Patent Publication Number: US-11024269-B2

Title: Modular electric guitar system

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/848,883, filed May 16, 2019, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to stringed instruments and, in particular, to a portable, modular platform for assembling guitars and other stringed instruments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most electric stringed instruments feature a set tonal palette that is determined in large part by integrated electronics. The palette cannot be changed without the work of an experienced technician, and cannot be changed quickly. 
     Some guitars have been designed with interchangeable components to facilitate quick changes of the electronics, but these often come with compromises such as limited range of tonal options, controls that must be generalized to suit all potential pickup combinations, and added components that increase cost and complexity. 
     The need remains for electric stringed instruments that allow quick changes of the pickups and controls, thereby creating a nearly unlimited range of tonal options, while being designed with economy in mind, limiting the number of specialized components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention resides in a reconfigurable electronic musical instrument with physically separate removable and replaceable pickup and control modules facilitating rapid changes to instrument functionality. Pickup modules may contain one or more electric pickups with different response characteristics, and different control modules may be used with the different pickup modules for a nearly unlimited range of tonal variations. 
     A reconfigurable electronic musical instrument according to the invention including a body portion with a set of strings overlying a front surface  106  of the body and a cavity accessible through the back surface of the body. Each pickup module has a front surface that includes one or more electrical pickups operative to convert string vibrations into electrical signals. Each pickup module is configured to be removably received within the cavity of the body such that each electrical pickup is proximate to the strings. The electrical signals are in electrical communication with a first electrical connector disposed on the pickup module. 
     Each control module, configured for removable attachment to the body, includes a second electrical connector adapted to mate with the first electrical connector, and one or more control or signal-processing devices to deliver a modified electrical signal to an output device for wired or wireless communication to an amplifier or other sound equipment. The electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors is automatically achieved when the pickup module is received within the cavity of the body. 
     The control module essentially completes the instrument body by filling a void when the control module is installed. That is, the control module has a thickness corresponding to the body of the instrument at least where it interfaces to the instrument, with front and back surfaces that are flush with the front and back surfaces of the body portion as well. The control module further includes an outer side wall that completes the outer sidewall of the body, such that when the control module is installed, the control module and the rest of the body together define the overall appearance of the instrument, which may be taken to include the peripheral shape, profile or ‘silhouette’ of the body. 
     The first electrical connector may be disposed on a tab that that extends from the pickup module and overlaps with a portion of the control module containing the second electrical connector when the pickup module is received within the cavity of the body. The tab may have a back surface that is flush with the back surface of the body when the pickup module is received within the cavity of the body, such that the back surface of body overall remains smooth when both the pickup and control modules are installed. 
     As opposed to more rigid connections, one or both of the first and second electrical connectors exhibit a limited degree of movement prior to electrical connection, with one or more magnets or mechanically self-aligning faces being provided to automatically align the first and second electrical connectors when the pickup module is received within the cavity of the body. 
     The front surface of the pickup module is preferably flush with the front surface of the body when the pickup module is received within the cavity. Alternatively, the electrical pickup on the pickup module may protrude from the front surface of the pickup module and extend through a pick guard or other layer over the front surface of the body when the pickup module is received within the cavity. 
     The control module may include volume or other user controls accessible on the front surface thereof. The pickup module may include a plurality of electrical pickups, in which case the control module may include a pickup selection control or separate volume or tone controls accessible on the front surface of the control module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular electric guitar system constructed in accordance with the invention in assembled form; 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing a cavity into which interchangeable pickups are removably mounted; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one possible interchangeable pickup module; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one possible interchangeable control module; 
         FIG. 5  is a back, side view of an instrument showing a body cut-out configured to receive interchangeable control modules such as the module of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing that shows a magnetically self-aligned connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now making reference to the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts an instrument  100  according to the invention having interchangeable electronic pickup and control modules  102 , and  104 , respectively. In this embodiment, the modules  102 ,  104  are removably mounted on an electric stringed instrument framework. Other embodiments may assume other types of musical instruments, including a bass, 12-string, extended range, multiscale, or any other type of fretted or fretless electric stringed instrument. 
     The pickup module  104  is preferably a rectangular enclosure made of wood, plastic, composite, metal, or any suitable rigid material. Its front face  103  is adapted for mounting a plurality of electrical pickups  303  which detect the vibration of the strings (not shown). The instrument  100  features an open cavity  202  ( FIG. 2 ) into which an electronic pickup module ( FIG. 3 ) is inserted. The pickup module  102  is preferably inserted from the back of the instrument so as not to disturb the strings. 
     The cavity  202  may include aluminum plates  204  mounted to the sides of the cavity, each having a small lip  206  that extends out at right angles to prevent the pickup module from escaping through the front of the cavity. In the preferred embodiment, the front face  102  of the pickup module features a pair of opposing stepped grooves  304  along the length of the left and right corners, which cooperate with the lips  206  on the aluminum plates, allowing the front face  102  of the module to be flush with the front surface  106  of the instrument. The side plates  204  protect the wood or other material of the guitar&#39;s body from repeated module insertion cycles. 
     The side plates  204  include detents  207  configured to receive spring-loaded ball plungers  306  on the sides of the pick-up module  302 . The ball plungers  306  on the left and right sides of the module lock the module in place without the need for tools. Other mechanisms, such as springs, magnets, t-slots, rails, or thumbscrews could alternatively be used to secure the pickup module to the body. A soft material such as felt may be applied to the surface of the plate to prevent marring the surface of the pickup module. 
     The back plate  312  of the pickup module  102  is preferably removable to access wiring within the module. Plate  312  may feature a finger hole (not shown) or a flush mounted pull to facilitate removal. The pickup module  102  also features a tab  308  that projects out from the side of the module providing an electrical connector  310 . A corresponding notch  208  in the sidewall of the cavity  202  allows the connector  310  to communicate with a mating connector  404  the control module  104 . When the pickup module is installed, tab  308  overlaps with the space occupied by the control module  104  so that the electrical interface can plug directly into the control module without running this wiring through the body of the instrument. The physical arrangement also allows the electrical interconnects to pass from one module to the other without protruding from the back of the instrument. 
     The control module  104  comprises a removable section of the instrument&#39;s lower body portion. The control module  104  may be attached using various mechanisms such as posts, threads, latches, magnets, rails, t-slots, etc. The module  104  is hollow, and may contain various electronic control and/or signal processing devices such as potentiometers with knobs  402 , switches, filters, preamps, output jacks, wireless transmitters, sound effects, etc. As discussed, downward-facing electrical interface  404  accepts the interface from the pickup module  102 . As discussed in the Summary of the Invention, and as evident in  FIG. 1 , the control module forms a portion of the body when installed. The front, back and side surfaces of the control module are flush with the corresponding surfaces of the body, completing the overall appearance of the instrument, including the peripheral shape or ‘silhouette’ of the body. 
     It is important that the electrical interface must be self-aligning and create a secure connection such that jostling and vibration will not compromise electrical contact during a performance, for example. While mechanically self-aligned connectors are used in preferred embodiments, magnetic self-alignment may also be used.  FIG. 6  shows a connector on the pickup module that includes a body  602  with a pad  604  having a plurality of contacts  606 . Around the pad  604  there may be disposed one or more magnetic components  608 ,  610 . The mating connector on the control module would include a corresponding set of contacts and magnetic components. Such magnetic components may comprise a permanent magnet on one side and magnetic (i.e., ferrous) material on the other, or magnets (with opposite poles) on both sides. The blocks and/or pads providing the contacts may exhibit limited lateral or axial movement prior to connection, such that in close proximity the connector on one or both side may move slightly to engage. 
     As with the pickup module  102 , the back panel  405  (and sidewall) of the control module  104  may be removable for assembly and maintenance. The back panel  405  may include a tab  406  that extends into a mated notch  502  in the instrument&#39;s back surface, providing attachment points for the control module. Any type of tool less fastener or latch may be used, including the preferred use of recessed thumbscrews  210  ( FIG. 2 ) that cooperate with matched threaded inserts  504  in the instrument&#39;s body. 
     A structure is preferably provided to align and reinforce the attachment of the control module  104  to the body of the instrument  100 . As one option, the sidewall  407  of the control module  104  that faces the instrument may be equipped with a metal bushing  408  or surface that cooperates with a corresponding feature protruding from the instrument&#39;s body, in this case a metal peg or post  506 . Conveniently, this feature also serves to pass the grounding wire from the instrument&#39;s bridge into the control module without the need for an additional wiring interface.