Patent ID: 7645927

Claim:
A device for selectively adjusting the pitch of a string of a stringed musical instrument comprising: a pivotable string puller having a first end and a second end, said first end pivotably mounted on a puller pivot defining a first axis about which said string puller pivots, said string puller having a string support surface upon which the string rests, wherein pivoting of the string puller about said first axis adjusts the pitch on the string; a pivoting link having a first end and a second end, said pivoting link pivotably coupled to the second end of said string puller via a first link pivot, said pivoting link configured such that pivoting of said pivoting link causes said string puller to pivot about said first axis thereby adjusting the pitch of said string; a second link pivot positioned to contact, but not attach to, the second end of said pivoting link about which the pivoting link may pivot; a third link pivot positioned to contact, but not attach to, the first end of said pivoting link; a first pull rod coupled to the first end of the pivoting link; a second pull rod coupled to the second end of the pivoting link; a first actuator coupled to said first pull rod, said first actuator configured to actuate to move said first pull rod between a first state in which said first pull rod is in a normal position such that said string puller is in a normal position and said string is tuned to an open pitch, and a second state in which the second pull rod causes the pivoting link to pivot about said second link pivot thereby causing the string puller to pivot to an adjusted position and said string is tuned to a first adjusted pitch different from said open pitch; a second actuator coupled to said second pull rod, said second actuator configured to actuate to move said second pull rod between a first state in which said second pull rod is in a normal position such that said string puller is in a normal position and said string is tuned to an open pitch, and a second state in which the second pull rod causes the pivoting link to pivot about said third link pivot thereby causing the string puller to pivot to an adjusted position and said string is tuned to a second adjusted pitch different from said open pitch.