Stringed instrument

Abstract

[Problems to be Solved] The object of the present invention is to provide a stringed instrument which can maintain sound volume at a specific level, optimize vibration of strings and resonance of body and improve balance of the sound volume and sound quality in the treble side tone and the bass side tone. [Means for Solving the Problems] A force is applied to a front end of said tailpiece for rotating a front end of a tailpiece in a direction from a portion to which a string having a high basic frequency is fastened to a portion to which a string having a low basic frequency is fastened so that a load applied from the string having a high basic frequency to a bridge decreases and a load applied from the string having a low basic frequency to the bridge increases.

Claims

1. A stringed instrument comprising, a hollow box-shaped body having a front end and a back end, a neck provided in the front end of said body, said neck having a front end and a back end, a tailpiece provided in the back end of said body, said tailpiece having a front end and a back end, a plurality of strings, one end of each string being fastened to the front end of the neck and the other end of each string being fastened to the front end of the tailpiece, said strings being provided at specific string tensions at predetermined intervals between the front end of the neck and the front end of the tailpiece, and a bridge positioned on the body between the neck and the tailpiece for supporting said strings and transmitting vibration of said strings to said body, wherein each released string has a different basic frequency, and the strings are arranged on said neck and said body in the order of the basic frequency, and wherein a force is applied to the front end of said tailpiece for rotating the front end of said tailpiece to which said strings are fastened in a direction from a portion to which the string having a high basic frequency is fastened to a portion to which the string having a low basic frequency is fastened so that a load applied from the string having a high basic frequency to said bridge decreases and a load applied from the string having a low basic frequency to said bridge increases.

2. The stringed instrument according to claim 1, wherein the back end of said tailpiece is fastened to the back end of said body by a tail gut and said force applied to the front end of said tailpiece is applied by said tail gut.

3. The stringed instrument according to claim 2, wherein a vertical wall is formed in said back end of said tailpiece along a width direction of said tailpiece, two tail gut insertion holes are formed in said vertical wall symmetrically in the width direction of said tailpiece, both ends of said tail gut inserted through the tail gut insertion holes are formed to a knot, one tail gut inserted in one of the tail gut insertion holes formed in a low frequency string side extends from said knot along said vertical wall and contact an opening end of said tail gut insertion hole.

4. The stringed instrument according to claim 3, further comprising, a fastening jig made of a wire having a specific stiffness, said fastening jig having a ring portion in which said wire is wound and an insertion portion linearly extending from one end of said ring portion, said knot is in one side of the ring portion opposing to said insertion portion and said insertion portion is inserted in said tailpiece insertion hole formed in a high frequency string side.

5. A fastening jig for fastening a tail gut to a tailpiece in a stringed instrument, a fastening jig being made of a wire having a specific stiffness, said fastening jig having a ring portion in which said wire is wound and an insertion portion extending from one end of said ring portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a violin in accordance with the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a violin in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a backside view of a tailpiece;

(4) FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a violin in accordance with the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fastening jig;

(6) FIG. 6 is a backside view of a tailpiece for explaining a method for fastening a tail gut to a tailpiece;

(7) FIG. 7 is a backside view showing a tailpiece for explaining a function of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a tailpiece, gut and bridge for explaining a function of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 9 is a backside view showing a tailpiece for explaining the other method for fastening a tail gut to a tailpiece;

(10) FIG. 10 is a backside view showing a tailpiece for explaining a function of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 11 is a backside view showing a tailpiece for explaining the other method for fastening a tail gut to a tailpiece;

(12) FIG. 12 is a backside view showing a tailpiece for explaining a function of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 13 is a view explaining a principle for measuring loads applied to legs of the bridge;

(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the conventional violin; and

(15) FIG. 15 is a backside view of the conventional violin.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(16) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(17) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a violin of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the violin 10 comprises a body 20 having a hollow box structure, neck 30 provided on a front end of the body 20, strings 40 provided on the surface of the body 20 and neck 30 with predetermined string tensions, tailpiece 50 to which ends of the strings 40 are fastened, tail gut 60 for fastening the tailpiece 50 to the body 20 and bride 70 for transmitting the vibration of the strings to the body.

(18) The body 20 comprises an upper plate 22 in which f-shaped holes 22a are formed, lower plate 24 arranged in parallel with respect to the upper plate 22 and side plate 26 for connecting the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24. The body 20, as a whole, forms a Helmholts resonator. The body 20 can be made of wood material such as spruce and maple, plastic and so on.

(19) With regard to strings 40, observed from the back end to the front end of the body, e-string 40e, a-string 40a, d-string 40d and g-string 40g are provided from right to left in this order at predetermined intervals. The released e-string 40e has the highest basic frequency and the basic frequency of the released a-string, d-string and g-string decreases in this order so that the basic frequency of the strings 40 decreases from right to left. The front end of the each string 40 is wound in pegs 32 provided in the front end of the neck 30. The back end of the each string 40 is fastened to the tailpiece 50 provided adjacent to the back end of the upper plate 22 of the body 20.

(20) The tailpiece 50 includes a front portion 50a of a trapezoid plane shape whose width gradually reduces from the front end and a back portion 50b of a rectangular plane shape continuously formed from the front portion 50a. The surface of the tailpiece 50 has an arch shape in its cross-section in which a central portion thereof in its longitudinal direction projects. As shown in FIG. 3, a recess portion 54 is formed in a backside of the tailpiece 50. The tailpiece 50 can be integrally made of woods such as boxwood and ebony, plastic, metal material and so on.

(21) In the front portion 50a of the tailpiece, four string fastening holes 52e, 52a, 52d, 52g are formed. The back end of the e-string 40e, a-string 40a, d-string 40d and g-string 40g are fastened to the string fastening holes 52e, 52a, 52d, 52g, respectively. In a backward portion of the recess portion 54 of the backside of the tailpiece 50, a vertical wall 56 is formed. In the vertical wall 56, along a width direction of the tailpiece, an e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e located in the string fastening hole 52e side and g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g located in the string fastening hole 52g side are symmetrically formed. Both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted and fastened to the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 56g.

(22) The tail gut 60 is a gut member having a diameter of 0.5-2.5 mm. As a tail gut 60, material having a high mechanical strength and low elongation percentage can be used, such as nylon fiber, polyacrylate fiber, polyethylene fiber, poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber, and natural gut strings manufactured from sheep or bovine (cow) guts and so on. A u-shape portion of the tail gut 60, which protrudes backward from the tail gut holes 56e, 56g of the tailpiece 50 is fastened to an end pin 28 provided in the back end of the body 20. By the above structure, the strings 40 are provided with specific string tensions on the surface of the upper plate 22 of the body 20 and the neck 30.

(23) On the surface of the upper plate 22 of the body 20, a bridge 70 is positioned between the neck 30 and tailpiece 50 for supporting the strings 40 and transmitting the vibration of strings 40 to the body. The bridge 70 can be made of wood such as maple having a thickness of approximately 1-5 mm. As shown in FIG. 4, the bridge 70 has an upper portion having an arc shape. In the upper portion of the bridge 70, there are formed four notches 70e, 70a, 70d, 70g respectively receiving and supporting the e-string 40e, a-string 40a, d-string 40d, g-string 40g. In a lower end portion of the bridge 70, there are formed an e-string side leg 72e of the notch 70e side and an g-string side leg 72g of the notch 70g side for standing the bridge 70 on the upper plate 22 of the body 20. The vibration of the strings 40 supported on the upper end of the bridge 70 is transmitted to the body 20 through the legs 72e, 72d.

(24) As shown in FIG. 4, inside the body 20, in a portion of the back side of the upper plate 22 corresponding to the e-string side leg 72e, a sound post 82 is provided so as to connect the upper plate 22 and lower plate 24 for transmitting the vibration of treble strings (mainly, e-string) to the lower plate 24 and properly vibrating both the upper plate 22 and lower plate 24. In a portion of the back side of the upper plate 22 corresponding to the g-string side leg 72g, a bass bar is provided along the g-string for reinforcing the upper plate 22 against the string tensions of bass strings (mainly, g-string) and strengthening and stabilizing bass tones. Among loads applied from each string 40 to the bridge 70, the load of e-string 40e is the highest. Then, the loads of each string 40 to the bridge decreases in the order of a-string 40a, d-string 40d and g-string 40g.

(25) Next, methods for fastening the tail gut 60 to the tailpiece 50 will be described, referring to FIGS. 5-12.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a fastening jig 90 for fastening the tail gut 60 to the tailpiece 50. The fastening jig 90 is made of one metal wire having a specific stiffness and includes a ring portion 92 in which the wire is wound and a linear insertion portion 94 linearly extending from one end of the ring portion 92. The outer diameter of the ring portion 92 is smaller than the width of the vertical wall 56 of the tailpiece 50 and a little bit larger than the diameter of the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 56g. The inner diameter of the ring portion 92 is formed so that two tail guts can be inserted.

(27) The first example for fastening the tail gut 60 to the tailpiece 50 using the fastening jig 90 will be described, referring to FIGS. 6-8. First, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted into the recess portion 54 of the tailpiece 50 through the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 56g in the back side of the tailpiece 50. The inserted both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted in the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 arranged in a manner that the linear portion 94 points to the vertical wall 56.

(28) Then, the both ends of the tail gut 60 are tied to form a knot 64. The knot 64 is larger than the inner diameter of the ring portion 92.

(29) Under the above condition, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the insertion portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 is inserted to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the tail gut. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the knot 64 of the tail gut 60 is positioned closer to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e than a middle point of the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 65g. The tail gut inserted in the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the linear portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 linearly extends from the knot 64 along a longitudinal direction of the tailpiece. The other tail gut extends along a width direction of the vertical wall 56, contacts a periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g, and then inserted in g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g.

(30) Next, the function of the tailpiece 50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, when a force towards the back end portion of the violin (arrow A direction) is applied to the u-shaped portion of the tail gut 60, a force of clockwise direction (arrow B direction) is applied to the vertical wall 56 of the tailpiece 50 by the tail gut contacting the periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g. As a result, a force for rotating the front end portion of the tailpiece from the string fastening hole 52e to the string fastening hole 52g (arrow C direction) is applied to the tailpiece.

(31) Observed from the surface of the violin and the tailpiece, as shown in FIG. 8, when the u-shaped portion of the tail gut 60 is connected to the end pin 28 of the body 20, a force of arrow A direction is applied to the u-shaped portion of the tail gut 60 and a force is applied to the front end of the tailpiece 50 so as to rotate the front end portion from the e-string 40e to the g-string 40g direction. Thus, the load applied to the bridge 70 from the treble strings (e-string 40e and a-string 40a) decreases and the load applied to the bridge 70 from the bass strings (d-string 40e and g-string 40a) increases. As a result, the load applied to the body 20 from the e-string side leg 72e decreases and the load applied to the body 20 from the g-string side leg 72g increases.

(32) Next, the second example for fastening the tail gut 60 to the tailpiece 50 will be described, referring to FIGS. 9-10. First, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted into the recess portion 54 of the tailpiece 50 through the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 56g in the back side of the tailpiece 50. The inserted both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted in the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 arranged in a manner that the linear insertion portion 94 points to the vertical wall 56.

(33) Next, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), both ends of the tail gut 60 are made to pass under the tail gut inserted through the tail gut insertion hole 56g. Then, the linear portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 is inserted to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the tail gut. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 is positioned closer to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e. The tail gut inserted in the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the linear portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 linearly extends from the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 along a longitudinal direction of the tailpiece. The other tail gut extends along a width direction of the vertical wall 56 from the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90, contacts a periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g, and then inserted in g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g.

(34) As shown in FIG. 10, when a force towards the lower end portion of the violin (arrow A direction) is applied to the u-shaped portion of the tail gut 60 fastened to the tailpiece in the above manner, a force of clockwise direction (arrow B direction) is applied to the vertical wall 56 of the tailpiece 50 by the tail gut contacting the periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g. As a result, a force for rotating the front end portion of the tailpiece in a direction from the string fastening hole 52e to the string fastening hole 52g (arrow C direction) is applied to the tailpiece.

(35) Next, the third example for fastening the tail gut 60 to the tailpiece 50 will be described, referring to FIGS. 11-12. First, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted into the recess portion 54 of the tailpiece 50 through the tail gut insertion holes 56e, 56g in the back side of the tail gut 60. The inserted both ends of the tail gut 60 are inserted in the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 arranged in a manner that the linear insertion portion 94 points to the vertical wall 56.

(36) Next, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), both ends of the tail gut 60 are made to pass under the tail gut inserted through the tail gut insertion hole 56g. Then, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), the ends of the tail gut 60 which passed under the tail gut 60 is wound around the tail gut 60 passed through the tail gut insertion hole 56g. After that, the linear portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 is inserted to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the tail gut. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11 (d), the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 is positioned closer to the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e. The tail gut 60 inserted in the e-string side tail gut insertion hole 56e with the linear portion 94 of the fastening jig 90 linearly extends from the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90 along a longitudinal direction of the tailpiece. The other tail gut extends along a width direction of the vertical wall 56 from the ring portion 92 of the fastening jig 90, contacts a periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g, and then inserted in g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g.

(37) As shown in FIG. 12, when a force towards the lower end portion of the violin (arrow A direction) is applied to the u-shaped portion of the tail gut 60 fastened to the tailpiece in the above manner, a force of clockwise direction (arrow B direction) is applied to the vertical wall 56 of the tailpiece 50 by the tail gut contacting the periphery portion of the g-string side tail gut insertion hole 56g. As a result, a force for rotating the front end portion of the tailpiece from the string fastening hole 52e to the string fastening hole 52g (arrow C direction) is applied to the tailpiece.

(38) Hereinafter, the function of the violin according to the present invention will be described. The violin generates tones by the vibration of the four strings 40 when drawn by a bow or plucked by fingers and resonance of the body 20 is caused by the vibration transmitted from the strings 40 to the body 20 via the bridge 70. According to the violin 10 of the present invention, since the rotating force from the e-string side to the g-string side is applied to the front end of the tailpiece 50, the load applied to the treble strings side of the upper end of the bridge 70 and the e-string side leg 72e decreases and the load applied to the bass strings side of the upper end of the bridge 70 and the g-string side leg 72g increases. Thus, the sound quality of the treble strings (e-string and a-string), which have a higher strings tension, can be improved and the vibration of the treble strings can be effectively transmitted to the body 20. Also, the vibration of the bass strings (d-string and g-string), which have a lower string tension, can be effectively transmitted to the body 20.

EXAMPLES

(39) Hereinafter, the present invention will be concretely described with reference to the Examples.

Example 1, Example 2 and Comparative Example 1

(40) In a violin in which strings were provided at certain string tensions, the loads applied to the e-string side leg 72e and g-string side leg 72g of the bridge 70 were measured. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, an electric violin having a plate-shape body was used. The legs 72e, 72g were connected to measuring tools 95e, 95g respectively and the measuring tools 95e, 95g was placed on weight measuring tools W. Five minutes after providing and tuning the strings, the loads applied to the e-string side leg 72e and g-string side leg 72g were measured. The tail guts were fastened to the tailpiece in manners described in FIGS. 7, 12 and 15. As a tailpiece, a metal tailpiece having a weight of 25 g was used. As a tail gut, a polyacrylate fiber having a diameter of 1.8 mm was used. The results are shown in TABLE 1.

(41) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Method for Load Applied Load Applied Fastening to E-String to G-String Difference Tail Gut Side Leg (g) Side Leg (g) (g) Example 1 FIG. 7 4110 3659 451 Example 2 FIG. 12 4373 3597 776 Comparative FIG. 15 4885 2945 1940 Example 1

Example 3 and Comparative Example 2

(42) The loads applied to the e-string side leg 72e and g-string side leg 72g of the bridge 70 were measured in a similar manner described with reference to Example 1 except that the tail guts were fastened to the tailpiece in manners described in FIGS. 12 and 15 and a polyethylene fiber having a diameter of 1.1 mm was used as the tail guts. The results are shown in TABLE 2.

(43) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Method for Load Applied Load Applied Fastening to E-String to G-String Difference Tail Gut Side Leg (g) Side Leg (g) (g) Example 3 FIG. 12 4500 3599 901 Comparative FIG. 15 4585 3275 1310 Example 2

(44) As is apparent from TABLES 1 and 2, according to the Examples, the load applied to the e-strings side leg of the bridge decreased and the load applied to the g-strings side leg of the bridge increased, compared with the Comparative Examples. In addition, according to the Examples, the difference between the load applied to the e-strings side leg and the load applied to the g-strings side leg decreased, compared with Comparative Examples.

(45) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples and the embodiments and examples can be changed without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, though the above embodiments and examples are directed to the violin, the present invention can be carried out in other string instruments having the tailpiece and bridge, such as viola, cello and contrabass.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(46) According to the present invention, there is provided a stringed instrument which can maintain sound volume at a certain level and optimize the balance of sound volume and sound quality both in the treble tone and bass tone.