David E Storey

US Patent:

48606286, Aug 29, 1989

Filed:

Jun 6, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/202545

Inventors:

David C. Storey - Santa Paula CA

International Classification:

G10D 304

US Classification:

84313

Abstract:

String supporting apparatus for stringed musical instruments, such as guitars, comprises a plurality of saddles, each having a string supporting V-notch, a plurality of brackets, each configured for tightly holding one of the saddles; and spring means for flexibly mounting the brackets to the instrument so that the saddle V-notches support the strings at either or both the instrument head-end and body-end string break points. Thus, the apparatus may be mounted at either or both the instrument nut and bridge. Each bracket includes a clamp for fixing the string supported by the associated saddle V-notch adjacent to the support point. The spring mounting of the brackets enable tuning of the instrument without unclamping the strings, for example, by tensioning the strings by the machine heads when the apparatus is installed at the nut and by pitch tensioning screws when the apparatus is installed on the bridge. Installation at the bridge eliminates lateral string movement at the body-end string break points, which occurs when rollers are used to support the strings, thereby improving instrument sound sustaining qualities.