The present inventive disclosures are generally directed to various improved versions of locking compensated nuts for fretted stringed musical instruments. Many embodiments are especially directed to improved locking compensated nuts that can be more-easily retrofitted into existing guitars and other stringed musical instruments without requiring any major reconfigurations or modifications of the base instruments, and some variations are directed to a detachably coupled tuner-mount device that will facilitate enhanced tuning capabilities because of improved vibrational communication between the instrument strings and the tuner. In addition, some improved locking compensated nuts described herein feature interchangeable compensated inserts to allow for easy adaption to alternate string sets.

Apparatus and methods for securing a string to an acoustic, stringed instrument are disclosed. Example apparatus include string anchors secured to a bridge of the stringed instrument. The apparatus provide components enabling selective tensioning of the string. A seat arrangement provided by string anchors receives an anchor end of string and the string passes from the seat arrangement through a base arrangement and towards a headstock of the acoustic instrument.

Apparatus and methods for securing a string to an acoustic, stringed instrument are disclosed. Example apparatus include string anchors secured to a bridge of the stringed instrument. The apparatus provide components enabling selective tensioning of the string. A seat arrangement provided by string anchors receives an anchor end of string and the string passes from the seat arrangement through a base arrangement and towards a headstock of the acoustic instrument.

The Drop Tuner comprising a pivoting lever element and two ring-like elements in an arrangement operable to quickly alter the position of a macro-tuner or other string tuning element on the instrument body to change the tension of a musical instrument string from one pre-selected pitch to another and back by moving the lever to one of two corresponding adjustable pre-selected positions. “Drop Tuner” refers to an adjustment device added to a string tuner element, macro-tuner or similar, with the capacity to quickly change from one adjustable predetermined pitch to another adjustable predetermined pitch and back comprising at least two adjustable predetermined tensioning positions.

Various methods are presented that facilitate the connection of a speaker system to a separate functional system. In some embodiments, the connection is made through a male and female connector designed to twist into a locking position. In other embodiments, the connection is made by a guided connection with beveled edges to facilitate correct alignment of the speaker system. In still other embodiments, the connection includes mechanical locking mechanisms with a quick disconnect feature. In other embodiments, the connection also facilitates transmission of electrical signals through the connector.

Various methods are presented that facilitate the connection of a speaker system to a separate functional system. In some embodiments, the connection is made through a male and female connector designed to twist into a locking position. In other embodiments, the connection is made by a guided connection with beveled edges to facilitate correct alignment of the speaker system. In still other embodiments, the connection includes mechanical locking mechanisms with a quick disconnect feature. In other embodiments, the connection also facilitates transmission of electrical signals through the connector.

This invention relates to musical instruments. Its use for mounting a solenoid above a string of stringed instrument for pressing this string to a specific fret of finger-board allows to simplify that mounting and ensure the absence of the knock at a moment of actuating the solenoid. The method is implemented in a stringed instrument bearing, above a finger-board thereof, a common plate having through-holes under each solenoid comprising a coil, within which coil a plunger adapted for axial movement being disposed, the plunger tapering to an output stud thereof for limiting a working travel of the plunger with a stopper ring displaced at a coil edge facing the string, the output stud having thickening at an end with elastic washers at both the side facing the string and reverse side. The method includes steps of: securing the solenoid at a separate plate; disposing the separate plate above the common plate so that the thickening of the output stud permeates the respective through-hole; fixing the separate plate above the common plate, using adjusting screws with elastic spacers put thereupon between the separate plate and common plate, until the string being pressed with the stud on supplying a working current to the solenoid coil; shifting the separate plate using the adjusting screws in such a location that the pressure of the string occurs, on supplying the working current to the solenoid coil, without a knock arisen from an impact made by the plunger taper with the stopper ring.

A chord and/or note assist assembly includes a chord and/or note forming aid having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar and an extension device having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar. An electronic microprocessor circuit board is electrically linked to a solid-state memory to control the plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies of both the chord and/or note forming aid and the extension device.

A chord and/or note assist assembly includes a chord and/or note forming aid having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar and an extension device having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar. An electronic microprocessor circuit board is electrically linked to a solid-state memory to control the plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies of both the chord and/or note forming aid and the extension device.

A tremolo and tuning apparatus is provided for a stringed musical instrument having a body, a neck extending from the body, a nut on an end of the neck remote from the body, and a string extending over the neck. The string makes a first critical contact at a point on the nut of the instrument and a second critical contact at a point on the apparatus. The apparatus includes a mounting frame configured for mounting on the surface of the body, an attachment post secured to the body, a base plate pivotally mounted with respect to the attachment post and having a surface adapted to receive a force, a string mounting assembly mounted on the base plate for holding the string, and a resilient member assembly for engagement with the mounting frame outside the body of the instrument and supplying a force to the base plate surface.