WO2006100309A1 - Touche pour instrument de musique a cordes a etranglement - Google Patents

Touche pour instrument de musique a cordes a etranglement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006100309A1
WO2006100309A1 PCT/EP2006/061043 EP2006061043W WO2006100309A1 WO 2006100309 A1 WO2006100309 A1 WO 2006100309A1 EP 2006061043 W EP2006061043 W EP 2006061043W WO 2006100309 A1 WO2006100309 A1 WO 2006100309A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fingerboard
strings
slab
frets
wires
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2006/061043
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alexander Hohenegger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ALTER EGO Sas DI A HOHENEGGER E Co
Original Assignee
ALTER EGO Sas DI A HOHENEGGER E Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ALTER EGO Sas DI A HOHENEGGER E Co filed Critical ALTER EGO Sas DI A HOHENEGGER E Co
Publication of WO2006100309A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006100309A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D1/00—General design of stringed musical instruments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
    • G10D3/06—Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards

Definitions

  • the present invention generally refers to a fingerboard for a musical instrument, and in particular for a necked string musical instrument.
  • the present invention finds application in the field of luthiery and in general in the manufacturing of musical instruments.
  • the fingerboard according to the present invention is useful in teaching contexts and it is particularly indicated as an aid to the learning of the use of a string instrument by an amateur user or a student, as well as optionally also by a professional user in order to facilitate or personalize the manipulation thereof.
  • necked string instrument all string instruments, as well as all kinds of guitar and bass guitar.
  • the technique allowing a performer to produce notes of different pitch by playing a string instrument consists in pressing the strings themselves on the fingerboard with the aid of the fingers of one hand, so as to alter the length of the vibrating portion thereof.
  • the fingerboard according to the present invention is especially useful for tuning the strings of a necked string musical instrument, allowing a precise definition of the length of the active portion, i.e., of the vibrating portion, of the string.
  • frets apt to mark the spot at which the performer should press the strings on the fingerboard to obtain a corresponding variation of the sound frequency.
  • these frets are not present and the fingerboard exhibits a smooth surface, since a skilled performer possessing the required sensitivity presses the strings on the appropriate spots, doing without frets.
  • said frets are strips, generally metallic, secured to the fingerboard surface by glueing and/or fixed thereon.
  • figure 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the fingerboard for a necked string instrument according to the present invention
  • figure 2 is a top perspective view of three component elements of the fingerboard of figure 1, the modular structure and the assembling mode thereof being highlighted;
  • figure 2 A is a side view of a detail of the fingerboard of figure 1 ;
  • figure 3 is a front view of a detail of one of said three component elements of the fingerboard of figure 1 ;
  • figure 4A is a perspective view of a string instrument in which it is illustrated a first step of threading of a wire of a movable system for indicating frets in the fingerboard of figure 1 ;
  • figure 4B is a perspective view of the string instrument of figure 4A in which it is illustrated a second step of threading of the wire of figure 4A;
  • figure 4C is a perspective view of the string instrument of figure 4A, the wire of figure 4A having been applied on the entire length of its fingerboard;
  • figure 5 is a side view of a detail of the neck of the string instrument of figure 4A onto which it is mounted the fingerboard of figure 1 ;
  • figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred mode of adjusting the height of the fingerboard according to the present invention with respect to the strings of a string instrument;
  • figure 7 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of the string instrument of figure 6, in which it is highlighted the mechanism for adjusting the height of the fingerboard according to the present invention with respect to the strings.
  • a fingerboard 1 of a string instrument 2 is an elongated element having a fingering surface 10 arranged adjacent to strings 11 of the string instrument 2.
  • said strings 11 are manipulated by a user through the pressure on the fingering surface 10 at determined spots thereof, in order to define the length of the vibrating portion of the strings 11 and therefore to determine the intonation thereof for semitones.
  • the fingerboard 1 is mounted basically integral to a neck 3 of the instrument 2, with reference to the preferred embodiment detailed hereinafter.
  • the main body 100 may be a sound box whose bridge 80 transmits the vibrations of - A -
  • the nut is a transversal element onto which there are obtained admitting notches for the strings 11, arranged on a line basically reproducing the contour of the fingering surface 10 and apt to admit each the passage of a respective string 11 resting thereon, keeping it at a set distance from the other strings.
  • the nut is basically the zero-fret of the fingerboard 1 and, owing to the function it carries out, it contributes to the correct intonation of the instrument 2, as well as to influence its timbre.
  • the active portion of a string 11, onto which a user acts when performing is comprised between the internal side of the nut and the bridge 80.
  • the fingerboard 1 has a removable system for indicating the frets 50, generally indicated by 70.
  • the position of the frets 50 is defined a priori according to a preset scale and in accordance to known musical laws.
  • Such a system comprises one or more wires 20, to be arranged on the fingering surface 10, and means for arranging said wires 20 on the fingering surface 10 and along connecting paths located internally to the body of the fingerboard 1 and/or along the side edges 4 of the fingerboard 1.
  • Such means is generally indicated by 75.
  • the means for arranging the wires 20 comprises, for each of said wires 20, a respective sequence of through holes 44 made in the body of said fingerboard 1.
  • Said through holes 44 are apt to define a plurality of respective connecting paths between the opposite side edges 4' and 4" of the fingerboard 1.
  • the wires 20 are apt to be threaded from a first inlet end on the first side edge 4' to a second outlet end on the second side edge 4" of the through holes 44, so as to implement a removable system for indicating frets 50 on the fingerboard 1.
  • the through holes 44 have a pattern such that the portion of said wires 20 arranged on the fingering surface 10 defines frets 50 basically perpendicular to the strings 11 of the string instrument 2.
  • each fret 50 being therefore defined by a respective portion of the respective wire apt to be arranged on said fingering surface 10 and comprised between two subsequent and respective connecting paths corresponding to as many through holes 44.
  • the configuration of each of the sequences of through holes 44 is such that the outlet end on the side edge 4' ' of each through hole 44 of said sequence lies, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fingerboard 1, at the same height of the inlet end on the side edge 4' of the subsequent through hole 44.
  • the through holes 44 preferably have a pattern basically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fingerboard 1 at the respective end sections thereof and therefore near to the first inlet end on the first side edge 4' and to the second outlet end on the second side edge 4" .
  • the fingerboard 1 has a modular structure and comprises a first slab 31 apt to provide a support base on the neck 3, to which it is fixed, on a surface 37; a shaped board 30 incorporating the fingering surface 10; and a second intermediate slab 32, apt to be interposed between the slab 31 and the shaped board 30, as it can be noticed in figure 2.
  • the shaped board 30, the first slab 31 and the second slab 32 have respective mutual coupling surfaces, having a basically overlappable plan, so that their assembling produces a sandwich structure of the fingerboard 1 as is evident in figure 1.
  • the surface 34 of the slab 32 is apt to couple to the surface 36 of the slab 31, whereas the surface 33 of the shaped board 30 is apt to couple to the surface 35 of the slab 32.
  • At least one among the surfaces 36-34 for the mutual coupling between said first slab 31 and said second slab 32 incorporates grooves 41.
  • the configuration is such that the through holes 44 are obtained by the juxtaposition of the surface 34 on the surface 36 when the second slab 32 is overlapped to the first slab 31.
  • the grooves 41 cooperate with the plane of the corresponding coupling surface so as to produce the through holes 44.
  • respective and corresponding grooves having a basically mirror pattern are obtained on the surface 34 and on the surface 36, the through holes 44 deriving from the mating of corresponding grooves when the two slabs 32 and 31 are overlapped.
  • the grooves 41 are obtained in the intermediate slab 32 and in particular on the surface 34 opposite to the one of contact with the shaped board 30.
  • the wires 20, stretched between the fingering surface 10 and the bottom of the respective grooves 41 are held in position more effectively and there ensues an increased stability of the respective frets 50.
  • the bottom of the grooves 41 e.g., obtained by milling with a round point, is shaped so as to facilitate the positioning of the wires 20 in the seat of the respective connecting paths.
  • a variant of the preferred embodiment of the fingerboard 1 according to the present invention provides that at least one through hole 45 has first end 44' and second end 44" on the same side edge 4" of the fingerboard 1, as illustrated in figure 1 and, in greater detail, in figure 4A.
  • such a hole 45 is apt to split a wire 20 into a first portion 20' and a second portion 20" intended for different paths.
  • the first portion and the second portion 20', 20" are apt to be threaded into through holes 44 alternating thereamong, having inlet ends on the first side edge 4'.
  • said through hole 45 is positioned near to the head of the fingerboard 1, so as to define a top fret 50', the first of the sequence of frets 50.
  • the positioning of the through hole 45 may be such that the top fret 50' is defined, according to customary configuration, at the first semitone of the fingerboard 1, as shown in figure 4A, or adjoining the nut of the instrument 2, in a position set back of one semitone with respect to the natural one.
  • the entire system of through holes 44 may be shifted of one semitone toward the nut.
  • a central positioning of said through hole 45 would hinder an ad hoc adjustment of the length of the fingering on the fingerboard 1.
  • a concomitant adjustment of the height of the strings 11 on the latter is advisable, so as not to have vibrating strings negatively interfering with the frets.
  • the strings near to the nut be raised of an equivalent height such as to compensate for the interposition of the frets on the fingerboard 1.
  • the top fret 50' be in a set-back position, it basically adjoining the nut of the instrument 2, the same localized thickness of the wire portion 20' used for the related implementation might yield a proportional raising of the strings 11 with respect to the fingering surface 10, preventing interference problems.
  • a strip 51 preferably made of the same material of the frets 50, can be located with an arrangement basically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the instrument 2 about the neck 3, adjoining the nut of the instrument 2.
  • Such a strip 51 is useful to proportionally raise the strings 11 with respect to the fingering surface 10.
  • such solutions are less complex than those represented by the replacement of the entire nut block with a higher second nut.
  • the means 75 for arranging the wires 20 on the fingering surface 10 and along the connecting paths located along the side edges of the fingerboard comprises elements for returning the wires 20 on the side edges 4 of the fingerboard 1.
  • These returning elements may be, e.g., small nails fixed to the side edges 4 of the fingerboard 1.
  • the introduction of the fingerboard 1 according to the present invention advantageously allows to vary the height of the frets 50 with respect to the strings 11 of the instrument, by virtue of the express use of wires 20 exhibiting different thicknesses.
  • the frets provide an aid to a performance adjustable to contingent needs, e.g. to the performer's skill and the typology of strings being used.
  • a reduced height of the strings on the fingering surface though implying an increase of the handiness and of the speed of performance on the neck, entails however a limitation of string excursion requiring a softer manipulation and the risk of having the strings touching on the frets, in particular when the latter are added to the instrument.
  • the string instrument 2 with a neck 3 comprises means for adjusting the height of the fingerboard 1 with respect to the strings 11.
  • said adjusting means preferably comprises a hinge 90 for the connection of the neck 3 to the main body 100.
  • such means may comprise a screw 96/nut screw 97.
  • the screw may incorporate on its head a seat 98, e.g., socket head-shaped, actuatable by a wrench 95.
  • FIG 7 it is illustrated a situation in which the screw 96 crosses the main body 100 and screws down into a nut screw 97 made integral to the main body 100 itself.
  • the screw 96 gradually screwed down into the nut screw 97, comes into contact with the neck 3 by projecting from the body 100.
  • the configuration is such that, once established said contact between screw 96 and neck 3, a rotary motion given to the screw 96 via the wrench 95 produces a proportional force on the neck 3, which therefore is set in rotation about the hinge 90.
  • the ensuing motion of the neck 3 causes an approaching or a moving away of the fingerboard 1 with respect to the strings 11, depending on the sense of the actuating rotation.
  • the distance of the fingerboard according to the present invention is advantageously adjustable, so as to prevent the vibrating strings from touching the frets with an entailed "whip effect".
  • the height of the strings can be varied at will, also according to the more or less extensible material of the latter.
  • the fingerboard according to the present invention is susceptible of being advantageously mass-produced at limited costs.
  • the present invention has hereto been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and without limitative purposes. It is understood that other embodiments may be envisaged, all to be construed as felling within the protective scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une touche (1) pour un instrument à cordes (2) à étrangement (3) permettant d’insérer de façon amovible des frettes ne gênant pas la performance musicale et comprenant : une surface de doigté (10) disposée à côté des cordes (11) de l’instrument à cordes (2) manipulées par un utilisateur pour déterminer l’intonation des cordes (11) pour les demi-tons ; et un système amovible (70) indiquant les frettes (50) sur la touche (1) comprenant un ou plusieurs câbles (20) à disposer sur la surface de doigté (10) et des moyens (75) pour disposer lesdits câbles (20) sur la surface de doigté (10) et le long des voix de connexion situées à l’intérieur du corps de la touche (1) et/ou le long des bords latéraux (4') de la touche (1).
PCT/EP2006/061043 2005-03-25 2006-03-24 Touche pour instrument de musique a cordes a etranglement Ceased WO2006100309A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425175.6 2005-03-25
EP05425175A EP1705639A1 (fr) 2005-03-25 2005-03-25 Touche d'instrument à cordes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006100309A1 true WO2006100309A1 (fr) 2006-09-28

Family

ID=34943114

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2006/061043 Ceased WO2006100309A1 (fr) 2005-03-25 2006-03-24 Touche pour instrument de musique a cordes a etranglement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1705639A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2006100309A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4854801B1 (ja) * 2010-09-07 2012-01-18 慶史 堀 電気擦弦楽器および電気撥弦楽器−電気擦弦楽器変換キット
US8993862B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-03-31 Marc Eugene ANDERSON Retractable stringed musical instruments and method for operating same
WO2019143329A1 (fr) * 2018-01-17 2019-07-25 Loschiavo Joseph P Cordophone électromagnétique polyvalent multifonctions

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE884812A (fr) * 1980-08-14 1980-12-01 Pirard Marc Perfectionnement aux guitares.
US4981064A (en) * 1988-12-08 1991-01-01 Vogt Walter J Fingerboard for plucked and stringed instruments
US5847298A (en) * 1997-03-04 1998-12-08 Adams; Brian T. Supplemental fret attachment for musical stringed instrument
US5952593A (en) * 1997-07-01 1999-09-14 Wilder; Dwain Removable frets for fretted stringed musical instruments
GB2410829A (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Geoffrey Kenneth Perrin System for applying frets to violins and other musical instruments
GR1004993B (el) * 2004-10-20 2005-09-16 Σταθεροι μπερντεδες

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE884812A (fr) * 1980-08-14 1980-12-01 Pirard Marc Perfectionnement aux guitares.
US4981064A (en) * 1988-12-08 1991-01-01 Vogt Walter J Fingerboard for plucked and stringed instruments
US5847298A (en) * 1997-03-04 1998-12-08 Adams; Brian T. Supplemental fret attachment for musical stringed instrument
US5952593A (en) * 1997-07-01 1999-09-14 Wilder; Dwain Removable frets for fretted stringed musical instruments
GB2410829A (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Geoffrey Kenneth Perrin System for applying frets to violins and other musical instruments
GR1004993B (el) * 2004-10-20 2005-09-16 Σταθεροι μπερντεδες

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1705639A1 (fr) 2006-09-27

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