 40c and 40d, and these two notches 40c and 40d each have an opening on the lower part 40b side, that is, the side on which the vibration transmission unit 40 faces the body of the stringed instrument. These two notches 40c and 40d extend in the Y direction and each has an arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped portions can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portions can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90 mm, its radius is 0.45 mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585 mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585 mm or more.

[0079] The longitudinal dimension (X direction in Figures 2 and 3) of the main body of the vibration transmission unit 40 is set to less than a predetermined size. That is, if the longitudinal dimension of the main body of the vibration transmission unit 40 is large, the contact location and contact length with the string will differ each time the vibration transmission unit of the string instrument excitation device is attached to the string, causing a change in vibration transmission efficiency. To prevent such problems, the present invention sets this dimension as follows. In the case of the vibration transmission unit 40 of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention shown in Figure 5, the longitudinal dimension of the string is set to 6 mm, and as will be described later, good vibration transmission efficiency and good acoustic characteristics were obtained. The inventors conducted various experiments on the longitudinal dimension of the string of the vibration transmission unit and found that if this dimension exceeds 9 mm, the length of the contact portion between the vibration transmission unit and the string is too long, causing the contact location and contact length with the string to differ each time the vibration transmission unit is attached to the string. Furthermore, it was concluded that the longitudinal dimension of the string in the vibration transmission section should be at least 3 mm, as a certain minimum length would cause strength issues. Therefore, it was concluded that the longitudinal dimension of the string in the vibration transmission section should be between 3 mm and 9 mm, and among these, 6 mm or less is practical and preferable. In other words, if the longitudinal dimension of the string in the vibration transmission section is between 3 mm and 9 mm, or more specifically 6 mm or less, the above-mentioned problems can be prevented, and efficient vibration transmission and good acoustic characteristics can be stably obtained.

[0080] Figure 6 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 5 with solid lines, similar to Figure 5, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 6, the spacing W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d in the direction of alignment (Y direction) is narrowed by the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the notch 40c. Specifically, the G string 15g is moved 0.5 mm to the right in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, the D string 15g is moved 0.5 mm to the left in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, similarly the A string 15a is moved 0.5 mm to the right in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, and the E string 15e is moved 0.5 mm to the left in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4. In other words, the two notches 40c and 40d in the vibration transmission section 40 narrow the distance W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d, and similarly narrow the distance W2 between the A string 15a and the E string 15e. The rightward and leftward movement of each string in the figure is indicated by arrows. Rightward arrows indicate movement to the right, and leftward arrows indicate movement to the left, and the same applies to the embodiments and modifications thereof described later. Note that the height distances H1 and H2 in Figure 4 are not changed and are maintained as in the case of Figure 4.

[0081] Figure 7 shows a second modified example of the first embodiment, and is a front view of the vibration transmission section 40' as seen from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument 1. This modified example differs from the configuration of Figure 5 only in the following respect: the arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the two notches 40'c and 40'd that contact the string 15, i.e., the parts that bias the string to the left or right, form a convex curved surface along the longitudinal direction of the string. This configuration is shown in Figure 8, a partial cross-sectional view taken by cutting the vibration transmission section 40' along the line VIII-VIII indicated by the arrow in Figure 7 and viewing it in the direction of the arrow. Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to Figure 8, showing the vibration transmission section shown in Figures 7 and 8 attached to the string of a stringed instrument. As can be seen from Figures 8 and 9, convex curved surfaces 40'c-1 and 40'c-2 are formed that curve along the longitudinal direction of the string and contact the string at approximately the center of the longitudinal direction of the string. Note that Figures 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views including only the notch 40'c in Figure 7, but convex surfaces 40'd-1 and 40'd-2, similar to the convex surfaces 40c-1 and 40c-2 shown in Figures 8 and 9, are also provided in the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped portions of the other notch 40'd shown in Figure 7.

[0082] In the second modification of the first embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, the convex surface in contact with the chord is curved along the longitudinal direction of the chord, i.e., along the X direction in Figure 2. However, as yet another modification, the surface may be curved along the Z direction in Figure 2 in addition to the curve along the X direction. That is, the part that biases the chord to the left or right may be curved in two orthogonal directions, and can be configured to be, for example, part of a sphere. Furthermore, as yet another modification, the curve along the X direction may be omitted, and only the curve along the Z direction in Figure 2 may be provided.

[0083] To summarize the second modification of the first embodiment, the convex surface in contact with the chord is: When the string curves along its longitudinal direction (X direction) When the vibration transmission part curves along the height direction (Z direction) When curving along both the orthogonal X and Z directions There are three possibilities, and one typical example of case (3) above is when the convex surface in contact with the chord is part of a sphere.

[0084] In the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, the case in which the convex curved surface is provided in the part that contacts all the strings of a stringed instrument and biases the strings to the left or to the right was described. However, it is not necessary to provide the convex curved surface in the contact area for all strings. Some strings may be contacted by the convex curved surface, while others may be contacted by a flat surface without a convex curved surface. Furthermore, some strings may be contacted by the convex curved surface described in (3) above, while others may be contacted by the convex curved surface described in (1) or (2) above.

[0085] Figure 10 is a front view of the vibration transmission section 41 in a second embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument 1. The vibration transmission section 41 has a lower part 41b facing the body of the string instrument 1 and an upper part 41a on the opposite side, and has a rod-shaped or columnar body extending in the Y direction as shown in Figure 2. The body of the vibration transmission section 41 is provided with three notches 41c, 41d, and 41e, and each of these three notches 41c, 41d, and 41e has an opening on the lower part 41b side. These three notches 41c, 41d, and 41e extend in the Y direction and each has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped parts can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that it contacts, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90mm, its radius is 0.45mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585mm or more.

[0086] Figure 11 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 10 with solid lines, similar to Figure 10, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 11, the spacing W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d in the direction of alignment (Y direction) is widened by the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 41c and the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 41d. Specifically, the G string 15g is moved 0.5 mm to the left in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, the D string 15g is moved 0.5 mm to the right in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, similarly the A string 15a is moved 0.5 mm to the left in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4, and the E string 15e is moved 0.5 mm to the right in the figure from the position shown in Figure 4. In other words, the three notches 41c, 41d, and 41e of the vibration transmission section 41 widen the distance W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d, and similarly widen the distance W2 between the A string 15a and the E string 15e. Note that the height distances H1 and H2 in Figure 4 remain unchanged and are maintained as in the case of Figure 4.

[0087] Figure 12 is a front view of the vibration transmission unit 42 in a third embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument 1. The vibration transmission unit 42 has a lower part 42b facing the body of the string instrument 1 and an upper part 42a on the opposite side, and has a rod-shaped or columnar body extending in the Y direction as shown in Figure 2. The body of the vibration transmission unit 42 is provided with four notches 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f, and each of these four notches 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f has an opening at the lower part 42b. Each of these four notches 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped parts can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that it contacts, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90mm, its radius is 0.45mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585mm or more.

[0088] Figure 13 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 12 with solid lines, similar to Figure 12, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 13, the spacing W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d in the direction of alignment (Y direction) remains unchanged from the state in Figure 4, while the G string 15g and the D string 15d are shifted approximately 0.5 mm to the left in the figure, as shown in Figure 12. That is, they are shifted to the left by the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 42c and the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 42d. Specifically, the G string 15g and the D string 15g are moved 0.5 mm to the left in the figure from the positions shown in Figure 4. The spacing W2 between the A string 15a and the E string 15e in the direction of alignment (Y direction) remains unchanged from the state in Figure 4, while the A string 15a and the E string 15e have been shifted approximately 0.5 mm to the right in the figure, as shown in Figure 12. That is, they have been shifted to the right by the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 42e and the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 42f. Note that the spacings H1 and H2 in the height direction in Figure 4 remain unchanged and are maintained as in the case of Figure 4.

[0089] In the third embodiment, the parts of the four notches 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f that contact the string 15 are flat surfaces. However, as explained in the modified example of the first embodiment, various convex surfaces can be provided, and the type of convex surface to be used, or whether to use a flat surface, can be appropriately selected for each type of string.

[0090] Figure 14 is a front view of the vibration transmission unit 43 in the fourth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument 1. The vibration transmission unit 43 has a lower part 43b facing the body of the string instrument 1 and an upper part 43a on the opposite side, and has a rod-shaped or columnar body extending in the Y direction as shown in Figure 2. The body of the vibration transmission unit 43 is provided with four notches 43c, 43d, 43e, and 43f, and each of these four notches 43c, 43d, 43e, and 43f has an opening at the lower part 43b. Each of these four notches 43c, 43d, 43e, and 43f has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped parts can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that it contacts, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90mm, its radius is 0.45mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585mm or more.

[0091] Figure 15 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 14 with solid lines, similar to Figure 14, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 15, the spacing W1 between the G string 15g and the D string 15d in the direction of alignment (Y direction) remains unchanged from the state in Figure 4, while the G string 15g and the D string 15d are shifted approximately 0.5 mm to the right in the figure, as shown in Figure 14. That is, they are shifted to the right by the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 43c and the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 43d. Specifically, the G string 15g and the D string 15g are moved 0.5 mm to the right in the figure from the positions shown in Figure 4. The spacing W2 between the A string 15a and the E string 15e in the direction of alignment (Y direction) remains unchanged from the state in Figure 4, while the A string 15a and the E string 15e have been shifted approximately 0.5 mm to the left in the figure, as shown in Figure 14. That is, they have been shifted to the left by the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 43e and the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 43f. Note that the spacings H1 and H2 in the height direction in Figure 4 remain unchanged and are maintained as in the case of Figure 4.

[0092] In the fourth embodiment, the parts of the four notches 43c, 43d, 43e, and 43f that contact the string 15 are flat surfaces. However, as described in other modifications of the first embodiment, various convex surfaces can be provided, and the type of convex surface to be used, or whether to use a flat surface, can be appropriately selected for each type of string.

[0093] In the first to fourth embodiments and their modifications described above, the strings of a stringed instrument were biased to the right or left in the direction in which the strings are aligned. However, it is also possible to bias at least one string to the left or right, and at least one other string to the up or down direction (Z direction in Figure 2).

[0094] Figure 16 is a front view of the vibration transmission section 44 in the fifth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument 1. Unlike the first to fourth embodiments described above, the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment described later are such that at least one string 15 is biased upward by a part of the vibration transmission section. First, the fifth embodiment will be described. The vibration transmission section 44 has a lower part 44b facing the body of the string instrument 1 and an upper part 44a on the opposite side, and has a plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar body that extends in the Y direction as shown in Figure 2. The body of the vibration transmission section 44 is provided with three notches 44c, 44d, and 44e, of which the central notch 44d has an opening in the lower part 44b and has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure.

[0095] The notch 44c, located to the left of notch 44d, has an opening at its right end that opens at its lower part 44b, and to the left of this opening is a string contact portion 44c-1 that extends in the direction in which the strings 15 are aligned (the Y direction in Figure 2). The notch 44e, located to the right of notch 44d, has an opening at its left end that opens at its lower part 44b, and to the right of this opening is a string contact portion 44e-1 that extends in the direction in which the strings 15 are aligned (the Y direction in Figure 2).

[0096] The central notch 44d has arc-shaped or U-shaped portions that contact the string 15 on the left and right sides in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped portions can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portions can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90 mm, its radius is 0.45 mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585 mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585 mm or more.

[0097] Figure 17 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 16 with solid lines, similar to Figure 16, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 17, the distance between the D string 15d and the A string 15a has been narrowed from the state in Figure 4. On the other hand, the G string 15g and the E string 15e are biased and moved upward from the state in Figure 4 by the string contact parts 44c-1 and 44e-1 of the notches 44c and 44e, respectively. Thus, in the fifth embodiment, biasing forces are applied to move the D string 15d and the A string 15a to the right and left, respectively, while biasing forces are applied to move the G string 15g and the E string 15e upward.

[0098] Figure 18 is a front view of the vibration transmission section 45 in the sixth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, as seen from the tailpiece side of the string instrument 1. The vibration transmission section 45 has a lower part 45b facing the body of the string instrument 1 and an upper part 45a on the opposite side, and has a plate-like, rod-like, or columnar body extending in the Y direction as shown in Figure 2. The body of the vibration transmission section 45 is provided with two notches 45c and 45d, and these two notches 45c and 45d each have an opening at the lower part 45b. The notch 45c has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the D string 15d on the right side in the figure, and the notch 45d has an arc-shaped or U-shaped part that contacts the A string 15a on the left side in the figure. The radius of curvature of these arc-shaped or U-shaped parts can be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that they contact. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion can be set to be considerably larger than the radius of curvature determined by the radius of the string 15 that it contacts, for example, 1.3 times or more. That is, for example, when the diameter of the G string 15g is 0.90 mm, its radius is 0.45 mm, and 1.3 times that is 0.585 mm, so the radius of curvature of the arc-shaped or U-shaped portion that contacts the G string 15g can be set to 0.585 mm or more. The notch 45c has a string contact portion 45c-1 that extends to the left of the opening in the direction in which the strings 15 are aligned (the Y direction in Figure 2). The notch 45d also has a string contact portion 45d-1 that extends to the right of the opening in the direction in which the strings 15 are aligned (the Y direction in Figure 2). The string contact portions 45c-1 and 45d-1 are for applying an upward biasing force to the G string 15g and the E string 15e, respectively.

[0099] Figure 19 shows the positions of each string 15 in Figure 18 with solid lines, similar to Figure 18, and the positions of each string 15 in Figure 4 with dotted lines. As shown in Figure 19, the distance between the D string 15d and the A string 15a has been widened from the state in Figure 4. On the other hand, the G string 15g and the E string 15e are biased and moved upward from the state in Figure 4 by the string contact parts 45c-1 and 45d-1 of the notches 45c and 45d, respectively. Thus, in the sixth embodiment, biasing forces are applied to move the D string 15d and the A string 15a to the right and left, respectively, while biasing forces are applied to move the G string 15g and the E string 15e upward.

[0100] In the fifth and sixth embodiments described above, the portions of the vibration transmission sections 44 and 45 that contact the string 15 are flat surfaces. However, as explained in the second modified example of the first embodiment, various convex surfaces can be provided. Furthermore, the type of convex surface to use, or whether to use a flat surface, can be appropriately selected for each type of string.

[0101] In the embodiments and their modifications described above, the vibration generator 30 was connected to only one end of the vibration transmission sections 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45. However, as described in Figures 10 to 13, 19, and 20 of Patent Document 3 by the present inventor, two vibration generators can also be provided at both ends of the vibration transmission sections 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, respectively. In that case, a buffer made of an elastic material can also be provided near the center of the vibration transmission section in the longitudinal direction.

[0102] Figure 20 is a graph showing the frequency characteristics as the reproduction characteristics when using the string instrument excitation device previously developed by the present inventor, as described in Patent Document 3, and Figure 21 is a graph showing the frequency characteristics as the reproduction characteristics when using the string instrument excitation device of the present invention. The string instrument excitation device of the present invention is the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 5. As is clear from the comparison of Figure 20 and Figure 21, when using the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, the response in the high frequency range around 3kHz to 10kHz is significantly improved compared to when using the conventional string instrument excitation device described in Patent Document 3. In other words, in Figure 20, which shows the characteristics of the conventional device, the sound pressure level around 5.5kHz drops drastically compared to the sound pressure levels at the frequencies before and after that, whereas in Figure 21, which shows the characteristics of the present invention, the change in sound pressure level around the same frequency is gradual, and there is no drop like in Figure 20, so a considerable improvement is observed. This is because, in conventional devices, the parts of the vibration transmission section that contact each string are only the top and bottom of each string, whereas in the string instrument excitation device according to the present invention, the parts of the vibration transmission section that contact at least two strings are the sides of the strings. Therefore, vibrations are transmitted from the vibration transmission section to each string in the direction in which the multiple strings are aligned, and the longitudinal dimension of the vibration transmission section to the string is set to 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less. As a result, vibrations are transmitted efficiently, and thus, vibrations from the vibration transmission section are efficiently transmitted to each string, and the vibrations of each string are transmitted to the body of the string instrument 1 via the bridge 20, and it is presumed that the resonance of the string instrument 1 is efficiently achieved. A string instrument excitation device is required to better bring out the vibration characteristics or resonance characteristics that the string instrument inherently possesses, that is, the string instrument body is required to resonate and vibrate over a wide range including high frequencies, just as when the string instrument is played live. Comparing Figure 20 and Figure 21, it can be said that when using the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, resonance is clearly brought out up to high frequencies exceeding 3 kHz, demonstrating excellent performance.

[0103] Although not illustrated here, the frequency characteristics of violin scale playing are explained. Scale playing involves sequentially playing the strings of a stringed instrument with a bow, starting from the open lowest string. The resulting sound is recorded with a microphone, analyzed with a spectrum analyzer to obtain the frequency characteristics, and this frequency characteristic is repeated for, for example, eight notes from low to high pitch. These results are then superimposed. Specifically, this is done by recording a famous violin being played continuously from low to high pitch by a famous player using a microphone. In the frequency characteristics obtained from scale playing in this way, for example, in the low frequency range of 300Hz to 400Hz, the mid frequency range of 700Hz to 1.5kHz, and the high frequency range of 2kHz to 10kHz, the amplitude fluctuates significantly within a certain frequency unit range. This large fluctuation in amplitude within a predetermined frequency unit range is considered evidence that the resonance of the stringed instrument's body has been sufficiently achieved. In other words, the question is whether the amplitude fluctuates significantly in the low, mid, and high frequency ranges, for example, in Figure 20, which shows the prior art, and in Figure 21, which shows the effects of the present invention. In Figure 20, the frequency band in which the amplitude fluctuates significantly is seen in the range of 700Hz to 3kHz, but not in the range below 700Hz or above 3kHz. In contrast, in Figure 21, which shows the effects of the present invention, the phenomenon of large amplitude fluctuations in a predetermined frequency unit range is seen in the range of 300Hz to 18kHz, indicating that by using the string instrument excitation device of the present invention, the body of the string instrument resonates more significantly than before, and the generated sound diffuses to the surroundings with a large amplitude.

[0104] The vibration transmission section of the string instrument excitation device of the present invention can be made of wood or synthetic resin, and a material with bending properties can be used as needed. That is, the vibration transmission sections 40, 40', 41-45 should apply an appropriate engagement pressure to each string 15 that they contact, utilizing the tension of each string 15, and the optimal shape, material, bending properties, etc., are set for this purpose. When using wood, spruce wood is preferable.

[0105] Next, the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device of the present invention to a string instrument will be described. Specifically, this involves how to attach the vibration transmission part of the string instrument excitation device to each string. In the first embodiment and its modified form shown in Figures 5 and 6, the vibration transmission part 40 is placed near the bridge 20, above the four strings. First, the distance between the G string 15g and the D string 15d is slightly narrowed by biasing them with two fingers or the like, and in that state, these two strings are guided into the notch 40c through the opening of the notch 40c on the lower part 40b of the vibration transmission part 40. After that, when the two fingers or the like that were biasing them to narrow the distance are released from the strings, the two strings try to return to their original position due to their tension, and the distance between them widens until they contact the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the notch 40c. The same applies to the other two strings, namely the A string 15a and the E string 15e.

[0106] In the above mounting method, the distance between two adjacent strings was narrowed using fingers or other means before mounting, but there is also a method of mounting without narrowing the distance between two adjacent strings. That is, two notches 40c and 40d are placed above the G string 15g and the A string 15a, and the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved so that the G string 15g and the A string 15a are guided into the inside of the two notches 40c and 40d through these openings, then the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved to the right in the diagram so that the G string 15g comes into contact with the arc-shaped or U-shaped part on the left side of the notch 40c, and then the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved above the D string 15d and the E string 15e Two notches 40c and 40d are provided, and the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved so that the D string 15d and E string 15e are guided into the interior of the two notches 40c and 40d through these openings. Then, the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved to the left in the diagram so that the D string 15d comes into contact with the right-hand arc-shaped or U-shaped portion of the notch 40c, and the E string 15e comes into contact with the right-hand arc-shaped or U-shaped portion of the notch 40d.

[0107] Next, the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device of the second embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 to a string instrument will be described. The vibration transmission unit 41 is positioned near the bridge 20, above the four strings. First, the distance between the D string 15d and the A string 15a is slightly narrowed by using two fingers to move them. In this state, the two strings are guided into the notch 41d through the opening of the notch 41d on the lower part 41b of the vibration transmission unit 41. After that, when the two fingers that were biasing the strings to narrow the distance are released, the two strings try to return to their original positions due to their tension, and the distance between them widens until they contact the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the notch 41d. Next, slightly shift the G string 15g to the left in the diagram with your finger, guiding it into the interior of notch 41(c) through the opening of notch 41c, then release your finger so that the G string 15g contacts the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of notch 41c. Similarly, slightly shift the E string 15e to the right in the diagram with your finger, guiding it into the interior of notch 41e through the opening of notch 41e, then release your finger so that the E string 15e contacts the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of notch 41e.

[0108] In the above-described mounting method for the string instrument excitation device of the second embodiment, the distance between two adjacent strings was narrowed using fingers or other means, or other strings were shifted laterally using fingers or other means. However, there is also a method of mounting without moving the strings with fingers or other means. Specifically, an opening in the notch 40d is placed above the D string 15d or the A string 15a, and the vibration transmission unit 41 is moved so as to guide the D string 15d or the A string 15a into the notch 40d through the opening. Then, an opening in the notch 40d is placed above the string of the D string 15d or the A string 15a that has not yet been guided into the notch 40d, and the vibration transmission unit 41 is moved so as to guide this string into the notch 40d through the opening. As a result, as shown in Figure 10, the D string 15d comes into contact with the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 40d, and the A string 15a comes into contact with the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 40d. Subsequently, the G string 15g and the E string 15e are guided into the interiors of the notches 40c and 40e through their respective openings, so that, as shown in Figure 10, the G string 15g contacts the right arc-shaped or U-shaped portion of the notch 40c, and the E string 15e contacts the left arc-shaped or U-shaped portion of the notch 40e.

[0109] Next, the method for attaching the string instrument excitation device of the third embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13 to a string instrument will be described. The vibration transmission unit 42 is positioned near the bridge 20, above the four strings, and the G string 15g is guided into the notch 42c through the opening of the notch 42c, and the D string 15d is guided into the notch 42d through the opening of the notch 42d, and then the A string 15a is guided into the notch 42e through the opening of the notch 42e, and the E string 15e is guided into the notch 42f through the opening of the notch 42f, and so on, using fingers or other means. After that, as shown in Figure 12, each string is brought into contact with the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the corresponding notches 42c to 42f.

[0110] In the above-described mounting method for the string instrument excitation device of the third embodiment, each string was shifted laterally using fingers or the like, but there is also a method of mounting without moving the strings with fingers or the like. That is, openings 42c and 42d are placed above the G string 15g and D string 15d, and the vibration transmission unit 42 is moved so that the G string 15g and D string 15d are guided into the interior of the openings 42c and 42d through these openings. Then, openings 42e and 42f are placed above the A string 15a and E string 15e, and the vibration transmission unit 42 is moved so that the A string 15a and E string 15e are guided into the interior of the openings 42e and 42f through these openings, resulting in the state shown in Figure 12. In the above description, the vibration transmission unit 42 was moved so that the G string 15g and D string 15d were guided first, but the order may be reversed. That is, the A string 15a and E string 15e may be guided first.

[0111] Next, the method for attaching the fourth embodiment of the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, will be described. The vibration transmission unit 43 is positioned near the bridge 20, above the four strings, and the G string 15g is guided into the notch 43c through the opening of the notch 43c, and the D string 15d is guided into the notch 43d through the opening of the notch 43d, and then the A string 15a is guided into the notch 43e through the opening of the notch 43e, and the E string 15e is guided into the notch 43f through the opening of the notch 43f, using fingers or the like. After that, as shown in Figure 14, each string is brought into contact with the left and right arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the corresponding notches 43c to 43f. In the above description, the G string 15g and D string 15d were moved with fingers or the like so that they were guided first, but the order may be reversed. That is, the A string 15a and E string 15e may be guided first.

[0112] In the above-described mounting method for the string instrument excitation device of the fourth embodiment, each string was shifted laterally using fingers or the like, but there is also a method of mounting without moving the strings with fingers or the like. That is, openings 43c and 43d are placed above the G string 15g and D string 15d, and the vibration transmission unit 42 is moved so that the G string 15g and D string 15d are guided into the interior of the openings 43c and 43d through these openings. Then, openings 43e and 43f are placed above the A string 15a and E string 15e, and the vibration transmission unit 43 is moved so that the A string 15a and E string 15e are guided into the interior of the openings 43e and 43f through these openings, resulting in the state shown in Figure 14. In the above description, the vibration transmission unit 43 was moved so that the G string 15g and D string 15d were guided first, but the order may be reversed. That is, the A string 15a and E string 15e may be guided first. The vibration transmission unit 40 is moved to the right in the diagram so that the G string 15g contacts the left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 40c. Then, the openings of the two notches 40c and 40d are positioned above the D string 15d and the E string 15e, and the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved so that the D string 15d and the E string 15e are guided into the interior of the two notches 40c and 40d through these openings. Then, the vibration transmission unit 40 is moved to the left in the diagram so that the D string 15d contacts the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 40c, and the E string 15e contacts the right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch 40d.

[0113] The attachment of each embodiment and its modified version of the string instrument excitation device to the string instrument 1 is done as described above. After the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', 41-45 are attached to each string, the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', 41-45 can be moved toward the bridge 20 in the longitudinal direction of the string 15 (the X direction in Figure 2) or the opposite direction, and the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', 41-45 can be pushed toward the bridge 20. For example, in the method of attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument according to the second embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, the vibration transmission unit 41 is placed on the four strings at a position moved, for example, 3 to 7 cm towards the neck from the bridge 20. The vibration transmission unit 41 is then moved downwards by using fingers to narrow the distance between the two central strings 15d and 15a and guide them into the notch 41d. Next, the left and right strings 15g and 15e are guided into the notches 41c and 41e, and after all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission unit 41, the vibration transmission unit 41 is brought closer to the bridge 20. Similarly, the fourth embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 15 and the fifth embodiment shown in Figures 16 and 17 can be attached in the same manner as described above.

[0114] On the other hand, in the sixth embodiment shown in Figures 18 and 19, the vibration transmission unit 41 is placed on the four strings at a position moved, for example, 3 to 7 cm towards the neck from the bridge 20. The vibration transmission unit 41 is then moved downward to widen the gap between the two central strings 15d and 15a with fingers or other means and guide them into the two notches 45c and 45d. Next, the left and right strings 15g and 15e are guided into the notches 45c and 45d, and after all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission unit 45, the vibration transmission unit 45 is brought closer to the bridge 20. In the third embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, the vibration transmission unit 42 is positioned on the four strings, for example, about 3 to 7 cm towards the neck from the bridge 20. The vibration transmission unit 41 is then lowered to widen the gap between the two central strings 15d and 15a with fingers and guide them into the two notches 42d and 42e. Next, the left and right strings 15g and 15e are guided into the notches 42c and 42f. After all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission unit 42, the vibration transmission unit 42 is brought closer to the bridge 20. The above describes how to attach the string instrument excitation device to the string instrument 1, but when removing it, the reverse procedure of the above attachment method can be followed.

[0115] As described above, it is preferable that the string instrument excitation device 100 attached to the string instrument 1 be positioned as close to the bridge 20 as possible. There are two reasons for this. First, the closer it is to the bridge 20, the better the frequency characteristics are. Second, the closer it is to the bridge 20, the stronger the contact pressure that the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', 41-45 of the string instrument excitation device 100 receive from the strings 15. This contact pressure is generated by the tension of the strings 15, and the stronger the contact pressure, the more stably the vibration transmission parts 40 and 40' are held. The inventors of this invention conducted various experiments and found that good frequency characteristics were obtained when the distance between the bridge 20-side surfaces of the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', 41-45 of the string instrument excitation device 100 and the bridge 20 was 3 mm or less. Furthermore, if the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', and 41-45 are placed too close to the bridge 20 and come into contact with it, vibrations from the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', and 41-45 will be directly transmitted to the bridge 20, which is undesirable. To prevent such contact, an elastic member or the like can be provided on a part of the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', and 41-45 on the bridge 20 side. There is a difference in the tone of the reproduced sound when the vibration transmission parts 40, 40', and 41-45 are positioned on the neck side of the bridge 20 as shown in Figure 2, and when they are positioned on the tailpiece side of the bridge 20 as shown in Figure 3. However, this difference is not a matter of superiority or inferiority, but rather a matter of the listener's personal preference, and the listener can choose the position that produces their preferred tone.

[0116] This section describes the pre-equalizer for string excitation. The pre-equalizer for string excitation is installed in the phase inversion circuit 60 shown in Figure 1. In the string instrument excitation device 100, each of the four violin strings can be individually excited. Measurements of the reproduced sound after individually exciting each string with a sweep signal for frequency characteristics showed that the transmission characteristics of the G, D, A, and E strings were very similar, covering a range from approximately 200 Hz to 20 kHz.

[0117] On the other hand, the frequency range of each string used as a musical instrument is assumed to be the range of the scale played on the G, D, A, and E strings (a scale starting from an open string). The frequency (characteristic frequency) of each string as seen from the example of scale playing is as follows. G string; 200Hz to 6kHz D string; 300Hz to 12kHz A string; 400Hz to 15kHz E string; 650Hz to 18kHz Based on the above, in light of the purpose of enjoying reproduced music that is close to a live violin performance, it is preferable that the signal that excites each string be limited to the frequency range that excites each string during performance. In summary, there are various combinations in which the pre-equalizer for string excitation excites each string, but in the case of violins, violas, and cellos, four strings are excited simultaneously, and when the string instrument excitation device of the present invention is applied to a guitar, six strings are excited simultaneously, and the reproduced sound was as follows. The lowest to highest notes of a 4-string or 6-string scale; 200Hz~18kHz

[0118] The string instrument excitation device of the present invention can be used with two violins, a viola, and a cello to reproduce a string quartet. However, when the string instrument excitation device of the present invention is attached to a guitar, a sense of realism similar to that of a live performance during recording was obtained. In other words, listeners who heard the reproduced sound commented that they obtained a sense of stage presence and localization of each instrument that was close to that of a live performance.

[0119] The following table summarizes the relationships between each of the above embodiments, their partial modifications, the drawings, and the claims.

[0120] [Table 1] [Industrial applicability]

[0121] The string instrument excitation device, a vibration transmission unit which is a part thereof, a string instrument excitation system including these, and a method for installing the string instrument excitation device of the present invention can excite various string instruments with various sound sources as if they were being played live, and are therefore useful for various industries including music provision businesses that include performances using string instruments, film screening businesses that use string instruments, theater, ballet and other performance businesses that use string instruments, and the design, manufacture, sales and installation of sound source devices for music playback using string instruments, string instrument excitation devices, vibration transmission units which are a part thereof, and string instrument excitation systems including these. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0122] 1. Violin (stringed instrument / stringed instrument body) 2 (violin) top plate 3 (Violin) back plate 4 (Violin) side panels 5. Body (of a violin) 6 (Violin) Fingerboard 7 (violin) neck 8 (violin) heads 9 (Violin) spiral 10 (violin) tuning pegs 11 (Violin) Tailpiece 12 (violin) adjusters 13 (violin) f-holes 15, 15e, 15a, 15d, 15g, 15E1, 15B, 15G, 15D, 15A, 15E2 (violin) strings 16. (Violin) nut 20 (violin) bridge 20a Top surface (of the violin bridge) 20b (Violin bridge) string groove 20h (Violin bridge) foot 30 Vibration device 40, 40', 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 Vibration transmission section 40a, 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a, 45a (Upper part of the vibration transmission section) 40b, 41b, 42b, 43b, 44b, 45b (Lower part of the vibration transmission section) 40c, 40d, 40'c, 40'd, 41c, 41d, 41e, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f, 43c, 43d, 43e, 43f, 44c, 44d, 44e, 45c, 45d Notches 40'c-1, 40'c-2, 40'd-1, 40'd-2 Convex curved surface 44c-1, 44e-1, 45c-1, 45d-1 String contact part 50 Sound source device 51 CPU 52 memory 53 Input Circuit 54 Output Circuit 55 Input device 56 Display section 60 Phase Inversion Circuit (Pre-equalizer for String Vibration) 100 String Instrument Excitation Device S String Instrument Excitation System

Claims

1. A string instrument excitation device attached to at least two of the multiple strings of a string instrument, wherein the multiple strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument while in contact with the upper part of the bridge of the string instrument, and when the bridge is viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, the direction from the left end of the bridge to the right end of the bridge is defined as the right direction, and the direction from the right end of the bridge to the left end of the bridge is defined as the left direction, A vibrating device that vibrates in response to an input signal, The vibration device is connected to a vibration transmission unit which transmits vibrations from the vibration device to at least two strings, and which is a single member that extends in the direction in which the plurality of strings are aligned when attached to the at least two strings. The vibration transmission unit, when attached to the at least two strings near the bridge of the stringed instrument, has a portion that biases one of the at least two strings to the left when viewed from the tailpiece side, and a portion that biases the other of the at least two strings to the right, and A string instrument excitation device in which the longitudinal dimensions of at least two strings in the vibration transmission section are 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

2. The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal dimension is 6 mm or less.

3. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to the at least two strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, comprising: a portion located to the right of the right string of the at least two strings, which biases the right string to the left; and a portion located to the left of the left string of the at least two strings, which biases the left string to the right.

4. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to the at least two strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, comprising: a portion located to the left of the right string of the at least two strings, which biases the right string to the right; and a portion located to the right of the left string of the at least two strings, which biases the left string to the left.

5. The string instrument excitation device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a portion that biases at least one of the strings other than the at least two strings upward, in addition to the two biasing portions.

6. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right; a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left; a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right; and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left.

7. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left; a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right; a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left; and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right.

8. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left; a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left; a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right; and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right.

9. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right; a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right; a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left; and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left.

10. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located below the first string that biases the first string upward; a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right; a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left; and a portion located below the fourth string that biases the fourth string upward.

11. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four strings of the stringed instrument, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right comprises: a portion located below the first string that biases the first string upward; a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left; a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right; and a portion located below the fourth string that biases the fourth string upward.

12. The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the left-biasing portion and / or the right-biasing portion that contacts the at least one string and / or the other string is curved along the longitudinal direction of the at least one string and / or the other string to form a convex curved surface and / or the portion of the at least one string and / or the other string that contacts the bridge is curved along the height direction to form a convex curved surface.

13. The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein the portion that biases at least some of the strings of the plurality of strings is a notch provided in the vibration transmission portion, and the notch has an opening inside it on the side facing the string instrument body for guiding the strings.

14. The string instrument excitation device according to claim 11, wherein the side of the notch that contacts the string is arc-shaped or U-shaped.

15. The vibration transmission section is composed of a plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or columnar member, as described in any one of claims 1 to 4 or any one of claims 6 to 9.

16. The vibration transmission section is formed of wood or synthetic resin, as described in claim 15.

17. The vibration transmission section is formed of spruce wood, as described in claim 15, for the string instrument excitation device.

18. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right has a portion located to the left of the first string that biases the first string to the right, and a portion located to the right of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the left.

19. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right has a portion located to the right of the first string that biases the first string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the fourth string that biases the fourth string to the right.

20. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right has a portion located to the left of the second string that biases the second string to the right, and a portion located to the right of the third string that biases the third string to the left.

21. When the vibration transmission unit is attached to at least four of the plurality of strings, The string instrument excitation device according to claim 1, wherein when the four strings are viewed from the tailpiece side, the leftmost string is designated as the first string, and the strings to the right are designated as the second string, third string, and fourth string, the device further to the right has a portion located to the right of the second string that biases the second string to the left, and a portion located to the left of the third string that biases the third string to the right.

22. A vibration device that vibrates in response to an input signal can be connected to a vibration device that is attached to at least two of the strings of a stringed instrument, and the vibration transmission part consists of a single member that extends in the direction in which the multiple strings are aligned when attached to the at least two strings, The plurality of strings are stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the stringed instrument while in contact with the upper part of the bridge of the stringed instrument, and when the bridge is viewed from the tailpiece side of the stringed instrument, the direction from the left end of the bridge to the right end of the bridge is defined as the right direction, and the direction from the right end of the bridge to the left end of the bridge is defined as the left direction, The vibration transmission section, when attached to the at least two strings, has a portion that biases one of the at least two strings to the left when viewed from the tailpiece side, and a portion that biases the other of the at least two strings to the right, and A vibration transmission section in which the longitudinal dimension of at least two strings of the vibration transmission section is 3 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

23. The vibration transmission unit according to claim 22, wherein the longitudinal dimension is 6 mm or less.

24. A string instrument excitation system comprising a string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a sound source signal supply means for supplying a sound source signal to the vibration device of the string instrument excitation device.

25. The string instrument excitation system according to claim 24, wherein the sound source signal supply means is configured to supply the sound source signal by reading sound source data that has been stored in advance in the storage means, or to supply the sound source signal using sound source data supplied from an external source.

26. A method for attaching a string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or claim 10 to at least two of the strings of a plurality of strings of a string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least one notch, and the notch has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission part. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the adjacent strings are moved to narrow the distance between them, the adjacent strings are guided into the notch through the opening, the distance between the adjacent strings is returned to the state before it was narrowed, and the adjacent strings are in contact with the right and left arc-shaped or U-shaped parts of the notch, respectively.

27. A method for attaching a string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or claim 10 to at least two of the strings of a plurality of strings of a string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission part is provided with at least one notch, and the notch has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission part. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the vibration transmission part is moved downward so that one of the two adjacent strings is guided into the interior of the notch through the opening of the notch of the vibration transmission part, the vibration transmission part is then moved to the right or left until the one string touches the right or left arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch, the other of the two adjacent strings is then guided into the interior of the notch through the opening of the notch of the vibration transmission part, and the vibration transmission part is then moved until the other string touches the left or right arc-shaped or U-shaped part of the notch.

28. When the side of the vibration transmission part facing the stringed instrument body is considered the lower side and the opposite side is considered the upper side, the direction from the lower side to the upper side of the vibration transmission part is considered the upward direction. A method for attaching a stringed instrument excitation device according to claim 26 to a stringed instrument, further comprising guiding the other strings, other than the at least two strings, to another notch provided in the vibration transmission section, guiding the other strings so that a part of the other notch pulls the other strings upward, or moving the vibration transmission section.

29. When the side of the vibration transmission part facing the stringed instrument body is considered the lower side and the opposite side is considered the upper side, the direction from the lower side to the upper side of the vibration transmission part is considered the upward direction. A method for attaching a stringed instrument excitation device according to claim 27 to a stringed instrument, further comprising guiding other strings other than the at least two strings to another notch provided in the vibration transmission section, guiding the other strings so that a part of the other notch pulls the other strings upward, or moving the vibration transmission section.

30. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device according to claim 8 or 11 to at least two strings of the string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission section is provided with at least two notches, and each of the at least two notches has an opening at the bottom of the vibration transmission section. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission part is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the adjacent strings are moved to widen the distance between them, the adjacent strings are guided into the interior of the two notches through the openings of the at least two notches of the vibration transmission part, the distance between the adjacent strings is returned to the state before it was widened, and the adjacent strings are in contact with the walls that make up the two notches.

31. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device according to any one of claims 8, 9, or 11 to at least two strings of the string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission section is provided with at least two notches, each of the two notches having an opening at the bottom of the vibration transmission section, and these notches are referred to as the first and second notches, A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission unit is positioned above two adjacent strings of the at least two strings, the vibration transmission unit is moved downward so that one of the two adjacent strings is guided into the first notch through the opening of the first notch of the vibration transmission unit, and then the vibration transmission unit is moved downward and in the left-right direction so that the other of the two adjacent strings is guided into the second notch through the opening of the second notch so that the two adjacent strings come into contact with the walls forming the two notches.

32. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device according to claim 9 to at least four strings of the string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission section is provided with at least four notches, and each of the at least four notches has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission section. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission unit is positioned above two adjacent strings on the left or right side of the at least four strings, as viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument; the two adjacent strings on the left or right side are moved so that they are guided into the interior of the openings of the two left or right notches among the four notches, respectively; the vibration transmission unit is then positioned above two adjacent strings on the right or left side of the string instrument, as viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument; the two adjacent strings on the right side are moved so that they are guided into the interior of the openings of the two other notches among the four notches, respectively, as they are not the two left or right notches, respectively; and the string instrument excitation device is positioned so that the at least four strings are in contact with the walls constituting the four notches.

33. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device according to claim 9 to at least four strings of the string instrument, wherein when the plurality of strings stretched at a predetermined distance from the body of the string instrument are positioned with the side facing the body of the string instrument facing downwards and the opposite side facing upwards, the vibration transmission section is provided with at least four notches, and each of the at least four notches has an opening at the lower part of the vibration transmission section. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device to a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission unit is positioned above two adjacent strings on the left or right side when viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, and the vibration transmission unit is moved downward so that the two adjacent strings on the left or right side are guided into the interior of the openings of the two left or right notches among the four notches, respectively, and then the vibration transmission unit is positioned above two adjacent strings on the right or left side when viewed from the tailpiece side of the string instrument, and the vibration transmission unit is moved downward so that the two adjacent strings on the right or left side are guided into the interior of the openings of the two other notches among the four notches, respectively, and the vibration transmission unit is moved left and right so that the at least four strings are in contact with the walls constituting the four notches.

34. A method for attaching the string instrument excitation device according to claim 3 or 4 to the four strings of a string instrument, wherein the vibration transmission unit is positioned several centimeters away from the bridge towards the neck of the string instrument, and is placed on at least two strings; the vibration transmission unit is moved downward to narrow or widen the distance between the at least two strings and guide them into one or two notches provided in the vibration transmission unit; then the at least two strings are guided into the one or two notches, and after all four strings have been inserted into the respective notches of the vibration transmission unit, the vibration transmission unit is moved closer to the bridge.

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