An onboard electronic system and associated method enables a player of an acoustic stringed instrument to control an electronic signal for modifying and amplifying sound while playing an instrument. The onboard electronic system is embedded in the tailpiece and/or the chinrest portions and/or shoulder-rest portion of the stringed instrument, and includes at least one pickup, a battery-powered amplification unit and at least one controller. The method includes steps for controlling sound amplification and tonal modification onboard an acoustic stringed instrument. The steps include sensing vibration from strings with a pickup, generating an electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to an amplification unit via an input cable, and modifying the electrical signal in response to one or more controllers located onboard the instrument.

A pickup according to a present embodiment is used for a stringed instrument and converts a vibration of a string into an electric signal. The pickup includes a piezoelectric sensor that includes at least one piezoelectric element that is provided corresponding to the number of strings, a first electrode arranged on a string side of the piezoelectric element, and a second electrode arranged on an opposite side of the first electrode, a wiring electrically connected to the piezoelectric sensor, a protection part covering a portion where the piezoelectric sensor comes in contact with the string, and a cap that is formed integrally with the protection part, and comprises an arm part locked to the stringed instrument together with the string.

A mini-music machine includes: a platform; a plurality of arcos disposed around a perimeter of the platform, the plurality of arcos disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; a central mast disposed substantially at a center of the platform; and a serpentine figure disposed around the central mast, wherein each of the plurality of arcos is strung with a musical instrument string, and wherein each musical instrument string is tuned to produce a musical tone when caused to vibrate.

A pickup according to a present embodiment is used for a stringed instrument and converts a vibration of a string into an electric signal. The pickup includes a piezoelectric sensor that includes at least one piezoelectric element that is provided corresponding to the number of strings, a first electrode arranged on a string side of the piezoelectric element, and a second electrode arranged on an opposite side of the first electrode, a wiring electrically connected to the piezoelectric sensor, a protection part covering a portion where the piezoelectric sensor comes in contact with the string, and a cap that is formed integrally with the protection part, and comprises an arm part locked to the stringed instrument together with the string.

Transducer pickup systems for acoustic stringed instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pickup system includes at least two pickups, each pickup including a pickup housing and a bottom surface, the pickup housing having sides comprising at least a top wall, each pickup including an electromechanical transducer surrounded by a solid non-conductive material and located the same distance from the top wall and the bottom surface, and each pickup including adhesive on one of the sides of the pickup housing configured to mount the pickup to the underside of the soundboard of an acoustic stringed instrument.

Techniques are described that relate to various aspects of converting the mechanical energy of instrument strings to digital representations for use in a variety of applications.

A stringed musical instrument and method of constructing a stringed musical instrument, having a body with a hollow or semi-hollow interior, a front and rear sound board disposed on opposite sides of the hollow interior, a single set of strings and a dual bridge and saddle assembly extending between the front and rear sound board with the dual bridge and saddle assembly including a first bridge and saddle mounted upon the front sound board, a second bridge and saddle mounted upon the rear sound board and with said single set of strings being strung such that the single set of strings interconnect the first bridge and front sound board to the second bridge and rear sound board through the interior body of the musical instrument for generating sound from each sound board respectively.

A saddle for a stringed musical instrument, which includes a bridge plate attached to a sound board corresponding to an anatomical surface of the musical instrument with the bridge having a slot with a geometry adapted to receive the saddle, comprising a body having at least one member with a first and second section in which the first section, in cross section has opposite ends, and a geometry conforming to the geometry of the slot in the bridge and a width approximately equal in dimension to the width of the slot in the bridge so that the opposite ends of the first section tightly fit into the slot of the bridge when the first section is inserted therein and with the second section having a width substantially wider than the width of the first section and having two lateral sides, in cross section, extending from the opposite ends of the first section to form, in combination with the first section, a T fitting such that the saddle possesses a substantially higher resistance to bending forces from tension in the strings in the musical instrument as compared conventional saddle structures.

Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments.

In a first aspect hereof the present invention provides an improved piezoelectric pickup which, generally, comprises a folded planar plastic piezoelectric sandwich electrically connected to a coaxial cable which, in turn, is in electrical communication with a jack or the like for connection to a pre-amp, an amplifier or the like. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cell which is particularly adapted for use with an electric violin. The cell comprises a table which is disposed substantially parallel to the top of the instrument and substantially normal or perpendicular to and in contact with the bridge of the instrument. When used in conjunction with a pickup the cell facilitates simulation of the sound of an acoustic violin.