Abstract:
Method and apparatus for an elevation tray that quickly and easily adjusts the nut of a stringed musical instrument by containing, elevating, and lowering a traditionally fixed nut. The elevation tray attaches and detaches in the same manner, location and position as the traditional stationary nut blank between the headstock and fingerboard of the instrument. The elevation tray comprises a first and second side along with an interconnecting channel which contains a lift plate which contacts and adjusts the nut. A threaded screw passes through a cap and a bushing disposed in each side of the elevation tray to a mating threaded hole on each end of the lift plate so that the lift plate and the nut are moved up or down in response to the screw being turned clockwise or counterclockwise.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/661,732 filed on Mar. 23, 2010 now abandoned which claimed benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/210,695 filed Mar. 23, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to stringed instruments and, more particularly, is concerned with a method and apparatus for adjusting the nut of a stringed instrument. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Adjustable nuts and bridges have been described in the prior art, however, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0101980 dated May 18, 2006, Jones disclosed a head assembly for stringed instruments and method for manufacturing stringed instruments. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0005944 dated Jan. 14, 2010, Eliasson, et al., disclosed a compensated adjustable nut for a stringed instrument. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,545 dated Sep. 20, 1971, Rendell disclosed an adjustable bridge for stringed musical instruments. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,163 dated Dec. 8, 1981, Siminoff disclosed an adjustable nut for stringed musical instruments. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,524 dated Aug. 17, 1971, Jones disclosed a nut mount for stringed instrument fingerboards. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,085, dated Nov. 8, 1960, Porter disclosed an adjustable nut for fretted stringed musical instruments. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,957 dated Mar. 16, 2004 Merkel disclosed an intonation system for fretted instruments. 
     While these adjustable nuts and bridges may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an elevation tray that quickly and easily adjusts the nut of a stringed musical instrument by containing, elevating, and lowering a traditionally fixed nut. The elevation tray attaches and detaches in the same manner, location and position as the traditional stationary nut between the headstock and fingerboard of the instrument. The elevation tray comprises a first and second side along with a connecting channel which contains a lift plate which contacts and adjusts the traditional nut. A threaded screw passes through a cap and a bushing disposed in each side of the elevation tray to a mating threaded hole on each end of the lift plate so that the lift plate and the traditional nut are moved up or down in response to the screw being turned clockwise or counterclockwise. 
     In the past many inventions have been concerned with replacing the traditional nut, with adjustable nuts, assembled from metal that provide metal string supports which the strings are individually suspended there upon and individually adjusted one string at a time thereby replacing the traditional nut designed to be used with a particular fingerboard radius on a stringed instrument. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method with apparatus for preserving the traditional nut design, nut radius, nut material and provide user friendly elevation adjustments of the traditional nut designed to be used with a particular fingerboard radius on a stringed instrument. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method with apparatus that will allow the pitch of all the strings of a stringed instrument to be hand adjusted by the user in an easy and convenient manner, including while the instrument is being played by the user. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that allows the user the ability to change the string action on a stringed instrument from low, medium to high for playing lead, rhythm and slide or vise versa to be adjusted by the user&#39;s hand in an easy and convenient manner, including while the instrument is being played by the user. 
     A further object of the present invention is to allow all of the strings of the stringed instrument to be simultaneously lowered or raised a semitone above or below the fundamental tuned frequency of a stringed musical instrument in a convenient and easy manner, including while the instrument is being played by the user. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a hand adjustable tray for stringed instruments which can be easily used by the user of the instrument. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a hand adjustable tray for a stringed instrument which can be relatively easily and cheaply manufactured. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded perspective view of portions of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded partial cross-sectional view of the present invention taken from  FIG. 3A  as indicated. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 present invention 
               
               
                 12 
                 traditional stringed instruments or instrument 
               
               
                 14 
                 instrument strings or string 
               
               
                 16 
                 traditional fingerboard or fingerboard 
               
               
                 18 
                 frets 
               
               
                 20 
                 fret markers 
               
               
                 22 
                 neck 
               
               
                 24 
                 headstock 
               
               
                 26 
                 tuning keys 
               
               
                 28 
                 elevation tray 
               
               
                 30 
                 cavity top 
               
               
                 32 
                 cavity bottom 
               
               
                 34 
                 left side edge 
               
               
                 36 
                 right side edge 
               
               
                 38 
                 tray channel 
               
               
                 40 
                 traditional nut 
               
               
                 42 
                 lift plates or lift plate 
               
               
                 44 
                 left lift plate 
               
               
                 46 
                 right lift plate 
               
               
                 48 
                 tension spring 
               
               
                 50 
                 adjustment screws or adjustment screw 
               
               
                 52 
                 cavity 
               
               
                 54 
                 adjustable cap 
               
               
                 55 
                 cap aperture 
               
               
                 56 
                 threaded portion 
               
               
                 58 
                 string slot 
               
               
                 60 
                 traditional nut slot 
               
               
                 62 
                 adhesive or glue 
               
               
                 63 
                 channel 
               
               
                 64 
                 channel walls or wall 
               
               
                 66 
                 channel floor 
               
               
                 68 
                 bushing base 
               
               
                 69 
                 bushing aperture 
               
               
                 70 
                 stationary bushing 
               
               
                 72 
                 threaded hole or threaded holes 
               
               
                 74 
                 inside cavity bottom 
               
               
                 76 
                 index marks 
               
               
                 78 
                 index pointer 
               
               
                 80 
                 set screws or set screw 
               
               
                 82 
                 socket head 
               
               
                 84 
                 truss rod 
               
               
                 86 
                 bottom of the elevation tray 
               
               
                 88 
                 wall 
               
               
                 90 
                 cut-through 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of a complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate the present invention wherein a method and apparatus for adjusting the nut of a string instrument is disclosed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , therein is shown the present invention  10  constructed to increase intonation and playability of a traditional stringed musical instrument  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) having multiple strings  14  on a fingerboard  16  with multiple frets  18  and fret markers  20  on a neck  22  with a headstock  24  having multiple tuning keys (machine heads)  26  thereon. The elevation tray  28  which serves as a receptacle (see  FIG. 3A ) for the nut  40  has a cavity top  30  and cavity bottom  32  and a left side edge  34  and right side edge  36  that have a depth, width and height that form a tray channel  38  extending between the left and right sides being complimentarily sized and shaped to serve as a receptacle for and to contain the nut  40  and hold the nut blank securely in place. The first and second side portions  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  28  have a cut-through  90  therein and the cut-throughs  90  receives at least a short portion of the first and second end portions of the nut  40  therein. The elevation tray  28  is mounted as shown in  FIG. 2  and attaches in the nut slot  60  of the neck  22  of the instrument  12  in the exact location and position as a traditional nut  40  glued  62  in the exact place once occupied by the original traditional nut blank. 
     The bottom  86  of the elevation tray  28  shown in  FIG. 4  is designed with a first left side edge  34  and second right side edge  36  that fits securely (see  FIG. 2 ) to the neck  22  of the musical instrument  12  so the elevation tray  28  is centrally disposed relative to the fingerboard  16  at all times. 
     The lift plate  42  shown in  FIG. 4  is constructed to elevate the traditional nut  40  (see  FIG. 2 ) to a desired height for optimal distance adjustments between the strings  14  and the frets  18  of a traditional fingerboard  16  on a musical instrument  12 . The sides of the lift plate  42  are complementarily sized and shaped as shown in  FIG. 4  to fit the angled sides of a traditional nut  40  blank. In addition, the lift plate  42  may comprise one (see  FIG. 3A ) or two (see  FIG. 3B ) pieces that fit underneath the traditional nut  40  blank to support, raise and lower the nut. The depth of the tray channel  38  shown in  FIG. 3A  is sufficient to allow for height adjustment of the lift plate  42  while maintaining constant pressure on the channel walls  64  of channel  63  and a constant downward pressure on the channel floor  66  shown in  FIG. 4 . The two piece lift plates  42  having divided extensions (see  FIG. 3B ) which are separated making both left lift plate  44  and right lift plate  46  two completely separate units that operate independently of each other are used with the traditional or split nut. The lift plate  42  shown in  FIG. 3A  is one piece and operates only with a traditional nut  40  as one unit. The lift plate  42  fits into the tray channel  38  securely and will not rotate front to back or from side to side for smooth accurate intonation. This forms a custom fit that holds the lift plate  42  in position and prevents any unwanted movement.  FIG. 3A  also shows the walls  88  which define the side portions  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  38  and pair of cut-throughs or openings  90  in the walls which are contiguous with the channel  63 . 
     The tension spring  48  (see  FIG. 3A ) is optional and may or may not be used to reinforce the lift plate  42  when instrument string  14  tension is decreased, increased or completely removed from the instrument  12 . The optional tension spring  48  surrounds the bottom threaded portion  56  of each adjustment screw  50  and fits flush against the bottom surface of each bushing base  68  of each stationary bushing  70  in each hollow cavity  52  located at either end/side  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  28 . When used the tension spring  48  maintains an equal amount of upward pressure pushing against bottom of the bushing base  68  while maintaining an equal amount of downward pressure pushing in the opposite direction against the top of the lift plate  42 . Some common reasons for decreasing, increasing or removing instrument string  14  tension from a stringed instrument  12  include changing the traditional nut  40  blank, strings or in the event the instrument is being retuned to a lower or higher pitch. 
     The adjustable cap  54  and stationary bushing  70  (see  FIG. 3A ) can be removed from the elevation tray  28  in order to replace any worn parts. The adjustable cap  54  has an unthreaded smooth cap aperture  55  therein through which the adjustment screw  50  which has smooth upper sides and a bottom threaded portion  56  extends down through and continues down through the smooth unthreaded bushing aperture  69  and optional tension spring  48  and screws into the mating threaded hole  72  at each first and second end of the lift plate  42  disposed in each hollow cavity  52  located at each end/side  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  28 . 
     The adjustment screws  50  are effectively long, so that the top of each adjustment screw fits flush inside the top of each adjustable cap  54  and the bottom of each adjustment screw fits flush (see  FIG. 4 ) against the smooth unthreaded inside cavity bottom  74  of each cavity  52  located at each end/side  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  28 . The apertures  55 ,  69 ,  72  and cavity  52  are co-aligned and share a common central axis so they are substantially centrally disposed in each cavity of sides  34 ,  36  of the elevation tray  28 . 
     The stationary bushing  70  has a plurality of incremental index marks  76  disposed circumferentially shown in  FIG. 3A  about the stationary bushing so that the index pointer  78  cooperates with the index marks  76  so that the traditional nut  40  can be precisely and incrementally adjusted by the user by referencing the index pointer  78  to the index marks  76 . The index pointer  78  and the index marks  76  are coated with luminous paint, so the index pointer and the index marks glow in the dark allowing the user the ability to make precise elevation adjustments in low light conditions sometimes associated with playing a stringed instrument  12 . 
     At least one set screw  80  is horizontally disposed in the adjustable cap  54  so as to securely lock adjustment screw  50  to adjustable cap  54 . The adjustable cap  54  can be adjusted by hand or the adjustment screw  50  also has a socket head  82  (see  FIG. 3A ) in its top end so that it can be turned with an allen wrench or a similar tool. 
     Stationary bushing  70  is pressed to fit into the cavity  52  located in the sides  34 ,  36  of elevation tray  28  so as to prevent rotation of the bushing. Further, downward pressure from instrument string  14  tension reinforces the traditional nut  40 , transfers downward pressure to the lift plate  42  and adjustment screw  50  internally inside the elevation tray  28 . Turning the adjustable cap  54  by hand or turning the adjustment screw  50  by tool in a clockwise rotation will cause the lift plate  42  to ride up the threaded portion  56  of the adjustment screw incrementally lifting the lift plate. 
     Turning the adjustable cap  54  by hand or turning the adjustment screw  50  by tool in a counter clockwise rotation will have the opposite effect and the lift plate  42  will ride down the threaded portion  56  of the adjustment screw and the lift plate will move in a downward direction. 
     The traditional nut  40  rests on the top of the lift plate  42  into the hollow bottom of the tray channel  38  and is further held in place by the channel walls  64  on either side of the tray. The traditional nut  40  rests (see  FIG. 4 ) securely on the lift plate  42  cross-member or extension that fits adjacent to both sides of the traditional nut  40  and underneath the bottom of the nut blank. This contoured fit prevents any horizontal, forward or backward rotation of the traditional nut  40  and will allow one to file string slots  58  in the nut blank if needed without removing the nut blank from the tray channel  38 . The tray channel  38  holds the traditional nut  40  securely in the elevation tray  28  and allows (see  FIG. 2 ) one to make precise distance adjustments between the instrument&#39;s strings  14  and frets  18  (if any), located on the traditional fingerboard  16  of the musical instrument  12  consequently increasing instrument intonation and playability. 
     The accuracy of the elevation tray  28  depends on the adjustment screw  50  (see  FIG. 3A ) thread ratio per unit of length. The elevation tray  28  has an adjustment screw  50  with a thread ratio of 32 threads per inch allowing 0.03125 of an inch for each 360 degree adjustment screw rotation. The adjustable cap  54  is locked in rotational unison with the adjustment screw  50  by the set screws  80  so when the adjustment screw rotates 360 degrees the adjustable cap rotates 360 degrees. The adjustable cap  54  has an index pointer  78  (see  FIG. 3A ) and the stationary bushing  70  has 8 equally spaced index marks  76  that divide the 360 degree rotational distance traveled by 1 complete turn of the adjustable cap into 8 equally spaced measurements. Divide the rotation distance traveled 0.03125 or one complete 360 degree turn of the adjustable cap  54  by 8 to determine the distance between each of the 8 index marks  76  located on the stationary bushing  70 . A rotational distance of 0.03125 divided by 8 equals 0.00390625 or approximately 0.004 of an inch between each index mark  76 . The user can easily (see  FIG. 4 ) make 4 additional adjustments between each index mark  76  divide 0.004 by 4 and the elevation tray  28  has a hand adjustable accuracy of approximately 0.001 of an inch. 
     Once the old stationary traditional nut  40  has been removed (see  FIG. 2 ) from the instrument  12  and the empty traditional nut slot  60  where the old traditional nut once occupied is cleaned of any residual glue  62 , the new adjustable elevation tray  28  is ready to be glued into place. Instrument glue or adhesive  62  is evenly applied underneath the bottom of the tray  86  shown in  FIG. 4  and evenly applied in the same manner to the empty nut slot  60  (see  FIG. 2 ) between the headstock  24  and the fingerboard  16  of the instrument  12  and the elevation tray  28  is immediately glued in place at the exact location and position in the empty nut slot once occupied by the old stationary traditional nut  40 . After the elevation tray  28  has been properly attached in the traditional nut slot  60 , apply a small amount of downward pressure with your hand and hold the elevation tray very still to properly seat the tray. While the elevation tray  28  is being held securely in place, carefully remove any excess glue  62  from the instrument  12  with a damp cloth. Wait about five minutes then slowly remove your hand pressure and gently remove your hand from the elevation tray  28 . Allow the glue  62  to completely cure before moving the instrument  12  or having any more contact with the elevation tray  28 . After the glue  62  has completely cured, insert the new traditional nut  40  blank into the elevation tray  28 . 
     Unlike the old, traditional nut blank, the new traditional nut  40  blank fits freely and may be inserted or removed from the elevation tray  28  by hand. Next, file string slots  58  shown in  FIG. 3A  in the nut blank if needed, and restring the instrument  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) leaving string  14  tension loose on the instrument prior to making any elevation adjustments to the traditional nut  40 . As the traditional nut  40  elevates, instrument string  14  tension will increase. Now you can easily elevate the traditional nut  40  by hand to the desired height best suited for your playing techniques without adding unnecessary string  14  tension to the newly seated elevation tray  28 . Once you have achieved the desired string  14  height best suited for your personal playing characteristics you can easily retune and play the instrument  12  with precise intonation. 
     The following general background information (see  FIG. 2 ) makes reference to past inventions and how they differ from the present invention  10 . An instrument string  14  that has a constant density, tension and length tuned to concert pitch (440 Hz) will produce (880 Hz) if you reduce ½ of the original string&#39;s length. If you reduce the instrument string  14  length by ½ the same string will produce a frequency one octave higher. String frequency is inversely proportional to the length of the instrument string  14 , so if you divide the string length by two you multiply the string frequency by two. This is the basic mathematical principle reasoned for horizontal string length adjustments with respect to many past inventions; however the elevation tray  28  utilizes the vertical string  14  plane because a quality built stringed musical instrument  12  applies the above mentioned mathematical principle in the construction of the musical scale length of the instrument. If you measure the string length from where the instrument strings  14  contact the traditional nut  40  to the 12 th  fret  18  location and from the 12 th  fret location to where the strings contact the saddle the two measurements will be equal, minus several hundreds of an inch to allow for neck  22  relief and machine tolerances. There is little reason if any to adjust horizontal string  14  length on a quality built musical instrument  12 . The small difference between the 12 th  fret location and the point where the strings  14  contact the saddle is purposely created to allow for neck  22  relief to compensate for the pulling force transferred to the neck and headstock  24  of the instrument  12  after the strings are tuned. Any small difference left in the scale length (if any) is often compensated for on a quality instrument  12  by adjusting the truss rod  84  in the neck  22  of the instrument. 
     The elevation tray  28  can change the pitch or frequency of a vibrating instrument string  14  by varying the instrument string tension. If you increase the tension of a string  14  you increase the pitch of the string and if you decrease the string&#39;s tension you decrease the pitch of the string. Tuning keys (machine heads)  26  located on the headstock  24  of most, of the traditional instruments  12  are used to vary individual instrument string  14  tension (pulling force) to tune the musical instrument. The mathematical principle utilized by this style of mechanical tuner states the frequency of an instrument string  14  (speed of wave propagation) is proportional to the square root of the pulling force (tension) of the string. The current typical method of traditional instrument  12  tuning is to increase or decrease individual instrument string  14  tension in a singular method (one string at a time) until a musician&#39;s predetermined target pitch is reached, for example concert pitch (440 Hz). Once the musician&#39;s target pitch has been achieved the elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) is designed to make use of the same mathematical operating principle to increase or decrease the pulling force (tension) of all the instrument strings  14  in unison (at the same time) while maintaining vertical radial uniformity across the musical instrument&#39;s  12  entire intonation system. 
     With the stringed instrument  12  tuned to concert pitch (440 Hz) the musician uses the elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) to decrease the instrument string  14  tension (by lowering the stationary nut) in a uniform vertical radial string plane that simultaneously tunes the instrument&#39;s pitch down and lowers the instrument&#39;s string action. In reverse order with the stringed instrument  12  tuned to concert pitch (440 Hz) the musician uses the elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) to increase the instrument string  14  tension (by elevating the stationary nut) up in a uniform vertical radial string plane that tunes the instrument&#39;s pitch up and simultaneously raises the instrument&#39;s string action. 
     One main structural design objective was to construct the present invention  10  so that it could change the traditional instrument string  14  action from low, medium to high for lead, rhythm or slide playing respectively and maintain the same fundamental frequency. The elevation tray  28  utilizes the vertical operating string  14  plane located between the top of the frets  18  of the traditional fingerboard  16  to the bottom of the vibrating strings working in combination with the individual tuning keys (machine heads)  26  located on the headstock  24  of the traditional musical instrument  12  to accomplish this objective. The musician uses the tuning keys (machine heads)  26  located on the headstock  24  of the stringed musical instrument  12  to loosen the string tension (stretching force) exerted in the horizontal string plane across the traditional nut  40  and then uses the elevation tray  28  to readjust the stationary nut position up or down to set a new vertical operating string plane (low, medium or high action) between the top of the frets  18  of the traditional fingerboard  16  to the bottom of the vibrating strings  14 . The musician then retunes the instrument using the tuning keys (machine heads)  26  located on the headstock  24  of the traditional instrument  12  back to the same fundamental frequency for example concert pitch (440 Hz). 
     The elevation tray  28  takes advantage of interrelated physical laws in order for these mechanical processes to work homogenously. The instrument string  14  frequency is inversely proportional to the square root of the string&#39;s (density) linear mass. Simply put if one changes the density of the instrument string  14  you change the string&#39;s (timbre) tone quality. One can&#39;t change the string&#39;s density, but you can change any string or an entire set of instrument strings  14  on a traditional musical instrument  12  from a heavier density to a lesser density, say from a heavier  12  gauge set of strings to a set of 9 gauge strings or vise versa. If one changes the construction material used to build and play the stringed musical instrument  12  you change the density and sound quality of the instrument. The above associated physical law explains the need for the elevation tray  28  with the inherent ability to preserve the design, density and pitch characteristics of the original material used in constructing and playing a traditional musical instrument  12 . 
     The traditional nut  40  has a density and because of this fact a traditional nut made of corian will have a different timbre (resonate tone) than a traditional nut made of vintage bone, polymer, graphite, pearl, ivory, slate etc. The traditional nut  40  also has a radius that is designed to specifications dictated by the radial design of the traditional fingerboard  16 . The traditional nut  40  holds the musical instrument strings  14  in a fixed vertical radial configuration in a constant perpendicular relationship to the fingerboard  16  and each other to preserve the intonation integrity on a traditional electric or traditional acoustic stringed instrument  12 . That is why the elevation tray  28  is needed having this specific inherit ability to insure radial uniformity in the methodology of traditional nut  40  encapsulation for stationary nut elevation. 
     The elevation tray  28  accurately accommodates both traditional fingerboard  16  and traditional nut  40  radiuses. There are four basic commonly used traditional fingerboard  16  shaped designs (flat, cylindrical, conical and compound) commonly associated with eight different standard radial dimensions in traditional stringed instrument  12  construction. The commonly used eight different standard traditional fingerboard  16  and traditional nut  40  radiuses associated with the four commonly used fingerboard shapes are 7.25, 9.50, 10, 11.25, 12, 16 with the 6 and 20 degree radius fingerboards being less commonly used than the others. A lot of classical guitars are constructed with the flat shaped traditional fingerboard  16  radial design or infinite radius and the vertical instrument string  14  plane must be completely level without any arch and the traditional nut  40  radius must reflect that same flat design. In the flat radial design the traditional nut  40  and saddle and the instrument strings  14  are in one level string plane. The cylindrical radial designed traditional fingerboard  16  is constructed to accommodate a traditional nut  40  and bridge that all have the same nominal radius except the fingerboard is just a little smaller than the traditional nut and bridge. The third shaped is a conical radial designed traditional fingerboard  16  and the traditional nut  40  and the bridge are curved, but the traditional nut radius is smaller than the bridge. The fourth shaped is the compound radius designed traditional fingerboard  16  that has a varying radius where the fingerboard at the traditional nut  40  for example would have a 9.50 degree radius and linearly progresses to a 12 degree radius at the opposite end of the fingerboard with a curved traditional nut and a linear bridge. This explains why it is critical to use the exact traditional nut  40  material and radial specifications for a particular traditional nut and traditional fingerboard  16  combination in order to accommodate the built-in intonation integrity of a particular stringed traditional instrument  12  and that is one more very important reason why the elevation tray  28  is needed to provide controlled elevated radial containment of the traditional nut. 
     One more important objective of the elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) was for the tuner to be commonly used with existing stringed musical instruments  12  and that meant the elevation tray had to fit a variety of existing traditional musical instruments without changing the tuner&#39;s overall design structure to accommodate each different radial shaped fingerboard  16 . The elevation tray  28  needed to be versatile, because as a general rule of thumb the 7.25 to 10 degree fingerboard radiuses are easier to play chords and rhythm on while the 11.25 to 16 degree radial fingerboards are better for lead soloing. In the final analysis it should be noted that the actual playability of any traditional fingerboard  16  radius is based solely on individual preference. With these objectives in mind the elevation tray  28  had to work in combination with any floating bridge that made use of a compensated saddle assembly where vertical and horizontal instrument string  14  adjustments are sometimes made at the bridge of the instrument  12  and the elevation tray had to work equally as well with the stationary bridge assembly and fixed saddle where adjustments are on occasion made by using a file on the saddle or by inserting a shim to adjust the vertical string heights and horizontal string lengths. The design objectives had to take into consideration that a traditional nut slot  60  already existed between the instrument headstock  24  and the instrument neck  22  on a traditional string musical instrument  12 . Furthermore the different nut slots  60  on existing traditional musical instruments  12  had predetermined dimensions designed to encapsulate the traditional nut  40 . Several different standard traditional nut  40  dimensions with respect to nut length, width and height have remained a common standard to most all traditional make and modeled stringed musical instruments  12  both vintage and new over the past 50 or more years. 
     Varying the insert&#39;s length, tray channel  38  width, and the insert&#39;s channel depth to compensate for any one of the commonly used standard traditional nut  40  dimensions, allows the elevation tray  28  to retain it&#39;s appearance and universal structural design, so the insert can be lengthened, narrowed or widen and constructed to fit with precision into any one of a number of standard traditional nut slots  60  existing on both vintage and modern stringed musical instruments  12 . 
     In order to protect the original musical scale length (see  FIG. 3A ) and (see  FIG. 3B ), material and radial intonation design of the stringed musical instrument  12  the traditional nut&#39;s  40  bottom is sanded in a horizontal manner to compensate for the channel floor  66  and lift plate  42  thickness, (see  FIG. 4 ) then only the insert&#39;s channel wall  64  front and back height and thickness is sanded from the traditional nut&#39;s front and back sides respectively so the outer vertical wall surface of the (see  FIG. 1 ) tray channel  38  and the outer vertical wall surface of the traditional nut  40  remain in the same smooth vertical surface plane true to the musical scale length on the stringed musical instrument  12  from where the instrument strings  14  contact the nut to where the strings contact the saddle. This preserves the musical scale length of the traditional instrument  12  and allows the traditional nut  40  to fit into the tray channel  38  slot with meticulous precision. 
     The elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) is not an adjustable nut made of metal to support the instrument strings  14  rather a complete and different component designed to work with a traditional or conventional nut  40  made of organic or synthetic material, e.g., plastic, and should not be confused with a nut assembled from metal or any other physical matter. 
     Musical instrument nuts assembled from any material that support the strings of the instrument such as with metal supports with a physical structural design dimension that changes the musical scale length and the predetermined traditional nut slot  60  standard physical dimension already constructed into the traditional instrument&#39;s neck  22  of an existing stringed musical instrument  12  proves impractical for common traditional nut  40  replacement whatever the reason. A neck through, set neck or bolt on existing stringed musical instrument neck  22  with a musical scale length that has already been physically constructed can not be physically altered without adversely affecting the intonation and musical scale length of the musical instrument  12 . 
     This elevation tray  28  prevents time consuming labor and expensive instrument neck  22  modifications to existing vintage and modern stringed musical instruments  12 . The elevation tray  28  has a universal design that accommodates existing standard traditional nut  40  and standard fingerboard  16  radiuses, conserves the original material used in the stringed instrument  12  intonation construction, preserves the musical scale length and offers improved ease of use to fit the personal needs of the individual musician. The elevation tray  28  (inserted mechanical tuner) also provides an alternate method of tuning the stringed musical instrument  12  and a novel method of changing the string  14  action (playability) to increase individual finger dexterity and slide proficiency while playing the traditional musical instrument. 
     The present invention  10  may be summarized as follows: an apparatus and method for adjusting the nut  40  of a stringed instrument  12 , comprising, an elevation tray  28  having first and second side portions  34 ,  36  and a channel portion  63  for receiving the nut  40 , wherein each side portion has a cavity  52  therein; a lift plate  42  having first and second end portions disposed in the elevation tray so that the nut rests on the lift plate, each end portion having a threaded hole  72  therein; a cap  54  disposed in each cavity of the elevation tray, the cap having a first aperture  55  therein; a bushing  70  disposed in each cavity of the elevation tray underneath the cap, the bushing having a second aperture  69  therein; a screw  50  having a threaded portion  56  passing through each first and second apertures so that the threaded portion of each screw mates to the threaded hole in each end portion of the lift plate, wherein the screw is removably secured to the cap; and, wherein the lift plate and the nut are moved up or down in response to the cap being turned; furthermore, wherein the bushing has a plurality of spaced apart index marks  76  disposed circumferentially about its lateral surface, wherein the cap has an index pointer  78  extending laterally from its lateral surface so that the index pointer cooperates with the index marks so that the cap can be incrementally turned by a user a user-selected number of degrees by referencing the index pointer to the index marks; and, furthermore, wherein the channel portion  63  is a cross member  42  disposed between the first and second side portions of the elevation tray, wherein each cavity is cylindrically shaped having a central axis, wherein each side portion is defined by a wall  88  having a cut-through portion  90  therein, wherein the channel portion is defined by first and second walls  64 , wherein the channel portion of the cross-member is contiguous to the cut-through in the first and second side portions, wherein the nut has first and second ends, wherein the nut is disposed in the channel and the first end of the nut extends into the first cut-through and the second end of the nut extends into the second cut-through.