Abstract:
An instant access guitar system allowing easy access to cavities in the body portion of the electric guitar. The cavities are covered by plates, a pick guard, flexible laminates or other suitable cover materials. The covers are held in place by magnets that magnetically attach to magnetic material mounted in the guitar body. The appearance of the guitar may be changed by changing the pick guard and the decorative laminate on the headstock. The sound of the guitar may be changed by having unique pickups and wiring releases pre-built in multiple configurations on multiple pick guards as modules to change in and out of the guitar at will with no tools or solder.

Description:
RELATED INVENTIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 62/009,548, filed on Jun. 9, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to electric guitars and, more particularly, to a method of construction of electric guitars. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Electric guitars were invented in approximately 1933 with one of the first electrically amplified guitars being designed by George Beauchamp of National Guitar Corporation. The electric guitar uses a pick-up to convert vibrations of its strings into electrical impulses. While different types of pick-ups can be used, the most common pick-up in electric guitars uses the principle of electromagnetic induction. The signals generated are amplified before being sent to a loudspeaker. The electric signal may be altered to add special effects, such as reverberation or beats therein. 
         [0004]    With the Big Band era of the 30s and 40s, jazz musicians wanted to amplify their sound. The electric guitar became the most important instrument in pop music. Over the years, the electric guitar has evolved into a stringed musical instrument that is capable of a multitude of sounds and styles. To generate the multitude of sounds and styles, a person must be able to quickly modify the sound created by their guitar. 
         [0005]    The sound generated by the electric guitar can be affected by the location of the magnetic pick-ups. Identical pick-ups produce different tones depending upon how near they are to the neck or bridge. Bridge pick-ups produce a bright or trebly timbre and neck pick-ups are warmer and more brassy. The type of pick-up also affects the tone. Dual coil pick-ups sound warm, thick and even muddy. A single coil pick-up sounds clear, bright and perhaps even sharp. 
         [0006]    When there is more than one pick-up, a selector switch is normally present. The selector switch selects the outputs of the pickups selected to create a particular sound. For example, the selector switch can select a pick-up creating a honky, nasal or funky sound. Individual pick-ups can also have their own timbre altered by switches. 
         [0007]    The pick-ups are typically mounted on a pick guard, which pick guard is attached by screws into the body of the electric guitar. The screw connections of the pick guard prevent one from rapidly changing the pick-ups to modify the sound being created by the electric guitar. The screw connections also prevent rapid modification of the electronics during a performance by a guitar technician. 
         [0008]    Many musicians have their favorite guitar. The musicians like to create different sounds with that guitar. That means being able to change or modify the guitar by a guitar technician between sets of different songs. The screw connections into the body of the guitar takes time to insert and remove, time which a guitar technician does not have during a live performance. 
         [0009]    In electric guitars, the electronics are normally located in a cavity within the body of the electric guitar. During a performance, it is important to be able to quickly get to the electronics portion of the electric guitar contained within a cavity in the body. By changes in the electronics, the performance of the electric guitar can be changed. Also, any electrical problems with the electric guitar can quickly be fixed if access can be quickly obtained to the electronics. The openings to the body cavities may be under the pick guard, under covers or from the rear of the guitar. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for rapidly changing or correcting the electronics of an electric guitar. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide for quick access to the cavities within the body of an electric guitar to allow for modification or correction. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to hold covers over cavities in the body of the electric guitar by magnets. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to increase user friendliness and cost effectiveness by providing solderless, tool-less modification and customization of an electric guitar in a minimum amount of time. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the amount of equipment necessary for a touring musician to carry, ship and/or set up while simultaneously reducing costs of maintaining a guitar. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to decrease the amount of time a guitar may be down during a musical event in case of circuit failure. 
         [0016]    It is still another object of the present invention to enable guitar technicians to swap and trade set ups with a minimum amount of time to access multiple configurations and designs, yet reduce the number of instruments needed. 
         [0017]    In the present invention, screws previously used to hold covers on cavities in the body portion of the guitar are replaced with magnets. The electric guitar can be constructed using the magnetic connections for the pick guard, or any covers of cavities in the body of the electric guitar. This allows a guitar technician to rapidly make changes in the guitar or to correct any electronic errors therein. 
         [0018]    The magnets eliminate the screws of the traditional pick guard covers to allow instant removal of the pick guard. The underside of the guitar, if it has openings therein, may also have magnetic connections for the rear covers. 
         [0019]    Through the use of a string retainer bar, by depressing the vibrato arm, all of the strings of the guitar can simultaneously be disconnected and moved to the side while other changes are being made to the guitar. Not having to disconnect each string individually greatly reduces the amount of time necessary repairs and/or changes. 
         [0020]    By use of the magnetic connection the decorative laminate used on the guitar can be changed during a performance so the guitar will have a different look for different songs. Further, the pick-up switch selector is sealed so that it cannot be contaminated because of electrical interference during a performance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded, front perspective view of a body portion of a prior art electric guitar with the strings removed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a body portion of an electric guitar having the present invention with strings removed and a pick guard laid too one side. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a body portion of an electric guitar with the vibrato spring cavity cover plate removed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a body portion of an electric guitar with strings removed and the guitar pickup mount system removed in what is called a rear-loaded electric guitar. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a rear perspective view of a body portion of an electric guitar with the guitar body control cavity cover plate being removed. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a rear perspective rear view of a body portion of an electric guitar with the vibrato spring cover plate removed. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic connector used in the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the decorative laminate applied to the headstock of a guitar. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a flexible magnet that may be attached to the headstock of a guitar. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a back view of a pick guard cover with screw inserts. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9  along section lines  9 A- 9 A. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a tech bridge. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the tech bridge shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the tech bridge shown in  FIG. 10  with broken lines illustrating alternative ways of connecting guitar strings. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a back view of the tech bridge shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the pickup selector switch with a protective boot. 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 14  along section lines  15 - 15 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is a side view of an alternative pick up selector switch with boot. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  is a partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16  showing boot screwed in place on the pick guard. 
           [0040]      FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of a guitar having the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of the vibrato arm and vibrato arm tip. 
           [0042]      FIG. 20  is a view of  FIG. 19  along lines  20 - 20 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 21  is a view of  FIG. 19  along lines  21 - 21 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 22  is a back view of the string retention bar. 
           [0045]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 22  along section lines  23 - 23 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 24  is a partial cross-sectional view of the tech bridge with a string retainer bar and strings in place. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0047]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the body  10  of a typical electric guitar  12 . The neck  14  of the electric guitar  12  is connected to the body  10  by the heel  16 . On the opposing end of the neck  14  is located the headstock (not shown). 
         [0048]    In the prior art electric guitar  12 , the pick guard  18  is held to the body  10  by screws  20  around the pick guard  18  that extend through the pick guard  18  into the body  10 . The screws  20  hold the pick guard  18  into position along with the neck pickup  22 , middle pickup  24  and the bridge pickup  26 . 
         [0049]    The blade switch pick up selector  33  may be used to select either the neck pickup  22 , middle pickup  24 , or bridge pickup  26 . Control knobs  28 ,  30  and  32  adjust the neck pick up  22 , middle bridge pickup  24  and bridge pickup  26 , respectively, for volume and tone. 
         [0050]    An output jack plate  29  covers the output jack route  31 . The output jack  27  connects through the output jack plate  29 . 
         [0051]    A bridge  35  is secured to the guitar body  10  to hold the guitar strings (not shown) in position. A vibrato arm  37  extends through the end of the bridge  35  to adjust the tension of the strings on the bridge  35 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the guitar  12  is as shown in  FIG. 1  is taken apart. The pick guard  18  is moved to the side. The screws  20  as shown in connection with  FIG. 1  have been replaced with magnets  40 , which magnetically connect to magnet holes  44  shown in the guitar body  10 . The pick guard  18  is connected to the guitar body  10  by magnetically connecting each of the magnets  40  with the magnet holes  44  to cover the opening by the swimming pool route  46  and the control cavity  45 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 6  and the exploded partial sectional view shown therein, the magnets  40  as contained in the pick guard  18  are shown. The magnets  40  are located in a countersink  42  of the pick guard  18 . The beveled edge  39  of the magnet  40  matches the slope of the countersink  42 . The magnets  40  may be held in the pick guard  18  by any conventional means such as glue or epoxy. 
         [0054]    Mounted in the guitar body  10  is a Teflon® insert  34  that has a space  38  at the top of a magnetic receiver  41  to receive the lower part of the magnet  40  therein. The magnetic receiver  41  has a conical shape for quickly receiving magnets  40  therein. Magnets  40  have a similar shape on the lower part thereof that matches the conical shape  43  of the magnetic receiver  41 . Inside of the Teflon® insert  34  is located a bar magnet  36 . The magnetic attraction between magnets  40  and bar magnet  36  will hold the pick guard  18  in place on the guitar body  10 . 
         [0055]    In alternative embodiments, the magnets  40  may be of any shape. The magnets may be cylindrical (not shown), with a mating ring magnet (not shown) mounted in the guitar body. In another embodiment, the magnets could be spherical with a mating shape being in the guitar body. In another alternative embodiment, the Teflon ring may be eliminated and replaced with a cylindrical magnet. The configurations of magnets  40  and magnet receiver  44  are almost endless. The primary consideration is the magnets  40  be contained in the pick guard  18  to give a smooth outer surface, yet some indentation be in magnet receiver  44  mounted in the guitar body  10  to receive the magnets  40  therein. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the back of a different guitar  50  is shown. The guitar  50  has a neck  52  and a neck plate  53  that combines the neck  52  with the guitar body  51  with screws (not shown). In the back of the guitar body  51  is located a vibrato spring route  54  in which is located a vibrato block  55  with vibrato springs  57  being secured by spring claw  59 . The vibrato spring route  54  is covered by vibrato spring cover  56 , which is held in position by magnets  40  magnetically connecting to magnet holes  44  as previously described in conjunction with  FIG. 6 . The vibrato spring cover  56  can be quickly removed by overcoming the magnetic force of the magnets  40  as connected in the magnet holes  44 . The guitar  50  as shown in  FIG. 3  is what is commonly referred to as a rear-loaded guitar. However, the features shown in  FIG. 3  are common to both front and rear loading guitars. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a rear loaded guitar  60  with a guitar body  58  and a neck  62  is shown. The guitar  60  has a humbucking pickup  64  that includes bobbins  66  and  68  mounted on pickup mounting ring  70 . Magnets  40 , along with magnetic holes  44  hold the humbucking pickup  64  in place on the guitar body  58 . Magnets  67  on the bobbins  66  and  68  pick up the sound created by the strings (not shown) that are stretched there across. Height adjustment screws  69  adjust the height of the bobbins  66  and  68 . 
         [0058]    The bottom  72  of the humbucking pickup  64  is inserted into pickup route  74  after connecting the miniature plug  75 , which carries the signal detected by the magnets  67  in bobbins  66  and  68 . Again, magnets  40  and magnetic holes  44  hold the humbucking pickup  64  in place. Volume control  77  controls the volume of the signal being received. Also, a bridge route  79  is provided in the guitar body  58 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B  in combination, the backside  80  of a rear load guitar is shown that includes a neck  78  and body  76 . A control cavity route  84  is enclosed by control cavity cover  82 , which is held in position by magnets  40  connecting to magnetic holes  44 . Electrical outputs from the internal electronics (not shown) are fed through the output jack  81  to the amplifiers (not shown) for the sound system. The vibrato spring route  88  is enclosed by the vibrato spring cover  86 , which is also held in position by magnets  40  connecting to magnet holes  44 . Both the vibrato string cover  86  and the control cavity cover  82  can be quickly removed by overcoming the magnetic force holding them in place. No screws or screwdrivers are required. 
         [0060]    The magnet  40  extends approximately 1/16″ below the pick guard  18  which helps to ensure the pick guard cover  18  is in the proper position and does not shift when operating the blade switch pickup selector  33  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0061]    Essentially all guitars have a head stock where the guitar strings can be adjusted. The present invention includes adding a decorative laminate  90  attached to the head stock (not shown) of a guitar (see  FIG. 7 ). The decorative laminate  90  would have slots  92  connected to tuner holes  94  to allow removal and replacement without removing strings (not shown). A flexible magnet  96  is adhesively attached to the underside of the decorative laminate  90 . In that manner, the decorative laminate  90  can be quickly attached to the head stock of any guitar. By changing the decoration on the decorative laminate  90 , the look or appearance of the guitar can be changed. It is possible to match the decorative laminate  90  with whatever decoration is on the pick guard  18 . Hence, the decoration as contained on the head stock can be made to match the decoration as contained in the pick guard. 
         [0062]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment where a flexible magnet  98  is glued to the headstock. The flexible magnet  98  may, or may not, have slots  91  connecting to the tuner holes  94 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 9  is the backside of pick guard  100 . Bobbins  105 ,  106 , and  107  are located in pick guard  100 . Referring to the cross-sectional view shown in Section  9 A- 9 A, bobbin  106  is shown mounted in pick guard  100 . Screw inserts  104  are attached to the backside of pick guard  100  by any conventional means, such as press fit and/or gluing. Mounting screws  108 , which are surrounded by mounting springs  110  located there around, are threadably connected to the screw inserts  104  to hold the bobbin  106  in position. This allows for the front of the pick guard  100  to appear smooth and screw-less. 
         [0064]    Also mounted in the pick guard  100  is the switch slot  102  that also has the screw inserts  104  mounted on the backside of pick guard  100 . This will be explained in more detail herein below in conjunction with  FIG. 17 . 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  13  in combination, a tech bridge  112  is shown. The tech bridge  112  is not the same as the bridge  35  shown in  FIG. 1 . The tech bridge  112  has string slots  114  through which the individual guitar strings are strung. Beneath the string slots  114  are saddle adjustment screw holes  116 . 
         [0066]    On one end of the tech bridge  112  is the vibrato arm receptacle  118  through which a vibrato arm can be inserted. The tech bridge  112  has bridge plate mounting screw holes  120  in one edge thereof and string holes  122  towards the middle thereof. Vibrato block mounting screw holes  124  are also provided in the tech bridge  112 . 
         [0067]    Referring now to  FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  in combination, a string retainer bar  172  is shown. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 23 , the string retainer bar  172  has a countersink connected to string holes  174  which receive each of the individual guitar strings therein. Once the strings of the guitar are in place in each of the respective string holes  174 , the guitar strings  132  connect through the string retainer bar  172  to the ball end  136 . Then, the entire string retainer bar  172  is located inside of the string retainer bar seat  126  of the tech bridge  112 . 
         [0068]    Referring back to  FIG. 12 , the string retainer bar seat  126  is clearly shown. The guitar strings  132  may extend over saddle  134 , through the string retainer bar  172 , and be attached to the ball end  136 . Saddle adjustment screw  128  adjusts the length and tension on the guitar strings  132  by adjusting the saddle  134  and tech bridge  112 . Vibrato block  130  connects to the tech bridge  112  via vibrato block mounting screw holes  124  as seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The strings  132  of the guitar come across the saddle  134 . In the preferred embodiment, the strings  132  will connect through the string retainer bar  172  to the ball end  136 . However, in an alternative embodiment, the strings  132  may connect to the bottom of the vibrato block  130  to the ball end  137  located at the bottom thereof. While it is envisioned that the strings  132  would go either through the string retainer bar  172  or to the bottom of the vibrato block  130 , the strings  132  could have any combination thereof, including some that go to the bottom of the vibrato block  30  and some going through the string retainer bar  172 . However, for rapid access function of this invention, all strings  132  should be attached through the string retainer bar  172 . 
         [0069]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15  in combination, a selector switch  138  is shown. A switch tip  140  connects through switch lever  142  to an internal selector switch (not shown) in a guitar. Covering the opening for the selector switch is a switch boot  144  which may be held in position by switch boot mounting holes  148 . Above the switch boot  144  is the boot top  146  which is generally a donut configuration in shape. The boot top  146  moves back and forth as the lever  142  moves back and forth. 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 9  along section lines  17 - 17 , a cross-sectional view of a monolithic switch boot  150  is shown.  FIGS. 16 and 17  show the monolithic switch boot  150 . The monolithic switch boot  150  consists of a rubber boot  152  that encapsulates the switch tip  140  and the switch lever  142 . The entire monolithic switch boot  150  is held into position by mounting screws  151  or magnets  40  as previously described in prior figures. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIGS. 19 ,  20  and  21  in combination, a vibrato arm  154  is shown. Vibrato arm has a vibrato arm tip  156  mounted on one end thereof by vibrato arm threads  160 . Inside the vibrato arm tip  150  is an Allen wrench hex tool  158 . The Allen wrench hex tool  158  will be received inside of Allen wrench hole  162  of the vibrato arm  166 . On the end of the vibrato arm  166  inside of vibrato arm tip  156  is a flathead screwdriver  164 . The opposite end of the vibrato arm  166  is connected by threads  168 . At the end of the threads  168  is located a Phillips head screwdriver  170 . The Allen wrench hex tool  158 , flathead screwdriver  164  and Phillips head screwdriver  170  can be used to repair most items on a guitar. Therefore, by using a vibrato arm  154  as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 19 through 21 , a tool kit for the guitar is described and shown. 
         [0072]    Referring now to  FIG. 18 , an exploded perspective view of the present invention, giving its features, is shown. The guitar  12  has a guitar body  10  with a neck  14  and head stock  15 . The design on the head stock  15  can be changed by changing the flexible magnet  98  and/or the decorative laminate  90 . The magnets  40  which are secured on the underside of the pick guard  18  connect to magnetic receivers  41  mounted in holes  177  of the guitar body  10 . Guitar pickups  22  are located inside of swimming pool route  46 . Control knobs  28  and  30  are mounted on the top of the pick guard  18 . Switch slot  102  is covered by pickup selector switch boot  138  through which switch tip  140  extends. 
         [0073]    Tech bridge  112  has vibrato block  55  located there below. Vibrato arm  154  may adjust the tech bridge  112  by adjusting the vibrato block  55 . The vibrato arm  154  extends through vibrato arm receptacle  118  to connect to the vibrato block  55 . The output jack route  31  is covered by the output jack plate  29 . On the backside, vibrato spring route  54  is covered by vibrato spring cover  56 . 
         [0074]    By use of the present system, a guitar may be changed very quickly to have a different sound or look. By movement of the vibrato arm  154 , a wobbling type of effect can be given to the sound. Other musical controls can be caused by the selector tip  140  or the control knobs  28  or  30 . The entire electrical harness is connected with miniature plugs  35  (see  FIG. 4 ) for quick disconnect or reconnection.