Guitar pickup system for selecting from multiple Gibson and Fender tonalities

• US 6,121,537 A
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin Ralph Johnston
• Original Assignee: Pawar Guitars, Ltd.
• Inventors: Johnston, Jeffrey R., Pawar, Jay C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US09/314,702
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 84/726-728
• US Class Current: 84/728
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/505 Dual coil electrodynamic string transducer, e.g. for humbucking, to cancel out parasitic magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/182 using two or more pick-up means for each string
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12

Abstract

An electric guitar pickup system is provided to generate a plurality of selectable desired Gibson and Fender tonality sounds from a single guitar. The pickup system includes a bridge pickup unit, a neck pickup unit, and a multiple position tonality select switch for selectively connecting the bridge pickup unit and the neck pickup unit in a plurality of desired pickup combinations, thereby selecting from a plurality of desired Fender and Gibson tonality signals. The bridge pickup unit includes a dual coil flat humbucker pickup to produce Gibson tonalities and further includes a dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup to produce Fender tonalities. The neck pickup unit similarly includes a dual coil flat humbucker pickup together with a dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup to produce both Gibson and Fender tonalities.

Claims

1. A pickup system for use in an electric guitar having an output jack and a set of strings extending over a pick area on a guitar body from a bridge area on the guitar body to a fingerboard neck adjacent to the body, the pickup system comprising:

a dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup disposed between the bridge area and the pick area;

a dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup disposed between the dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and the pick area;

a dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup disposed between the pick area and the fingerboard neck;

a dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup disposed between the dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and the fingerboard neck; and

,

a tonality select switch for selectively connecting the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a plurality of desired pickup combinations thereby selecting a plurality of desired tonality signals from said electric guitar.

2. The pickup system according to claim 1 wherein the tonality select switch includes a five position switch adapted to:

when in a first position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a first tonality signal from said electric guitar;

when in a second position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a second desired pickup combination thereby selecting a second tonality signal from said electric guitar;

when in a third position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a third tonality signal from said electric guitar;

when in a fourth position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups in a fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a fourth tonality signal from said electric guitar; and

,

when in a fifth position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with said dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a fifth tonality signal from said electric guitar.

3. The pickup system according to claim 2 wherein the tonality select switch includes at least one secondary tonality select switch adapted to:

selectively modify said first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified first tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said second desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified second tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified third tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified fourth tonality signal from said electric guitar; and

,

selectively modify said fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified fifth tonality signal from said electric guitar.

4. The pickup system according to claim 3 wherein the secondary tonality select switch is adapted to:

selectively modify said first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified first tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said second desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified second tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified third tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified fourth tonality signals from said electric guitar; and

,

selectively modify said fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified fifth tonality signals form said electric guitar.

5. The pickup system according to claim 4 wherein:

the tonality select switch is a six pole, five position switch; and

,

the at least one secondary tonality select switch includes a pair of double pole, two position switches.

6. The pickup system according to claim 2 wherein:

said five position switch generates said first desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said second desired pickup combination as a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said third desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup (30) delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said fourth desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with said second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack; and

,

the five position switch generates said fifth desired combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack.

7. The pickup system according to claim 1 wherein:

said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a first cover member to form a single bridge pickup unit; and

,

said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a second cover member to form a neck pickup unit.

8. The pickup system according to claim 7 wherein each of said first and second cover members are about 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches in size.

9. A pickup system in an electric guitar of the type including a guitar body, an output jack, a fingerboard projecting from the body, a neck on the fingerboard, and a set of strings extending from the neck to a bridge on the body, the pickup system comprising:

a bridge pickup unit including a first flat humbucker pickup and for producing first tonalities and a first stacked humbucker pickup for producing second tonalities;

a neck pickup unit including a second flat humbucker pickup for producing said first tonalities and a second stacked humbucker pickup for producing said second tonalities; and

,

switch means for connecting said first flat humbucker pickup, said first stacked humbucker pickup, said second flat humbucker pickup and said second stacked humbucker pickup in a plurality of selected combinations to said output jack to thereby enable the guitar to selectively produce said first tonalities, said second tonalities, and a blend of said first and second tonalities.

10. The pickup system according to claim 9 wherein:

the first flat humbucker pickup and the first stacked humbucker pickup are disposed under a first cover member; and

,

the second flat humbucker pickup and the second stacked humbucker pickup are disposed under a second pickup cover member.

11. The pickup system according to claims 10 wherein the bridge pickup unit and the neck pickup unit are spaced apart on said guitar body to form a pick area under said set of strings to permit the guitar to be played without mechanical interference in said pick area.

12. The pickup system according to claim 11 wherein the switch means includes at least one multiple position primary tonality select switch adapted to connect, in each of said multiple positions, the first and second flat humbucker pickups and the first and second stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in corresponding multiple desired pickup coil combinations thereby selecting said first tonalities and said second tonalities to be produced by the guitar.

13. The pickup system according to claim 12 further including a second tonality select switch adapted to modify said connection of said first and second flat humbucker pickups and said first and second stacked humbucker pickups with said output jack to thereby select said blend of said first and second tonalities to be produced from said guitar.

14. The pickup system according to claim 12 wherein said primary tonality select switch is a six pole, five position switch.

15. The pickup system according to claim 9 wherein said bridge pickup unit and said neck pickup unit are unitary constructions and are disposed on said guitar body in a spaced apart relationship to form a pick area under said set of strings extending from the neck to the bridge.

16. The pickup system according to claim 15 wherein said bridge and neck pickup units are each about 1.5 inches by about 2.75 inches in size.

17. A pickup system for use in an electric guitar having an output jack and a set of strings extending over a pick area on a guitar body from a bridge area on the guitar body to a fingerboard neck adjacent to the body, the pickup system comprising:

a first combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair disposed between the bridge area and the pick area;

a second combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair disposed between the pick area and the fingerboard neck; and

,

a tonality select switch for selectively connecting the first combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair with the second combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair to said output jack in plurality of desired pickup combinations thereby selecting a plurality of desired tonality signals from said electric guitar.

18. The pickup system according to claim 17 wherein said first combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair includes:

a dual bridge flat humbucker pickup; and

,

a dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup.

19. The pickup system according to claim 17 wherein said second combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair includes:

a dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup; and

,

a dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup.

20. The pickup system according to claim 17 wherein:

said first combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair includes;

a dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup; and

,

a dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup; and

,

said second combination treble and rhythm dual coil humbucker pickup pair includes;

a dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup; and

,

a dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup.

21. The pickup system according to claim 20 wherein:

said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup is disposed between the bridge area and the pick area;

said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup is disposed between the dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and the pick area;

said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup is disposed between the pick area and the fingerboard neck; and

,

said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup is disposed between the dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and the fingerboard neck.

22. The pickup system according to claim 21 wherein:

said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a first cover member to form a single bridge pickup unit; and

,

said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a second cover member to form a neck pickup unit.

23. The pickup system according to claim 22 wherein each of said first and second cover members are about 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches in size.

24. The pickup system according to claim 20 wherein the tonality select switch includes a five position switch adapted to:

when in a first position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a first tonality signal from said electric guitar;

when in a second position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a third tonality signal from said electric guitar;

when in a fourth position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with the dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups in a fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a fourth tonality signal from said electric guitar; and

,

when in a fifth position, connect the dual coil bridge and neck flat humbucker pickups with said dual coil bridge and neck stacked humbucker pickups to said output jack in a fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a fifth tonality signal from said electric guitar.

25. The pickup system according to claim 24 wherein the tonality select switch includes at least one secondary tonality select switch adapted to:

selectively modify said first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified first tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said second desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified second tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified tonality signal from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified fourth tonality signal from said electric guitar; and

,

selectively modify said fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a modified fifth tonality signal from said electric guitar.

26. The pickup system according to claim 25 wherein the secondary tonality select switch is adapted to:

selectively modify said first desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified first tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said second desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified second tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said third desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified third tonality signals from said electric guitar;

selectively modify said fourth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified fourth tonality signals from said electric guitar; and

,

selectively modify said fifth desired pickup combination thereby selecting a plurality of modified fifth tonality signals form said electric guitar.

27. The pickup system according to claim 26 wherein:

the tonality select switch is a six pole, five position switch; and

,

the at least one secondary tonality select switch includes a pair of double pole, two position switches.

28. The pickup system according to claim 24 wherein:

said five position switch generates said first desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said second desired pickup combination as a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said third desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker and said second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack;

the five position switch generates said fourth desired pickup combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with a series connection of a first coil of said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup and a second coil of said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup in parallel with said second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack; and

,

the five position switch generates said fifth desired combination as a series connection of said first coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and said second coil of said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup delivered to said output jack.

29. The pickup system according to claim 27 wherein:

said dual coil bridge flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil bridge stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a first cover member to form a single bridge pickup unit; and

,

said dual coil neck flat humbucker pickup and said dual coil neck stacked humbucker pickup are disposed on said guitar body under a second cover member to form a neck pickup unit.

30. The pickup system according to claim 29 wherein each of said first and second cover members are about 1.5 inches by 2.5 inches in size.