Material selection systems and methods for constructing a musical instrument and/or where a selected material is a wood material are disclosed. One example material selection system includes a rating module and a rating database. The rating module includes an excitation device configured to act upon material samples; a vibration receiver in cooperation with the excitation device; a rating computer coupled to the vibration receiver, the rating computer configured to execute stored instructions for determining a set of material sample ratings based on FFT analysis of data collected by the vibration receiver; and an output device operatively coupled to the rating computer, the output device configured to output the determined set of material sample ratings to a rating database. Each set of material sample ratings is associated with a material sample. Another example material selection system may further include a selection module with a selection computer coupled to the rating database.

A drumhead tuning rim system and method for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, and an apparatus controller configured for operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim.

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.

A drumhead tuning rim system and method for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, and an apparatus controller configured for operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim.

A drumhead tuning rim system and method for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, and an apparatus controller configured for operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim.

An interchangeable drum slip that may be quickly installed to change the appearance of a drum and to provide protection to the drum shell. The drum slip is a rectangular piece of material that is pre-cut to precisely fit specific models of drums. Openings are cut into the material that correspond with hardware that is attached to the drum shell. A user installs the drum slip by placing the drum slip around the drum shell and securing the ends of the drum slip together. The openings in the drum slip fit over and around any hardware that is attached to the drum shell and any apertures formed in the drum shell. The ends of the drum slip are pulled together and secured with an adhesive. For some drums, the drum slip may be installed without disassembling any parts of the drum. For other drums, one or more drum heads and retaining hoops must be removed to install the drum slip. The drum slip may be transparent, and the drum slip may be made in any color and messages, designs, or information may be printed on or molded into the drum slip. Anyone can quickly and easily change drum slips to change the appearance of a drum.

An element is arranged to cooperate with another part so as to form an encapsulation device for a component including the element at least partially coated with a metallization. The metallization includes at least one metal layer protected by an intermetallic compound which is coated by a non-diffused portion of a material whose melting point is lower than 250 C. A method of fabricating the encapsulation device is also disclosed.

A musical instrument of the chordophone family is provided that has reduced stresses and strains, and is easily assembled. An adjustable strut allows for adjusting intonation and action in the strung instrument. The strut has course and fine adjusters that allow the strut to be moved up and down and in and out. As the strut is attached to the neck, this adjust string height and intonation. Further, the neck is independently adjustable. It can be moved from side to side to adjust string pull to be normal to the bridge, and in and out to adjust intonation. A method of constructing the instrument is also provided.

A saxophone neck system uses interchangeable component parts to modify and optimize sound and resistance. The saxophone neck system may allow a saxophone player the ability to change components to achieve variations in sound and to use the components with various manufacturers' instruments and mouthpieces. With the use of various internal shapes and dimensions placed in a specific combination, the player can create a desired sound. Additionally, the saxophone neck system may eliminate neck cork compression discrepancies from different manufacturers by offering different diameters of the body of the initiator portion of the saxophone neck system to fit any saxophone mouthpiece.

A board for a stringed instrument which forms a front plate or a back plate of a stringed instrument, includes: a laminated plate that is obtained by laminating a plurality of veneers having a uniform thickness by an adhesive, at least one of the veneers having a different planar shape than the other veneers, in which the laminated plate is curved to be convex toward one surface side and has a thin portion and a thick portion.