Patent Application
20130180378
Embodiments relate generally to a string bender for stringed musical instruments, and, more particularly, to a guitar string bender having at least one bar disposed at or near a location where the palm of the picking/strumming hand of a player would normally rest when playing the guitar.
Bending, or changing the tension of, a guitar string to change the pitch of a note being played can be a technique used in certain styles of music, such as country-western. Some conventional string benders for guitars may require movement of the guitar body relative to a strap in order to activate a string bending mechanism. Other conventional string benders may require that the strumming/picking hand (e.g., typically the right hand of a right-handed player) be moved from a normal playing position in order to activate the bending mechanism.
Still other conventional string benders may require modification of the guitar body (e.g., drilling and/or cutting) in order to be mounted on the guitar.
Embodiments were conceived in light of the above-mentioned problems and limitations, among other things.
In general, an embodiment can include a string bender for bending one or more strings of a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar. The string bender can have one or more bars for activating the bending mechanism. The one or more bars can be disposed at or a location where the palm of the picking/strumming hand of a player would normally rest when playing the guitar.
For example, an embodiment can include a dual string bender for bending the “B” and “G” strings of a guitar having conventional string tuning (i.e, the second and third strings from the bottom). Another embodiment can include a single string bender for bending the “B” or “G” strings of a guitar having conventional string tuning. The dual or single string benders can be constructed to mount on a Gibson Les Paul-style guitar or a Fender Telecaster-style guitar.
It will be appreciated that an embodiment can be constructed to bend strings other than the “B” and “G” strings. Also, an embodiment can be constructed to mount on guitars other than the Gibson Les Paul-style or the Fender Telecaster-style guitars.
In operation, a player can put pressure on one or both of the bars 14 and 16 to cause the bars to rotate and, in turn, to rotate a cam that moves a respective moveable portion (18 or 20) to a second or rotated position and causes tension in a corresponding string to change (e.g., to increase, thus raising the pitch of a note being played, or to be played). When pressure on the bar is released, the moveable portion returns to a first resting position and the string tension (and hence the pitch) return to approximately the same value as before the bar was pressed.
The location of the bars 14 and 16 toward the top of the guitar body and near the stop tailpiece and pickup permit a player to keep his/her strumming/picking hand in a normal playing position and still be able to bend a string. Further, because the string bending mechanism does not rely on movement of the guitar body relative to the strap, the guitar body can remain in a normal playing position and no strap tension change is required to bend a string.
It will be appreciated that an embodiment can include a single string bender mechanism, a dual string bender mechanism or a mechanism for bending more than two strings. Also, it will be appreciated that the bender is shown coupled to the B and G strings for bending, however an embodiment could be built to bend other strings.
When a bar (14 or 16) is rotated, the corresponding cam (30 or 28) rotates and presses against the respective moveable portion 20 or 18) causing the tension in a string to increase.
It will be appreciated that cams 28 and 30 can be the same shape, but installed in opposite orientations in order to accommodate the opposite rotational directions of the bars, while maintaining the same upward movement against the moveable portions to cause the tension in a corresponding string to increase.
The set screw 66 secures the moveable portion 62 to the bar 64. The adjustment screw 68 adjusts the position of the movable portion 62.
In operation, when pressure is applied to the bar 64 causing the bar 64 to rotate, the moveable portion 62 rotates and changes (e.g., increases) the tension on the string (e.g., 78) and changes the pitch of a note being played or to be played. When pressure on the bar 64 is released, the string tension returns to approximately what it was before the bar 64 was rotated and the pitch therefore returns to approximately the original tuned value.
It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, string benders for stringed instruments.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/586,667, entitled “String Bender” and filed on Jan. 13, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61586667 | Jan 2012 | US |
