GUITAR BRIDGE WITH TONAL ENHANCEMENT
The present disclosure describes a stringed instrument employing a bridge coupled to the soundboard of the instrument via a plate. By selecting the material composition of the bridge and controlling the coupling between the bridge and the soundboard, an aspect of the present disclosure provides for different tonal enhancements and/or tonal transmissions between the bridge and the soundboard. The bridge can be part of an assembly also including a plate and one or more connectors configured to connect the bridge and plate through a soundboard. The bridge can define various different recesses which may be connected to one another for ease of use, and may have a flat bottom surface for contacting a soundboard. The bottom surface may also be non-flat, textured, and/or include recesses.
1 . A stringed instrument, comprising:
a soundboard comprising a first side and a second side;
a bridge on a portion of said first side;
a plate on a portion of said second side at least partially overlapping with said portion of said first side such that said soundboard is sandwiched between said bridge and said plate.
2 . The stringed instrument of claim 1 , wherein said bridge is made of a different material than said soundboard.
3 . The stringed instrument of claim 2 , wherein said bridge and said plate are made of the same material.
4 . The stringed instrument of claim 2 , wherein said bridge is made of metal.
5 . The stringed instrument of claim 4 , wherein said plate is made of metal.
6 . The stringed instrument of claim 1 , wherein said bridge is directly on said soundboard with no adhesive therebetween.
7 . The stringed instrument of claim 6 , said bridge comprises a flat bottom surface, said flat bottom surface directly on said soundboard.
8 . The stringed instrument of claim 1 , wherein said bridge is connected to said plate through said soundboard.
9 . The stringed instrument of claim 8 , wherein said plate is shaped to define one or more coupling holes, and wherein said bridge and said plate are connected through said soundboard by one or more connectors that pass through one of said coupling holes.
10 . The stringed instrument of claim 1 , wherein said bridge and said plate are connected through said soundboard by one or more connectors; and
wherein said one or more connectors can be actuated so as to tighten said bridge to said soundboard.
11 . The stringed instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of strings connected to said bridge.
12 . A guitar bridge, comprising:
a top surface; and
a bottom surface;
wherein said top surface is shaped to define a recess and a plurality of string guides adjacent said recess.
13 . The guitar bridge assembly of claim 12 , wherein said bottom surface is flat and said top surface is curved.
14 . The guitar bridge of claim 12 , shaped to define a bridge access hole opening into a bottom of said recess.
15 . The guitar bridge of claim 12 , wherein a bottom of a first one of said string guides is at a first height, and wherein a bottom of a second one of said string guides is at a second height different than said first height.
16 . The guitar bridge of claim 12 , wherein a bottom surface of said recess is angled relative to said bottom surface of said guitar bridge.
17 . The guitar bridge of claim 12 , wherein said guitar bridge further comprises a side surface shaped to define a string recess, and wherein said guitar bridge is shaped to define a plurality of string holes, each of said string holes connecting said string recess to one of said string guides.
18 . The guitar bridge of claim 12 , wherein said guitar bridge is shaped to define one or more hollows through said bottom surface.
19 . A guitar bridge assembly, comprising:
a bridge;
a plate shaped to define one or more coupling holes
one or more connectors configured to connect said plate to said bridge through a soundboard, at least one of said one or more connectors passing through one of said one or more coupling holes and attaching to said bridge.
20 . The guitar bridge assembly of claim 19 , comprising a plurality of connectors, wherein said plate is shaped to define a plurality of coupling holes, and wherein each of said plurality of connectors passes through one of said plurality of coupling holes and attaches to said bridge.