US007183475B2

(12)

(54)

United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

Van Halen

(45) Date of Patent:

STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH

US 7,183,475 B2
Feb. 27, 2007

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

ADJUSTABLE STRING TENSION CONTROL

The tone and volume controls, The electric guitar: analysis of

_

components, undated, 3 pages.

(75) Inventor' ?glgard Van Halen LOS Angeles CA

Schaller Floyd Rose Tremolo Diagram, Guitar Body Schaller

Floyd Tremolo, undated, 2 pages.

_

Schaller 456 Fine Tuning Stud Mount Bridge Diagram, Guitar

(73) Asslgnee: E-L-v-H-s Inc-s Burbank: CA (Us)

_

(*)

Not1ce:

Body 456 Schaller Bridge, undated, 1 page.

_

Subject to any d1scla1mer, the term of this

patent is extended or adjusted under 35

to D and back, Without unclamping, undated 2 pages,

Ibanez Instruction Manual, undated, 2 pages.

U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days,

Brochure from Hipshot Products, Inc., Jan. 2002.

(21) Appl. N0.: 10/370,351

* Cited by examiner

(22)

Van Halen, Eddie, Finally . . . an easy Way to drop from E down

Primary ExamineriKimberly Lockett

Flled:

Feb 18 2003

(65)

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firmilrell & Manella LLP

PIIOI Publication Data

US 2004/0159203 A1

(51) Int_ CL
GIoD 3/04

ug

(57)

. 19 2004

ABSTRACT

A tension adjustment mechanism for a stringed musical

instrument suitable for use on a tailpiece assembly com

prises a p1vot1ng member (such as a strlng receptor),~an

(200601)

(52)

U.S.Cl. ...................................................... .. 84/298

a dJ usa
b1 eso,an
P
d aever
1
han11 eenae
g g 1 W1hhe

(58)

Field of Classi?cation Search

8 4 097 R
84613
307 312 R
See a lication ?le for Com lte searchhisto
pp
p
ry'

member. The pivoting member preferably has a post for

securely receiving an end of a string and an elongate arm.
Placement of the handle in a ?rst position preferably causes
the adjustable stop to engage and depress the elongate arm

(56)

References Cited

84/313

of the pivoting member, thereby increasing tension on the

string. Placement of the handle in a second position prefer
ably causes the adjustable stop to disengage the elongate
arm of the pivoting member, thereby allowing the pivoting
member to return to its original position, and decreasing
tension on the string. A ?ne tuning adjustment may be
included in the tailpiece assembly. The adjustable stop

84/313

and/or ?ne tuning adjustment may comprise adjustable

US. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,142,221 A *

7/1964

Boyd ........................ .. 84/313

4,535,670 A

8/1985

Boriso?"

4,610,190 A *

9/1986

Maloney .... ..

4,686,883

8/1987

Piche et al.

5,127,298 A *

7/1992 Snape et al.

5,542,330

8/1996

Boriso?" . . . . . . .

5,760,321 A *

6/1998 Seabert

5,907,114 A *

5/1999

702

7/5

.... .. 84/312

.....

84/312 R
. . . . . ..

. . . . ..

P 1vo1n
t g

84/298

screws.

84/312 R

Culver ...................... .. 84/313

28 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

U.S. Patent

Feb. 27, 2007

Sheet 1 0f 5

US 7,183,475 B2

U.S. Patent

Feb. 27, 2007

Sheet 2 0f 5

372xH

302 505

US 7,183,475 B2

3/5

225

226

FIG. 3A

208

U.S. Patent

Feb. 27, 2007

Sheet 3 0f 5

US 7,183,475 B2

1x
\<
iiii
440

FIG. 5A

226

my)
Q

//

290

FIG. 5B

FIG. 5C

2'6

/--205
\\\

220

1)

U.S. Patent

Feb. 27, 2007

Sheet 4 0f 5

US 7,183,475 B2

220

FIG. 7

U.S. Patent

Feb. 27, 2007

Sheet 5 0f 5

US 7,183,475 B2

509

807

808

954

955

FIG. 9B

US 7,183,475 B2
1

STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH

ADJUSTABLE STRING TENSION CONTROL

In a particular embodiment, a tailpiece (Which may be a

combined bridge/tailpiece) for a stringed musical instrument
includes a hinged member or string receptor having a post
for securing a ?rst end of a string and an elongate lever arm

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

mechanically engaged With the post. The hinged member or

string receptor is pivotally mounted to the tailpiece (or

1. Field of the Invention

The ?eld of the invention generally pertains to stringed

instruments and, more speci?cally, to an adjustable string

combined bridge/tailpiece) frame. The elongate lever arm

can be depressed into a cutout beneath plane of the instru
ment surface. A pivotable lever handle controls motion of
the hinged member or string receptor by either causing a ?rst

tension control for a stringed instrument.

2. Background
Stringed instruments, such as guitars, generally have
tuning pegs. Rotation or adjustment of the tuning pegs
increases the tension of the strings and thus increases the

adjustable stop (e.g., a ?rst adjustable screW) to engage the

elongate lever arm (thus depressing it), resulting in increased
string tension, or else causing the ?rst adjustable stop to
disengage, thereby alloWing the elongate lever arm to be
raised by the natural tension of the string and alloWing it to

pitch produced by the strings. Typically the strings of an

come to rest against a second adjustable stop (e.g., a second

instrument are tuned prior to a performance or session, With

adjustable screW), resulting in decreased string tension. The

?rst adjustable stop controls the normal playing pitch (and

multiple strings Which are anchored at one end to a tailpiece

or bridge assembly and at the other end to a number of

the intent usually being for the strings to remain in their

tuned settings for the duration of the performance or session.
Nevertheless, musicians occasionally desire to alter the
tuning or tensioning of musical instrument strings during a

?ne tuning), and the second adjustable stop controls the

20

Further embodiments, variations and enhancements are

also disclosed herein.

performance or rendition in order to, for example, achieve a

different range of notes, different sound qualities and feel, or
various musical elfects. During live performances or rendi

tions, hoWever, it can be di?icult, cumbersome, and impre

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

25

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a guitar illustrating certain features

of interest.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of an assembly including
a string tension adjustment mechanism in accordance With

cise to use conventional tuning knobs to attempt to adjust the

tuning or tension of the strings. One technique that has been

developed for varying the tension of guitar strings that does

not involve the guitars tuning keys is knoWn as a tremolo
bar. A tremolo bar connects to the guitar bridge and is
manipulated by the musician to increase or decrease the

30 one embodiment as disclosed herein.

tension on the guitar strings (typically all of the strings

simultaneously). When the musician releases the tremolo
bar, the strings return to their original tensions.
Other examples of mechanisms for altering the tension of
strings are disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. Nos. 4,535,
670 and 5,542,330.
Conventional techniques for adjusting the tension of
musical instrument strings may suffer from various draW
backs. For example, With a tremolo bar, the shift in the

drop-doWn pitch.

35

40

FIG. 3A is a front vieW diagram comparing string recep

tors for a tension-adjustable string and a non-tension-adjust
able string in accordance With the assembly illustrated in
FIGS. 2A and 2B, and FIG. 3B is an oblique vieW diagram
of the string receptor for a tension-adjustable string.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are side vieW diagrams of the assembly
shoWn in FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustrating different lever
positions according to one example for adjusting the tension
of a string.
FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are cut-aWay side vieW diagrams of

tension or tone of a string depends upon the amount of

the assembly shoWn in FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustrating opera

physical displacement of the bar, and is therefore relatively

imprecise. Also, the tremolo bar generally affects all of the
strings simultaneously. In various other techniques, the

tion according to one embodiment as disclosed herein.

amount of potential change in the tension of a string may be

limited. Also, the mechanism for adjusting the tension of the

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cut-aWay side vieW diagrams

illustrating examples of operation of the tension adjustment

45

for example, in connection With the assembly illustrated in

string may be inconvenient or dif?cult to use, particularly

during live performances or other renditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

screW illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIG. 7 is a top-vieW diagram of a cut-out as may be used,

FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of an
50

assembly including a string tension adjustment mechanism.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams of another alternative
embodiment of an assembly including a string tension

The invention in one aspect is generally directed to a

stringed instrument With an adjustable string tension control.

adjustment mechanism.

In one embodiment, a tension adjustment mechanism for

a stringed musical instrument comprises a pivoting member,

55

an adjustable stop, and a handle adapted for manual actua

tion betWeen a ?rst position and a second position. The

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

pivoting member, thereby increasing tension on the string,

FIG. 1 is a generaliZed diagram of a guitar 100 illustrating

certain features of interest. In the example shoWn in FIG. 1,
the guitar 100 is an electric guitar. The guitar 100 includes
a body 102 that is generally solid in nature, but alternatively
may be semi-holloW or holloW. The body 102 of the guitar

While placement of the handle in the second position causes

the contact member to disengage the elongate arm of the

100 is connected to a neck 105, Which is terminated by a

headstock 107. Tuning pegs 112 are attached to the head

pivoting member is preferably con?gured to engage an end

of a string (by, e.g., a post), and includes an elongate arm.
Placement of the handle in the ?rst position causes a contact
member to engage and depress the elongate arm of the

pivoting member, thereby alloWing the pivoting member to

60

65

stock 107 and function to secure a set of strings 140 as is

come to rest against the adjustable stop and decreasing

Well knoWn in the art. Rotation of the tuning pegs 112 may

tension on the string.

be accomplished by manually tWisting individual tuning

US 7,183,475 B2
3

keys (typically in the form of rotatable knobs or keys) 109

herein, the tension adjustment mechanism may be associated

to increase or decrease the tension on the individual strings

140, thus allowing the strings 140 to be tuned to selected

With more than one string 140, or multiple tension adjust

ment mechanisms may be included in a single tailpiece

notes.

assembly.
In the present example, the extension 205 comprises a pair
of sideWalls betWeen Which is positioned a rotatable cylin

A tailpiece 125 is anchored or otherWise attached to the

body 102 of the guitar 100, and secures the opposite ends of
the strings 140. A bridge 122 for engaging the strings is

drical rod 221. The cylindrical rod 221 is attached to a lever

handle 208 Which, in the instant example, has a curved arm

anchored or otherWise attached to the body 102 of the guitar

100 along the path of the strings 140. The bridge 122 may

terminating in an enlarged ?nger pad 209. The cylindrical

be of any conventional or other design, such as, for example,

rod 221 preferably has a threaded hole bored through its

midsection, through Which a ?ne tuning screW 220 is placed.

a Tune-o-matic style bridge. The bridge 122 may comprise

individual adjustable saddles that can, for example, be

The ?ne tuning screW 220 serves a similar purpose to the

moved forWard or backWard to modulate the intonation of

other ?ne tuning screWs 215, but is placed further back

each individual string, and moved higher or loWer to adjust

therefrom to provide room for a tension adjustment screW

the height (or action) of the individual strings relative to

216. The tension adjustment screW 216 in this example is

lined up in generally along the same axis as the ?ne-tuning
screWs 215 for the other (non-tension-adjustable) strings
140. The tension adjustment screW 216 may, but need not, be

the neck 105. Alternatively, the bridge 122 may comprise a

single notched or grooved crossbar that can be moved
forWard or backWard, or raised or loWered, to collectively

adjust the intonation and relative height of all of the strings

140 simultaneously. In any variation, the bridge 122 may be

longer than the ?ne-tuning screWs 215 used on the non

20

combined With the tailpiece 125 on a single assembly or

plate. The tailpiece 125 and bridge 122 may be constructed

from any suitable material, but Will typically be formed of
a steel alloy or other metallic material.
The guitar 100 also includes one or more pickups 120

25

Which, according to Well knoWn techniques, detect sound

vibrations of the strings 140 and transform the vibrations
into electrical signals Which can be output for ampli?cation
and subject to various effects processing. Various tone and
volume control knobs 115 regulate the sound tone and
output volume of the guitar 100.
In the example of FIG. 1, the tailpiece 125 includes a lever
127 that can be used to adjust the tension of a guitar string

140 is carried out by movement of the lever handle 208.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side vieW diagrams of the tailpiece

assembly 200 shoWn in FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustrating

different lever positions according to one example for
30

35

diagrams of a tailpiece assembly 200 including a string

tension adjustment mechanism in accordance With one
embodiment as disclosed herein. FIG. 2A shoWs a top-vieW
of the tailpiece assembly 200, While FIG. 2B shoWs an

adjusting the tension of a string. FIG. 4B illustrates the lever

handle 208 in the normal playing position, Which is

generally parallel With the body surface of the guitar and

depressed against the top of the body portion 201 of the

140 (or, alternatively, multiple guitar strings 140). Further

details of the particular tailpiece 125 shoWn in FIG. 1 are
illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, Which are reverse-angle

tension-adjustable strings 140, in order to increase accessi

bility in certain embodiments. As Will be described further
herein, the tension adjustment screW 216 preferably dictates
the amount by Which the tension is reduced (and thus the
amount by Which the pitch drops) for an affected string 140.
In a preferred embodiment, tension adjustment of a string

tailpiece assembly 200. FIG. 4A illustrates the lever handle

208 after being rotated to an upright or partially upright
position, Which, for reasons explained hereinafter, results in
decreased tension on the string 440 and a drop in pitch
generated from the string 440. Also illustrated in FIGS. 4A
and 4B are the knobbed or balled end 441 of the string 441

40

being engaged by the string receptor 226, and an end portion

oblique vieW thereof. As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the

443 of the cylindrical rod 221 (or, alternatively, a cylindrical

tailpiece assembly 200 includes a body portion 201 having

insert Which moves in tandem With the cylindrical rod 221).

An example of operation of the string tensioning adjust

a plurality of cut-outs 230 for receiving the knobbed or

balled ends of the individual strings 140. In each of cut-outs

230 resides a string receptor 225 (and/or 226). The string

45

receptors 225, 226 each generally comprise a hooked or

ment of the tailpiece assembly of FIGS. 2A and 2B is

illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, Which are side vieW
cut-aWay diagrams of the assembly shoWn in FIGS. 2A and

forked member for engaging the knobbed or balled end of a

2B according to one embodiment as disclosed herein. In

string 140. The string receptors 225, 226 are preferably

adjustable and may, for example, be hinged to alloW ?ne
tuning adjustment in conjunction With an adjustable stop
(such as a screW), With the string tension providing the

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C is shoWn a side vieW of string receptor

226 relative to ?ne-tuning screW 220 and tension adjustment
50

counter-force to the adjustable stop. FIG. 3B illustrates a

particular example of a string receptor 226 utiliZed on a

tension-adjustable string 140, and Will be described in more

detail later herein. A set of ?ne-tuning screWs 215 (and/or
220), one for each string 140, may be provided in order to
alloW ?ne tuning of the individual strings 140. The tailpiece
assembly 200 may be secured to the guitar 100 by screWs

55

211.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the tailpiece

assembly 200 may have an extension 205 Which is con?g
ured in part to enclose and/or provide structure for a string

60

the string receptor 226, illustrating a pair of forked members

312, 313 Which are formed in the shape of a semi-circular
holloW 320 for receiving the knobbed or balled end 441 of

tension adjustment mechanism. In the present example, the

extension 205 is associated With What Would conventionally
be the loW-E string of a 6-string guitar, but it may

alternatively be used in connection With the high-E string,

or any other string, of the instrument. As further noted later

screW 216. The knobbed or balled end 441 of a string 440 is

engaged With the forked or hooked end of the string receptor

226. As more fully described beloW, the string receptor 226
is pivotable, and rotation of the string receptor increases or
decreases the tension on the string 440 by, among other
things, pulling back on or slightly releasing the knobbed or
balled end 441 of the string 440.
The operation illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C may be
better understood by reference to the subject matter of FIGS.
3A and 3B, Which illustrate further details of a preferred
string receptor 226. FIG. 3B is an oblique vieW diagram of

a string 440 (as shoWn in, e.g., FIGS. 5Ai5C). An elongated

65

lever 325 extends rearWards from the forked members 312,

313. The string receptor 226 is preferably con?gured to

pivot about a fulcrum point de?ned, in this example, by a

US 7,183,475 B2
5

cylindrical rod or axle 322 Which is passed through a bored

hole in the body of the string receptor 226. The string

6B. The ?ne tuning adjustment screW 220 and the tension
adjustment screW 216 are preferably precision machined to,

receptors 225 shoWn in FIGS. 2A and 2B for the non

e.g., prevent slippage.

tension-adjustable strings are similar to the string receptor

226 for a tension-adjustable string, but may be smaller in

In the particular embodiment the operation of Which is

illustrated in FIGS. 5Ai5C, the string tension adjustment

siZe With, e.g., a shorter lever portion 325 and shorter forked
members 312, 313. FIG. 3A is a front vieW diagram com

mechanism may be con?gured such that rotation of the lever

handle 208 results in a continuous rotational pivoting motion
of the string receptor 226, and therefore a continuous
increase or decrease in string tension Without interruption.
The angle betWeen the ?ne tuning screW 220 and the

paring the approximate relative siZes, according to one

example, of string receptors 225 and 226 for a tension
adjustable string and a non-tension-adjustable string, respec
tively. As Will be further explained, the elongated lever 325
of the tension-adjustable string receptor 226 alloWs engage

elongated lever 325 of the string receptor 226 is preferably

selected such that the ?ne tuning screW 220 continuously

ment of both a ?ne-tuning member (e.g., screW) and a

tension adjusting member, as opposed to simply a ?ne

depresses the elongated lever 325 of the string receptor 226

Without interruption When the lever handle 208 is loWered,
and, likeWise, alloWs a continuous rising of the elongated

tuning member.
In the particular example of operation illustrated in FIGS.
5Ai5C, the guitar body 102 has a small cutout portion 290
Which facilitates movement of the elongated lever 325 of the
string receptor 226. FIG. 7 is an illustration of a top-vieW of
the tailpiece assembly 200, shoWing an example of a cutout
portion 290 underneath the extension 205 portion of the

lever 325 Without interruption When the lever handle 208 is

raised. Among other things, this manner of operation pre

vents possible de-tuning of the string 440 by over-extension,

and prevents the pitch of the string from temporarily increas
20

tailpiece assembly 200. Alternatively, the tailpiece portion

200 may be raised from the surface of the body 102 of the
guitar 100, potentially dispensing With the need for a cutout

portion 290. Also, as further explained herein, the string

25

receptor 226 may in certain embodiments be inverted,

thereby also potentially dispensing With the need for a cutout

208 in the depressed position for normal operation main

Returning noW to the operation illustrated in FIGS.

30

FIG. 5C, With the lever handle 208 (shoWn in phantom) in

the depressed position. In the normal playing position, the

?ne tuning screW 220 is engaged With the elongated lever
325 of the string receptor 226. The ?ne tuning screW 220
may be rotated clockWise or counter-clockWise to increase

35

or decrease the tension of the string 440 by causing the string

receptor 226 to pivot doWnWards or upWards. The amount of
tension that can be introduced to the string 440 is generally
40

partially upright position, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the ?ne

tuning screW 220 disengages the elongated lever 325 of the
string receptor 226, and the natural tension of the string 440

causes the string receptor to pivot upWards, ?nally coming

possible When adjustment of the string tension is not needed

or desired, since dropping the pitch of a string With the string
tension adjustment mechanism is expected to be a relatively
infrequent event despite that it alloWs increased musical
creativity and ?exibility. Even When the lever handle 208 is
?ipped into an upright or semi-upright position, it is rela
tively unobtrusive. The enlarged ?ngerpad 209 of the lever
handle 208, illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, facilitates the
manual operation of the tension adjustment mechanism

during live performances and other renditions, alloWing the

a function of, among other things, the depth and shape of the
cutout portion 290 and the length of the screW 220. When the
lever handle 208 is manually ?ipped to an upright or

tension adjustment mechanism, particularly in live perfor

mances or musical renditions. Placement of the lever handle

tains the pro?le of the tailpiece assembly 200 as loW as

portion 290.

5Ai5C, the normal playing position is represented by

ing or decreasing beyond the desired target pitch as the

mechanism is operated.
It Will further be appreciated that the siZe and shape of
lever handle 208 may facilitate operation of the string

45

to rest against the tension adjustment screW 216. Because the

lever handle 208 to be ?ipped quickly from one position to

another. A longer lever handle 208 tends to require less force
to move it and makes it more accessible, alloWing single
?nger or thumb activation during live performances or
renditions. Also, because the tension adjustment screW 216
can be adjusted to a speci?c setting prior to a performance,
the amount of drop in pitch can be calibrated With a very

good degree of precision. The same amount of drop in pitch

can be achieved each time the lever handle 208 is ?ipped to

string receptor 226 pivots forWard, the effective length of the

the upright or semi-upright position.

Where the ?ne tuning and string tension adjustment

string 440 is reduced, thus decreasing the tension on the

string 440. FIG. 5B shoWs a transition betWeen states of the

partially retracted.

means of the string tension adjustment mechanism are

embodied as adjustable screWs, the screWs may be relatively
large in siZe to facilitate manual adjustment, either before or

It Will be appreciated that the amount by Which the tension

of the string 440 is reduced can be varied by adjustment of

tension adjustment screWs are large and relatively acces

string tension adjustment mechanism, illustrating the lever

50

handle 208 partially raised, and ?ne tuning screW 220

the tension adjustment screW 216. Rotation of the tension

during performances. Because the ?ne tuning and string

55

sible, they may be adjusted in real time during playing.

adjustment screW 216 in a clockWise or counter-clockWise

While one or more particular examples of a string tension

direction varies the amount by Which the string receptor 226

adjustment mechanism have been described above, various

can pivot before being stopped by the tension adjustment

modi?ed or altered variations of these embodiments may be

constructed Which nevertheless employ the same or similar

screW 216. FIGS. 6A and 6B are additional cut-aWay side

vieW diagrams illustrating examples of different adjustment

positions of the tension adjustment screW 216. In FIG. 6A,
the tension adjustment screW 216' is in a higher position than
the tension adjustment screW 216" position illustrated in
FIG. 6B. Accordingly, the string receptor 226 is able to pivot
a greater distance in the example of FIG. 6B than it Would
be in the example of FIG. 6A, as illustrated by the com
parisons of distance T1 in FIG. 6A and distance T2 in FIG.

60

principles. For example, in certain embodiments, a ?ne

tuning adjustment means (such as ?ne tuning screW 220)
may be omitted. In such a case, the lever-engaging structure

provided by the ?ne tuning screW 220 Would essentially

revert to a mere ?xed extension of the lever handle 208.
65

Moreover, in other embodiments, other adjustable means

besides screWs may be used for ?ne tuning and/or string
tension adjustment. Advantages to using screWs to adjust the

US 7,183,475 B2
8

As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the tailpiece assembly 800

?ne tuning and/or string tension are that they provide a

continuous spectrum of adjustment positions and are fairly

may have an extension 805 Which is con?gured in part to

or more pivoting string receptors, such as illustrated in FIG.

3B, each con?gured to engage a balled or knobbed end of a

enclose and/or provide structure for a string tension adjust

ment mechanism. In the present example, the extension 805
is associated With What Would conventionally be the loW
E string of a 6-string guitar, but it may alternatively be used
in connection With the high-E string, or any other string,
of the instrument. Similar to the embodiment shoWn in
FIGS. 2A and 2B, the extension 805 comprises a pair of
sideWalls. The ?ne tuning screW 820 is, as before, mechani

different string of the musical instrument, and each having

cally engaged With a rotatable cylindrical rod 850, but in

stable.

In other embodiments, the tension adjustment mechanism

may be associated With more than one string, such that
movement of the lever handle 208 results in a simultaneous

change in tension of multiple strings. For example, the

tailpiece assembly 200 may be constructed With another one

contrast to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B

an elongate arm as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The tailpiece

assembly 200 may further include another one or more

string tension adjustment screWs, one for each of the addi

the cylindrical rod 850 extends along the breadth of the

backside of the body portion 801. The cylindrical rod 850 is

tional strings to be affected. Then, placement of the lever

handle 208 in the ?rst (i.e., ?at or horizontal) position causes

opposite side of the tailpiece assembly 800, as illustrated in

attached to a lever handle 808 Which is located on the

FIG. 8. In the instant example, the lever handle 808 varies

in siZe and shape someWhat from the lever handle 208
illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but it may take a variety of

an increased tension on each of the affected strings, While

placement of the handle in the second (i.e., upright or

semi-upright) position causes decreased tension on each of

the affected strings, With the elongate arm of each pivoting

20

different siZes of shapes, depending upon the preferences for

string receptor coming to rest against each strings respec

the overall design. Similar to the lever handle 208, the lever

tive tension adjustment screW.

handle 808 in FIG. 8 has an arm terminating in an enlarged

?nger pad 809. Placement of the lever handle 809 at the

Alternatively, a tailpiece assembly may comprise multiple

opposite end of the tailpiece assembly 800 may facilitate

manual operation of the lever handle 809. For example,

tension adjustment mechanisms, each With individual lever

handles or other actuation mechanisms, to alloW individual

real-time adjustment of the tension of different strings.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the hinged string
receptor (such as 226 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B) may
be inverted, such that the hinge or fulcrum point is posi
tioned above the forked or hooked post Which engages the
knobbed or balled end of the string 140. In this embodiment,

movement of the lever handle 809 may be readily accom

plished With, e.g., the fourth and/or ?fth ?ngers, With

minimal interruption to the musicians playing of other
strings of the instrument.
30

the elongate arm (e.g., 325) of the hinged string receptor

may sWing upWards instead of doWnWards, thus potentially
dispensing With the cutout in the guitar body 102. The
adjustable stops and pivotable lever arm in such a case

non-tension-adjustable strings. The tension adjustment

35

Would generally be re-positioned and/or modi?ed in order to

accommodate the upWards motion of the elongate arm of the

hinged string receptor.

FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating various
alternative embodiments of an assembly including a string

40

tension adjustment mechanism. The diagrams of FIGS. 8,

9A and 9B are slightly more abstract than those of, e.g.,
FIGS. 2A and 2B, and omit certain details not deemed
necessary to the illustrations. The embodiments shoWn in

45

the tailpiece assembly 900 (thus the extended cylindrical rod

50

In more detail, With reference ?rst to FIG. 8, a tailpiece

of cut-outs 830 for receiving the knobbed or balled ends of

55

may be embodied as shoWn in and described previously With

respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B. A set of ?ne-tuning screWs 815

(and/or 820), one for each string 140, may be provided in

order to alloW ?ne tuning of the individual strings 140.

is not visible in the illustration of FIGS. 9A and 9B).

Beneath the cover plate 951 may be a holloW region 953, as
illustrated in FIG. 9B, With a pair of sideWalls 954, 955
supporting the cover plate 951. FIG. 9A also illustrates
another slight variation of the siZe and shape of the lever
handle 908 used to actuate the string tension adjustment
mechanism. In other respects, hoWever, the embodiment
shoWn in FIGS. 9A and 9B functions similar to the embodi
ment illustrated in FIG. 8.

comprise a hooked or forked member for engaging the

knobbed or balled end of a string 140. The string receptors

are preferably adjustable and may, for example, be hinged to

alloW ?ne tuning adjustment in conjunction With an adjust
able stop (such as a screW), With the string tension providing
the counter-force to the adjustable stop. The string receptors

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a variation of the embodiment

shoWn in FIG. 8, Wherein the extended cylindrical rod-850

is covered by an extended cover plate 951 Which is part of

assembly 800, similar to the tailpiece assembly 200 of FIGS.

2A and 2B, includes a body portion 801 having a plurality

the individual strings (e.g., strings 140 shoWn in FIG. 1). In

each of cut-outs 830 resides a string receptor (not explicitly
shoWn) Which, as previously described, may each generally

screW 816 may, but need not, be longer than the ?ne-tuning
screWs 815 used on the non-tension-adjustable strings, in
order to increase accessibility in certain embodiments. The
?ne tuning screW 820 for the tension-adjustable string serves
a similar purpose to the other ?ne tuning screWs 815, but is
placed further back therefrom to provide room for the
tension adjustment screW 816. The rotatable cylindrical rod
850 preferably has a threaded hole bored through its mid
section, betWeen the sideWalls of the extension 805 to the

tailpiece assembly 800, through Which the ?ne tuning screW

820 is placed to provide mechanical engagement.

FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B operate according to similar principles

described previously With respect to the embodiment of
FIGS. 2A and 2B, but have lever handle of the string tension
adjustment mechanism placed further from the affected

string receptor.

In the example of FIG. 8, as With that ofFIGS. 2A and 2B,

the tension adjustment screW 816 is lined up in generally
along the same axis as the ?ne-tuning screws 815 for the

According to one or more embodiments as disclosed

60

65

herein, in one aspect, a hinged string receptor includes a post

and an elongate lever arm pivotally mounted to tailpiece (or
combined bridge/tailpiece) frame. The elongate lever arm
can be depressed into a cutout beneath plane of the instru
ment surface. A pivotable lever handle controls motion of

the hinged string receptor by either causing a ?rst adjustable

stop (e.g., a ?rst adjustable screW) to engage the elongate
lever arm (thus depressing it), resulting in increased string
tension, or else causing the ?rst adjustable stop to disengage,

US 7,183,475 B2
10
thereby allowing the elongate lever arm to be raised by the

string, and Wherein said post and the elongate arm of said
pivoting member join at a fulcrum position of the pivoting
member.
8. An apparatus for adjusting the tension of at least one

natural tension of the string and alloWing it to come to rest

against a second adjustable stop (e.g., a second adjustable

screW), resulting in decreased string tension. The ?rst adjust

able stop controls the normal playing pitch (and ?ne tuning),
and the second adjustable stop controls the drop-doWn pitch.

string of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

a pivoting member con?gured to engage an end of a string

and comprising an elongate arm;

an adjustable stop; and
a handle adapted for manual actuation;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes
a contact member to engage and depress the elongate

While various embodiments described herein have gen

erally been discussed in terms of dropping doWn pitch by

decreasing string tension, alternatively such embodiments

may be vieWed, and utiliZed, as a tension increasing mecha

nism, Wherein the normal playing pitch is the loWer pitch,

and the string tension adjustment mechanism is activated to
occasionally increase string tension on demand. Also, While

arm of the pivoting member, thereby increasing tension

embodiments shoWn herein generally are discussed With

reference to guitars, the same principles may apply to other
stringed instruments as Well that may bene?t from a string

a second position causes the contact member to disen

on the string, and Wherein placement of the handle in

5

alloWing the pivoting member to come to rest against

the adjustable stop and decreasing tension on the string;

Wherein said tailpiece comprises a plurality of string
receptors substantially serially aligned betWeen a ?rst

tension adjustment mechanism. Moreover, the principles

and embodiments described herein are equally applicable to

right-handed and left-handed guitars and other stringed

instruments, With the tailpiece assembly and string tension
adjustment mechanisms capable of, e.g., being constructed

20

end and a second end of said tailpiece;

Wherein said handle is secured proximate to the ?rst end

of said tailpiece;

in mirror-image to support opposite handed guitars or other

stringed instruments.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described herein, many variations are possible Which remain
Within the concept and scope of the invention. Such varia
tions Would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art

gage the elongate arm of the pivoting member, thereby

Wherein said contact member is secured proximate to the

25

second end of said tailpiece; and

Wherein said handle is mechanically engaged With said
contact member via a rod extending substantially from
the ?rst end of said tailpiece to the second end of said

tailpiece.

after inspection of the speci?cation and the draWings. The

9. An apparatus for adjusting the tension of at least one

invention therefore is not to be restricted except Within the

string of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

spirit and scope of any appended claims.

a pivoting member con?gured to engage an end of a string

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for adjusting the tension of at least one

string of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

a pivoting member con?gured to engage an end of a string

and comprising an elongate arm;

an adjustable stop; and
a handle adapted for manual actuation and having a
contact member normally disengaged from the elon
gate arm;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst stationary

35

arm of the pivoting member, thereby increasing tension

on the string, and Wherein placement of the handle in
a second position causes the contact member to disen
40

alloWing the pivoting member to come to rest against

and
Wherein said stringed musical instrument is a guitar, and
Wherein said handle comprises a second elongate arm
mechanically engaged With said contact member at one
end and terminating in an enlarged ?ngerpad portion at
another end, said second elongate arm of suf?cient
length to be manually actuatable Without the musician

depress the elongate arm of the pivoting member,

thereby increasing tension on the string, and Wherein
placement of the handle in a second stationary position
causes the contact member to disengage the elongate

arm of the pivoting member, thereby alloWing the

pivoting member to come to rest against the adjustable
stop and decreasing tension on the string.
50

adapted to anchor a plurality of strings of the stringed

surface plane of the stringed musical instrument When the

handle is placed in said ?rst position.

interrupting play.
10. An apparatus for adjusting the tension of at least one

comprises an adjustable screW.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein said pivoting mem
ber is af?xed to a tailpiece, and Wherein said tailpiece is

musical instrument.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the elongate arm of
said pivoting member is adapted to be depressed beneath a

gage the elongate arm of the pivoting member, thereby

the adjustable stop and decreasing tension on the string;

position causes the contact member to engage and

2. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein said adjustable stop

and comprising an elongate arm;

an adjustable stop; and
a handle adapted for manual actuation;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes
a contact member to engage and depress the elongate

string of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

a pivoting member con?gured to engage an end of a string
55

and comprising an elongate arm;

an adjustable stop; and
a handle adapted for manual actuation;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes
a contact member to engage and depress the elongate

arm of the pivoting member, thereby increasing tension

60

5. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein said contact member

on the string, and Wherein placement of the handle in

a second position causes the contact member to disen

comprises a ?ne tuning adjustment mechanism.

gage the elongate arm of the pivoting member, thereby

6. The apparatus of claim 5, Wherein said contact member

comprises an adjustable screW for ?ne tuning the string

the adjustable stop and decreasing tension on the string;

When the handle is placed in said ?rst position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein said pivoting mem
ber comprises a post for securely receiving the end of the

alloWing the pivoting member to come to rest against

65

and

Wherein said handle has only tWo stationary positions, and

Wherein said handle is actuated by manually rotating

US 7,183,475 B2
11

12
16. The tailpiece assembly of claim 15, Wherein said

the handle in a downward direction to place said handle

in the ?rst stationary position, and manually rotating

additional string receptors are substantially serially aligned

said handle in an upWard direction to place said handle

betWeen a ?rst end and a second end of the tailpiece

in the second stationary position.

assembly, and Wherein said lever handle is mechanically

joined to said contact member via a rod spanning across a
breadth of one or more of said additional string receptors.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, Wherein said handle lies

substantially parallel With a primary surface plane of the

musical instrument When placed in the ?rst stationary posi
tion, and Wherein said handle is upright or semi-upright With
respect to the primary surface plane of said musical instru
ment When placed in the second stationary position.

17. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein the

elongate arm of said pivotable string receptor is adapted to
be depressed beneath a surface plane of the stringed musical
instrument When said lever handle is placed in the ?rst

position.

12. An apparatus for adjusting the tension of at least one

string of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:

18. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein said

a pivoting member con?gured to engage an end of a string

contact member comprises an adjustable screW for ?ne

and comprising an elongate arm;

an adjustable stop; and
a handle adapted for manual actuation;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes
a contact member to engage and depress the elongate

tuning the string When said lever handle is placed in the ?rst

position.
19. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein said lever
handle comprises a second elongate arm terminating in an

enlarged ?ngerpad portion, said second elongate arm of

suf?cient length to be manually actuatable Without the

arm of the pivoting member, thereby increasing tension

on the string, and Wherein placement of the handle in

20

a second position causes the contact member to disen

musician interrupting play.

20. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein said lever
handle lies substantially ?at When placed in the ?rst position,

gage the elongate arm of the pivoting member, thereby

alloWing the pivoting member to come to rest against

and Wherein said lever handle is upright or semi-upright

the adjustable stop and decreasing tension on the string;

When placed in the second position.

21. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein said

another one or more pivoting members each con?gured to

engage an end of a different string of the musical

25

contact member engages and disengages the elongate arm of

said pivotable string receptor in a manner such that the

instrument and each comprising an elongate arm; and

another one or more adjustable stops, one for each of said

different strings;
Wherein placement of the handle in the ?rst position

elongate arm is continuously forcibly depressed Without

30

causes an increased tension on each of said different

strings, and Wherein placement of the handle in the

second position causes decreased tension on each of

said different strings With the elongate arm of each

pivoting member coming to rest against each strings

35

respective adjustable stop.

having a body portion With a top surface, comprising:

13. A tailpiece assembly for a stringed musical instru

a tailpiece frame adapted to be secured to the top surface

ment, comprising:

of the body portion of the musical instrument, said

tailpiece frame adapted to engage a plurality of strings;

a tailpiece frame;
a pivotable string receptor af?xed to a portion of the

a hinged lever having a post for engaging a ?rst end of a

tailpiece frame, the pivotable string receptor compris

string and having a lever arm mechanically joined With

the post, said lever arm adapted to be depressed beloW
a plane of the top surface of the body portion of the

ing a post to securely engage an end of a string and an

elongate arm joined to said post, said pivotable string

receptor having a fulcrum proximate to Where said post
and said elongate arm join;
an adjustable stop af?xed to said tailpiece frame; and
a lever handle adapted for manual actuation, said lever
handle mechanically joined With a contact member
adapted to engage and disengage the elongate arm of

said pivotable string receptor;

45

musical instrument;
an adjustable stop;
a contact member; and

50

a pivoting lever handle actuatable betWeen a ?rst position

and a second position;

Wherein placement of the pivoting lever handle in the ?rst

position causes the contact member to engage and

Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes

the contact member to engage and depress the elongate

arm of said pivotable string receptor, thereby increasing

tension on the string, and Wherein placement of the

interruption When the contact member is applied to a top

surface of the elongate arm during actuation of the lever
handle in one direction, and the elongate arm continuously
rises Without interruption When released by the contact
member during actuation of the lever handle in the opposite
direction.
22. Atailpiece apparatus for a stringed musical instrument

55

depress the lever arm of the hinged lever, thereby

increasing tension on the string, and Wherein placement
of the pivoting lever handle in the second position

handle in a second position causes the contact member

causes the contact member to disengage the lever arm

to disengage the elongate arm of said pivotable string

60

of the hinged lever, thereby decreasing tension on the

string and alloWing the hinged lever to pivot until
coming to rest against the adjustable stop.
23. The tailpiece apparatus of claim 22, Wherein said
adjustable stop comprises an adjustable screW residing in a
threaded hole in said tailpiece frame, said adjustable screW
controlling a drop doWn pitch of the string.
24. The tailpiece apparatus of claim 23, Wherein said

65

contact member comprises a second adjustable screW, said

receptor, thereby alloWing the elongate arm to come to

rest against the adjustable stop and decreasing tension

on the string.

14. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, Wherein said

adjustable stop comprises an adjustable screW rotatable
through a threaded hole in said tailpiece frame.
15. The tailpiece assembly of claim 13, further compris
ing a plurality of additional string receptors adapted to
anchor a plurality of additional strings of the stringed
musical instrument.

second adjustable screW controlling ?ne tuning of the string

When the pivoting lever handle is in the ?rst position.

US 7,183,475 B2
13
25. The tailpiece apparatus of claim 22, Wherein said
pivoting lever handle terminates in an enlarged ?ngerpad

14
increasing tension on the string, and Wherein placement
of the handle in a second position causes the second

adjustable stop to disengage the elongate arm of the

area.

26. An apparatus for ?ne tuning and for rapidly adjusting

pivoting string receptor, thereby alloWing the pivoting

the tension of at least one string of a stringed musical

string receptor to come to rest against the ?rst adjust

able stop and decreasing tension on the string.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, Wherein the second adjust
able stop dictates a normal playing pitch for the string, and
Wherein the ?rst adjustable stop dictates a drop doWn pitch
for the string.
28. The apparatus of claim 26, Wherein said ?rst adjust
able stop and said second adjustable stop each comprise an
adjustable screW having a head portion substantially Wider
than a threaded body portion and readily accessible for

instrument, comprising:
a tailpiece frame;
a pivoting string receptor con?gured to engage an end of
a string and comprising an elongate arm;
a ?rst adjustable stop af?xed to said tailpiece frame;
a second adjustable stop adapted to engage and disengage
the elongate arm of said pivoting string receptor;
a handle adapted for rapid manual actuation, said handle

mechanically engaged With said second adjustable

stop;
Wherein placement of the handle in a ?rst position causes

the second adjustable stop to engage and depress the

elongate arm of the pivoting string receptor, thereby

direct manual adjustment, said threaded portion facing

toWards the surface of the musical instrument.