Improvements in Guitars, Mandolins, and similar Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
Improvements in Guitars, Mandolins, and similar Stringed
Instruments.
I HERMANN LINDEMANN of Klingenthal in Saxony in the Empire of Germany
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to arrange the strings of a guitar or mandolin or
similar stringed instrument so that the difficulties found in conveniently fingering
the strings over the finger board may be avoided.
This invention not only provides for a more easy fingering, but it also allows the
strings to be stopped so that chords throughout all keys may be fingered and
combined in a manner previously impossible on such instruments.
The improvements are shown in the accompanying drawing as applied to a
guitar
Fig. 1 being a front elevation Fig. 2 a side view Fig. 3 a plan and cross section
of the finger board and head Fig. 4 a section on line A B and Fig. 5 a section on
line C D Fig. 3.
As illustrated in the drawing the invention consists in the arrangement of
strings with frets therefor on the underside of the finger board of the instru-
ment in addition to those strings s with their frets located in the usual way above
the finger board.
The finger board is made broader along the greater part of its length as seen in
Fig. 3 and this part is preferably set at an angle as shown in the cross section in
this figure. The broadened or added part of the finger board is cut away or
reduced near the body of the instrument so that the strings s' attached in the same
way as the strings & may pass, freely under the finger board a and be stretched by
pegs & in the usual way.
In the guitar shown three strings s' are located in this way and are intended to
be stopped by the thumb on the back or underside of the finger board.
It may be mentioned that this improvement renders the instrument more suitable
for solo playing, widens the range of harmouy thereon and also improves the
volume and quality of tone.
Having now particularly describe and ascertain the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
In guitars mandolins and like stringed instruments.
1. The improvement consisting in arranging the strings so that certain of them
are fingered and stopped on the upper face of the finger board and certain of them
fingered and stopped on the under face of the finger board substantially as set
forth.
2. The combination of a finger board having frets b on its upper and under sides
with two sets of strings adapted to be fingered respectively on the upper and
lower faces of said finger board.
3. The combination of a finger board a having a laterally extended part, the
same being cut away towards the belly, frets on the upper side of said finger
board and frets on the underside of said extended part a set of strings s adapted to

page_text: be stopped on the upper side of said finger board and a set of strings s'adapted to
be stopped on the underside of said extended part substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of May 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.