United States Patent [19] [111 4,147,086 Cough, Jr

United States Patent [19] [111 4,147,086 Cough, Jr. [45] Apr. 3, 1979 [54] GUITAR [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Roy L. Cough, Jr., P.O. B011 704, A pedal steel guitar comprises an improved pitch Concord, N.H. 0330i changer mechanism for effecting string pitch changes. [21] Appl. No.: 829,630 The mechanism comprises a plurality of pitch-changing ?ngers, each mounted for pivotal movement with re [22] Filed: Sep. 1, 1977 i spect to a selected axis and adapted to be connected to [51] Int. Cl.2 ............................................. .. G101) 3/14 a guitar string end, so that tension on the string end will [52] US. Cl. ............................... .. 84/312 P urge the ?nger in a selected direction, a stop for limiting [58] Field of Search ......................... .. 84/312 P movement of the ?ngers,a number of pitch bars each adapted to move relative to said axis and thereby me [56] References Cited chanically force at least one of said ?ngers to move so U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS as to change the pitch of the string attached thereto, and pull means for selectively moving the pitch bars so as to 2,257,995 10/1941 Abrams et a]. .. ........ 84/312 P selectively change the pitch of the strings attached to 3,422,716 l/l969 Alifano ............................. .. 84/312 P said ?ngers. The changer mechanism may be adapted to Primary Examiner-L. T. l-lix raise or lower the pitch of each string. Assistant Examiner-Benjamin R. Fuller Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schiller & Pandiscio 28 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1\V/ 01 01 42A U.S. Patent Apr. 3, 1979 Sheet 1 of 2 4,147,086 US. Patent Apr. 3, 1979 Sheet 2 0f.2 4,147,086 46 48 x52 62 32 I8 I26 B0 48A 70 56 4,147,086 1 2 ability over prior devices and can be made to provide GUITAR signi?cant advantages in performance. These and other objects hereinafter described or "This vinvention relates to musical instruments and made obvious are accomplished by providing a pitch more particularly'to pedal steel guitars, but is also appli changer mechanism comprising a plurality of pitch cable to Spanish guitars played with a slide, and banjos changing ?ngers, each mounted for pivotal movement which the performers often retune on stage. with respect to a selected axis and adapted to be con Steel guitars are so called after the fashion of per nected to a guitar string end, so that tension on the forming upon them by stopping off the strings with a string will urge the ?nger in a selected direction, a stop metal bar or slide. Pedal steel guitars are those in which for limiting movement of the ?ngers, a number of pitch the basic tuning of the instrument can be changed while bars each adapted to move relative to said axis and playing upon it by means of changer mechanisms oper thereby mechanically force at least one of said ?ngers to ated by foot pedals and/or knee levers. The changer move so as to change the pitch of the string attached Y mechanisms are adapted to change string pitch to the thereto, and pull means for selectively moving the pitch tone desired by increasing or decreasing the string ten bars so as to selectively change the pitch of thestrings sion. Typical changer mechanisms are capable of tight- ' attached to said ?ngers. The changer mechanism may vening or loosening individual strings separately or in be adapted to raise or lower the pitch of the string. concert to produce different tunings as desired by the Other features. and many of the attendant advantages operator. The usual pitch change mechanism is oper of the invention are speci?ed or made obvious by the ated by pedals and/or‘knee levers acting through cables following detailed descriptions of several embodiments or rods commonly known as “pulls”. Some systems, of the invention and the accompanying drawings notably Emmons, use rods which effect changes both wherein: . by pulling and pushing. - FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedal steel guitar Existing pitch changer mechaisms are relatively com embodying a pitch changer which constitutes a pre plicated and expensive, particularly in the case where ferred form of the invention;v the‘ guitar, has a universal changer (any string pitch can FIG. 2 is a left side elevation, partly in section, of the be raised or lowered), double changer (any string can be pitch changer of the instrument of FIG. 1; , raised orlowered two separate pitches), and/or multi FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same pitch changer; ple changers (any string or group of strings can be FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one raised or lowered to any pitch by any or all of the ped 30 of the pedal mechanisms for operating a “pull”; als). Other problems are excessive string wear due to FIG. 5 is a left side ‘view in elevation, partly in sec - unsatisfactory pitch changer design, a tendency for a tion, of a second form of pitch changer made in accor changer to become “untuned” as a consequence of dif?~ dance with thisinvention; , culty or criticality in adjustment of changer tuning or FIG. 6 is an end view in elevation of the changer _ inexact changer operations, and excessive pedal or knee shown in FIG. 5; and . lever stroke to effect a desired pitch change. In addition FIG. 7 is a plan. view of still another form of the .to these dif?culties, systems using rods connected to invention. - body-mounted bell cranks may cause the body to twist Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a pedal steel guitar _( or distort and detune strings other than those desired to which comprises a cabinet or-superstructure 2 consist change. Accordingly the primary object of this inven ing of an consisting of an upper panel 4, a front apron 6, I tion is to provide a pitch changer mechanism for steel a corresponding rear apron (not visible), and opposite end plates 8A and 8B. The top panel carries a fret board guitars which overcomes or substantially reduces the 12 and a tuning key head 14 provided with adjustable problems and limitations of prior. known pitch changing tuning keys or pegs 16. The metal guitar strings or wires devices. 45 A more speci?c object is to provide a simpli?ed pitch 18 are attached at one end to the pegs 16 and pass over > changer mechanism which is capable of producing an electronic pickup 20 which is mounted on the top panel 4. Suitable means (not shown) are used to couple string-pitch changes in a simple and positive manner the pickup to an ampli?er and speaker system (also not , and may be-adapted' to raise or lower the pitch of a - shown). To the extent already described the cabinet 2 ,single string or several strings simultaneously by opera and the structure which it supports are conventional tion of a single player-operated actuator. and do-not differ substantially from pedal steel guitars Another speci?c object is to produce a pitch change of the type which have been (commercially available for steel guitars which is characterized by an economy for some time. The opposite ends of the strings are of mechanism unapproached by any prior art device of attached to a novel pitch changer head 22 which forms comparable versatilityof purpose and which improves 55 the essence of the present invention and is described in the‘ performance and- durability of the instrument. ~ detail hereinafter. Another purpose is to provide a pitch changer for The cabinet 2 is supported on four legs 24 at a suitable guitars which can be operated by either pedal or knee level above the ?oor. Extending across between the lever actuators, whichsmay be made with the capability two front legs 24 is a cross member which may be made ’ of changing one or several strings by one or more of any suitable material such as wood or metal. As de- . pitches; including the capability to raise and lower scribed in greater detail hereinafter, cross member 26 pitches simultaneously with one actuator. , supports a pedal mechanism identi?ed generally by the Still another purpose is to provide a pitch changer numeral 28. This pedal mechanism forms part of the where each pitch changer may be exactly adjusted by present invention and is described in greater detail here coaction of an adjustable pitch changing member with a 65 inafter. The instrument also may include one or more positive stop.v . > knee levers 30. Although not shown, it is to be under .A further object is to provide a steel guitar which stood that knee levers 30 are mounted to the underside *constitutes an improvement in simplicity, cost and reli of the cabinet 2 in any suitable ‘manner, preferably in the 4,147,086? 3 4 manner in which knee levers are commonly attachedv to; Although cross member 66 is shown as spaced from the superstructure of conventional pedal steel guitars. fingers 48 when the latter are substantially vertical, in Knee levers 30 and the pedal mechanism 28 are both practice the cross member may be located so that it will lever means and are connected to the pitch changer be engaged by the pitch changer ?ngers when the latter head 22 by suitable means for effecting the pitch change ‘ are vertical or nearly so. Pivotal movement of the pitch of one or more of the strings 18 with the knee or foot. ‘In changer ?ngers by the pitch bars in the opposite direc the case of the pedal mechanism, the lever means is in tion (i.e., clockwise as seen in FIG.

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