Patent Description:
The present disclosure takes into consideration the above circumstances. An example object of the present disclosure is to provide a stringed musical instrument and an acoustic effect device capable of enabling a player to easily control an effect imparting unit even while playing the stringed musical instrument.

The present invention is defined by appended independent claims. The dependent claims describe optional features and distinct embodiments.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a stringed musical instrument includes: a musical instrument body configured such that a string is attached thereto; a pickup configured to: i) detect vibration of the string and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration; a detection sensor that is: i) attached to the musical instrument body and ii) configured to output a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body; and a controller that is attached to the musical instrument body, and is configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effect imparting unit configured to impart an effect to the string vibration signal.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an acoustic effect device used for a stringed musical instrument includes: a pickup configured to: i) detect vibration of a string of the stringed musical instrument and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration; a detection sensor configured to be attached to the musical instrument body of the stringed musical instrument and output a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body; and a controller configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effect imparting unit configured to impart an effect onto the string vibration signal.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a stringed musical instrument includes: a musical instrument body configured such that a string is attached thereto; a pickup configured to: i) detect vibration of the string and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration; a detection sensor configured to output a detection signal according to a player's operation performed with respect to a front plate or a back plate of a hollow part of the musical instrument body; and a controller that is attached to the musical instrument body, and is configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effect configured to impart an effect onto the string vibration signal.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described, with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment is an acoustic guitar. The stringed musical instrument <NUM> includes a musical instrument body <NUM>, strings <NUM>, a pickup <NUM>, a detection sensor <NUM>, and a controller (control unit) <NUM>. Also, the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes an effect imparting unit <NUM> and a vibrator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the musical instrument body <NUM> includes a hollow part <NUM> and a neck <NUM>.

The hollow part <NUM> is formed in a box shape having therein a cavity S. The hollow part <NUM> has a front plate <NUM>, a back plate <NUM>, and a side plate <NUM>. The front plate <NUM> and the back plate <NUM> are each formed in a flat plate shape. The front plate <NUM> and the back plate <NUM> are arranged spaced apart from one another in the plate thickness direction thereof. The side plate <NUM> extends from the circumferential edge of the back plate <NUM> to the circumferential edge of the front plate <NUM>. The front plate <NUM>, the back plate <NUM>, and the side plate <NUM> form the hollow part <NUM> having therein the cavity S.

In the front plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM> there is formed a sound hole <NUM> (sound chamber) penetrating therethrough in the plate thickness direction of the front plate <NUM>. The sound hole <NUM> communicates the cavity S of the hollow part <NUM> with the space outside the hollow part <NUM>. Moreover, on an outer surface 23a of the front plate <NUM> there is provided a tailpiece <NUM> for fastening a first end of each string <NUM> in the lengthwise direction.

The neck <NUM> extends in a direction away from the hollow part <NUM>. At a distal end of the neck <NUM> there is provided a headstock (head, peghead) <NUM> for winding up a second end side of each string <NUM> in the lengthwise direction.

The strings <NUM> are strung over the hollow part <NUM> and the neck <NUM>. Specifically, the first end of each string <NUM> is fastened to the tailpiece <NUM> on the hollow part <NUM>, and the second end of each string <NUM> is wound at the headstock <NUM>. As a result, the strings <NUM> are strung between the tailpiece <NUM> and the head <NUM>.

Between the strings <NUM> strung above the outer surface 23a of the front plate <NUM> and the outer surface 23a of the front plate <NUM> there is provided a vibration transmitting unit <NUM> (bridge). As a result, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM>, vibration of the string <NUM> is transmitted to the front plate <NUM> via the vibration transmitting unit <NUM>, thereby vibrating the front plate <NUM>. As a result, the air inside the hollow part <NUM> (cavity S) resonates, and a sound is radiated to the outside of the hollow part <NUM>.

The pickup <NUM> detects vibration of the string <NUM> and outputs a string vibration signal according to the vibration of the string <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the pickup <NUM> is arranged at the position on the front plate <NUM> where the sound hole <NUM> is formed, so as not to disturb the vibration of the front plate <NUM> associated with the vibration of the string <NUM>. However, the embodiment of the disclosure is not limited to this example.

The effect imparting unit <NUM> (effector) shown in <FIG> and <FIG> generates a sound signal (so-called wet sound) in which a musical or acoustic effect is imparted to a string vibration signal output from the pickup <NUM> (or equalizer <NUM> described later), and outputs the sound signal.

The effect imparting unit <NUM> includes effect imparting elements <NUM> that each imparts a predetermined musical or acoustic effect, such as looper, distortion, wah-wah, reverb, or flanger. The effect imparting unit <NUM> may for example include only one effect imparting element <NUM>. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the effect imparting unit <NUM> includes a plurality of effect imparting elements <NUM> (31a to 31e) that each impart a different effect.

The effect of the looper (effect imparting element 31a), which is one of the effect imparting elements <NUM>, switches between start and stop of sound recording to thereby record a sound signal on the basis of an input string vibration signal or repeatedly reproduce a recorded sound signal.

Also, the effect imparting unit <NUM> includes a mixing circuit <NUM>. The mixing circuit <NUM> mixes or selects, at an arbitrary ratio, output signals output from the effect elements according to the input string vibration signal input to the effect imparting unit <NUM> (wet sound) and a string vibration signal not passing through the effect elements (dry sound), and outputs the mixed or selected signals as a sound signal to an external unit (vibrator <NUM> or amplifier <NUM> described later) of the effect imparting unit <NUM>.

The effect imparting unit <NUM> is attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>. The effect imparting unit <NUM> may be stored, for example, in a storage part <NUM> attached to the hollow part <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the vibrator <NUM> is attached to the hollow part <NUM> of the musical instrument body <NUM>. The vibrator <NUM> vibrates the hollow part <NUM> on the basis of a sound signal output from the effect imparting unit <NUM> according to the string vibration signal. As the vibrator <NUM> vibrates the hollow part <NUM>, the sound to which the effect is imparted by the effect imparting unit <NUM> is radiated to the outside of the hollow part <NUM>. The vibrator <NUM> may be an electro-acoustic transducer of a commonly known voice coil type or of any other type.

The vibrator <NUM> may be attached, for example, to the back plate <NUM> or the side plate <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the vibrator <NUM> is attached to the front plate <NUM>. Specifically, the vibrator <NUM> is attached to an inner surface 23b of the front plate <NUM>. Also, the vibrator <NUM> is located in a region on the front plate <NUM> away from the peripheral region of the sound hole <NUM> (that is, away from the region where the detection sensor <NUM> is arranged). In <FIG>, when the stringed musical instrument <NUM> is viewed from the front, the vibrator <NUM> is located in a region of the hollow part <NUM> such that the sound hole <NUM> and the tailpiece <NUM> are sandwiched between the vibrator <NUM> and the neck <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes an equalizer <NUM> and an amplifier <NUM>. The equalizer <NUM> adjusts the frequency characteristics of a string vibration signal output from the pickup <NUM>. The equalizer <NUM> adjusts the frequency characteristics of the string vibration signal so as to emphasize, for example, a frequency region (for example, a harmonic component) higher than the fundamental tone frequency region of the string <NUM>. The equalizer <NUM> outputs to the effect imparting unit <NUM> the string vibration signal the frequency characteristics of which have been adjusted. The amplifier <NUM> amplifies a sound signal output from the effect imparting unit <NUM> and outputs it to the vibrator <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the equalizer <NUM> and the amplifier <NUM> are attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>. As with the effect imparting unit <NUM>, the equalizer <NUM> and the amplifier <NUM> may be stored, for example, in the storage part <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>. The detection sensor <NUM> outputs a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body <NUM>. The detection sensor <NUM> according to the present invention is a deflection detection sensor <NUM> (for example, a strain gauge) that detects a deflection in the musical instrument body <NUM> when a force is applied to the musical instrument body <NUM>. In variations departing from the present invention, the detection sensor <NUM> may be, for example, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to the musical instrument body <NUM>. Also, the detection sensor <NUM> may be, for example, an electrostatic sensor (capacitive touch sensor) that detects a touch applied by the player applied to the musical instrument body <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to a part of the hollow part <NUM>. Although variations departing from the present invention exist in which the detection sensor <NUM> may be attached, for example, to the back plate <NUM> or the side plate <NUM>. In the present invention, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the front plate <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Specifically, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the inner surface 23b of the front plate <NUM>. Also, the detection sensor <NUM> is located in the peripheral region of the sound hole <NUM> on the front plate <NUM>. In <FIG>, the detection sensor <NUM> is located on the right side of the strings <NUM> and the sound hole <NUM> when the stringed musical instrument <NUM> is viewed from the front (that is, when the stringed musical instrument <NUM> is viewed from the direction perpendicular to the front plate <NUM>). However, the detection sensor <NUM> may be located on the left side, for example.

Of the front plate <NUM>, the peripheral region of the sound hole <NUM> (in particular the region on the right side and left side of the strings <NUM> and the sound hole <NUM> in <FIG>) is a region where the player's fingers (player's hand and fingers) are primarily positioned when the player plays the stringed musical instrument <NUM> by plucking the strings <NUM> on the stringed musical instrument <NUM>, which is a guitar. That is, it is sufficient that the detection sensor <NUM> is configured as a sensor that can detect a deflection in the musical instrument body <NUM> and is attached to the hollow part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes a recognized part <NUM>. The recognized part <NUM> is provided on the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the recognized part <NUM> is provided on the outer surface 23a of the front plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>. The recognized part <NUM> indicates the position of the detection sensor <NUM> that is provided on the inner surface of the hollow part <NUM>. The recognized part <NUM> has a role of making the player visually or tactually recognize the position of the detection sensor <NUM>.

It is sufficient that the recognized part <NUM> is provided, among the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>, at least an area to which a detection signal according to the force applied to the hollow part <NUM> is output. Therefore, for example, the recognized part <NUM> may be provided near the detection sensor <NUM> to the extent that they are not overlapped with each other when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>. Moreover, for example, the recognized part <NUM> may be provided at a position such that it is partially overlapped with (partially covers) the detection sensor <NUM> when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, the recognized part <NUM> is provided at a position such that it overlaps with (covers) all of the detection sensor <NUM> when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the size of the recognized part <NUM> is larger than the size of the detection sensor <NUM> when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>; however, the disclosure is not limited to this example. The size of the recognized part <NUM> may be smaller than the size of the detection sensor <NUM> when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>. Moreover, in <FIG>, the shape of the recognized part <NUM> in planar view is a rectangular shape that is similar to that of the detection sensor <NUM> when seen from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>; however, the disclosure is not limited to this example. The recognized part <NUM> may be formed in an arbitrary shape.

The recognized part <NUM> may be a sticker attached to the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>, for example. In the case where the recognized part <NUM> is a sticker, there is formed a step between the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM> and the recognized part <NUM>. Therefore, a player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can tactually recognize the position of the detection sensor <NUM> by the step.

A stacker which serves as the recognized part <NUM> may be opaque, translucent or transparent. For example, characters, symbols, patterns, pictures, or the like may be formed on the sticker by printing or the like. Further, surface treatment may be applied to the sticker so that its surface roughness is different from that of the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>, for example. Further, the sticker may be a texture sticker which is formed by digging characters, symbols, patterns, pictures, or the like, for example. By forming the sticker in this manner, a player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can also visually or tactually recognize the position of the detection sensor <NUM> by the step.

When the recognized part <NUM> is a sticker, the recognized part <NUM> can be provided on the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM> easily at low cost as compared with the case where the recognized part <NUM> is a decal, an inlay, or a branding iron described later. Moreover, in this case, the recognized part <NUM> can be easily removed (peeled) from the hollow part <NUM>.

Moreover, the recognized part <NUM> may be a decal or an inlay that is provided on the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>, for example. Moreover, the recognized part <NUM> may be a branding iron formed on the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>, for example. When the recognized part is a decal, it is necessary to protect the decal with a transparent coating film (coating layer). An inlay has a structure in which a digging is formed in the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM> and another material (for example, wood or shell) is fitted into the digging. When the recognized part <NUM> is a decal, an inlay, or a branding iron, a performer of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can mainly visually recognize the position of the detection sensor <NUM>. When the recognized part <NUM> is a decal, an inlay, or a branding iron, the appearance design of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can be improved as compared with the sticker.

Moreover, the recognized part <NUM> may be formed by various printing methods such as stamp printing or sticker printing that is directly applied to the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM>. When the recognized part <NUM> is formed by printing, a player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can recognize the position of the detection sensor <NUM> mainly visually. When the recognized part <NUM> is formed by printing, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in design of characters, symbols, patterns, pictures, or the like. The controller <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>. As with the effect imparting unit <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may be stored, for example, in the storage part <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, on the basis of a detection signal output from the detection sensor <NUM>, the controller <NUM> outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM>, to the effect imparting unit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may output different types of control signals from the controller <NUM>, depending, for example, on the number of times a force is applied to the musical instrument body <NUM> or the length of time a force is applied to the musical instrument body <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> outputs a control signal according to the magnitude of the amplitude (intensity) of a detection signal output from the detection sensor <NUM> or the height of the frequency of the detection signal. Specifically, the controller <NUM> outputs a control signal if the amplitude of a detection signal is greater than the maximum amplitude of the front plate <NUM> (musical instrument body <NUM>) when a sound is radiated from the stringed musical instrument <NUM>. Also, the controller <NUM> outputs a control signal if the frequency of a detection signal is lower than the lowest frequency of the front plate <NUM> (musical instrument body <NUM>) when a sound is radiated from the stringed musical instrument <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to suppress or prevent a control signal from being output from the controller <NUM> as a result of simply radiating a sound from the stringed musical instrument <NUM>.

The control signal output from the controller <NUM> may, for example, be a signal for switching ON/OFF of the effect imparting unit <NUM> (effect imparting element <NUM>). In such a case, the control signal output from the controller <NUM> may, for example, be a signal for switching between start and stop of sound recording performed by the looper (effect imparting element 31a), which is one of the effect imparting elements <NUM>.

Also, the control signal output from the controller <NUM> may be a signal that adjusts the strength or magnitude of an effect imparted to a string vibration signal according to the magnitude of the force applied to the front plate <NUM> (musical instrument body <NUM>), for example. For example, the magnitude of a distortion effect, a wah-wah effect, a reverb effect, or a flanger effect, or the magnitude of an arming (tremolo arm) effect (arm down or arm up) may be adjusted according to the magnitude of the force applied to the front plate <NUM> (instrument body <NUM>).

As described above, the effect imparting unit <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a plurality of effect imparting elements <NUM> shown in <FIG>. For this reason, the effect imparting unit <NUM> further includes a selector <NUM> for selecting to which of the effect imparting elements <NUM> is to be input a control signal output from the controller <NUM>. The selector <NUM> may be operated according to, for example, a control signal output from the controller <NUM>, or may be operated by an operation input by means of an operating element (not shown in the drawings), which is provided separately.

In the present embodiment, the storage unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> may also store, in addition to the aforementioned controller <NUM>, effect imparting unit <NUM>, equalizer <NUM>, and amplifier <NUM>, a power supply for supplying electric power to these electrical components, and various operating elements such as an operating element for the selector <NUM> and a power supply switch.

As described above, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the detection sensor <NUM> attached to the musical instrument body <NUM> functions as an operating element for controlling the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM>. That is to say, the player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> by applying a force to the musical instrument body <NUM> (for example, bending the surface of the hollow part <NUM> of hitting or touching the surface of the hollow part <NUM>). As a result, it is possible to control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> without moving the positions of the player's fingers far from the strings <NUM>. Therefore, the player can easily control the effect imparting unit <NUM> even while playing the stringed musical instrument <NUM>.

Moreover, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to a part of the hollow part <NUM> of the musical instrument body <NUM>. Accordingly, the player can easily control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> by pressing a part of the hollow part <NUM> with their arm or fingers to apply a pressure to a part of the surface of the hollow part <NUM> or to bend a part of the surface of the hollow part <NUM>, or alternatively by hitting or touching a part of the surface of the hollow part <NUM>. Furthermore, when the player plays the stringed musical instrument <NUM> by plucking the strings <NUM>, the player's arm and fingers generally overlap the hollow part <NUM>. By applying a force to the front plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM> in this state using the player's arm and fingers, the player can easily control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> with almost no need for moving the positions of the arm and fingers when playing the stringed musical instrument <NUM>.

Moreover, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the front plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>. Therefore, the player can bend the front plate <NUM> to control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> by simply pressing the front plate <NUM> with their own fingers. Here, when the player plays the stringed musical instrument <NUM> by plucking the strings <NUM>, the player's fingers are generally positioned above the front plate <NUM>. Therefore, the player can easily control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> with almost no need for moving the positions of the fingers when playing the stringed musical instrument <NUM>.

Moreover, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the inner surface of the hollow part <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to prevent degradation in the appearance design of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> associated with the detection sensor <NUM> being attached to the hollow part <NUM>.

In the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the vibrator <NUM> attached to the hollow part <NUM> vibrates the hollow part <NUM> on the basis of a sound signal output from the effect imparting unit <NUM> according to the string vibration signal from the pickup <NUM>. As a result, a sound having a musical or acoustic effect imparted thereto can be produced in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> (hollow part <NUM>).

Moreover, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the effect imparting unit <NUM> is attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>. As a result, the stringed musical instrument <NUM> alone can produce a sound having an effect imparted thereto by the effect imparting unit <NUM>. The effect of such a configuration is especially useful when the stringed musical instrument <NUM> has an acoustic guitar-like appearance. This point will be described below.

For example, in those cases where the effect imparting unit <NUM> is provided separately from an acoustic guitar, the controller <NUM> of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> and the effect imparting unit <NUM> need to be electrically connected by a connection cable or the like. However, a typical acoustic guitar has no connection cable connected thereto, and therefore, an appearance of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> having a connection cable connected thereto would differ from that of a typical acoustic guitar and be unnatural. In contrast, if the effect imparting unit <NUM> is attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>, there is no need for connecting a connection cable to the stringed musical instrument <NUM>, and as a result, the appearance of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can be made similar to that of a typical acoustic guitar.

Moreover, in the stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment, the effect imparting unit <NUM> includes a looper. Also, a control signal output from the controller <NUM> includes a signal for switching between start and stop of sound recording performed by the looper. Accordingly, the player can easily switch between start and stop of sound recording performed by the looper without moving the positions of fingers far from the strings <NUM> (that is, without disturbing the performance of the stringed musical instrument <NUM>). That is to say, the player can easily take advantage of the function of the looper.

The stringed musical instrument <NUM> of the present embodiment includes the recognized part <NUM> that is provided on the outer surface of the hollow part <NUM> and that indicates the position of the detection sensor <NUM>. Therefore, even if a player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> cannot visually recognize the detection sensor <NUM> from the outside of the hollow part <NUM>, the position of the detection sensor <NUM> can be grasped by the recognized part <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> from failing to operate the detection sensor <NUM>. Failure to operate the detection sensor <NUM> by the player means that, for example, even if the player pushes the hollow part <NUM>, the force is not transmitted to the detection sensor <NUM> and the detection signal is not output from the detection sensor <NUM>.

The example embodiment of present disclosure has been described in detail above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the effect imparting unit <NUM> need not be attached to the musical instrument body <NUM>, that is to say, it need not be included in the stringed musical instrument. In such a case, for example, as shown in <FIG>, a stringed musical instrument 10A may include an external output unit <NUM>. The external output unit <NUM> outputs a control signal output from the controller <NUM> to the effect imparting unit <NUM> provided outside the musical instrument body <NUM>. The external output unit <NUM> may be an external connection terminal for establishing a wired connection to the effect imparting unit <NUM>, or may be a wireless communication unit for establishing a wireless connection to the effect imparting unit <NUM>.

For the stringed musical instrument 10A that includes the external output unit <NUM>, the effect imparting unit <NUM> can be provided separately from the stringed musical instrument 10A, and it is therefore possible to select any type of effect imparting unit <NUM> for use.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection sensor <NUM> may be attached, for example, to the neck <NUM>. In such a case, it is possible, while playing the stringed musical instrument <NUM>, for the player to cause the detection sensor <NUM> to output a detection signal by bending the neck <NUM> or pressing a portion of the neck <NUM> provided with the detection sensor <NUM>, to apply a force to the neck <NUM>. That is to say, even in a case where the detection sensor <NUM> is provided on the neck <NUM>, the player can still easily control the effect imparting unit <NUM> while playing the stringed musical instrument <NUM>.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may also be an acoustic effect device <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) that includes at least the pickup <NUM>, the detection sensor <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>, and is used for the stringed musical instrument <NUM>. The acoustic effect device <NUM> may further include one or both of the vibrator <NUM> and the effect imparting unit <NUM>. Also, the acoustic effect device <NUM> may include the equalizer <NUM> and the amplifier <NUM>.

By attaching the acoustic effect device <NUM> to an existing stringed musical instrument, the existing stringed musical instrument can have functions similar to those of the stringed musical instruments <NUM>, 10A of the embodiment described above. For example, by attaching the detection sensor <NUM> of the acoustic effect device <NUM> to the musical instrument body <NUM> of an existing stringed musical instrument, the detection sensor <NUM> functions as an operating element for controlling the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM>. As a result, the player of the stringed musical instrument <NUM> can control the operation of the effect imparting unit <NUM> by applying a force to the musical instrument body <NUM> (for example, by bending, hitting, or touching the hollow part <NUM> or the neck <NUM>).

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the part of the player that applies a force to a part of the stringed musical instrument in order to output a detection signal from the detection sensor <NUM> may be a part other than their hand (for example, arm, elbow, abdomen, waist, thigh, and so forth).

The embodiment described above assumes that the detection sensor <NUM> is operated by the player's hand, and the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the front plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM> accordingly. However, assuming the player's elbow is to apply a force to a part of the stringed musical instrument, the detection sensor <NUM> may be provided in a portion of the stringed musical instrument with which the player's elbow is likely to come into contact (for example, a predetermined position on the front plate <NUM>). Also, in a variation departing from the present invention, in a case of attaching the detection sensor <NUM> to the back plate <NUM> or the side plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>, the player's abdomen, waist, or thigh may apply a force to the back plate <NUM> or the side plate <NUM>, which is a part of the stringed musical instrument.

One embodiment of the present disclosure can also be perceived as a detection sensor outputting a detection signal according to the player's operation performed with respect to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM> of the musical instrument body <NUM>. The "player's operation performed with respect to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>" in one embodiment of the present disclosure refers to the operation described in the above embodiment, that is, the player bending the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>, hitting the front plate <NUM> of the back plate <NUM>, while in an alternative departing from the invention, the player's operation may refer to touching the front plate <NUM> or the back plate 24hollow part, or moving closer to of moving away from the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>.

Also, in the stringed musical instrument of one embodiment of the present disclosure, in addition to the sensor mentioned above for detecting the player's operation, an electrostatic sensor may be used as a sensor for detecting the motion of a portion of the player such as their hand moving closer thereto or moving away therefrom. Moreover, an electrostatic sensor (capacitive touch sensor) or a membrane switch can also be used as a sensor for detecting the motion of contacting with a portion of the player, such as a hand. In a case of additionally attaching an electrostatic sensor to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>, the "player's operation performed with respect to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>" described above may also include the motion of the player moving a portion of their body, such as a hand, closer to or away from the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>. When an electrostatic sensor (capacitive touch sensor) or a membrane switch is attached to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM> of the hollow part <NUM>, the above-mentioned "player's operation performed with respect to the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>" may include the motion of the player touching the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM> with a portion of their body such as a hand. It should be noted that the electrostatic sensor may detect the motion of the player moving a portion of their body, such as a hand or an arm, closer to or away from the side plate <NUM> instead of the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>, or in addition to the front plate <NUM> and the back plate <NUM>. Moreover, an electrostatic sensor (capacitive touch sensor) or a membrane switch may detect the motion of the player touching the side plate <NUM> with a portion of their body, such as a hand or an arm, to instead of the front plate <NUM> or the back plate <NUM>, or in addition to the front plate <NUM> and the back plate <NUM>. Moreover, in these cases as well, the detection sensor <NUM> is provided inside (inner surface) of the hollow part <NUM>.

That is, it is sufficient that the detection sensor <NUM> is attached to the hollow part <NUM> as a sensor that can detect the operation of the player.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied not only to an acoustic guitar that includes a hollow part <NUM> having therein a cavity S, but also to a guitar in which the hollow part thereof does not produce resonant sound on the basis of the vibration of strings (such as an electric guitar or an electric bass, which does not have a cavity inside the hollow part thereof, or a silent guitar (registered trademark), which includes a hollow part composed of a frame). In such a case, for an electric guitar, the detection sensor may be provided, for example, in the vicinity of the pickup, and for a guitar that includes a hollow part composed of a frame, the detection sensor may be provided, for example, on the frame.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable not only to a guitar having a hollow part and a neck, but also to a stringed musical instrument having at least a musical instrument body and a string attached to the musical instrument body, such as a violin, a viola, a cello, or a contrabass.

Claim 1:
A stringed musical instrument (<NUM>) comprising:
a musical instrument body (<NUM>) configured such that a string is attached thereto;
a pickup (<NUM>) configured to: i) detect vibration of the string and ii) output a string vibration signal according to the vibration;
a detection sensor (<NUM>) that is: i) attached to the musical instrument body and ii) configured to output a detection signal according to a force applied to the musical instrument body; and
a controller (<NUM>) that is attached to the musical instrument body, and is configured to output, based on the detection signal, a control signal configured to control an operation of an effect imparting unit configured to impart an effect to the string vibration signal, wherein
the musical instrument body includes a hollow part (<NUM>) that has a front plate (<NUM>), a back plate (<NUM>) and a side plate (<NUM>), and
the stringed musical instrument being characterized in that
the detection sensor is attached to the inner surface (23b) of the front plate inside the hollow part and configured to detect a deflection in the musical instrument body.