Detachable fretboard with customized frets

• US 10,643,584 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microtone Guitars, LLC
• Original Assignee: Microtone Guitars, LLC
• Inventors: Kudirka, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lockett, Kimberly R
• Application Number:
  US16/265,846
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 1/05 with fret boards or fingerboards
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/06 Necks; Fingerboards, e.g. fret boards

Abstract

The fretboard system provides a replaceable fretboard with customized placement of frets along the fretboard for a stringed instrument. A configuration of magnets on the neck of the stringed instrument secure the fretboard to the stringed instrument. The magnets attract a metallic underside, such as a sheet metal, of the detachable fretboard. A separating layer, including but not limited to a layer of wood or other composite material, separates the magnets from the sheet metal. At least one, preferably two or more, reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the neck of the stringed instrument to reinforce the neck.

Claims

1. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

a metal secured to the fretboard;

a magnet secured to the neck of the stringed instrument;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

wherein the metal secured to the fretboard is a metallic layer secured to a rear surface of the fretboard.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the metallic layer is constructed from a sheet metal.

3. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

a metal secured to the fretboard;

a magnet secured to the neck of the stringed instrument;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

a separating layer secured to the neck wherein the separating layer is located between the magnet secured to the neck and the fretboard when the fretboard secures to the neck.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the separating layer is constructed from the same material as the fretboard.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the separating layer and the fretboard are constructed from a phenolic resin/cellulose composite material.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the separating layer is constructed from a phenolic resin/cellulose composite material.

7. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

a metal secured to the fretboard;

a magnet secured to the neck of the stringed instrument;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

at least five rows of at least three magnets secured to the neck wherein the rows of at least three magnets are located longitudinally across the neck, wherein the at least three magnets are located laterally across the neck.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the metal secured to the fretboard is a metallic layer of a ferrous metal secured to a rear surface of the fretboard;

a separating layer secured to the neck wherein the separating layer is located between the rows of at least three magnets secured to the neck and the metallic layer of the fretboard.

9. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

a magnet secured to the neck of the stringed instrument;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

a metallic layer secured to a rear surface of the fretboard;

wherein the metallic layer is constructed from a sheet metal secured to a rear surface of the fretboard.

10. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

a magnet secured to the neck of the stringed instrument;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

a metallic layer secured to a rear surface of the fretboard;

a separating layer secured to the neck wherein the separating layer forms an outer surface of the neck, the separating layer located between the magnet secured to the stringed instrument and the metallic layer secured to the fretboard when the fretboard attaches to the neck.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the separating layer is constructed from the same material as the fretboard.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the separating layer is constructed from a phenolic resin/cellulose composite material.

13. A detachable fretboard system for a stringed instrument wherein the fretboard system attaches to a neck of the stringed instrument comprising:

a fretboard;

at least five rows of at least three magnets secured to the neck wherein the rows of are located longitudinally across the neck, wherein the at least three magnets are located laterally across the neck;

a fret aperture located on a front surface of the fretboard;

a fret segment inserted into the fret aperture;

a sheet metal secured to a rear surface of the fretboard to form an outer rear surface of the fretboard, wherein the sheet metal is constructed from a ferrous metal.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a separating layer secured to the neck wherein the separating layer forms an outer front surface of the neck, the separating layer located between the magnets secured to the neck and the sheet metal secured to the fretboard when the fretboard attaches to the neck;

wherein the sheet metal abuts the separating layer when securing the fretboard to the neck;

wherein the separating layer is constructed from a phenolic resin/cellulose composite material.

15. The system of claim 13 further wherein the magnets secured to the neck of the stringed instrument alternate in polarity laterally across the neck and longitudinally along the neck.