WO2012015994A2

WO2012015994A2 - Multi-mode playable guitar

Info

Publication number: WO2012015994A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/045649
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Getzendanner
Original assignee: David Getzendanner
Priority date: 2010-07-29
Filing date: 2011-07-28
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Also published as: WO2012015994A3

Abstract

A guitar (10) having two independent sets of strings (12, 14) that can be played by a user, either simultaneously or serially, to produce unique sounds and combinations of sounds. In one aspect, the guitar (10) includes a neck (18) having first and second oppositely disposed side faces (20, 22). A first set of guitar strings (12) is coupled to the neck (18) and extends over the first side face (20). A second set of guitar strings (14) is coupled to said neck (18) and extending over the second side face (22).

Description

MULTI- MODE PLAYABLE GUITAR

Cross Reference

[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 61/368,836, filed July 29, 2010 (pending), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to musical instruments, and more particularly to an improved guitar.

Background

[0003] Guitars have been used for centuries as musical instruments. While various modifications and improvements to guitars have been made there is still room for further improvement. For example, very few modifications have been made to the guitar over the years that enable a user to play multiple modes simultaneously or serially.

Summary

[0004] The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other

shortcomings and drawbacks of guitars heretofore known. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a guitar is provided having two independent sets of strings that can be played by a user, either simultaneously or serially, to produce unique sounds and combinations of sounds.

[0006] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary guitar in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 1 A is a line drawing of the image in FIG. 1 .

[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the headstock portion of the guitar of Figure 1 .

[0010] FIG. 2A is a line drawing of the image in FIG. 2.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a photograph depicting a person playing the guitar of FIG. 1 , as viewed from the front.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a photograph of a person playing the guitar of FIG. 1 , as viewed from the rear.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a view a cavity in the body of the guitar of FIG. 1 , viewed from the rear of the guitar and depicting internal components.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a side view of the neck and headstock of the guitar of FIG. 1 , after having been removed from the guitar body.

[0015] FIG. 6A is a line drawing of the image in FIG. 6.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a front view of the neck and headstock depicted in FIG. 6. [0017] FIG. 8 is a front view of an exemplary slide assembly for use in playing the guitar of FIG. 1 .

[0018] FIGS. 9-31 depict various other details of the guitar of FIG. 1 .

[0019] FIG. 32 is a side view of the neck and headstock of another exemplary guitar in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description

[0020] FIGS. 1 -6 depict an exemplary guitar 1 0 in accordance with the principles of the present invention and having two independent sets of strings 12, 14 that can be played by a user, either simultaneously or serially, to produce unique sounds. As a non-limiting example, a user of the guitar 10 can play a first set of strings 12 in a conventional picking or strumming manner, and can also play the second set of strings 14 using a slide technique.

[0021] In the embodiment shown, the exemplary guitar 10 includes a guitar body 1 6 and a neck 18 attached to the guitar body 16. The neck 18 has first and second oppositely disposed side faces 20, 22 with first and second fret boards 24, 26 on the first and second side faces 20, 22, respectively. The first set of guitar strings 12 extends from a headstock 28 at the distal end of the neck 18, along the first side face 20 of the neck 18 (in a conventional manner), over a first saddle 30, to a first bridge 32. The second set of guitar strings 14 extends from the headstock 28, along the second side face 22 of the neck 18, over a second saddle 34, to a second bridge 36. FIG. 5 shows a cavity formed in a rear side of the guitar body 1 6, and depicts the second set of strings 14 passing over second saddle 34 and secured to the second bridge 36.

[0022] With particular reference to FIG. 2, the headstock 28 includes machine heads 40, 42 configured and arranged to accommodate the first and second sets of strings 12, 14 to facilitate tuning the individual guitar strings 1 2, 14. The first and second sets of strings 12, 14 are directed through respective first and second string guides 44, 46, across respective first and second nuts 48, 50 at the distal ends of the neck 18, and along the respective first and second side faces 20, 22 of the neck 18. The first and second fret boards 24, 26 may include frets 52, 54 that are positioned at spaced intervals along the neck 18, as known in the art.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guitar 10 is configured as an electric guitar; however, it will be appreciated that a guitar in accordance with the principles of the present invention may alternatively be configured as an acoustic guitar. In the exemplary embodiment shown and described herein, a first pickup 60 may be secured proximate the first side face 20 of the neck 18, in a location suitable to sense vibration of the first set of strings 12, as shown in FIG. 6. A second pickup may be secured proximate the second side face 22 of the neck 18, at a location suitable to sense vibration from the second set of strings 14. While only one pickup 60, 62 is associated with each set of strings 12, 14 in this exemplary embodiment, it will be appreciated that two or more pickups may alternatively be associated with each set of strings 12, 14, as may be desired. The guitar 10 may further include a power source associated with each of the first and second pickups 60, 62.

[0024] Output from each of the first and second pickups 60, 62 may be directed to separate amplifiers (not shown). Alternatively, the output from each pickup 60, 62 may be directed to an A-B box, whereby the signals may be combined and directed to a single amplifier.

[0025] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the exemplary guitar 10 can be played by a user in such a manner that the first set of strings 12 may be picked or strummed, and the second set of strings 14 may be played using a slide technique, as generally depicted in FIGS. 3-4. Figure 8 depicts an exemplary slide assembly 70 that may be used to facilitate playing the second set of strings 14 using a slide technique. In this exemplary embodiment, a slide, or bottleneck 72 may be secured to the fingering hand 74 of a user by a strap 76, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 8. This configuration allows a user to finger the first set of strings 12 proximate the first fret board 24, and to engage the second set of strings 14 proximate the second fret board 26 using the slide assembly 70. The strap 76 may be elastically stretchable, or may include fasteners, such as buttons, snaps,

Velcro™, or other suitable fastening structure, to facilitate securing the slide 72 to a user's hand 74 using the strap 76.

[0026] While the slide assembly 70 has been shown and described herein as including a slide 72 secured to a user's hand 74 using the strap 76, various other configurations are possible. For example, a slide 72 may be supported on a user's body or torso, such as by attaching the slide 72 to an article of clothing worn by a user. Alternatively, an article of clothing, such as a shirt, may be modified to facilitate securing the slide 72 thereto. As another non-limiting example, a brace or support my be worn around the user's neck or torso and may have a mounting fixture adapted to support a slide 72 thereon, such that the user may engage the slide 72 with the second strings 14 while playing the guitar 1 0.

[0027] While the guitar 10 shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 -4 comprises a neck 18 secured to a body 1 6, it will be appreciated that a guitar in accordance with the principles of the present invention may have various other configurations. As a non-limiting example, an alternative guitar in accordance with the principles of the present invention may comprise only a neck portion, without a body, as depicted in FIG. 7.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 32, another exemplary guitar 10a in accordance with the principles of the present invention is similar to the guitar 10 described above, wherein similar features have been similarly numbered. Guitar 1 0a includes a guitar body 16 and a neck 18 attached to the guitar body 16. The neck 18 has first and second oppositely disposed side faces 20, 22 with first and second fret boards 24, 26 on the first and second side faces 20, 22, respectively. The guitar 10a further includes strings extending along the first and second side faces 20, 22 of the neck 18, similar to the guitar 10, however, the strings on the first side face 20 are the same strings on the second side face. In the embodiment shown, guitar strings 80 are received through respective apertures 82 in the headstock 28a and are directed through second string guide 46 and across second nut 50. The ends of the guitar strings 80 may include balls 84 or other structure to fix the ends of the strings 80 to the headstock 28. From the headstock 28, the strings 80 extend along the second side 22 of the neck 1 8, over the second saddle 34, and through apertures 86 below saddle 34 to the first side of the neck 18. The strings 80 then extend over first saddle 30 and along the first side 20 of the neck 18 to machine heads 40 on the headstock 28.

[0029] While the guitar 10a has been shown and described as having strings 80 with ends affixed to the headstock 28, it will be appreciated that the stings may alternatively be affixed to any other portion of the guitar 10a as may be desired, such as below the saddles 30, 34.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 32, vibration of the strings 80 caused by strumming or picking of the portions of the strings 80 extending along the first side 20 of the neck 18 are carried over to the portions of the strings 80 extending along the second side 22 of the neck 18. Accordingly, the portions of the strings 80 extending along the second side of the neck 18 may be played using a slide technique while simultaneously or sequentially playing the portions of the strings 80 extending along the first side 20 using a picking or strumming technique, as described above.

[0031] While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more exemplary embodiments, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claims

1 . A guitar, comprising:

a neck having first and second oppositely disposed side faces;

a first set of guitar strings operatively coupled to said neck and extending over said first side face; and

a second set of guitar strings operatively coupled to said neck and extending over said second side face.

2. The guitar of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first bridge associated with said first side face of said neck, said first set of guitar strings operatively coupled to said first bridge.

3. The guitar of claim 2, further comprising:

a second bridge associated with said second side face of said neck, said second set of guitar strings operatively coupled to said second bridge.

4. The guitar of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one electrical pickup positioned to sense vibrations from one of said first or second sets of guitar strings.

5. The guitar of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one first electrical pickup positioned to sense vibrations from said first set of guitar strings; and

at least one second electrical pickup positioned to sense vibrations from said second set of guitar strings.

6. A slide assembly for use with a guitar, the slide assembly comprising: a generally elongate slide member having an outer surface adapted to engage the strings of a guitar; and

fastening structure operatively coupled to said slide member and configured to secure said slide member to a hand of a person during use to play the guitar.