GB2586845A

GB2586845A - A bridge for a stringed instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2586845A
Application number: GB1912789.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Goodwin Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2019-09-05
Publication date: 2021-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-05
Also published as: GB2586845B; GB201912789D0

Abstract

A bridge for a stringed musical instrument such as an electric guitar comprises a mounting plate 5 adapted to be mounted to a body of the stringed instrument. A number of body members 2, 3, 4 are mounted on the mounting plate, preferably in a pivoted manner. Each body member has a movable member 8 movably mounted therein for movement relative to the body member between a first position and a second position, preferably by relative rotation between an externally threaded moveable member and an internally threaded body member. Each movable member may be barrel shaped and has a through-bore adapted to have a string inserted through the through-bore, where the moveable members define one end of the string’s scale length in use. The through-bore comprises a portion having a restricted width less than the width of a string-retaining member to prevent the retaining member passing through the through-bore. Movement of the movable member with respect to the body member is in line with the through bore. The body members may be held in place by the tension applied, in use, to the strings of the instrument.

Description

A Bridge for a Stringed Instrument The invention relates to a bridge for a stringed instrument, and especially, a bridge for an electric stringed instrument such as an electric guitar.

Conventionally, anchor points and bridges for electric guitars comprise a number of different components and sound energy in the strings can be lost from the string through the various multiple components. For example, a conventional fixed (or hardtail) bridge is normally used in conjunction with a tailpiece which provides an anchor point on the body of the guitar for the ends of the strings. The fixed or hardtail bridge is normally in the form a bar (or ridge) over which the strings from the tailpiece pass. The strings contact the bar so that the distance from the bar to the nut of the guitar defines the string's scale length.

Most bridges have an adjustment mechanism, to enable the bar to be moved forward or backwards to adjust the distance between the bar and the nut and to therefore, adjust the string scale length, and another adjustment mechanism, to enable the height of the string above the fret board to be adjusted. In most instances this results in the bar or ridges over which the string passes and which define the string scale length to float and move when the guitar string is plucked. This movement of the bar causes energy to be lost from the string as it vibrates and additional movement of the string relative to the bar can further reduce the energy in the string.

In addition to the string contacting the bar that forms the bridge, the string will also generally make contact with the tailpiece that anchors the end of the string to the guitar via a metal ball formed at the end of the strings. This contact of the string with the tailpiece can also cause energy to be lost from the string during use.

Movement of the string relative to the bar that forms the bridge can also result in loss of tuning of the guitar string.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bridge for a stringed instrument, the bridge comprising a mounting plate adapted to be mounted to a body of a stringed instrument, in use, the mounting plate defining a mounting plane; a number of body members engaged with the mounting plate; and a number of movable members, each body member having a movable member thereon for movement between a first position and a second position, and each movable member having a through bore adapted to receive a string for the instrument inserted through the through bore and to receive a retaining member attached to an end of the string in use, the through bore comprising a portion having a restricted width less than the width of the retaining member to prevent the retaining member passing through the through bore; and wherein the movement of the movable member with respect to the body member is in line with the through bore in the movable member and is in substantially the same plane as the mounting plane.

Preferably, the movable member provides an anchor point for a string of the instrument and a termination point for the string's scale length.

The mounting plate may define a mounting plane and the movement of the movable member between the first and second position may be substantially parallel to the mounting plane.

Typically, each body member is adapted to be retained on the mounting plate by tension applied, in use, to a string inserted through the respective movable member. Preferably, the tension is applied in a direction from the movable member to a nut of guitar on which the string is fitted. Typically, the tension may be in a direction substantially parallel to the through bore of the movable member.

Preferably, the movable member is linearly movable between the first position and the second position, typically by relative rotation of between the movable member and the body member. In one example, the movable member is movably mounted on the body member by means of a threaded formation on an external surface of the movable member that engages with a corresponding threaded formation on the inside of the body member.

Typically, the body member may be movably mounted on the mounting plate, and the movement of the body member with respect to the mounting plate may have a component of movement that is substantially perpendicular to the mounting plane. Preferably, the body member is pivotably mounted on the mounting plate. More preferably the axis of pivotal movement is adjacent a rear section of the body member.

Typically, the body member is movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the mounting plate and may be moved between the lowered and raised positions by means of an adjustable member adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting plane. The adjustable member may be a threaded member that threadedly engages with a threaded hole in the mounting plate. A number of adjustable members are preferably provided, one adjustable member for each body member. This has the advantage that each body member is separately adjustable relative to the mounting plate from the other body members.

Preferably, the body member is pivotably mounted on the mounting plate by means of a shoulder formed on the body member that engages with an edge of the mounting plate. More preferably, a surface of the shoulder is at an oblique angle to the mounting plane and the shoulder may locate under the edge of the mounting plate.

Typically, each body member comprises a through bore and each respective movable member may move between the first and the second positions in and along the through bore in the body member. Preferably, the through bore may comprise a restricted portion to prevent the movable member passing all the way through the through bore in the body member. Typically, the restriction is adjacent an end of the through bore at which the string exits the through bore.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stringed instrument comprising a bridge according to the first aspect, wherein the movement of the movable member on the body member between the first and second positions is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of a portion of a string extending between the movable member and a nut of the instrument, in use.

Preferably, the bridge is fixed to a body member of an instrument such that in use, the mounting plate is fixed to the body member such that it is stationary 20 with respect to the body member.

Typically, the instrument is an electric stringed instrument, such as an electric guitar. The electric guitar may be an electric standard guitar or an electric bass guitar. However, it is possible that the electric stringed instrument could be an electric banjo, electric violin, an electric viola, an electric cello, an electric double bass or any other suitable electric stringed instrument.

Preferably, the string scale length of a string of the instrument is the distance between the nut of the instrument and the retaining member of the string.

An example of a bridge in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bridge in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bridge shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front end view of the bridge; Fig. 4 is a rear end view of the bridge; Fig. 5 is a partial cut-away view of a perspective view of the bridge; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bridge along the line AA of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bridge similar to Fig. 6 but with a saddle of the bridge in a raised position; Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of section B of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan view of an electric guitar fitted with the bridge shown in Figs. 1 to 8; Fig. 10 is a side view of the guitar of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a rear view of the guitar of Fig. 9.

Figs. 1 to 5 show a combined bridge and tailpiece 1 (hereinafter referred to as "the bridge 1") for an electric guitar 30 (see Figs. 9 to 11). The bridge 1 comprises a low E saddle 2, a high E saddle 3 and four central saddles 4. The bridge 1 also includes a base plate 5 (see Fig. 5). Mounted on the baseplate 5 are a first shoulder 6 adjacent to the low E saddle 2 and a second shoulder 7 adjacent to the high E saddle 3. The saddles 2, 3, 4 are located between the two shoulders 6, 7 such that the shoulders 6, 7 minimise lateral movement of the saddles on the base plate 5 between the shoulders 6, 7. The base plate 5 has an underside 38 that is substantially planar and defines a mounting plane for the bridge 1 which is effectively the plane at the interface of the underside 38 and the surface of the guitar 30 on which the bridge 1 is mounted.

Each saddle 2, 3, 4 has a through bore 10 with an internal threaded section 11. An externally threaded adjustment barrel 8 is inserted through rear end 9 of the through bore 10 so that external threads 14 on the adjustment barrel 8 threadedly engage with the threaded section 11. Rotation of the barrel 8 with respect to the saddle moves the barrel 8 along the inside of the threaded section 11 between the end 9 and front face 19 of the respective saddle 2, 3, 4. Rotation of the barrel 8 is facilitated by a groove 20 in rear end 21 of the barrel 8. The groove 20 enables a flat screwdriver or similar tool to be inserted into the groove 20 to rotate the barrel 8 relative to the respective saddle 2, 3, 4.

The barrels 8 each have a through bore 22 through which a guitar string 23 may be inserted. Each barrel 8 has a guitar string inserted through the through bore 22 from rear end 21. The through bore 22 has a narrower section (not shown) towards the front of the through bore 22 so that an enlarged formation or head (commonly referred to as a "ball-end") on the end of the string may be pulled into the through bore 22 but is retained within the through bore 22 by the narrower section so that it cannot exit from the barrel 8 through the front of the through bore 22. This retainment of the ball-end at the end of the string within the through bore 22 acts to secure the string 23 to the barrel 8 when tension is applied to the string in a direction of arrow 24 in Fig. 6.

Each of the saddles 2, 3, 4 is removably mounted on the base plate 5 by means of a shoulder 15 that depends from each saddle 2, 3, 4 (see Figs. 6 to 9). Each shoulder 15 has an inclined surface 16 that hooks under an undercut lip 18 formed along the rear end of the base plate 5. Hence, a force applied to each saddle in a direction from the shoulder 15 towards the front 19 of each saddle in the direction of the arrow 24 (for example by tension in the strings 23) acts to engage each saddle 2, 3, 4 with the base plate 5 and retain each saddle on the base plate 5.

Six screws 25 are provided in the base plate 5, each screw 25 is adjacent a bottom surface 26 of each saddle 2, 3, 4. Each screw 25 engages with a threaded hole in the base plate 5, such that rotation of the screw 25 into the base plate causes end 27 of the screw 25 to butt against the surface 26 and push the respective saddle upwards away from the base plate 5, as shown in Fig. 7. Hence, when tension is applied to the saddle 4 in the direction of the arrow 24, this movement of the screw 25 against the surface 26 causes the saddle 4 to pivot about the lip 18 so that surface 16 of shoulder 15 moves towards surface 17 at the rear of the base plate 5 and the front 19 of the saddle 4 to be raised up from the base plate 5. Typically, the screws 25 have a hexagonal-shaped recess formed in their end that can be engaged by suitably sized Allen key to adjust the screws 25.

In use, the bridge 1 can be used with an electric guitar, such as the guitar 30 shown in Figs. 9 to 11. It is noted that in Figs. 9 and 10 the central part of the strings 23 have been omitted for the purposes of clarity. The bridge 1 is fitted to body 31 of the guitar 30 on the front surface of the body 31 using the screw holes 37 so that the underside 38 of the base plate 5 contacts the surface of the body. The bridge is fitted to the body 31 such that the screws 25 are accessible through a hole 32 in the body 31. Typically, the bridge is fitted to the body by four securing screws that pass through the four countersunk screw holes 37 formed in the base plate 5 to attach the base plate 5 to the body 31. The bridge is fitted to the body 31 so that the front 19 of the saddles 2, 3, 4 faces towards neck 33 and head 34 of the guitar 30.

Each of the strings 23 is inserted through the through bore 22 in the barrel 8 of the respective saddle 2, 3, 4 and pulled so that the ball-end of the string enters the through bore 22 and is retained by the narrower section of the through bore 22. The other end of the strings 23 are then passed over nut 39 and threaded onto tuners 35. The tuners 35 are then rotated to tighten the strings 23.

As tension is applied to each of the strings 23 using the respective tuner 35, this tension pulls the respective saddle 2, 3, 4 towards the tuner such that the shoulder 15 on the saddle engages with and is retained on the base plate 5 by the lip 18. This tension combined with the undercut lip 18 and the surface 16 that protrudes under the lip 18, acts to ensure that each saddle is retained on the base plate when tension is applied to the respective string 23.

This arrangement in which the saddles 2, 3, 4 are retained on the base plate 5 by the use of string tension has the advantage of mitigating the loss of high frequency harmonics and sustain, which can be damped by the saddle fixings (for example, retaining screws) used in conventional bridges and the points of contact between the strings and the saddles in conventional bridges.

The guitar can then be tuned using the tuners 35 and the barrels 8 rotated within the saddles 2, 3, 4 to adjusted the string scale length. The string scale length of each string 23 is the distance from the string's ball-end to the nut 39.

The screws 25 are also adjusted as necessary to set the desired height of each string above frets 36.

The bridge 1 has the advantage of combining a conventional tailpiece and bridge, thereby reducing the number of components required compared to a conventional separate tailpiece and bridge. It also has the advantage of providing a more secure fixing of the strings thereby reducing the energy lost from the strings during vibration of the strings. The vibration energy lost is also reduced by securing of the strings being in line with the strings and the path of the strings from the securing point to the nut being in a straight line and the strings not contacting any additional elements between the securing point of the strings and the nut of the guitar.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bridge for a stringed instrument, the bridge comprising a mounting plate adapted to be mounted to a body of a stringed instrument, in use; a number of body members mounted on the mounting plate; and a number of movable members, each body member having a movable member movably mounted thereon for movement relative to the body member between a first position and a second position, and each movable member having a through bore adapted to have a string for the instrument inserted through the through bore and to receive a retaining member attached to an end of the string in use, the through bore comprising a portion having a restricted width less than the width of the retaining member to prevent the retaining member passing through the through bore; and wherein the movement of the movable member with respect to the body member is in line with the through bore in the movable member.
2. A bridge according to claim 1, wherein each movable member is adapted to provide an anchor point for a string of the instrument, in use.
3. A bridge according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each movable member is adapted to define one end of a string's scale length, in use.
4. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate defines a mounting plane of the bridge and the movement of the movable members is in substantially the same plane as the mounting plane.
5. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the movable members are substantially parallel to each other.
6. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of each movable member between the first and the second positions comprises a linear movement.
7. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of each movable member between the first and the second positions is facilitated by a relative rotation between the movable member and the respective body member.
8. A bridge according to claim 7, wherein the movable member is movably mounted on the body member by means of a threaded formation on an external surface of the movable member that engages with a corresponding threaded formation on the inside of the body member.
9. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each body member is adapted to be retained on the mounting plate by tension applied, in use, to a string inserted through the respective movable member.
10. A bridge according to claim 9, wherein the tension is applied in a direction from the movable member to a nut of guitar on which the string is fitted, in use.
11. A bridge according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the tension is in a direction substantially parallel to the through bore of the movable member. 25
12. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body members are movably mounted on the mounting plate, and the movement of the body members with respect to the mounting plate has a component of movement that is substantially perpendicular to the through bores in the movable members.
13. A bridge according to claim 12, wherein the body members are pivotably mounted on the mounting plate for pivotal movement with respect to the mounting plate.
14. A bridge according to claim 13, wherein the axis of pivotal movement is adjacent a rear section of each body member.
15. A bridge according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the axis of pivotal movement of the body members are substantially coincident with each other.
16. A bridge according to claim 12 to 15, wherein the body members are movable between a lowered position in which an end of the body members is adjacent the mounting plate and a raised position in which the end of the body members is spaced from the mounting plate.
17. A bridge according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the body members are moved by means of an adjustable member movably mounted on the base plate.
18. A bridge according to claim 17, wherein the adjustable member is adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable members between the first and second positions.
19. A bridge according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein each of the body members is movable relative to the mounting plate independently of each of the other body members.
20. A bridge according to claim 19 when dependent of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein a number of adjustable members are provided, one adjustable 30 member for each body member.
21. A bridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each body member comprises another through bore and each respective movable member may move between the first and the second positions in and along the other through bore in the body member.
22. A stringed instrument comprising a bridge according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the movement of the movable member on the body member between the first and second positions is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of a portion of a string extending between the movable member and a nut of the instrument, in use.
23. A stringed instrument according to claim 22, wherein the bridge is mounted on a body member of an instrument such that the mounting plate is fixed with respect to the body member.
24. A stringed instrument according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the instrument is an electric stringed instrument, such as an electric guitar.
25. A stringed instrument according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the string scale length of a string of the instrument is the distance between the nut of the instrument and the retaining member of the string.