Triple mode electric guitar tuner

The invention refers to a mechanism that holds the strings of an electric guitar which provides new possibilities for adjusting the position and tension of the guitar strings.

Electric is a guitar that uses electromagnets to convert the sound pulse of its strings into an electric current which can then be converted into sound and amplified by an amplifier-speaker system. The strings of the electric guitar extend along its body and arm. One end of each string is attached to the side of the arm and specifically to the keys that regulate the tension and therefore the tone of each string, while the other end of each string, which has a head, passes over the rider and is attached to the stringer.

The category of stringers related to the invention is used in offset guitars.

The term vibrato-type stringer refers to a mechanism for holding the strings, so that with the corresponding retention on the side of the keys and their adjustment, tension is created in the strings capable of producing pulse and consequently sound. Vibrato stringers are differentiated from classical fixed stringers by the fact that they have the ability to move the string anchor frame using a lever. As a result, the length of the strings is shortened and the tension between the two points of holding is reduced. Next, a sound is created that has as a characteristic the shortening of the frequencies of the strings. This lever after use, as it is released by the instrumentalist, is removed due to its weight from his hand, making it difficult to reuse.

The vibrato-type electric guitar tuner, to which we refer, is presented in the world- famous reference patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,923.

The problems of existing technology are the following:

• The use of vibrato sometimes creates tuning problems, as a consequence of the fact that the strings are anchored to a movable frame, whose static equilibrium position fluctuates.

• It is not possible to isolate some or all of the strings from the mechanism to which they are anchored, in order either to eliminate the possibility of a tuning problem from the use of vibrato or to determine which strings we choose to vary their frequency with use and which do not.

• The ability to shorten the tone of the strings has a small amplitude (up to 2.5 tones)

• The drive lever of the mechanism is not immediately accessible during use

• The use of a specific iron alloy results in some cases in creating unwanted high- frequency harmonic frequencies.

The advantages of the invention presented here are as follows:

• The mechanism allows tonality lowering up to 6 tones achieving new unprecedented sounds.

• The vibrato mechanism is such that the instrumentalist can choose if he wants with direct adjustment to isolate any strings he wants from the vibrato mechanism. In fact, if it isolates all the strings, then the mechanism turns into a simple fixed stringer without vibrato.

• The lever support mechanism allows the lever to be held in a position parallel and horizontal to the strings and therefore close to the instrumentalist's hand without having to hold the lever throughout the game. This makes it easy to reuse vibrato.

• The electric guitar stringer can be made of iron alloy or copper alloy. When a copper alloy is chosen, the production of high harmonic frequencies is reduced, which in many cases are undesirable, which usually happens in constructions consisting of harder iron-based materials (e.g. steel).

To understand the operation of the system, the following plans are presented:

Figure 1 (page 1) where we see the electric guitar stringer assembled with triple function

Figure 2 (page 1) showing a side view of the assembled electric guitar stringer Figure 3 (page 2) where we see all its parts disassembled

Figure 4(page 2) where we see detail of the movable string anchor frame (2) and the retaining frame (19) that create the retaining field.

In the guitar stringer with triple function as shown in figure 1 we observe the following characteristics: String anchor holes (1) to anchor the strings to the vertical part of the movable string anchor frame (2), which frame, by lever pressure (3) moves in a rotational motion based on the fulcrum (4) seen sideways in figure 2, thus changing/reducing the length of the pulsating strings. Also in figure 1 we see, wider opening (5), which allows the movement of the movable string anchor frame (2) and which leads to a series of wide-angle notches (6) that in turn end in channels (7) with a width smaller than the string heads to allow their anchoring in the string application frame(8), which is firmly applied with screws on the guitar boat and therefore does not allow any change length of pulsating strings when anchored there. As a consequence of the above, there is a third option where we can place a number of strings on the movable string anchor frame (2) and a number on the string attachment frame (8), thus giving a number of strings the ability to change their length when using the lever (3) while at the same time the rest remain constant.

For quick position switching, there is a vertical channel in the vertical part of the string anchor frame (9) leading to a larger diameter hole (10) from which the string head fits so that it does not need to be disassembled from the tuning adjustment keys, which are the second point of adjustment for alternating the position of the strings. Similarly, as mentioned above, there are wide-angle notches (6) leading to channels (7) and the chord-binder frame (8).

In drawing 3 we see the system disassembled so we can see all the details. The lever (3) for moving the string anchor frame (2) is mounted on a support ring (11) which is attached to the movable string anchor frame (2) and has a polygonal base with a horizontal hole/screw (12) where a headless alien screw (13) with an internal spring and ball is placed for clamping adjustment. The lever (3), which is attached to the support ring (11), has a perimeter channel (14) at a point close to the base. By applying vertical pressure, the lever (3) is inserted into the support ring (11) at such a point that the spring mechanism of the headless alien screw (13) allows the ball to create sufficient pressure in the perimeter channel (14) to form the lever (3) in place while allowing it to move rotarily without leaving the support ring (11) during use. At a certain distance from the channel, cavities (15) have also been constructed around the axis of the lever (3). By applying the additional vertical pressure of the lever (3) towards the base of the support ring (11) and applying the ball of the headless Allen screw (13) with the respective cavities (15), the lever (3) is allowed to remain either horizontally or vertically in relation to the strings. As a consequence, the lever (3) of movement of the mechanism is at the player's direct discretion when it is in horizontal relation to the strings, while it moves away when it is in perpendicular relation to the strings. The fulcrum (4) is attached with screws (16) to the stringer application frame (8) and comes into contact with the retaining field (17), a detail of which we see in Figure 4 and whose position, shape and size defines the lever-lever ratio with the first consequence ensuring the stability of the mechanism and the second allowing greater movement of the movable string anchor frame (2). Important is the position of the lever (4) which has moved closer to the lever (3) than traditional designs and has moved simultaneously away from the string anchor holes(1), in the movable string anchor frame(2). The consequence of the above is that, as the system functions as a type A lever, where the tension/pull of the strings in the movable string anchor frame (2) is expressed as load, with fulcrum (4), and force the pressure on the lever (3), the greater rotational motion of the string anchor holes (1) and therefore a greater range of shortening of the tone of the strings.

In figure 3 again we can see disassembled the parts that ensure the support and proper operation of the above mechanism. We distinguish the frame of application of the stringer(8) on the electric guitar to which a metal plate shaped in the form of an angle is applied which acts as a fulcrum(4) in contact with the retaining field ( 17), (figure 4), which has been created by creating retaining holes(18), of a width proportional to the width of the contact points of the lever(4), the horizontal part of the string anchorage frame(2) and the addition of a metal retaining frame underneath it(19). The front parts of the holes (18) in combination with the metal retaining frame (19) create a field that acts as a retaining field (17) (Figure 4), thus determining the position of application of the lever (4) and preventing any lateral movement of the string anchorage frame(2) allowing only the rotational movement required for the operation of the mechanism. In addition, a pressure spring (20) is placed between the horizontal part of the anchor frame (2) and the metal conical base with screw (21) while in the metal retaining frame (19), hole (22), diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the pressure spring (20) prevents any lateral movement. Subsequently, the function of the pressure spring (20) as compensation for string tensions is ensured by the stringbinder (8)-metal-conical base screwing application frame (21) system where a screw with head (23) having as a terminal the string application frame (8) successively penetrates the movable string anchor frame (2), the retaining frame (19) and the pressure spring (20) and has as another terminal the metal conical base with internal bolting (21). It thus allows, by means of the head screw (23), the tension of the pressure spring (20) and the pressure exerted by it towards the movable string anchor frame (2) and thus the corresponding compensation of the stresses of the strings when they are anchored to the string anchoring frame (2) as well as the equilibrium position of the string anchoring frame (2). Finally, applied to the horizontal part of the string anchor frame (2) there is the support ring (9) which has a polygonal base with horizontal hole I screw (10) where a screw (11) with internal spring and ball is attached to adjust the tightening of the lever. The spring-loaded screw (11) guarantees, with proper adjustment, the operation of the lever (3) as mentioned above.