CN-122029597-A - Stringed musical instrument with interchangeable head assembly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a stringed musical instrument is provided, the instrument including a instrument body, a neck extending from the instrument body, a head, and a coupler having a bulkhead portion that conforms a shape of a portion of the neck to a shape of a portion of the head. The bulkhead portion of the coupler is adapted to be attached to the neck in a permanent or temporary manner. The head may be releasably attached to the neck via the coupler. In some embodiments, a detent key extends from the bulkhead portion of the coupler, and the head includes a cavity adapted to receive the detent key.

Inventors

• Paul E. Vogt
• Baruch Levi Leeds

Assignees

• 保罗·E·沃格特
• 巴鲁克·列维·利兹

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240812

Priority Date

20230810

Claims (20)

1. 1. A stringed musical instrument comprising: a main body; a neck extending from the body; a head extending from the neck, and A coupler disposed between and coupled to each of the neck and the head, the coupler having a bulkhead portion dividing the coupler into opposite first and second sides, the first side having a shape adapted to match at least a portion of the shape of the neck and the second side having a shape adapted to match at least a portion of the shape of the head.
2. 2. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the first side of the coupler is adapted to abut and permanently attach to the neck, and the second side of the coupler is adapted to abut and releasably attach to the head.
3. 3. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the coupler further comprises a first detent and a second detent extending on opposite sides of the bulkhead portion to releasably attach the head to the neck.
4. 4. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, wherein the first detent is affixed to the neck such that the bulkhead portion of the coupler facing the neck provides a first finished surface for the neck, and the second detent is affixed to the head such that the bulkhead portion of the coupler facing the head provides a second finished surface for the head.
5. 5. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 4, wherein at least one of the following is implemented: the first detent is releasably attached to the neck, or The second detent key is releasably attached to the head.
6. 6. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 4, wherein the first detent is permanently affixed to the neck, and the second detent is adapted to releasably fit into a cavity formed in a portion of the head to permit releasable connection of the head with the neck when the second detent is positioned in the cavity of the head.
7. 7. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6, further comprising a first threaded means adapted to pass through a hole formed along the longitudinal axis of the head and thread into a hole in the second locating key.
8. 8. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6, wherein the second detent has a width that is at least 50% or greater of the average width of the head at its connection with the coupler and a thickness that is about 25% or greater of the average thickness of the head at its connection with the coupler.
9. 9. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6, further comprising a first thread arrangement adapted to pass through the second locating key and the mortise portion of the head in a first direction, and a second thread arrangement adapted to pass through the head and into the bulkhead portion of the coupler facing the head in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
10. 10. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 9, wherein the second detent has at least one aperture formed therein that aligns with at least one threaded aperture in a head mortise for releasably securing the head to the neck with the first threaded means, and the head has an aperture formed therein that aligns with a threaded aperture in the bulkhead portion for releasably securing the head to the neck with the second threaded means.
11. 11. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6, wherein the first positioning key is permanently affixed to a metal bracket in the neck.
12. 12. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the neck side of the bulkhead portion provides a finish to the gripping portion of the neck, and the nut mounted on the second locating key provides a finish surface to the fingerboard portion of the neck.
13. 13. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the coupler further comprises a first detent extending from a first side thereof for connecting the coupler to the neck, and a second detent extending from a second opposite side thereof, wherein the head comprises a cavity adapted to receive the second detent, and wherein the head and neck are configured to be releasably attached to one another using the second detent and the cavity to form a lap joint or a dovetail joint.
14. 14. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 13, wherein the second detent has a width that is at least 50% or greater of the average width of the head at its junction with the neck and a thickness that is at least 25% or greater of the average thickness of the head at its junction with the neck.
15. 15. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 14, further comprising a releasable attachment means comprising: A first threaded means adapted to pass through the locating key and the cavity of the overlap joint or dovetail joint in a first direction, and a second threaded means adapted to pass through the head and into the coupler in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
16. 16. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 13, further comprising a releasable attachment means comprising: A first threaded means adapted to pass through the locating key and the cavity of the overlap joint or dovetail joint in a first direction, and a second threaded means adapted to pass through the head and into the coupler in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
17. 17. A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument, wherein the neck comprises a coupler having a bulkhead portion dividing the coupler into opposite first and second sides, the first side permanently attached to the neck and having a shape that matches at least a portion of the shape of the neck, and wherein the second side of the coupler has a shape adapted to match at least a portion of the shape of the head to be releasably secured to the neck.
18. 18. A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument as in claim 17, wherein the neck comprises a reinforcement sandwiched between a fingerboard on a top side of the neck and a grip on a bottom side of the neck, and wherein the bulkhead portion of the coupler is shaped to abut and match the shape of the grip portion of the neck.
19. 19. A headstock for attachment to a neck of a stringed musical instrument, wherein the headstock comprises a structural form adapted to be attached to a coupler attached to a head attachment end of the neck, the structural form comprising a cavity adapted to receive a locating key of the coupler, and the structural form comprising a through hole in the headstock for receiving a bolt for screwing into the locating key when the locating key is received in the cavity to releasably attach the headstock to the neck.
20. 20. The mount of claim 19, wherein the structural form of the mount defines at least a portion of a shape of the mount at an attachment of the mount to the neck, the shape adapted to match a shape of the coupler so as to provide a physically smooth transition from the mount to the neck when the mount is attached to the neck.

Description

Stringed musical instrument with interchangeable head assembly Technical Field Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to stringed instruments and, more particularly, to stringed instruments with interchangeable head assemblies and methods of making the same. Background String instruments are generally divided into two categories, either arcuate instruments such as violins or plucked instruments such as lutes and guitars. Such instruments typically include a main body, a neck assembly extending from the main body, a head (sometimes referred to as a head rest) secured to the other end of the neck assembly, and a set of strings extending from a plurality of tuning keys located on the head to string fastening devices located on the main body of the instrument. As a result, when the strings are played or plucked, the strings resonate with the body of the instrument and produce sound. Traditionally, commercially available guitars and other instruments are typically sold as fully assembled instruments in which the neck and body are bolted to one another and the neck and head are manufactured together to form an integral instrument such that a user of the instrument typically expects neither the neck nor the head to be separable from one another. Thus, conventionally, neither the neck nor the head are individually replaceable. Recently, string instruments are available in which components can be assembled and replaced, forming not only instruments with different musical characteristics, but also instruments that provide different look and feel experiences for the user. However, even minor differences in the physical dimensions or connection relationships of the components of the instrument may require a stringed instrument producer to modify the instrument to achieve the desired sound. Furthermore, not only is sound and playability important for stringed instruments having interchangeable head assemblies, but also the strength and durability of the assembled instrument. Whatever device or manufacturing technique is used to allow the components to be interchangeable, the device or manufacturing technique must also not impair or reduce the durability of the assembled instrument. Furthermore, the devices or manufacturing techniques used cannot deteriorate the assembly of the components nor adversely affect the manufacturing costs. Additionally, it should be noted that in some instruments, the strings exert a large pulling force on the neck of the instrument, tending to cause warping and twisting of the neck. In addition, as the instrument is tuned, the strings are stretched further, imposing additional longitudinal stress on the neck and body of the instrument. Therefore, if the stress is not sufficiently controlled or resisted, warpage and twisting of the neck will occur. As a result, the instrument will produce distorted notes when played. In fact, such warpage and distortion may become so large that the strings may contact the neck at undesired positions, thereby disabling the instrument from playing. Accordingly, the inventors have recognized a need to provide a high quality stringed musical instrument with a more easily interchangeable head assembly that produces the desired sound, look and feel, fit and finish. Disclosure of Invention The present disclosure provides embodiments of string instruments with user-separable head-neck connections, improved methods of manufacturing such instruments, and embodiments of couplers suitable for such user-separable head-neck connections. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be incorporated into and used to make a complete stringed musical instrument or component thereof, such as a complete neck assembly or a replaceable head (or headstock) adapted to be connected to a neck assembly according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, a stringed musical instrument includes an instrument body, a neck extending from the instrument body, a head, and a coupler having a bulkhead portion that conforms a shape of a portion of the neck to a shape of a portion of the head. The bulkhead portion of the coupler is adapted to be attached to the neck in a permanent or temporary manner. The head may be releasably attached to the neck via the coupler. In some embodiments, a detent key extends from the bulkhead portion of the coupler, and the head includes a cavity adapted to receive the detent key. Example 1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a neck extending from the body, a head extending from the neck, and a coupler having a divider portion dividing the coupler into opposite first and second sides, the first side having a shape adapted to match at least a portion of the shape of the neck, and the second side having a shape adapted to match at least a portion of the shape of the head. Example 2. A stringed musical instrument as in example 1, wherein the first side of the coupler is adapted to abut and permanently attach to the neck, and the second s