Charles E Mussulman

US Patent:

39317528, Jan 13, 1976

Filed:

Jun 7, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/477295

Inventors:

Charles E. Mussulman - Chanute KS

International Classification:

G10C 304
G10H 308

US Classification:

84 116

Abstract:

An electric piano, using only one string per note and no soundboard, employs special mechanical and electrical means capable of controlling all of its various characteristics in order to duplicate the sound and other characteristics of a conventional piano. A floating bridge, floating on the strings and supported solely thereby, is used not for the pickup or transfer of string vibrations to any other device, but to control the characteristics of the string vibrations. Magnetic pickups consisting of a series of coils with adjustable permanent-magnet cores are arranged in special positions along the active lengths of corresponding strings and, in conjunction with frequency responsive capacitor circuitry, convert the vibration of each string into an electrical signal, shape the signal, and provide a composite signal output containing all the tone characteristics needed to produce a true piano sound. One end of each string is attached by a slip proof connection to an independent tuning bar mechanism employing a rocker bar on a fulcrum, the bar position being precisely controlled for both coarse and fine tuning.

US Patent:

40446441, Aug 30, 1977

Filed:

Oct 28, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/626217

Inventors:

Charles E. Mussulman - Chanute KS

International Classification:

G10C 310

US Classification:

84207

Abstract:

An electric piano, using only one string per note and no soundboard, employs special mechanical and electrical means capable of controlling all of its various characteristics in order to duplicate the sound and other characteristics of a conventional piano. A floating bridge, floating on the strings and supported solely thereby, is used not for the pickup or transfer of string vibrations to any other device, but to control the characteristics of the string vibrations. Magnetic pickups consisting of a series of coils with adjustable permanent-magnet cores are arranged in special positions along the active lengths of corresponding strings and, in conjunction with frequency responsive capacitor circuitry, convert the vibration of each string into an electrical signal, shape the signal, and provide a composite signal output containing all the tone characteristics needed to produce a true piano sound. One end of each string is attached by a slip proof connection to an independent tuning bar mechanism employing a rocker bar on a fulcrum, the bar position being precisely controlled for both coarse and fine tuning.