A musical instrument pitch changing apparatus for a musical instrument having at least a first and second string is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bender lever pivotally secured to the musical instrument, a rocker arm pivotally secured to the instrument with a bender saddle for varying the tension in the first string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second positions. A mount secures the rocker arm and bender saddle to the first selected string in a first bending configuration or to the second selected string in a second bending configuration. The rocker arm and bender saddle is movable between the first selected string and the second selected string of the musical instrument.

A stringed instrument, such as an acoustic, electric, or semi-acoustic electric guitar or bass, can employ a stringpath assembly that consists of a tail structure connected to a head structure via a plurality of strings with the tailpiece consisting of a body disposed between a bridge mechanically fastened to a tailpiece with each string of the plurality of strings continuously extending from the bridge through the body to the tailpiece to efficiently capture vibration of the plurality of the strings.

A stringed instrument, such as an acoustic, electric, or semi-acoustic electric guitar or bass, can employ a stringpath assembly that consists of a tail structure connected to a head structure via a plurality of strings with the tailpiece consisting of a body disposed between a bridge mechanically fastened to a tailpiece with each string of the plurality of strings continuously extending from the bridge through the body to the tailpiece to efficiently capture vibration of the plurality of the strings.

An improved Bigsby vibrato device for a guitar. The improved device includes a mechanical stop which ensures that the device returns to its original neutral position after being used, thereby preventing mistuning of the guitar. The mechanical stop may be a hard stop which prevents the device from increasing tension on the guitar strings (thereby raising the pitch) beyond the neutral position, or it may be a spring stop which allows the user to increase the tension on the strings beyond the neutral position by pulling upward on the device arm with a force enough to overcome the spring stop.

A system for fixing and tensioning strings of a stringed musical instrument comprises a string holder provided on one end of a neck, an upper nut provided on a second end of the neck and adjusting screw mechanisms in an amount that corresponds to the amount of strings, while each of the strings is configured so that its first end can be fixed in the string holder, the second end can be passed through grooves of the upper nut and fixed on the adjusting screw mechanism. An arrangement for directing the strings is mounted after the upper nut on a face surface of the neck, in a form of a curved plate, which has guides for the strings provided therein. The adjusting screw mechanisms are arranged at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck in a frame fixed on a back surface of the neck. A neck reinforcement member can be mounted in a central portion of the neck along the entire length.

A pitch changer system for a string musical instrument, including a lever assembly, a rotating saddle assembly, a swing plate, and a lever tensioning assembly. Applying force to move the lever in a first direction forces a bell crank matingly coupled to the lever into rotation such that a coupling system of the lever tensioning assembly causes the swing plate to force a rotating saddle of the rotating saddle assembly into rotation to elongate and thereby temporarily change the pitch of a string coupled to the rotating saddle.

An improved Bigsby vibrato device for a guitar. The improved device includes a mechanical stop which ensures that the device returns to its original neutral position after being used, thereby preventing mistuning of the guitar. The mechanical stop may be a hard stop which prevents the device from increasing tension on the guitar strings (thereby raising the pitch) beyond the neutral position, or it may be a spring stop which allows the user to increase the tension on the strings beyond the neutral position by pulling upward on the device arm with a force sufficient to overcome the spring stop.

Disclosed is a stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument having a rotatable axle vibrato. The stringing device is an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato. The outer surface has a plurality of openings of corresponding string passages, where each string passage facilitates the passage of strings from the outer surface through the stringing device and extending out from the inner surface. The plurality of openings optionally each have an eyelet seat configured to retain an eyelet of a string. Methods of using the stringing device are also disclosed.

A musical instrument pitch changing apparatus for a musical instrument having at least a first and second string is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bender lever pivotally secured to the musical instrument, a rocker arm pivotally secured to the instrument with a bender saddle for varying the tension in the first string in response to movement of the bender lever between the first and second positions. A mount secures the rocker arm and bender saddle to the first selected string in a first bending configuration or to the second selected string in a second bending configuration. The rocker arm and bender saddle is movable between the first selected string and the second selected string of the musical instrument.

A pitch changer system for a string musical instrument, including a lever assembly, a rotating saddle assembly, a swing plate, and a lever tensioning assembly. Applying force to move the lever in a first direction forces a bell crank matingly coupled to the lever into rotation such that a coupling system of the lever tensioning assembly causes the swing plate to force a rotating saddle of the rotating saddle assembly into rotation to elongate and thereby temporarily change the pitch of a string coupled to the rotating saddle.