Multiple use of wave shaping circuits for tone production

Claim 1

IN AN INSTRUMENT INCLUDING A TOTAL NUMBER OF TONE SIGNAL GENERATORS AND A LIKE NUMBER OF OPERATING KEYS THEREFOR IN WHICH NO MORE THAN A GIVEN NUMBER OF SAID KEYS LESS THAN SAID TOTAL NUMBER ARE NORMALLY PLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WHICH INCLUDES A REPRODUCING MEANS PROVIDING SOUNDS INITIATED BY SAID TONE SIGNALS, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING: (A) A PLURALITY OF WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS HAVING OUTPUTS CONNECTED TO SAID REPRODUCING MEANS AND EQUAL IN NUMBER TO SAID GIVEN NUMBER; AND (B) A SWITCHING MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TOTAL NUMBER OF KEYS AND THE INPUTS TO SAID WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS, SAID SWITCHING MEANS CONNECTING SUCCESSIVE TONE SIGNALS PLAYED TO ONLY THOSE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS WHICH ARE NOT ALREADY CONNECTED TO RECEIVE TONE SIGNALS WHEREBY ANY COMBINATION OF NOTES PLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY NOT EXCEEDING IN NUMBER SAID GIVEN NUMBER ARE INDIVIDUALLY PASSED TO SAID WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS SO THAT SAID GIVEN NUMBER OF WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS ARE SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE TONE SIGNALS SELECTED FOR NORMAL PLAYING FROM SAID TOTAL NUMBER OF KEYS.