141 results about "Tremolo" patented technology

A digital wavetable audio synthesizer is described. A synthesizer volume generator, which has several modes of controlling the volume, adds envelope, right offset, left offset, and effects volume to the data. The data can be placed in one of sixteen fixed stereo pan positions, or left and right offsets can be programmed to place the data anywhere in the stereo field. The left and right offset values can also be programmed to control the overall volume. Zipper noise is prevented by controlling the volume increment. A synthesizer LFO generator can ad LFO variation to: (i) the wavetable data addressing rate, for creating a vibrato effect; and (ii) a voice's volume, for creating a tremolo effect. Generated data to be output from the synthesizer is stored in left and right accumulators. However, when creating delay-based effects, data is stored in one of several effects accumulators. This data is then written to a wavetable. The difference between the wavetable write and read addresses for this data provides a delay for echo and reverb effects. LFO variations added to the read address create a chorus and flange effects. The volume of the delay-based effects data can be attenuated to provide volume decay for an echo effect. After the delay-based effects processing, the data can be provided with left and right offset volume components which determine how much of the effect is heard and its stereo position. The data is then stored in the left and right accumulators.

A locking and tuning stabilizing device for an electric guitar having a tremolo device includes a clamp screw and an adjustment screw to enable the player to lock the tremolo or to stabilizing the tuning of the strings by turning an appropriate, easily accessible knob projecting from the guitar. In a first embodiment, an axially movable pin is in contact with the tremolo device at one end and in contact with an adjustment screw disposed in the end of the guitar at the opposite end. In second and third embodiments, an anchor block is disposed within a cavity on the back of the guitar. A pin connects to the tremolo device and is axially slidable within the anchor block. Clamping the pin to a fixed position within the anchor block, by tightening a clamp screw disposed in the anchor block, functions to lock the tremolo device in place.

Various kinds of members are located on the body of an electric guitar, and strings are supported by the members at predetermined positions along the longitudinal direction. The strings are adjusted by a fine-tuning element and a harmonic tuning element. A base plate is pivotally supported on the guitar body. Each of saddles is rotatably coupled to one of saddle holders, the position of which can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the strings, and corresponds to one of the strings. Each saddle contacts the corresponding string at a predetermined point. Each string holder, which is located in one of the saddles, holds the corresponding string at a part that is below the contact point of the string. The fine-tuning element fine-tunes each string by changing the rotational angle of the corresponding saddle without actually changing the contact point of the corresponding string. The harmonic tuning element adjusts the position of each saddle holder in the longitudinal direction of the strings. A manipulation portion, which is located on the harmonic tuning element, tunes the harmonic of each string at a position above the base plate while the string is held by the associated string holder.

Apparatus, such as a stringed musical instrument, is provided with intonation modules that include a novel fine-tuning invention that eliminates modifying strings required of prior art comprising an improved clamping element, a hollow tube element forming a tailpiece at one end furthest the second critical point and a novel adaptor plate element connected to a base plate. Clamping the sting renders the string substantially inextensible between the clamping point and the tailpiece formed at the end of the hollow. Threading the string through the hollow tube portion delivers the string over the second critical point effortlessly. The hollow portion of the string holder element is threadedly engaged with an adjustment knob and makes bearing contact with adaptor plate for fine-tuning. The adaptor plate can be added to a unitary component forming the base plate and can provide other functions. Reverse threaded screws intonation module attachment screws are provided to complete a comprehensive base plate / intonation module format that integrates to a common standard all elements of the two otherwise disparate two primary vintage fulcrum tremolo designs except for riser post spacing. An improved ball bearing arrangement is also disclosed.

A quick-release tremolo lock device for installation into a tremolo recess, and for mounting to a movable bridge or a tremolo block of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. The tremolo lock device includes a spring mount that is adapted to be fixedly attached to at least one wall of the tremolo recess and configured to capture an end of at least one tremolo spring. A slide key is also incorporated into the device, which is connected to the spring mount about a proximate portion of the slide key. The device also includes an adjustable quick release slide receiver that is adapted to receive and to releasably capture a distal portion of the slide key to fix the position of the receiver relative to the slide key. The device further includes a tail piece joined to the quick release slide receiver and configured to be mounted in a spring hole of the tremolo block.

A swingable tremolo for a string instrument. A tremolo block connected with the tremolo body is in turn connected through a link with a sliding block on the bottom of the instrument. A first spring urges the sliding block against the tensile force of the strings. A movable stopper is engageable by the sliding block as it moves rearward. A second spring also urges the movable stopper forward. The tensile force of the instrument strings is greater than the opposite force of first spring but less than the sum of the spring forces of the first and second springs, whereby the tremolo body may be tilted up or forwardly to reduce string tension or tilted down or rearwardly to increase string tension, and upon release of the tremolo body, the forces of the springs acting on the sliding block and the movable stopper act against the tensile force of the strings to bring the tremolo body into an equilibrium state.

A compensator for a tremolo for a stringed musical instrument, such as an electric guitar. The compensator has an integrated tremolo stop, allowing a musician to continue playing without undue delay in the event a string breaks.

A quick-release tremolo lock device for installation into a tremolo or vibrato assembly recess or cavity, and for mounting to a movable bridge or a tremolo or vibrato block of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. The tremolo lock device includes a spring mount that is adapted to be fixedly attached to at least one wall of the tremolo or vibrato cavity to prevent relative motion between the spring mount and the cavity. The spring mount is also configured to capture an end of at least one tremolo or vibrato return spring. A slide key is also incorporated into the quick-release lock device, which is connected to the spring mount about a proximate portion of the slide key. The releasable tremolo lock device is also adapted with an adjustable quick release slide receiver that is adapted to receive and to releasably capture a distal portion of the slide key to, when engaged, capture and fix the position of the receiver relative to the slide key. A tail piece member is also part of the lock device and is joined to the quick release slide receiver. The tail piece is further configured to be mounted in the tremolo recess to the tremolo block of the guitar. In any of the embodiments of the invention, the lock device may also incorporate various types of joints that are adapted for movement in multiple degrees of freedom to compensate for natural and induced misalignment between the tremolo block, the recess wall, and the tremolo lock device.

A silent piano is available for a performance through electronic tones, and a player can give a timbre different from that of an acoustic piano to the electronic tones; when the player specifies a timbre of another acoustic musical instrument having a compass narrower than the compass of the acoustic piano, the key levers outside of the compass are never depressed in the performance, and several musical performance styles such as mute, glissando, tremolo and so fourth are assigned to the idle key levers; while the player is fingering on the keyboard, the player depresses one of the idle key levers and, thereafter, the black and white key levers in the compass, then, the electronic tones are produced in the selected musical performance style; the idle key levers are not mixed in the compass so that the player is less liable to be mistakenly depress the idle key levers.

A stringed musical instrument is provided with a tremolo with a unitary base plate formed from a single folded or bent plate including a spring attachment means portion so that the tremolo is connected directly to the biasing springs; such a folded construction also includes multiple tiers stamped into the base plate portion for displacing the height of the second critical point on the intonation modules relative to the body of the instrument; the spring attachment means portion is fashioned such that the openings for anchoring the ends of the strings are aligned to openings in the base plate for threading the strings through the intonation modules. Additionally, intonation modules include alternative means for anchoring the strings located a critical distance from the second critical point essentially equal to the length of the anchoring portion or the reinforcement windings of the strings but not sufficient in length to engage the second critical point so as to render that portion of the string between the second critical point and the string anchor substantially inextensible.

A tremolo mechanism for cyclically changing the pitch of the strings of a musical instrument to create a vibrato effect includes a plurality of separately adjustable bridge segments, one for each string, which are mounted onto a pivotable plate and adjustable longitudinally to vary tension and hence frequency of a string, vertically to adjust the height of a string above the instrument, and laterally to align the strings horizontally with the instrument body.

The tremolo mechanism includes a novel cam actuated lock having a plurality of parallel locking channels disposed on an engagement surface of a movable locking arm and further having a locking ridge disposed on an engagement surface of a locking block so as to be in aligned opposition with the locking channels. Each pairing of locking channels is separated by a chromatic spacing distance corresponding to a chromatic half step change in the pitch of the plurality of tensioned strings. The lock of the further including a cam actuated torsion bar to positioning the locking arm according to a cam follower's position on a cam profile. The torsion bar provides a flexible means of applying a motive force for moving the locking arm such that, with the locking ridge and a selected locking channel misaligned and the cam follower disposed upon the locked seat, the torsion bar elastically deforms as the locking ridge is received by a land disposed between the locking channels without damaging the lock. Further, any additional transverse movement of the locking arm relative to the locking block causes the locking ridge to slide across the land and seat into an adjacent locking channel.

The improved tuning mechanisms are shown including a novel string clamping arrangement comprising a lever based clamping element utilizing an enlarged radiused underside to provide a variable clamping point depending from the various diameters of string which can be utilized in fine-tuner as well as Macro-tuner arrangements, an improved Global-tuner for use with vintage fulcrum tremolos, multi-tier insert plates for at least two bridge elements to variably meet the requirements for various fingerboard radii as well as two separate improvements directed towards integrated riser posts for bearing arrangements on the pivot axis of a fulcrum tremolo, one providing a slotted axel recess and another providing a separate threaded outer sleeve-like portion to allow alignment to bearing axis regardless of the position of riser post within body for adjustably mounting the fulcrum tremolo to the instrument, which, in the preferred embodiment, all work cooperatively together.

A cam tremolo device for a stringed musical instrument includes a frame secured to the instrument and a tailpiece rotatably connected with the frame and is characterized by a locking mechanism which is manually operable to prevent the tailpiece from rotating. The locking device is preferably a screw which is manually displaced by the operator relative to a threaded opening in the frame and a slot in the string attachment device connected with the tailpiece. When the screw is rotated to a locking position, the screw advances through the frame opening into the slot in the string attachment device. When the screw is rotated to a release position, the screw is retracted from the slot in the string attachment device, thereby allowing the tailpiece to rotate relative to the frame. Thus, the tailpiece is in either a fixed or floating condition, but not both at the same time.

An improved tremolo mechanism for a guitar. The tremolo mechanism for a guitar includes a rotary assembly. The rotary assembly includes a main rotor that includes an arcuate shaped surface defining holes through which a plurality of guitar strings exit the main rotor when the tremolo mechanism is installed on a guitar, resilient means coupled to said main rotor to bias said rotary assembly to a first position at which no tremolo effect is provided and away from a second position at which a tremolo effect is provided and fixing means on the main rotor for securing one end of each of the plurality of guitar strings to the rotary assembly. The tremolo mechanism also includes a plurality of tension rollers for providing rotational tension to said guitar strings. Said arcuate shaped surface directionally guides said strings transverse of said rotary assembly to the tension rollers.

A quick-release tremolo lock device for installation into a tremolo or vibrato assembly recess or cavity, and for mounting to a movable bridge or a tremolo or vibrato block of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. The tremolo lock device includes a spring mount that is adapted to be fixedly attached to at least one wall of the tremolo or vibrato cavity to prevent relative motion between the spring mount and the cavity. The spring mount is also configured to capture an end of at least one tremolo or vibrato return spring. A slide key is also incorporated into the quick-release lock device, which is connected to the spring mount about a proximate portion of the slide key. The releasable tremolo lock device is also adapted with an adjustable quick release slide receiver that is adapted to receive and to releasably capture a distal portion of the slide key to, when engaged to capture, fix the position of the receiver relative to the slide key. A tail piece member is also part of the lock device and is joined to the quick release slide receiver. The tail piece is further configured to be mounted in the tremolo recess to the tremolo block of the guitar. In any of the embodiments of the invention, the lock device may also incorporate various types of joints that are adapted for movement in multiple degrees of freedom to compensate for natural and induced misalignment between the tremolo block, the recess wall, and the tremolo lock device.

A tremolo bridge for a guitar comprising a body, a neck attached to said body, a headstock attached to said neck, a plurality of tuners disposed on said headstock and adjacent the neck, at least one post extending from said body, each of said at least one post further comprising a V-shaped notch, and a plurality of strings, whereby each string of said plurality of strings is attached to the tremolo bridge, extends along the neck of the guitar, and is attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of tuners disposed on the headstock, said tremolo bridge comprising: a base plate, a block extending from said base plate, a tremolo arm attached to said base plate, and a locking mechanism for locking the position of the tremolo bridge.

A stringed musical instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points, A fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. The strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. Each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. A bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.

A tremolo assembly is implemented for modulating the string tension on a guitar by mounting a bridge carrier on a sliding mount with the fore and aft displacement thereof effected by a transverse cam implemented fulcrum piece opposing the string tension. The sliding mount limits the bridge translation to the string plane, thus resolving all bending and lateral string forced. A forwardly and rearwardly aligned set of manual levers is then useful in modulating downward and upward the tension of the strings in unison against a set of bias springs.

A tremolo operating mechanism comprising an arm socket secured onto a base plate, a resin bushing contained in the upper part of the arm socket, a torque adjusting screw screwed into the upper part of the arm socket to press the resin bushing, and an arm receiving resin nut which is engaged with the lower part of the arm socket and is also engaged with the lower end portion of a tremolo arm. The tremolo arm rotates on the shaft thereof to change the amount of screw engagement with the arm receiving resin nut and adjust the height of the tremolo arm from the body. As the torque adjusting screw rotates, the torque of the tremolo arm is adjusted by the resin bushing. Since the tremolo arm is supported by the resin bushing and the arm receiving resin nut, it does not interfere with the arm socket to improve operability.

A tremolo device for a stringed instrument is described in which a base plate is configured for surface mounting to a body of the instrument. A pivot plate is pivotally coupled to the base plate along an edge of the pivot plate. Each string is associated with a string seat. The string is threaded through the string seat receiving a terminal end of the string. The string seat includes a keyed portion that slidably attaches the string seat to the pivot plate in a keyed slot provided in a bottom surface of the pivot plate. A spring disposed between the base plate and the pivot plate maintains the pivot plate in a first position relative to the base plate until a user provides an action to pivot the pivot plate relative to said base plate. The spring returns the pivot plate to the first position when the user action is terminated.

A guitar has a wrench tremolo bar thereon, replacing the standard tremolo bar, with the wrench tremolo bar having a desired wrench on at least one end of the wrench tremolo bar, to cooperate with the string fasteners on the guitar, which greatly facilitates tuning, changing or replacing of a guitar string.

A fulcrum tremolo includes intonation modules for fine tuning or macro tuning, an unitary component forming a base plate and an adaptor plate. An improved bearing arrangement features integrated riser posts, combining the bearing axle housing with traditional riser posts, an improved bearing axle supporting bearings positioned within recesses in a bearing housing. A plain end and a threaded end of the bearing axle cooperate with a riser post having a larger plain opening and a second riser post having a threaded opening. The plain end and a ring spacer, positioned between a bearing and the second riser post, positions the bearings away from the tremolo wherein the axle is slideably positioned within the first riser post as the second end of the axle is threadedly secured to the second riser post and thereby adjustably secures the bearing arrangement relative to the body of the instrument for pivotal movement.

A cam tremolo device for a stringed musical instrument includes a frame secured to the instrument and a tailpiece rotatably connected with the frame and is characterized by a locking mechanism which is manually operable to prevent the tailpiece from rotating. The locking device is preferably a screw which is manually displaced by the operator relative to a threaded opening in the frame and a slot in the string attachment device connected with the tailpiece. When the screw is rotated to a locking position, the screw advances through the frame opening into the slot in the string attachment device. When the screw is rotated to a release position, the screw is retracted from the slot in the string attachment device, thereby allowing the tailpiece to rotate relative to the frame. Thus, the tailpiece is in either a fixed or floating condition, but not both at the same time.

A string replacement assistance apparatus is used when the strings of a stringed instrument equipped with a tremolo unit are replaced. The tremolo unit makes a pivotal movement in arm-up and arm-down directions by an operation of a tremolo arm connected thereto. The string replacement assistance apparatus includes a base section which is to be put on the body of the stringed instrument and a holding section which is elongated from the base section and holds the tremolo arm to prevent the tremolo unit from the pivotal movement.

A stabilizer for a tremolo bridge prevents disablement of an instrument in the event of string failure. A cam, operated by the player, serves to support a tremolo bridge such that pre-failure tuning of the remaining strings is restored. A method is disclosed for stabilizing a tremolo bridge, comprising steps of ascertaining the normal position of the bridge with strings intact and the tremolo not actuated, providing a retractable stabilizer capable of maintaining the bridge in that position, and selectively using the stabilizer to oppose disabling movement of the tremolo bridge in the event of a string failure, or for purposes of facilitating tuning of the instrument. Novel designs of the components of the stabilizer are also disclosed.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments, a stringed instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points. In some embodiments, a fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. In some embodiments, the strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. In some embodiments, each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. In some embodiments, a bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.

A stabilizer for a tremolo bridge prevents disablement of an instrument in the event of string failure. A cam, operated by the player, serves to support a tremolo bridge such that pre-failure tuning of the remaining strings is restored. A method is disclosed for stabilizing a tremolo bridge, comprising steps of ascertaining the normal position of the bridge with strings intact and the tremolo not actuated, providing a retractable stabilizer capable of maintaining the bridge in that position, and selectively using the stabilizer to oppose disabling movement of the tremolo bridge in the event of a string failure, or for purposes of facilitating tuning of the instrument. Novel designs of the components of the stabilizer are also disclosed.

A simple “hands-free” electric guitar tremolo and tremolo actuator is provided. An actuator is pivotably attached to the guitar body within a rear cavity of the solid body of the instrument. A portion of the actuator bears against an external surface of the instrument's movable “floating” guitar bridge to produce the desired effect. The actuator is controlled by the user during play by moving an elongated lever that is connected to the actuator and protrudes from the guitar body cavity. The lever is preferably curved and oriented to fit against a user's hip or waist when the guitar is held adjacent to the user in the typical mode of operation of an electric guitar. In play, tremolo effect is produced by drawing the guitar toward the user's body such that the lever is forced toward the guitar body. In this manner, the user is allowed unhindered use of both hands for normal play of the guitar.

A tremolo and tuning apparatus is provided for a stringed musical instrument having a body, a neck extending from the body, a nut on an end of the neck remote from the body, and a string extending over the neck. The string makes a first critical contact at a point on the nut of the instrument and a second critical contact at a point on the apparatus. The apparatus includes a mounting frame configured for mounting on the surface of the body, an attachment post secured to the body, a base plate pivotally mounted with respect to the attachment post and having a surface adapted to receive a force, a string mounting assembly mounted on the base plate for holding the string, and a resilient member assembly for engagement with the mounting frame outside the body of the instrument and supplying a force to the base plate surface.