Variable configuration guitar bridge
A bridge for a musical instrument has a bridge body and a plurality of saddles disposed substantially upon the bridge body. A least a plurality of saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary the height of a string supported thereby.
1 - 61 . (Cancel)
62 . A fixed combination bridge/tailpiece for a stringed musical instrument, the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece comprising:
a bridge body;
a plurality of saddles disposed substantially upon the bridge body; and
wherein at least a plurality of the saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary a height of strings supported thereby.
63 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein all of the saddles are individually adjustable in height, so as to vary a height of all of the strings supported thereby.
64 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein each saddle is configured to support one string.
65 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein the number of saddles corresponds to the number of strings supported by the bridge.
66 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein the plurality of saddles comprises six saddles.
67 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein the bridge body and saddles are configured for use on a guitar.
68 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , further comprising at least one adjustment screw configured to vary the height of each saddle.
69 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , further comprising two adjustment screws configured to vary the height of each saddle.
70 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , further comprising two adjustment screws configured to vary the height of each saddle, one adjustment screw being disposed on each side of a notch.
71 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein each saddle is configured to move so as to vary intonation of a string supported thereby.
72 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , further comprising an adjustment screw configured to move each saddle so as to adjust intonation.
73 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , further comprising a support post at each end of the bridge body, the support posts configured to vary a height of the bridge.
74 . The fixed combination bridge/tailpiece as recited in claim 62 , wherein the bridge body is configured such that strings of the musical instrument wrap around a portion thereof.
75 . A guitar comprising:
a guitar body;
a neck attached to the guitar body;
a plurality of strings extending substantially along the neck and the guitar body;
a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece attached to the guitar body for supporting the strings, the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece comprising:
a bridge body;
a plurality of saddles disposed substantially atop the bridge body; and
wherein the bridge body is adjustable in height and each saddle is individually adjustable in height, so as to vary a height of a string supported thereby.
76 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , wherein each saddle is configured to support one string.
77 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , wherein the number of saddles corresponds to the number of strings supported by the bridge.
78 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , wherein the plurality of saddles comprises six saddles.
79 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , wherein the bridge body and saddles are configured for use on a guitar.
80 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , further comprising at least one adjustment screw configured to vary the height of each saddle.
81 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , further comprising two adjustment screws configured to vary the height of each saddle.
82 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , further comprising an adjustment screw configured to move each saddle, so as to adjust intonation.
83 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , further comprising a support post at each end of the bridge body, the support posts configured to vary a height of the bridge.
84 . The guitar as recited in claim 75 , wherein the bridge body is configured such that strings of the musical instrument wrap around a portion thereof.
85 . A method for adjusting a position of a string on a musical instrument, the method comprising:
moving a combination bridge/tailpiece so as to vary a height of a plurality of strings generally simultaneously;
moving one saddle of the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece so as to vary a height of one string supported thereby;
repeating the moving of a saddle for each string of the musical instrument for which varying the height thereof is desired; and
wherein moving each saddle does not substantially vary a height of other strings supported by other saddles.
86 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein moving the saddles comprises turning at least one height adjustment screw.
87 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein moving the saddles comprises turning two height adjustment screws.
88 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein moving the saddles comprises turning two height adjustment screws, one adjustment screw being on each side of a string.
89 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein all of the saddles are supported by a common bridge body.
90 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein all of the saddles are supported by a common bridge body and further comprising varying a height of the common bridge body so as to simultaneously vary a height of all of the strings.
91 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein the saddles are moved so as to provide a generally planar positioning of the strings proximate the saddles.
92 . The method as recited in claim 85 , wherein the saddles are moved so as to provide an arced positioning of the strings proximate the saddles.
93 . The method as recited in claim 85 , further comprising:
moving one saddle so as to vary an intonation of a string supported thereby;
repeating the moving of a saddle for each string of the musical instrument for which varying the intonation thereof is desired; and
wherein moving each saddle does not substantially vary the intonation of other strings supported by other saddles.
94 . A method for adjusting positions of strings on a musical instrument, the method comprising:
varying a height of a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece to provide coarse positioning of the strings; and
individually varying a height of a plurality of saddles to provide a fine positioning of the strings supported thereby.
95 . The method as recited in claim 94 , wherein:
varying a height of a bridge comprises turning bridge height adjusting screws disposed at each end of the bridge; and
individually varying a height of each saddle comprises turning at least one screw disposed at least partially within each saddle.
96 . A method of making a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece for a musical instrument, the method comprising:
forming a bridge body which is configured to movably support a plurality of saddles;
forming a plurality of saddles; and
wherein the bridge and the saddles are configured to cooperate so as to facilitate individual adjustment of at least a plurality of the saddles in height, so as to vary a height of strings supported thereby.
97 . The method as recited in claim 96 , wherein the bridge and the saddles are configured to cooperate so as to facilitate individual adjustment of all of the saddles in height, so as to vary a height of all of the strings supported thereby.
98 . The method as recited in claim 96 , wherein the bridge and the saddles are configured for use on a guitar.
99 . A method of assembling a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece for a musical instrument, the method comprising:
providing a bridge body which is configured to movably support a plurality of saddles;
providing a plurality of saddles; and
movably mounting the saddles to the bridge body such that the bridge and the saddles are configured to cooperate so as to facilitate individual adjustment of at least a plurality of the saddles in height, so as to vary a height of strings supported thereby.
100 . The method as recited in claim 99 , wherein the bridge and the saddles are configured to cooperate so as to facilitate individual adjustment of all of the saddles in height, so as to vary a height of all of the strings supported thereby.
101 . The method as recited in claim 99 , wherein the bridge and the saddles are configured for use on a guitar.
102 . A method for making a musical instrument, the method comprising:
providing a body of the musical instrument; and
attaching a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece to the body of the musical instrument, the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece being configured to facilitate both overall height adjustment thereof and independent adjustment of a height of each string of the musical instrument.
103 . A method for making a guitar, the method comprising:
providing a body of the guitar; and
attaching a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece to the body of the guitar, the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece being configured to facilitate both overall height adjustment thereof and independent adjustment of a height of each string of the guitar.
104 . A method for making a guitar, the method comprising:
providing a guitar body;
attaching a fixed combination bridge/tailpiece to the guitar body, the fixed combination bridge/tailpiece being formed by:
providing a bridge body which is configured to movably support a plurality of saddles;
providing a plurality of saddles; and
movably mounting the saddles to the bridge body such that the bridge and the saddles are configured to cooperate so as to facilitate individual adjustment of at least a plurality of the saddles in height, so as to vary a height of strings supported thereby.