Electric guitar circuit control and switching module

• US 20040107822A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Alan Olvera, John Charles Olvera
• Original Assignee: Gordon Alan Olvera, John Charles Olvera
• Inventors: Olvera, John Charles, Olvera, Gordon Alan
• Granted Patent: US 6,781,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/743
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/182 using two or more pick-up means for each string

Abstract

An interchangeable passive electric guitar circuit control and switching module is integrated into an existing guitar to dynamically alter the electronic relationship of the guitar'"'"'s electric components (i.e. the existing pickups, volume and tone controls, at least one tonality select switch, and output jack) which are connected to the module through a wiring harness. Individual interchangeable modules connected through the wiring harness establish finite and discrete electronic relationships through the guitar'"'"'s existing electric components to produce a plurality of selectable desired tonality sounds from a single guitar.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an electric guitar, unrestricted to type or brand, comprising interchangeable modular switching circuitry and modular user-selected circuit profiles located within, such that the apparatus augments the instrument'"'"'s point-to-point wiring and provides the electrical circuitry for the pickups, volume and tone controls, and tonality select switch(s), allowing the user to selectively connect one or more pickup coils, volume and tone controls, and tonality select switch(s) and thereby, altering the tonal characteristics of the guitar through the proprietary circuitry profile of the user-selected modular apparatus.

2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 comprising the electric stringed musical instrument, wherein the female module terminal assembly of the apparatus, residing within the control cavity of said body, mates with the male module terminals of the apparatus residing in any one of three places:

1) within the control cavity of the instrument body;

     2) as an external module residing on the instrument surface or;

     3) within the instrument pickguard, accomplishing an electrical connection between the pickups and said set of pickups, volume and tone controls, tonality select switch(s), said output jack transmitting an electrical signal to an external amplifier via a cable or electronic transmission.

3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 enables incorporation of the apparatus into almost any guitar and enables modular circuit profile interchangeability.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 disposed externally or in said recess(s) of said instrument, said mounting means defining a wiring harness with attached female conductive terminals;

said mounting means including conductive terminals, said mounting element having corresponding female terminals selectively engaging said conductive male module terminals upon engaging said module element in predetermined position relative to said mounting.

5. The improvement, particularly for an electric guitar, set forth in claim 1 further provides a modular circuitry apparatus including operable switching means for selectively connecting coils of the sound pickups, volume and tone controls, and tonality select switch(s) in different combinations in order to produce an output signal producing a desirable plurality of tonalities, and each different module capable of producing a different array of plural tonalities.

6. The improvement set forth in claim 1 further provides one guitar the capability to emulate many different guitars and to rapidly change tonality profiles thereby altering sonic profiles of said instrument within minutes and, in some cases, seconds through interchangeable plug-in modules of the apparatus.

7. Once incorporated with the existing pickups, volume and tone controls, tonality select switch(s) and output jack of the electric guitar, the improvement set forth in claim 1 may, in some cases, require minimum and common hand-tools to exchange modules.

8. The electronic circuitry residing on the male module of the apparatus as set forth in claim 1, encased in a suitable protective material that may include the control cavity access plate or pickguard, facilitates the rapid and easy interchange of the modules.

9. The improvement set forth in claim 2 further provides a plurality of sub-tonalities to be generated through simple and easy-to-use modular circuitry based upon the position of the tonality select switch(s) and the selected module without altering the existing layout of guitar pickups, volume and tone controls, tonality select switch(s), and output jack or the external appearance of the guitar so that the guitar is readily familiar, aesthetically pleasing, and easily usable by most musicians.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof. It shall be understood that we do not consider the invention to be limited to the precise details as shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.