Patent Publication Number: US-9899008-B1

Title: Bridge and bridge assembly for stringed instruments

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to bridges and bridge assemblies for stringed instruments, including but not limited to, electric and acoustic guitars, basses, violin, cellos, banjos, etc. 
     More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an improved bridge assembly for stringed instruments. Bridges for stringed instruments lift the instrument&#39;s strings so there is an appropriate distance between the strings and the fretboard or fingerboard on a neck of the instrument. The string can be anchored to the body of the instrument, cross over a contact point on the bridge and be suspended over the fretboard between the contact point on the bridge and a nut positioned at the top of a neck of the instrument. 
     These bridges are generally adjustable in height such that the distance between the string and fingerboard or fret board can be adjusted to accommodate a particular instrument or the preferences of a particular player or user of the instrument. It is from this distance that the player depresses the string to contact the fingerboard to sound a particular note. In combination with the gauge, or diameter of the guitar strings, this distance is generally referred to as the “action” of the stringed instrument. Such bridges typically also provide adjustment for the length of the string. This is referred to as “setting the intonation” of the string. This adjustment allows the player to play notes “in tune” along the length of the string from the nut to the end of the fingerboard. To adjust the intonation of a string, the open string is plucked and tuned to a proper pitch. The player then depresses the string at an appropriate fret generally in the middle of the fingerboard or fret board, for instance at the 12 th  fret of a guitar. The player can then adjust the pitch of the depressed string by moving the bridge toward or away from the neck of the guitar as needed. 
     Additionally, in many conventional stringed instruments, holes are drilled through the body of the instrument, and the strings extend through the body and are connected to ferrules positioned on the backside of the instrument. In other embodiments, the string can be anchored to an additional device known as a tailpiece or stop bar. Either configuration can substantially increase manufacturing time for the instruments, which is undesirable. 
     Conventionally, the height of the strings has been adjusted using two general approaches. The first approach features a metal bridge assembly resting on two threaded poles or posts, one at each end. These poles or posts are mounted into a threaded base in the instrument&#39;s top. The poles or posts can be raised or lowered by turning their threaded shafts, thus raising or lowering them in much the same manner as screwing a screw into or out of a piece of wood. These bridges, however, do not have separate height adjustment for individual strings on the instrument. 
     The second approach uses a metal plate securely mounted to the instrument body and individual bridge pieces attached to the metal plate upon which the strings rest. These bridge pieces are secured to the plate with multiple adjustment screws, sometimes called feet. The height of the bridge pieces, and subsequently the height of the strings associated therewith, can be adjusted by turning each of the feet of the bridge pieces. As such, adjustment of the height of each string requires adjustment multiple screws or feet, which is cumbersome and undesirable. 
     Furthermore, different adjustments of the bridge and/or tailpiece components can require different tools. For example, a tool for securing the bridge to the posts of the guitar would not be useable to adjust the height of a particular saddle or bridge piece. Often times the screws used for different aspects of the bridge are different sizes or shapes. Thus, a guitarist would need to carry a plurality of tools in order to be able to make all of the different adjustments to the bridge and/or stopbar (or tailpiece). 
     Each approach uses a similar method for setting the length of the string, also known as the “intonation” of the string. This is done by moving individual bridge piece(s) forwards or backwards by turning a screw or bolt which is attached to the individual bridge piece. The screw or bolt is anchored to the bridge plate and is often held in place in between the bridge piece and bridge plate in tension provided by a spring installed around the intonation adjustment screw or bolt. 
     As such, adjustment of the string height and intonation of strings on conventional stringed instruments can be cumbersome and can require the adjustment of numerous pieces or screws, and can additionally require multiple tools, which is undesirable. 
     What is needed then are improvements to bridges and bridge assemblies for stringed instruments. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One aspect of the disclosure is a bridge assembly for a stringed instrument including an assembly body including a rounded rocker portion positionable against the stringed instrument such that the assembly body is rockable on the stringed instrument, and a string height adjustment member connectable to the stringed instrument and extendable through the assembly body. When the assembly body is positioned on the stringed instrument with the rounded rocker portion positioned against the stringed instrument, and the string height adjustment member extends through the assembly body and connects the assembly body to the stringed instrument, the string height adjustment member is operable to rock the assembly body on the stringed instrument via the rounded rocker member. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is a bridge assembly for a stringed instrument having a main body, a neck, and one or more strings extending from the neck, the bridge assembly including an assembly body positionable on the main body of the stringed instrument. The assembly body, when positioned on the main body of the stringed instrument, can include a forward end oriented toward the neck, a back end oriented away from the neck, and a rounded rocker portion positioned between the forward end and the back end and oriented towards the main body of the stringed instrument. The assembly body is rockable on the main body of the stringed instrument via the rounded rocker portion. A string height adjustment member can be connectable to the main body of the stringed instrument and extendable through the assembly body at a location between the back end and the rounded rocker portion of the assembly body. When the assembly body is positioned on the main body, the string height adjustment member is connected to the main body and extends through the assembly body, and one of the strings rests on the forward end of the assembly body, the string height adjustment member is operable to rock the assembly body about the rounded rocker portion to adjust a height of the string with respect to the neck of the stringed instrument. As such, the string height adjustment member can both attach the assembly body to the instrument main body and be operable to adjust the height of the string. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is a stringed instrument including a main body, a neck extending from the main body, one or more strings connected to the neck and extending toward the main body, and a bridge assembly. The bridge assembly can include an assembly body positioned on the main body. The assembly body includes a forward end oriented toward the neck, a back end oriented away from the neck, and a rounded rocker portion oriented towards the main body. The assembly body is rockable on the main body via the rounded rocker portion. A string height adjustment member is connected to the main body and extends through the assembly body at a location between the back end and the rounded rocker portion of the assembly body. One of the strings rests on the forward end of the assembly body, and the string height adjustment member is operable to rock the assembly body about the rounded rocker portion to adjust a height of the string resting on the forward end of the assembly body with respect to the neck. The stringed instrument can include a plurality of similar bridge assemblies making up a stringed instrument bridge, each string of the stringed instrument associated with a corresponding bridge assembly of the plurality of bridge assemblies. 
     One objective of the present disclosure is to help increase the ease and efficiency of adjusting the string height of strings on a stringed instrument. 
     Another objective of the present disclosure is to help reduce the number of parts in conventional stringed instrument bridges and bridge assemblies. 
     Another objective of the present disclosure is to help decrease the number of tools needed to adjust the string height and intonation of strings on a stringed instrument. 
     Another objective of the present disclosure is to help ease the installation and manufacture of bridges and bridge assemblies on stringed instruments. 
     Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a stringed instrument of the present disclosure having a stringed instrument bridge including a plurality of improved bridge assemblies. 
         FIG. 2  is a top detailed view of one of the bridge assemblies of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom detailed view of the bridge assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side cross-section view of one of the bridge assemblies of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side cross-section view of the bridge assembly of  FIG. 6  rocked to an adjusted position by a string height adjustment member. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plurality of bridge assemblies of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the plurality of bridge assemblies of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side cross-section view of another embodiment of a stringed instrument of the present disclosure where a string extends through the bridge assembly and through a main body of the stringed instrument. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial side cross-section view of another embodiment of a stringed instrument of the present disclosure where the bridge assembly includes a bridge plate mounted to a main body of the stringed instrument. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial side cross-section view of another embodiment of a stringed instrument of the present disclosure showing an improved bridge assembly mounted to a tremolo style bridge plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. refer to the apparatus when in the orientation shown in the drawing, or as otherwise described. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use. 
     One embodiment of a stringed instrument  10  of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Stringed instrument  10  can include a main body  12 , a neck  14  extending from main body  12 , and one or more strings  16  extending from neck  14 . Strings  16  can be connected to neck  14  at a head  18  of neck  14 , and strings  16  can extend toward main body  12  and be connected to main body  12  or some component attached to main body  12  such that strings  16  can be suspended over fret board or fingerboard  20 . Stringed instrument  10  can include an improved bridge  22  positioned on main body  12 . Bridge  22  can include a plurality of bridge assemblies  24 . 
     An embodiment of an improved bridge assembly  24  of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . Bridge assembly  24  can include an assembly body  26 . Assembly body  26  can include a rounded rocker portion  28 . Rounded rocker portion  28  can be positioned or positionable against main body  12  of stringed instrument  10  such that assembly body  26  is rockable on stringed instrument  10  about rounded rocker portion  28 . Rounded rocker member  28  can generally be positioned between opposing ends  30  and  32  of assembly body  26 . As such, when assembly body  26  is positioned on main body  12 , assembly body  26  can rock or teeter about or on rounded rocker member  28 . 
     Bridge assembly  24  can also include a string height adjustment member  34 . String height adjustment member  34  can be extendable through assembly body  26  and connectable to main body  12  of stringed instrument  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . When assembly body  26  is positioned on main body  12  of stringed instrument  10  with rounded rocker portion  28  positioned against main body  12 , and string height adjustment member  34  extends through assembly body  26  and connects to main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  can be operable to rock assembly body  26  on main body  12  via rounded rocker portion  28 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , assembly body  26 , when positioned in main body  12 , can include a forward end  30  oriented toward neck  14  of stringed instrument  10 , and a back end  32  oriented away from neck  14 . One of strings  16  can extend from neck  14  and rest on forward end  30  of assembly body  26 , such that the position of forward end  30  can define a height  36  of string  16  with respect to neck  14  of stringed instrument  10 . In other embodiments, string  16  can rest on back end  32  of assembly body  26 , such that the position of back end  32  can define a height of string  16  with respect to neck  14  of stringed instrument  10 . In some embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can be extendable through assembly body  26  at a location between rounded rocker portion  28  and back end  32 . In other embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can be extendable through assembly body  26  at a location between rounded rocker portion  28  and forward end  30 . As such, string  16  can rest on either a forward end  30  or a back end  32  of assembly body  26  and string height adjustment member  34  can be generally offset from rounded rocker portion  28  such that as string height adjustment member  34  is operated, string height adjustment member  34  can apply a force on assembly body  26  at a location offset from rounded rocker member  28  such that string height adjustment member  34  rocks assembly body  26  on rounded rocker member  28 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , string  16  can rest on forward end  30  of assembly body  26 , and string height adjustment member  34  extends through assembly body  26  at a location between rounded rocker portion  28  and back end  32  such that string height adjustment member  34  can be operated without interference from string  16 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , assembly body  26  can include an aperture  38  defined through assembly body  26 . Aperture  38  can be sized and shaped to receive string height adjustment member  34 . In some embodiments, aperture  38  can be an elongated opening through assembly body  26  that is longer than the width of string height adjustment member  34 , such that as string height adjustment member  34  is operated and assembly body  26  rocks or moves on main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  can slide or move within aperture  38  to help reduce or prevent interference between string height adjustment member  34  and assembly body  26  as assembly body  26  rocks or moves on main body  12 . Aperture  38  can be defined between an end of assembly body  26  and rounded rocker portion  28 . In  FIGS. 2-3 , aperture  38  is shown defined between rounded rocker portion  28  and back end  32 . In other embodiments, aperture  38  can be defined between rounded rocker portion  28  and forward end  30 . The position of aperture  38  within assembly  26  can generally correspond to the desired location where string height adjustment member  34  extends through assembly body  26 . 
     String  16  can generally be anchored at one end to neck  14  or a head  18  of neck  14 , and anchored at an opposing end to main body  12  or to some component connected to main body  12 . String  16  can be tensioned to a desired level such that as string  16  is plucked, a sound with a desired pitch is produced. When string  16  rests on forward end  30  of assembly body  26 , the tensioning of string  16  can bias forward end  30  of assembly body  26  in a direction toward main body  12 . String tension force  40  shown in  FIGS. 4-5  can be oriented in a direction downward or toward main body  12 . 
     String height adjustment member  34  can be configured to resist the biasing of forward end  30  of assembly body  26  by string  16 . String height adjustment member  34  in some embodiments can engage an upper surface of assembly body  26 , or a surface positioned opposite rounded rocker member  28  on assembly body  26 , to provide a string height adjustment member force  42  in a direction toward main body  12 . String height adjustment member force  42  can be applied at a location on assembly body  26  between rounded rocker member  28  and back end  32  to balance the biasing force  40  applied on forward end  30  by string  16 . In other embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can engage a lower surface of assembly body  26 , or a surface positioned on the same side of assembly body  26  as rounded rocker portion  28 , to provide a force in a direction away from main body  12 . Such a string height adjustment member force away from main body  12  can be applied at a location on assembly body between rounded rocker portion  28  and forward end  30  to balance the force  40  applied on forward end  30  by string  16 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , string height adjustment member  34  can be a screw or bolt that can be selectively screwed into and out of main body  12  in order to adjust the height of a head of string height adjustment member  34 . In some embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can have a pointed end that can be screwed directly into main body  12 . In other embodiments, main body  12  can include a threaded recess which can receive string height adjustment member  34 , the threads of string height adjustment member  34  engaging the threads of the threaded recess of main body  12 . Movement of the head of string height adjustment member can allow a defined rocking or motion of assembly body  26  such that height  36  of string  16  with respect to neck  14  can be varied. 
     For instance, in  FIGS. 4-5 , when string height adjustment member  34  is screwed into main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  overcomes the string tension force  40  and moves back end  32  of assembly body downward toward main body  12 . Assembly body  26  rocks about rounded rocker portion  28  such that forward end  30  moves upward or away from main body  12  to increase the height  36  of string  16 . When string height adjustment member  34  is loosened or screwed out of main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  allows string tension force  40  to rock assembly body  26  about rounded rocker portion  28  such that forward end  30  moves toward main body  12  to decrease height  36  of string  16  with respect to neck  14 . Back end  32  when string height adjustment member  34  is loosened thus moves away from main body  12  and remains engaged with string height adjustment member  34 , such that string height adjustment member  34  limits to rocking or motion of assembly body  26 . 
     In  FIGS. 4-5 , string height adjustment member  34  can be loosened or screwed outward from the position shown in  FIG. 4  to the position in  FIG. 5 , which lowers height  36  of string  16 . From the position shown in  FIG. 5 , string height adjustment member  34  can be screwed into main body  12  to return forward end  30  of assembly body  26  and string  16  to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . As such, height  36  of string  16  can be selectively varied via bridge assembly  24  by simply turning or adjusting a single string height adjustment member  34 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , bridge assembly  24  can include an integrated string anchor  44 . Integrated string anchor  44  can be integrally formed or defined on assembly body  26 . Integrated string anchor  44  can be engageable with string  16 . As such, string  16  can be engageable or anchorable directly with bridge assembly  24  and assembly body  26 . Vibrations from string  16  as stringed instrument  10  is played can thus be transferred to main body  12  of stringed instrument  10  via bridge assembly  24  and assembly body  26 . Having a string anchor  44  integrated into assembly body  26  such that string  16  can be anchored directly to bridge assembly  24  can help eliminate the need for string  16  to be connected or anchored to main body directly or via another component which is mounted to main body  12 , such as a tail piece or stop bar. 
     In some embodiments, integrated string anchor  44  can be a string hole defined in assembly body  26 . A string having a string ball or other knot in the string can be inserted through the integrated string anchor hole and the ball or knot of the string can engage a periphery of the hole when the string is tensioned to secure string  16  to assembly body  26 . In other embodiments, integrated string anchor  44  can include an anchor rod member  44   a  or other suitable structure to which string  16  can be tied around to secure string  16  to assembly body  26 . In some embodiments, anchor rod member  44   a  can be positioned next to a string hole, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , such that a string can be inserted through the string hole and tied around anchor rod member  44   a . Anchor rod member  44   a  can have a circular, square, rectangular, triangular, or other suitably shaped cross section. 
     In embodiments where string  16  rests on forward end  30  of assembly body  26 , string  16  can extend from forward end  30  to integrated string anchor  44 , string  16  being secured or engaged with integrated string anchor  44  such that string  16  is retained in a resting position on forward end  30  of assembly body  26 . In some embodiments, assembly body  26  can include a string guide channel  46  positioned between forward end  30  of assembly body  26  and integrated string anchor  44  such that string  16  can be positioned in string guide channel  46  to retain string  16  in a desired location on assembly body  26 . In some embodiments, string guide channel  46  can extend through forward end  30  such that string guide channel  46  defines a notch in forward end  30  of assembly body  26  into which string  16  can be received. The width of assembly body  26 , as well as the width of string guide channel  46 , can be large enough such that strings  16  of varying size or gauge can be utilized and rested on assembly body  26 . As such, bridge assemblies  24  and assembly bodies  26  can be interchangeable between strings  16  having different sizes or gauges. In one embodiment, assembly bodies  26  can have dimensions of about 1.5 inches in length, 0.5 inches in width, and 0.4 inches in height. 
     In still other embodiments, string  16  can be anchored to the neck of stringed instrument  10  and main body  12  or another component of stringed instrument  10  attached to main body, such that tension can be produced in string  16 . The tension can bias forward end  30  of assembly body  26  in a direction toward main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  resisting the biasing of forward end  30  of assembly body  26 . For instance, in  FIG. 8 , string  16  extends through main body  12  and is secured to a ferrule  48  positioned on a back side of main body  12 , similar to many conventional guitars. String  16  can extend through assembly body  26  in such embodiments and through main body  12 . String  16  can be tensioned once secured to main body  12  and assembly body  26  can rock on rounded rocker portion  28  in response to the tension in string  16  and operation of string height adjustment member  34 , as previously described. In some embodiments, string  16  can extend through assembly body  26  at a position forward of string height adjustment member  34  to help reduce interference of string  16  with the operation of string height adjustment member  34 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2-5 , in some embodiments, bridge assembly  24  can include an intonation adjustment member  50  extendable through assembly body  26 , and particularly through an end  30  or  32  of assembly body  26 . When string height adjustment member  34  extends through assembly body  26  and intonation adjustment member  50  extends through an end of assembly body  26 , intonation adjustment member  50  can be positionable against string height adjustment member  34  to engage string height adjustment member  34 . When assembly body  26  is positioned on main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  extends through assembly body  26  and connects to main body  12 , and intonation adjustment member  50  extends through an end of assembly body  26  and is positioned against string height adjustment member  34 , intonation adjustment member  50  can be operable to move assembly body  26  relative to string height adjustment member  34 . 
     When string  16  is anchored to assembly body  26  or to main body  12 , moving assembly body  26  relative to string height adjustment member  34 , which effectively moves assembly body  26  relative to main body  12 , can adjust the length of string  16  from its contact point on neck  14  to the contact point of string  16  on assembly body  26 , the contact point being forward end  30  of assembly body  26  in  FIGS. 2-5 . Adjusting the length of string  16  can adjust the intonation of string  16  such that string  16  can remained in tune when string  16  is depressed at different locations along a fretboard  20  of stringed instrument  10  as stringed instrument  10  is played. 
     Tension in string  16  can generally bias assembly body  26  in a direction toward neck  14  of stringed instrument  10 . In some embodiments, intonation adjustment member  50  can be threadingly engaged with an end of assembly body  26 , such that when intonation adjustment member  50  is positioned against string height adjustment member  34  secured to main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  can act as a stop for intonation adjustment member  50  threadingly secured to assembly body  26 . As such, the interaction of intonation adjustment member  50  and string height adjustment member  34  can resist motion of assembly body  26  toward neck  14 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , intonation adjustment member  50  can be a bolt or screw which can be operable to screw into or out of an end of assembly body  26 . In some embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can extend between rounded rocker portion  28  and back end  32  and intonation adjustment member  50  can extend through and be threadingly engaged with back end  32  of assembly body  26 . As such, intonation adjustment member  50  can be operable to screw into and out of back end  32  of assembly body  26 . As intonation adjustment member  50  screws into back end  32  of assembly body  26 , intonation adjustment member  50  being positioned against string height adjustment member  34  causes assembly body  26  to translate along intonation adjustment member  50  in a direction away from neck  14 . As intonation adjustment member  50  screws out of back end  32  of assembly body  26 , tension in string  16  pulls assembly body  26  in a direction toward neck  14  to keep intonation adjustment member  50  positioned against string height adjustment member  34 . As such, the position of assembly body  26  relative to string height adjustment member  34  and main body  12  can be adjusted via intonation adjustment member  50  to adjust the length of string  16  and the intonation of string  16  on stringed instrument  10 . 
     In some embodiments, both string height adjustment member  34  and intonation adjustment member  50  can comprise bolts or screws having the same screw head type. For instance, in some embodiments, both adjustment members  34  and  50  can be one of Philips screw head types, flat head screw head types, or hex screw head types. As such, a single tool can be used by a user or player of stringed instrument  10  to adjust string height as well as intonation of a string  16 . Such a configuration can help increase efficiency over conventional bridges for stringed instruments, where adjustment members utilize different screw head types and thus require a large number of tools to adjust both the string height and intonation of a string  16 . 
     Having a bridge assembly  24  where a string height adjustment member  34 , an intonation adjustment member  50 , and a string anchor  44  are all integrated or disposed on a single assembly  24  can help ease manufacture of stringed instruments needing adjustable bridge assemblies. To install bridge assembly  24  of  FIGS. 4-5  on main body  12  of stringed instrument  10 , assembly body  26  can be positioned on main body  12 , string height adjustment member  34  can be inserted or extended through assembly body  26  and connected to main body  12 , intonation adjustment member  50  can be extended through a back end  32  of assembly body  26  and positioned against string height adjustment member  34 , and string  16  can be anchored to string anchor  44 . As such, when string height adjustment member  34  is a screw, installation only requires installing one screw for each bridge assembly  24  into main body  12 , and/or drilling a single pilot hole into main body  12  for each bridge assembly  24 . 
     Additionally, bridge assemblies of  FIGS. 2-5  include a single adjustment member for string height and a single adjustment member for intonation. Such a configuration can provide increased efficiency over conventional models where multiple adjustment members are utilized to adjust the string height of an individual string. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7 , in some embodiments, stringed instrument  10  can include a plurality of strings  16  extending from the neck of stringed instrument  10 , and bridge  22  can include a plurality of bridge assemblies  24 . Each bridge assembly  24  can include an assembly body  26  positioned or positionable on main body  12 . Assembly body  26  can include a forward end  30  oriented toward the neck of stringed instrument  10 , a back end  32  oriented away from the neck of stringed instrument  10 , and a rounded rocker portion  28  oriented toward main body  12 . Assembly body  26  is rockable about rounded rocker portion  28  on main body  12 . Each bridge assembly  24  can also include a string height adjustment member  34  connected or connectable to main body  12  and extending through assembly body  26  between a back end  32  of assembly body  26  and rounded rocker portion  28 . Each string  16  of stringed instrument  10  can rest on the forward end  30  of the assembly body  26  of a corresponding bridge assembly  24 . Each string height adjustment member  34  can be operable to rock a corresponding assembly body  26  via a corresponding rounded rocker portion  28 . As such, a plurality of bridge assemblies  24  can be coupled to corresponding strings  16  on stringed instrument  10  such that the heights of strings  16  and the intonation of strings  16  can be adjusted individually with the improved bridge assemblies  24 . 
     Bridge  22  is shown in  FIGS. 6-7  as having 6 bridge assemblies  24  accommodating six strings  16  of stringed instrument  10 . In other embodiments, the number of bridge assemblies on stringed instrument  10  can be varied in order to accommodate varying numbers of strings  16  on stringed instrument  10 . In some embodiments, stringed instrument  10  can include 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 pairs of strings  16  and corresponding bridge assemblies  24 . Additionally, the width of the assembly bodies  26  of the plurality of bridge assemblies can be varied for different stringed instruments  10  to accommodate varying string spacing on the neck of stringed instrument  10 . In some embodiments, adjacent bridge assemblies  24  can abut one another to keep bridge assemblies generally parallel to each another. In other embodiments, adjacent bridge assemblies  24  can be spaced apart from one another. 
     Additionally, different materials can be used to manufacture bridge assemblies  24 , and particularly assembly bodies  26 , in order to produce different sound characteristics affecting volume, tone color, and sustain of vibrations of strings  16  when stringed instrument  10  is played. Such materials can include, but are not limited to, metals such as brass, stainless steel, titanium, iron, etc., graphite, plastics, thermoplastics, or other suitable polymers. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 9-10 , bridge assembly  24  can include a bridge plate  52  mountable to main body  12 . Assembly body  26  can be positioned on, and rounded rocker portion  28  can be positioned on or against, bridge plate  52  such that assembly body  26  is positioned on main body  12  via bridge plate  52 . Additionally, string height adjustment member  34  can be connected to bridge plate  52  such that string height adjustment member  34  is connected to main body  12  via bridge plate  52 . In some embodiments, string height adjustment member  34  can be a screw or bolt and bridge plate  52  can have a threaded recess which can receive string height adjustment member  34 . Additionally, because bridge assembly  24  can be connected to a conventional bridge plate  52 , an improved bridge assembly  24  of the present disclosure can be retrofitted onto existing stringed instruments already including a bridge plate  52  secured to main body  12  of stringed instrument  10 . In those embodiments including a plurality of strings and a plurality of corresponding bridge assemblies, the various assembly bodies  26  of the bridge assemblies  24  can be positioned on a single bridge plate  52 . 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, bridge plate  52  of bridge assembly  24  of stringed instrument  10  can be a tremolo style bridge plate  52  as shown in  FIG. 10 . In such embodiments, bridge plate  52  can be biased against main body  12  by one or more springs  54  connected to main body  12 . Bridge plate  52  can be movable or rotatable relative to main body  12  to temporarily change the pitch of string  16  resting on bridge assembly  24 . When bridge plate  52  moves toward the neck of stringed instrument  10 , the pitch of string  16  can get lower, and when bridge plate  52  moves away from the neck of stringed instrument  10 , the pitch of string  16  can get higher. Bridge plate  52  can include a handle  56  in some embodiments to provide the player leverage for moving bridge plate  52  during use. In some embodiments, handle  56  can be rotatable on bridge plate  52  such that handle  56  can be used to move bridge plate  52  in either a forward or backward direction. The ability to temporarily change the pitch of string  16  can be useful to produce varying sound effects as stringed instrument  10  is played. Improved bridge assemblies  24  can thus be retrofitted to existing stringed instruments having tremolo style bridge plates  52 . 
     In some embodiments, magnetic pickups or piezo elements can be integrated into the bridge assembly, for instance on a bridge plate  52  of bridge assembly  24 . As such, magnetic pickups and piezo elements associated with electric guitars or other electric instruments can be incorporated or integrated into bridge assemblies  24  which can further help increase the efficiency of manufacturing stringed instruments. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful BRIDGE AND BRIDGE ASSEMBLY FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention.