Claims
- 1. A removable bridge assembly for a stringed musical instrument having an instrument body and at least one string, said bridge assembly comprising:
a) a bridge base carrying at least one string holder for securing an end of a string of the musical instrument; b) a support mechanism mountable to the instrument body and having a bridge engagement portion, said bridge engagement portion being releasably mateable with said bridge base to mount said bridge base on the instrument body in a position to place the string secured by said at least one string holder under tension; and c) a latch mechanism carried by one of said bridge base and the body of the musical instrument and releasably engageable with the other of said bridge base and the instrument body, said latch mechanism being positionable in a latching position and a release position, said latch mechanism when in said latching position securing said bridge base in mating engagement with said bridge engagement portion of said bridge support mechanism so that the string secured by said at least one string holder is under tension on the instrument body to permit play of the instrument, and said latch mechanism when in said release position permitting movement of said bridge base relative to said support mechanism to release the tension on the string secured by said at least one string holder, and to thereby permit disengagement of said bridge base from said bridge engagement portion.
- 2. The removable bridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said latch mechanism is operative to resist movement of said bridge base under the influence of the tension of the string secured by said at least one string holder when said latch mechanism is in said latching position.
- 3. The removable bridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said latch mechanism comprises a latch member arranged to engage said bridge base at a location remote from the location that said bridge engagement portion mates with said bridge base.
- 4. The removable bridge assembly of claim 3, wherein said bridge engagement portion is adapted to engage said bridge base along a first edge of said bridge base, and wherein said latch member is engageable with said bridge base at a location spaced from said first edge.
- 5. The removable bridge assembly of claim 4, wherein said bridge base includes a recess adapted to receive said latch member when said latch member is in said latching position.
- 6. The removable bridge assembly of claim 5, wherein said recess in said bridge base comprises a slotted recess extending from an edge of said bridge base, and wherein said latch member is arranged and operative to move into and out of said slotted recess when said latch member is in its latching position.
- 7. The removable bridge assembly of claim 6, wherein said latch member includes an elongated shaft which is arranged to move in and out of said slotted recess and an enlarged head which engages said bridge base adjacent to said slotted recess when said shaft is in said latching position.
- 8. The removable bridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said latch mechanism comprises a rotatable latch member mounted to the body of the stringed musical instrument for rotation between said latching position and said release position.
- 9. The removable bridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said latch member is mounted for rotation about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the string secured by said at least one string holder.
- 10. The removable bridge assembly of claim 9, wherein said latch member is spring biased toward said latching position.
- 11. The removable bridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said latch member is adapted to be secured to the body of the instrument by a longitudinally extending fastening member having an axis, and wherein said latch member is mounted for rotation about said axis of said fastening member.
- 12. The removable bridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said latch member is adapted to be secured to the body of the instrument with an over-center toggle lever system.
- 13. The removable bridge assembly of claim 12, wherein said over-center toggle, lever system includes a lever arm pivotally mounted to said instrument body and pivotably secured to said latch member.
- 14. The removable bridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said bridge engagement portion comprises at least one support post mountable to the instrument body and wherein said bridge base includes a recess engageable with said at least one support post.
- 15. The removable bridge assembly of claim 14, wherein said bridge engagement portion includes a pair of support posts mountable to said instrument body at spaced locations along a line extending transverse to the longitudinal extent of the string secured by said at least one string holder, and wherein said bridge base includes a pair of spaced recesses for said pair of support posts.
- 16. The removable bridge assembly of claim 15, wherein each of said support posts includes a spherically-shaped head, and wherein each of said recesses in said bridge base comprises a spherical recess for said spherically-shaped heads of said support posts.
- 17. The removable bridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said support mechanism comprises a support bracket for mounting said bridge base for movement along a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the string secured by said at least one string holder.
- 18. The removable bridge assembly of claim 17, wherein said support bracket includes lateral side sections for holding said bridge base against lateral movement relative to said support bracket while permitting said bridge base to move longitudinally between said lateral side portions.
- 19. The removable bridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said support mechanism is operative to support said bridge base for pivotable movement on the body of the instrument.
- 20. A bridge for a stringed musical instrument having at least one string and an instrument body, said bridge comprising:
a) a bridge base for supporting at least one string holder thereon for holding one end of a string of the musical instrument; b) an anchor member attached to the body of said stringed musical instrument; and c) a releasable latch mechanism attached to one of said bridge base and said anchor member, said latch mechanism being arranged and operative to engage the other of said bridge base and said anchor member to secure said bridge base in a position on the instrument body so that the string held by said at least one string holder is placed under tension, and said latch mechanism being moveable to a release position to permit movement of said bridge base relative to the instrument body to release the tension on said string held by said at least one string holder.
- 21. The bridge of claim 20, wherein said releasable latch mechanism is operative to resist movement of said bridge base under the influence of the tension of the string secured by said at least one string holder when said latch mechanism is arranged and operative to engage the other of said bridge base and said anchor member.
- 22. The bridge of claim 21, wherein said latch mechanism is attached to said anchor and is arranged and operative to engage said bridge base.
- 23. The bridge of claim 22, wherein said latch mechanism comprises a latch member rotatably mounted to said anchor.
- 24. The bridge of claim 23, wherein said latch member is mounted to said anchor for rotation about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the string secured by said at least one string holder.
- 25. The bridge of claim 24, wherein said latch member is spring biased toward engagement with said bridge base.
- 26. The bridge of claim 24, wherein said bridge base includes a recess to receive said latch member.
- 27. The bridge of claim 26, wherein said recess in said bridge base comprises a slotted recess extending from an edge of said bridge base, and wherein said latch member is arranged and operative to move into and out of said slotted recess.
- 28. The bridge of claim 27, wherein said latch member includes an elongated shaft arranged to move in and out of said slotted recess and an enlarged head which engages said bridge base adjacent to said slotted recess.
- 29. The bridge of claim 23, wherein said anchor comprises a fastening member having an axis and wherein said latch member is attached to said anchor for rotation about said axis of said fastening member.
- 30. The bridge of claim 23, wherein said latch member is attached to said anchor by an over-center toggle lever system.
- 31. The bridge of claim 30, wherein said over-center toggle lever system includes a lever arm pivotally mounted to said anchor and pivotally secured to said latch member.
- 32. The bridge of claim 20, further including a support mechanism mountable to the instrument body and engageable with said bridge base.
- 33. The bridge of claim 32, wherein said support mechanism comprises at least one support post mountable to the instrument body and wherein said bridge base includes a recess engageable with said at least one support post.
- 34. The bridge of claim 33, wherein said at least one support post includes a spherically-shaped head, and wherein said recess in said bridge base comprises a spherical recess for said spherically-shaped head.
- 35. The bridge of claim 34, wherein said support mechanism is operative to support said bridge base for pivotable movement on the body of the instrument.
- 36. The bridge of claim 32, wherein said support mechanism comprises a support bracket for mounting said bridge base for movement along a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the string secured by said at least one string holder.
- 37. The bridge of claim 36, wherein said support bracket includes lateral side sections for holding said bridge base against lateral movement relative to said support bracket while permitting said bridge base to move longitudinally between said lateral side sections.
- 38. A tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings, in which each of the strings of the musical instrument makes a first critical contact with the instrument at a point on the nut of the instrument and a second critical contact at a point on the bridge of the instrument, the tuning apparatus comprising:
a) a bridge base having a support surface; b) a plurality of string holders for the plurality of strings of the musical instrument, each of said string holders being operative to hold one end of a string and being supported on said bridge base for movement in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument, and each of said string holders including an extension leg extending below said support surface of said bridge base; and c) a tuning mechanism for each of said string holders for adjusting the tension of the string held thereby, each said tuning mechanism being carried by said bridge base and comprising (i) a riser block operatively arranged to be slideably engageable with said extension leg of its associated string holder so that sliding movement of said riser block relative to said extension leg causes said extension leg to move said string holder in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument to adjust the tension of the string held thereby; and (ii) an adjustment device for causing said riser block to move relative to said extension leg.
- 39. The tuning apparatus of claim 38, wherein said adjustment device comprises a threaded member mounted on said bridge base for rotation, and wherein said riser block is threadably mounted to said threaded member for movement along said threaded member in response to rotation of said threaded member.
- 40. The tuning apparatus of claim 39, wherein said bridge base includes a support wall provided below said support surface of said bridge base and arranged so that said riser block is operatively arranged between said extension leg of its associated string holder and said support wall for sliding movement along both said extension leg and said support wall.
- 41. The tuning apparatus of claim 40, wherein said support wall is inclined relative to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 42. The tuning apparatus of claim 41, wherein said extension leg extends in a direction below said support surface of said bridge base which is inclined relative to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 43. The tuning apparatus of claim 38, wherein said string holder includes a string slide member mounted on said bridge base for movement along said support surface in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument, and a string retention element carried by said string slide member and operative to hold the end of a string, and wherein said string slide member includes said extension leg.
- 44. The tuning apparatus of claim 43, wherein said string slide member includes a slide surface arranged to slide along said support surface of said bridge base, and wherein said extension leg extends at an angle of between 15° and 90° to said slide surface.
- 45. The tuning apparatus of claim 44, wherein said support wall is arranged at an angle of between 15° and 90° to said support surface of said bridge base.
- 46. The tuning apparatus of claim 43, wherein said string retention element is pivotally mounted to said string slide member and includes a height adjustment member for adjusting the height of such string retention member relative to said string slide member.
- 47. The tuning apparatus of claim 38, wherein said extension leg is pivotably mounted to said string holder and wherein said string holder is mounted to slide directly along said support surface of said bridge base.
- 48. The tuning apparatus of claim 47, wherein said support surface includes an insert of hardened metal.
- 49. The tuning apparatus of claim 47, wherein said string holder includes a leg extending below said support surface and to which said extension leg is pivotally mounted.
- 50. The tuning apparatus of claim 49, wherein said extension leg is pivotally mounted at a first end to said string holder and pivotally connected at a second end to said bridge base.
- 51. The tuning apparatus of claim 50, wherein said bridge base includes a depending block member having a wall, and wherein said second end of said extension leg is pivotally connected to said block member at a location spaced from said support surface of said bridge base.
- 52. The tuning apparatus of claim 51, wherein said wall of said block member is inclined at an angle of between 15° and 90° to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 53. The tuning apparatus of claim 38, wherein said string holder includes a height adjustment device for adjusting the height of said string holder relative to said support surface of said bridge base.
- 54. The tuning apparatus of claim 38, wherein said string holder includes a cavity for receipt of a string anchor and a slot in the surface thereof extending from said cavity for the string to extend from said string holder.
- 55. The tuning apparatus of claim 38 wherein said string holder includes a range adjustment device for adjusting the position of the string anchor in said cavity.
- 56. A tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings, in which each of the strings of the musical instrument makes a first critical contact with the instrument at a point on the nut of the instrument and a second critical contact at a point on the bridge of the instrument, the tuning apparatus comprising:
a) a bridge base; b) a plurality of string holders for the plurality of strings of the musical instrument, each of said string holders being operative to hold one end of a string and being supported on said bridge base for movement in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument, and each of said string holders including an extension leg; and c) a tuning mechanism for each of said string holders for adjusting the tension of the string held thereby, each said tuning mechanism comprising a longitudinally-extending threaded member carried by said bridge base and supported for rotation at first and second spaced support positions on said bridge base, and a riser block threadably engaging said threaded member between said first and second spaced support positions, said riser block being operatively arranged to be slideably engageable with said extension leg of its associated string holder as said threaded member is rotated so that movement of said riser block relative to said extension leg causes said extension leg to move said string holder in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument to thereby adjust the tension of the string held thereby.
- 57. The tuning apparatus of claim 56, wherein said bridge base includes a support surface along which said plurality of string holders are supported for movement in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument and a support wall arranged to support said riser block for sliding movement therealong in response to rotation of said threaded member, said support wall, said riser block and said extension leg of said string holder being arranged so that said riser block is positioned between said support wall and said extension leg and is operative to slide along said support wall and said extension leg in response to rotation of said threaded member.
- 58. The tuning apparatus of claim 57, wherein said support wall is inclined relative to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 59. The tuning apparatus of claim 58, wherein said extension leg extends in a direction which is inclined relative to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 60. The tuning apparatus of claim 57, wherein said string holder includes a string slide member mounted on said bridge base for movement along said support surface in a direction toward or away from the nut of the musical instrument, and a string retention element carried by said string slide member and operative to hold the end of a string, and wherein said string slide member includes said extension leg.
- 61. The tuning apparatus of claim 60, wherein said string slide member includes a slide surface arranged to slide along said support surface of said bridge base, and wherein said extension leg extends at an angle of between 15° and 90° to said slide surface.
- 62. The tuning apparatus of claim 61, wherein said support wall is arranged at an angle of between 15° and 90° to said support surface of said bridge base.
- 63. The tuning apparatus of claim 60, wherein said string retention element is pivotally mounted to said string slide member and includes a height adjustment device for adjusting the height of such string retention member relative to said string slide member.
- 64. The tuning apparatus of claim 57, wherein said extension leg is pivotably mounted to said string holder and wherein said string holder is mounted to slide directly along said support surface of said bridge base.
- 65. The tuning apparatus of claim 64, wherein said support surface includes an insert of hardened metal.
- 66. The tuning apparatus of claim 64, wherein said string holder includes a leg portion to which said extension leg is pivotally mounted.
- 67. The tuning apparatus of claim 66, wherein said extension leg is pivotally mounted at a first end to said leg portion of said string holder and pivotally connected at a second end to said bridge base.
- 68. The tuning apparatus of claim 67, wherein said bridge base includes a block member having said support wall thereon, and wherein said second end of said extension leg is pivotally connected to said block member at a location spaced from said support surface of said bridge base.
- 69. The tuning apparatus of claim 68, wherein said support wall of said block member is inclined at an angle of between 15° and 90° to the orientation of said support surface of said bridge base.
- 70. The tuning apparatus of claim 56, wherein said string holder includes a height adjustment device for adjusting the height of said string holder on said bridge base.
- 71. The tuning apparatus of claim 56, wherein said string holder includes a cavity for receipt of a string anchor and a slot in the surface thereof extending from said cavity for the string to extend from said string holder.
- 72. The tuning apparatus of claim 56 wherein said string holder includes a range adjustment device for adjusting the position of the string anchor in said cavity.
- 73. A tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings, the tuning apparatus comprising:
a) a bridge base; b) a plurality of string retention members for the plurality of strings of the musical instrument, each of said string retention members being operative to hold one end of a string and being mounted on said bridge base for rotation about a transverse axis extending transverse to the longitudinal extent of the string held thereby; and c) a string tensioning mechanism for each of said string retention members, each of said string tensioning mechanisms being operative to move its associated string retention member to adjust the tension of the string held thereby, and each of said string tensioning mechanisms including a latching mechanism operative to hold its associated string retention member against rotation about said transverse axis in a first direction as a result of tension on the string held thereby, and operative to release said latching mechanism from holding said string retention member to permit free rotation of said string retention member in said first direction.
- 74. The tuning apparatus of claim 73, further including a saddle base member for each of said string retention members, each of said saddle base members being mounted for movement on said bridge base, and each of said string retention members being mounted to its respective saddle base member for rotational movement about said transverse axis.
- 75. The tuning apparatus of claim 74, wherein each of said string tensioning mechanisms comprises an adjustment member rotatably supported on said bridge base and operatively arranged to cause its respective saddle base member to move in response to rotation of said adjustment member.
- 76. The tuning apparatus of claim 74, wherein each of said saddle base members is mounted on said bridge base for movement in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the string held by its respective string retention member.
- 77. The tuning apparatus of claim 75, wherein each of said latch mechanisms comprises a slideable latch member mounted for sliding movement relative to its respective saddle base member between a latching position and a release position.
- 78. The tuning apparatus of claim 77, wherein said slideable latch member is biased toward said latching position.
- 79. The tuning apparatus of claim 77, wherein each of said adjustment members is arranged to engage said slideable latch member to cause its respective saddle base member to move in response to movement of said adjustment member to cause its respective string retention member to move to adjust the tension of the string held thereby.
- 80. The tuning apparatus of claim 79, wherein each of said adjustment members is arranged and operative to cause its respective saddle base member to rotate about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the string held thereby to cause its respective string retention member to move to adjust the tension of the string held thereby.
- 81. The tuning apparatus of claim 80, wherein each of said latch mechanisms further includes a latch bar extending from its respective saddle base member and carrying said slideable latch member thereon for sliding movement between said latching position and said release position, and wherein each of said slideable latch members when in said latching position engages its respective string retention member to prevent rotation of said string retention member relative to said saddle base member, and when in said release position permits its respective string retention member to rotate relative to said saddle base member.
- 82. The tuning apparatus of claim 81, wherein each of said saddle base members is mounted for rotational movement about a transverse axis, and wherein each of said adjustment members engages its respective slideable latch member to adjust the rotational position of its respective saddle base member to in turn adjust the position of its respective string retention member to adjust the tension on the string held thereby.
- 83. The tuning apparatus of claim 82, further including an intonation adjustment member for each of said saddle base members and said string retention members for adjusting the intonation of the string held by its respective string retention member, each of said intonation adjustment members being mounted to said bridge base and each of said saddle base members and each of said string retention members being pivotably mounted to their respective intonation adjustment members for rotation about a transverse axis.
- 84. The tuning apparatus of claim 83, wherein each of said string retention members is mounted for rotation about a transverse axis coinciding with the transverse axis of rotation of its respective saddle base member.
- 85. The tuning apparatus of claim 77, wherein each of said latch members includes a latch finger engageable with its respective string retention member.
- 86. The tuning apparatus of claim 77, wherein each of said string retention members includes a cavity for receipt of a string anchor on a string and a slot for the string to extend from said string retention member.
- 87. The tuning apparatus of claim 86, further including a range adjustment device for each of said string retention members for adjusting the position of a string anchor within said cavity of said string retention member.
- 88. The tuning apparatus of claim 87, wherein each of said range adjustment devices comprises a threaded bore in its respective string retention member extending into said cavity in said string retention member, and a range adjustment member threadably mounted in said bore and including a portion engageable with a string anchor for adjusting the position of the string anchor within said cavity.
- 89. The tuning apparatus of claim 76, wherein each of said saddle base members is mounted for sliding movement in said longitudinal direction on said bridge base, and wherein each of said string tensioning mechanisms is operative to cause said saddle base member to slide in said longitudinal direction to adjust the tension of the string held by said string retention member.
- 90. The tuning apparatus of claim 89, wherein each of said saddle base members includes an extension leg and wherein each of said string tensioning mechanisms comprises an adjustment member arranged to engage said extension leg to cause movement of said saddle base member.
- 91. The tuning apparatus of claim 90, wherein each of said extension legs is pivotably supported by its respective saddle base member.
- 92. The tuning apparatus of claim 91, wherein each of said extension legs comprises a dog leg lever pivotably supported by said bridge base, said dog leg lever having a first leg pivotably connected to its respective said saddle base member and a second leg, and wherein each of said adjustment members engages said second leg of its respective dog leg lever to cause said dog leg lever to rotate to cause said first leg to move its respective said saddle base member.
- 93. The tuning apparatus of claim 74, wherein each of said latch mechanisms comprises a latch member pivotably mounted on its respective saddle base member to pivot between a latching position and a release position.
- 94. The tuning apparatus of claim 93, wherein said latch member is biased toward said latching position.
- 95. The tuning apparatus of claim 93, wherein each of said latch members includes a latch finger engageable with its respective string retention member.
- 96. The tuning apparatus of claim 95, wherein each of said latch members engages its respective string retention member at a position remote from said transverse axis.
- 97. The tuning apparatus of claim 74, wherein each of said saddle base members includes a height adjustment device operatively arranged to adjust the height of said saddle base member relative to said bridge base.
- 98. The tuning apparatus of claim 97, wherein each of said height adjustment devices is threadably received in its respective saddle base member so as to extend out of the bottom thereof.
- 99. The tuning apparatus of claim 73, wherein each of said string tensioning mechanisms comprises an adjustment member supported by said bridge base for movement relative thereto and operatively arranged to cause said string retention member to rotate about said transverse axis in response to movement of said adjustment member.
- 100. The tuning apparatus of claim 99, wherein each of said adjustment members includes an engagement portion engageable with its respective string retention member at a location remote from said transverse axis, and wherein each of said adjustment members is supported by said bridge base for movement to adjust the position of said engagement portion relative to said bridge base to thereby adjust the rotational position of its respective string retention member.
- 101. The tuning apparatus of claim 100, wherein each of said latching mechanisms comprises a pivotable latch support member pivotably supported by said bridge base so as to be pivotable between a latch position and a release position, and wherein each of said adjustment members is supported by said pivotable latch support member for movement relative thereto and arranged so that said engagement portion of said adjustment member is in engagement with its respective string retention member when said pivotable latch support member is in said latch position and so that said engagement portion is removed from engagement with its respective string retention member when said pivotable latch support member is in said release position.
- 102. The tuning apparatus of claim 101, wherein each of said string retention members includes a slot therein at said location remote from said transverse axis for receipt of said engagement portion of said adjustment member.
- 103. The tuning apparatus of claim 102, wherein each of said engagement portions comprises an enlarged head on its respective adjustment member, and wherein said each of said adjustment members includes a threaded shaft threadably supported in its respective pivotable latch support member, each of said threaded shafts being adapted to be received in said slot of its respective string retention member with said enlarged head engaging said string retention member.
- 104. The tuning apparatus of claim 103, wherein each of said pivotable support members comprises a pivotably mounted block member having a threaded bore therein for receipt of said threaded shaft of its respective adjustment member.
- 105. The tuning apparatus of claim 104, wherein each of said adjustment members when in said latch position has said enlarged head engaging its respective string retention member at said location remote from such transverse axis, and wherein each of said adjustment members when in said release position is out of engagement with its respective string retention member.
- 106. The tuning apparatus of claim 105, wherein said bridge base includes an opening for receipt of said enlarged head of each of said adjustment members when each said adjustment member is pivoted to said release position.
- 107. The tuning apparatus of claim 99, wherein said bridge base includes string contact blocks thereon for supporting the strings of the musical instrument, each of said string contact blocks being arranged on said bridge base adjacent to said transverse axes of said string retention members.
- 108. The tuning apparatus of claim 107, wherein each of said string contact blocks provide a critical contact surface for a string.
- 109. The tuning apparatus of claim 108, wherein each of said string retention members is pivotally mounted on said bridge base to pivot about said transverse axis.
- 110. The tuning apparatus of claim 109, wherein each of said plurality of string retention members is supported by a transversely extending shaft carried by said bridge base and extending transversely of said bridge base.
- 111. The tuning apparatus of claim 110, wherein each of said string retention members is arranged for rotation about a common transverse axis provided on said bridge base.
- 112. The tuning apparatus of claim 99, wherein each of said string retention members includes a cavity therein for receipt of a string anchor and a slot extending from said cavity through which the string extends from said string retention member.
- 113. The tuning apparatus of claim 99 wherein each of said string retention members is supported on its respective adjustment member for rotation about said transverse axis.
- 114. The tuning apparatus of claim 113, wherein said bridge base includes a rear flange; wherein each of said adjustment members includes an elongated shaft extending through said rear flange in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the string held by its respective string retention member, and a movement device for causing said shaft to move longitudinally relative to said rear flange of said bridge base to adjust the tension on said string held by its respective string retention member, each of said shafts including a first end and a second end; and wherein each of said string retention members is pivotally mounted to said first end of said shaft of its respective adjustment member.
- 115. The tuning apparatus of claim 114, wherein each of said shafts includes a threaded portion of said second end, and wherein each of said movement devices comprises a knob threadably mounted to said second end of said shaft, whereby rotation of said knob serves to move said shaft longitudinally relative to said rear flange of said bridge base.
- 116. The tuning apparatus of claim 114, wherein each of said latch mechanisms comprises a latch member mounted for sliding movement on said elongated shaft of its respective adjustment member between a latch position and a release position, each of said latch members being arranged between its respective string retention member and said rear flange of said bridge base.
- 117. The tuning apparatus of claim 116, wherein each of said latch members when in said latch position engages a portion of said string retention member at a location remote from said transverse axis, and wherein each of said latch members is slideable towards the second end of said shaft of its respective adjustment member to release said string retention member.
- 118. The tuning apparatus of claim 117, wherein each of said slideable latch members includes a latch finger for engaging said string retention member at said location remote from said transverse axis and wherein each of said string retention members has a locking finger adapted to interlock with said latch finger when its respective latch member is in said latch position.
- 119. The tuning apparatus of claim 118, wherein each of said string retention members is adapted to be rotated to disengage said interlocked fingers to permit said latch member to slide away from its respective string retention member.
- 120. The tuning apparatus of claim 119, wherein each of said slideable latch members includes a thumb engageable portion for moving said latch member between said latch position and said release position.
- 121. The tuning apparatus of claim 116, further including a spring for biasing said latch member toward said latch position.
- 122. The tuning apparatus of claim 113, wherein each of said string retention members includes a cavity for receipt of a string anchor and a slot therein for a string to extend from said string retention member.
- 123. The tuning apparatus of claim 122, wherein each of said string retention members includes a range adjustment device for adjusting the position of a string anchor within said cavity of said string retention member.
- 124. The tuning apparatus of claim 123, wherein each of said range adjustment devices comprises a threaded bore in its respective string retention member extending into said cavity in said string retention member, and a range adjustment member threadably mounted in said threaded bore and including a portion engageable with a string anchor for adjusting the position of the string anchor within said cavity.
- 125. The tuning apparatus of claim 73, wherein said bridge base comprises a tremolo bridge adapted to be mounted on the musical instrument for movement about an axis transverse to the extent of the strings held thereby in a manner to release the tension on all of the strings to permit special sound effects, said tremolo bridge including a tremolo arm mounted on said bridge base.
- 126. The tuning apparatus of claim 73, wherein each of said string retention members is adapted to rotate about said transverse axis so as to release the tension on the strings held thereby when its respective latch mechanism is moved to said release position to permit removal of the string from its respective string retention member.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/347,534 filed Jan. 11, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60347534 |
Jan 2002 |
US |