Patent ID: 8217244

Claim:
A system for coupling with a plurality of strings of a stringed musical instrument and with a sound bridge, wherein the musical instrument includes a sound board coupled to the sound bridge, the system comprising: a first contact member for contact with one or more of the plurality of strings; a second contact member for contact with one or more of the plurality of strings; a third contact member having a body portion for contact with one or more of the plurality of strings, the third contact member having a first end portion and a second end portion, where the body portion has a larger diameter than the first and second end portions; a base member couplable to a surface, the base member has a first base portion with a first opening to receive and position the first contact member therein and a second base portion with a second opening to receive and position the second contact member therein, the first opening and second opening sized and positioned in the first and second base portions, respectively, to position the first contact member and the second contact member to extend away from the surface when the base member is coupled to the surface and to position the locations where the one or more of the plurality of strings contact the first and second contact members when the one or more of the plurality of strings are coupled with the system on opposing sides of the third contact member; and a support member including a first side portion extending from the base member and a second side portion extending from the base member, the first side portion and the second side portion being spaced apart from each other by the base member, the first side portion couplable with the small diameter first end portion of the third contact member and the second side portion couplable with the small diameter second end portion of the third contact member to extend the larger diameter portion of the third contact member between the first side portion and the second side portion when the third contact member is coupled to the support member, the first and second contact members being spaced apart from each other by the base member and being coupled with the base member to position the location of the first and second contact members on opposing sides of the third contact member with the one or more of the plurality of strings contacting the third contact member at a location between the locations where the one or more of the plurality of strings contact the first and second contact members when the one or more of the plurality of strings are coupled with the system.