1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and, more particularly, to stringed musical instruments comprised of discrete detachably connected components, such design facilitating easy substitution of individual components in the event of defect, allowing selective "instant" alteration of the musical quality of a given component instrument, and generally permitting easier manufacture of stringed musical instruments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, electronically amplified music has become quite popular, with a diverse range of musical compositions being played by musicians using "electric" instruments. Perhaps the most significant instrument in the presentation of such music is the electric guitar. A standard composition for example, require a bass electric guitar, as well as a standard range electric guitar, playing together or separately at any one time. Since these guitars are such major factors in modern popular music, it is not uncommon to see a musical group performing where a guitarist will have one guitar which he is playing and other guitars at the ready as spares or for any specialized needs of the musical program.
The use of a number of instruments to satisfy the demands of a given program, however, is not without problems. For instance, electric guitars are very expensive pieces of equipment, and, while a successful musician may be able to afford the outlay required in order to have the full complement of guitars that he may need or desire, the average amateur or young "up-and-coming" professional may be hard-put to maintain a full complement of instruments for his every need or desire. Furthermore, even for the musician who can afford to own many guitars and is willing to maintain more than one instrument, he then must face the burden of transporting many bulky, delicate instruments to each of his playing engagements.
Another problem associated with the use of conventionally constructed musical instruments is the inability to deal separately with defects or malfunctions which are confined to only one part or area of the instrument. For example, in common useage, a stringed musical instrument, and, more particularly, an electric guitar, will include a neck section, a center section, a body section, at least one pick-up, and a control panel. Such an instrument is assembled and wired as an integral unit. Consequently, a typical instrument, when damaged, is out of service for as long as repair will require. This out-of-service period can run from minutes to days to weeks, according to the availability of spare parts and repair services and the severity of the malfunction. When an instrument is owned to serve a specific need, however, any time that the instrument is out of service is too long.
Moreover, the manufacturing and assembling process also depends on uniformity of quality with respect to all sections of the instrument. Since the manufacture of stringed musical instruments is time-consuming and requires great skill and patience, as well as expensive materials, a fixed (i.e., integral) instrument is only as good as the combined quality of all of its elements. Thus, for example, a guitar with an excellent body section, center section, pick-up, and control panel will still be defective if its neck section is poorly made. The rectification of such defect--if rectification is possible--results in a great loss in time and money. While engineers and manufacturers have sought to obviate this problem, it still is a noted source in the industry of production losses to date.
Attempts have been made in the past to improve the design or manufacture of stringed musical instruments. For example, Maccaferri U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,556 teaches an adjustable method of mounting a neck to the body of a guitar. This method provides for secure attachment for a light weight neck to the frame of an instrument which can withstand the stresses of string tension present at the junction of the two elements. Wright U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,408 relates to a body for an electric guitar where pockets are provided for attachment of a guitar neck, a bridge and a tailpiece. Provision is also made for selective mounting of pick-ups and control elements. Copeland U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,151 teaches a collapsible stringed musical instrument which includes a rigid body section and a collapsible body section. Burke U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,007 discloses a guitar which may be sold in disassembled form, the invention providing for relatively permanent attachment of the elements of the instrument at some later point as desired.
The problem with the foregoing patents, as representative of the existing art in the field, is that an instrumentalist cannot choose to attach different pick-ups or control modules during a performance and immediately effect a replacement therefor with but a momentary interruption of the musical program. Another problem is that none of these designs provides for the easy replacement of the neck or body section of the instrument with other components of different playing characteristics. This ready changeability would be a great benefit to the instrumentalist because he could adapt his instrument to a given moment's needs, or could replace a defective element, with little or no inconvenience.
Considering the foregoing shortcomings, any improvement which can permit the "saving" of the serviceable portions of a defective instrument with a consequent limitation of the restrictions resulting from a defect, whether the defect is noticed during production or at the point of sale, will be heartily welcomed. Similarly, discrete availability of parts and sections of an instrument could facilitate the use of instruments by younger players, and can also promote more versatile playing by experienced musicians.