Quick release pickup mounting for stringed instruments

Abstract

An improved body for a stringed instrument wherein the pickups are extended from a mount that can be removed from and replaced into a pocket in the rear surface of the instrument body without the use of tools. When the pickup mount is fully seated in the pocket in the rear surface of the body of the instrument, the pickups protrude through openings in the front surface of the body or pickguard in their proper location in relationship to the strings. Retractable tapered projections secure the pickup mount in the pocket in the instrument body. Pickups can be changed quickly during live performances. Unlimited combinations of pickups can be explored in order to find the best tones. The beauty of the front of the guitar is preserved while flexibility in sound is gained.

Claims

1. A stringed instrument body, comprising: a body having a front surface and a rear surface; a pocket in said rear surface of said body which does not extend completely through the thickness of said body; one or more pickup openings in said front surface of said body which penetrate into said pocket in said rear surface of said body; a mounting for one or more pickups that fits into said pocket in said rear surface of said body; one or more pickups extending from said mounting such that the plane of said one or more pickup is parallel to the plane of said mounting; said mounting includes paired retractable tapered projections acting laterally; said pocket in said rear surface of said body includes slots to receive said paired retractable tapered projections of said mounting securing said mounting in said pocket; whereby said mounting and said one or more pickups can be rapidly removed from said pocket of said rear surface of said body and rapidly replaced into said pocket of said rear surface of said body.

2. The stringed instrument body of claim 1 wherein said front surface of said body includes a pickguard and said one or more pickup openings are in said pickguard.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Referring to the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the pickup mounting showing the position of the pickups extending from the mounting.

(3) FIG. 2 is a back isometric view of the pickup mounting showing the position of the mechanism for retracting the retractable tapered projections and the tapered projections.

(4) FIG. 3 is a back isometric view of the body showing the pocket and slots and pickup openings.

(5) FIG. 4 is front isometric view of the body showing the pickups protruding through the pickup openings.

DRAWINGS

Reference Numerals

(6) 1. body 2. front surface of body 3. rear surface of body 4. pocket 6. pickup opening 7. mounting 8. pickup 9. retractable tapered projections 10. retraction mechanism 11. slots

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In its preferred embodiment the present body is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 as applied to a guitar body wherein the pickup mounting uses spring loaded retractable tapered projections; it should be readily apparent, however, that in other embodiments another means of maintaining the retractable tapered projections in their fully extended position could be used.

(8) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a stringed instrument body comprising a body 1 having a front surface 2 and a rear surface 3. The rear surface 3 contains a pocket 4. Pickups 8 extend a selected distance from mounting 7 and protrude through pickup openings 6. Pocket 4 in rear surface 3 has slots 11 to receive retractable tapered projections 9 extending laterally from mounting 7. Retractable tapered projections 9 are retracted by retraction mechanism 10.

(9) In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, the rear surface 3 of body 1 has one pocket 4 and one mounting 7 for two pickups 8. According to other embodiments the rear surface 3 of body 1 could have any number of pockets 4 less than or equal to the number of pickup openings 6 in the front surface 2 of body 1.

OPERATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) The retraction mechanism 10 is squeezed by finger pressure and mounting 7 with pickups 8 is withdrawn from pocket 4 in rear surface 3 of body 1 causing pickups 8 to be withdrawn from pickup openings 6 in front surface 2 of body 1. Standard quick connect wiring (not shown) attached to pickups 8 is then disconnected.

(11) Different pickups 8 could now be attached to the mounting 7 or a different mounting 7 with pickups 8 already attached could be used. Before replacing mounting 7 with pickups 8 into pocket 4 in rear surface 3 of body 1, standard quick connect wiring (not shown) must be reconnected.

(12) Retraction mechanism 10 is squeezed by finger pressure while mounting 7 with pickups 8 is replaced into pocket 4 in rear surface 3 of body 1. Pickups 8 which extend from mounting 7 thus protrude from pickup openings 6 in front surface 2 of body 1. Retraction mechanism 10 is released and retractable tapered projections 9 extend into slots 11.

(13) While there is shown and described the present embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.