GB1426203A - Apparatus for playing musical instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

1426203 Stringed musical instruments K M GODLEY and L N CREME 14 March 1974 [25 April 1973] 19760/73 Heading G5J Apparatus for playing a stringed musical instrument, e.g. an electric guitar, comprises at least one rotatable member 14 adapted for location on the instrument adjacent a string, manually operable means 8 adapted bodily to move the member into peripheral contact with the adjacent string and means 5 for rotating the member continuously when in peripheral contact. Six manually depressable arms 8 are mounted on a bar 9 in a frame which lies across the strings. A spring strip 13 and a coil 20 allow the rubber-coated disc 16 on hub 15 to move in an arc against the rubber-coated roller 5 while nylon teeth 19 pluck the string. The roller 5 is driven by a pulley connected by a belt to a battery-driven motor. The frame has a crossbar which acts as a stop for the arm 8. In another embodiment (Figs. 3 and 4, not shown) a splined shaft (29) meshes with a cog (35) bearing an annulus with plucking teeth (37). The frame may be adjustable transversely of and parallel to the strings and may be secured adjacent the guitar bridge or be movable to allow normal playing. The number of plucking teeth per wheel and the rotational speed of the wheel may vary from wheel to wheel. A cover or lock may be provided over the arms whilst provision may be made for simultaneously depressing a number of arms.