US5602353A — Bridge saddle with adjustable intonation system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 88 words

An intonation adjustment system for a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings and an instrument saddle supporting the strings, said instrument saddle having a saddle slot therein, said saddle slot having a width parallel to a length of said strings, said system comprising: a saddle setup tool having a definite number of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points within said width of said saddle slot so that a preferred one of said selectable distinctly spaced intonation points can be determined for each of said strings of said instrument.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 88 words

An intonation adjustment system for a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings and an instrument saddle supporting the strings, said instrument saddle having a saddle slot therein, said saddle slot having a width parallel to a length of said strings, said system comprising: a saddle setup tool having a definite number of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points within said width of said saddle slot so that a preferred one of said selectable distinctly spaced intonation points can be determined for each of said strings of said instrument.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 1, further comprising: a set of prefabricated candidate fixed saddle segments adapted to be fixedly received in said saddle slot from which can be selected a group of selected saddle segments making up said instrument saddle and providing any possible combination of said definite number of selectable intonation points across said width of said saddle slot for said plurality of strings.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 2, said plurality of strings being six strings, wherein: said group of selected saddle segments includes three selected saddle segments each of which supports two of said strings.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 3, wherein: said instrument saddle has an arcuate top profile transverse to said strings, said group of three selected saddle segments including two outside segments and one inside segment.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The system of claim 4, wherein: said set of prefabricated candidate saddle segments includes: a first subset of candidate outside saddle segments; and a second subset of candidate inside saddle segments, said second subset being exclusive of said first subset so that no member of said second subset is identical to any member of said first subset.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 5, wherein: said definite number of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points includes five and only five intonation points; said first subset of candidate outside saddle segments includes twenty-five different candidate outside saddle segments each having a different combination of two intonation points; and said second subset of candidate inside saddle segments includes fifteen different candidate inside saddle segments each having a different combination of two intonation points.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 1, wherein: said saddle setup tool has an adjustable height support.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system of claim 1, wherein: said saddle setup tool includes a piezo-electric pickup having output leads for connection of said pickup to an electronic tuner.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1, wherein: said saddle setup tool has a top surface having a plurality of parallel spaced grooves defined therein; and said saddle setup tool includes a movable temporary ridge constructed to be received in any one of said grooves.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said grooves are equally spaced.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of grooves includes at least five grooves.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 118 words

An intonation adjustment system for a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings and an instrument saddle supporting the strings, said instrument saddle having a saddle slot therein having a slot width parallel to a length of said string, said system comprising: a set of prefabricated candidate fixed saddle segments adapted to be received in said saddle slot from which can be selected a group of selected saddle segments making up said instrument saddle and providing any possible combination of selected intonation points from a definite number of available intonation points spaced across and within said slot width for each of said strings, at least one of said selected saddle segments supporting at least two of said strings.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 118 words

An intonation adjustment system for a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings and an instrument saddle supporting the strings, said instrument saddle having a saddle slot therein having a slot width parallel to a length of said string, said system comprising: a set of prefabricated candidate fixed saddle segments adapted to be received in said saddle slot from which can be selected a group of selected saddle segments making up said instrument saddle and providing any possible combination of selected intonation points from a definite number of available intonation points spaced across and within said slot width for each of said strings, at least one of said selected saddle segments supporting at least two of said strings.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 12, said plurality of strings being six strings, wherein: said group of selected saddle segments includes three selected saddle segments, each of which supports two of said strings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 13, wherein: said instrument saddle has an arcuate top profile transverse to said strings, said group of three selected saddle segments including two outside segments and one inside segment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 57 words

The system of claim 14, wherein: said set of prefabricated candidate saddle segments includes: a first subset of candidate outside saddle segments; and a second subset of candidate inside saddle segments, said second subset being exclusive of said first subset so that no member of said second subset is identical to any member of said first subset.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of available intonation points includes at least five available intonation points for each of said strings.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 125 words

A method of setting an intonation of a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings supported by an instrument saddle, said saddle having a saddle slot with a slot width parallel to a length of said strings, comprising: (a) determining for each of said strings which one intonation point of a plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points on said saddle across and within said slot width provides an intonation test pitch closest to perfect intonation; and (b) assembling said instrument saddle from a group of saddle segments providing said one intonation point for each of said strings, at least one of said saddle segments of said group supporting at least two of said strings, said saddle segments being fixedly received in said saddle slot.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 125 words

A method of setting an intonation of a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings supported by an instrument saddle, said saddle having a saddle slot with a slot width parallel to a length of said strings, comprising: (a) determining for each of said strings which one intonation point of a plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points on said saddle across and within said slot width provides an intonation test pitch closest to perfect intonation; and (b) assembling said instrument saddle from a group of saddle segments providing said one intonation point for each of said strings, at least one of said saddle segments of said group supporting at least two of said strings, said saddle segments being fixedly received in said saddle slot.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of setting an intonation of a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings supported by an instrument saddle, said saddle having a saddle slot with a slot width parallel to a length of said strings, comprising: (a) determining for each of said strings which one intonation point of a plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points on said saddle across said slot width provides a most nearly perfect intonation; and (b) assembling said instrument saddle from a group of saddle segments providing said one intonation point for each of said strings, at least one of said saddle segments of said group supporting at least two of said strings, said saddle segments being received in said saddle slot.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of setting an intonation of a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings supported by an instrument saddle, said saddle having a saddle slot with a slot width parallel to a length of said strings, comprising: (a) determining for each of said strings which one intonation point of a plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points on said saddle across said slot width provides a most nearly perfect intonation; and (b) assembling said instrument saddle from a group of saddle segments providing said one intonation point for each of said strings, at least one of said saddle segments of said group supporting at least two of said strings, said saddle segments being received in said saddle slot.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 18, said plurality of strings being six strings, wherein said group of saddle segments includes three saddle segments each of which supports two of said strings.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said instrument saddle has an arcuate top profile transverse to said strings and said three saddle segments include two outside segments and one inside segment.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising: after step (a) and before step (b), selecting said group of saddle segments from a set of prefabricated candidate saddle segments providing any possible combination of said selectable distinctly spaced intonation points for said plurality of strings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 21, said plurality of strings being six strings, wherein: said group of prefabricated saddle segments includes three prefabricated saddle segments each of which supports two of said strings; and said set of prefabricated candidate saddle segments includes: a first subset of candidate outside saddle segments; and a second subset of candidate inside saddle segments.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 22, wherein said instrument saddle has an arcuate top profile transverse to said strings, and said second subset is exclusive of said first subset.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 17, wherein said step (a) is performed with a saddle setup tool having said plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points defined across a saddle setup tool width equal to an instrument saddle width.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said step (a) is performed with a saddle setup tool having said plurality of selectable distinctly spaced intonation points defined across a saddle setup tool width substantially equal to an instrument saddle width.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 157 words

A stringed instrument, comprising: a body having a top; a bridge mounted on said top of said body, said bridge having a saddle slot formed therein, said slot having a slot width; a neck extending from said body; a laureled of strings mounted on said body and neck and extending parallel to said slot width; a saddle received in said saddle slot and supporting said plurality of strings, said saddle including a group of saddle segments fixedly received in said saddle slot at least one of which supports at least two of said strings, said group of saddle segments having a plurality of supporting ridges defined thereon, one of which supporting ridges engages each of said strings within said slot width, each of said supporting ridges being located to provide an intonation test pitch closest to perfect intonation for its respective string out of a plurality of selectable intonation point locations distinctly spaced across said slot width.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 157 words

A stringed instrument, comprising: a body having a top; a bridge mounted on said top of said body, said bridge having a saddle slot formed therein, said slot having a slot width; a neck extending from said body; a laureled of strings mounted on said body and neck and extending parallel to said slot width; a saddle received in said saddle slot and supporting said plurality of strings, said saddle including a group of saddle segments fixedly received in said saddle slot at least one of which supports at least two of said strings, said group of saddle segments having a plurality of supporting ridges defined thereon, one of which supporting ridges engages each of said strings within said slot width, each of said supporting ridges being located to provide an intonation test pitch closest to perfect intonation for its respective string out of a plurality of selectable intonation point locations distinctly spaced across said slot width.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 144 words

A stringed instrument, comprising: a body having a top; a bridge mounted on said top of said body, said bridge having a saddle slot formed therein, said slot having a slot width; a neck extending from said body; a plurality of strings mounted on said body and neck and extending parallel to said slot width; a saddle received in said saddle slot and supporting said plurality of strings, said saddle including a group of saddle segments at least one of which supports at least two of said strings, said group of saddle segments having a plurality of supporting ridges defined thereon, one of which supporting ridges engages each of said strings, each of said supporting ridges being located to provide a most nearly perfect intonation for its respective string out of a plurality of selectable intonation point locations distinctly spaced across said slot width.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 144 words

A stringed instrument, comprising: a body having a top; a bridge mounted on said top of said body, said bridge having a saddle slot formed therein, said slot having a slot width; a neck extending from said body; a plurality of strings mounted on said body and neck and extending parallel to said slot width; a saddle received in said saddle slot and supporting said plurality of strings, said saddle including a group of saddle segments at least one of which supports at least two of said strings, said group of saddle segments having a plurality of supporting ridges defined thereon, one of which supporting ridges engages each of said strings, each of said supporting ridges being located to provide a most nearly perfect intonation for its respective string out of a plurality of selectable intonation point locations distinctly spaced across said slot width.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 32 words

The stringed instrument of claim 27, wherein: said plurality of strings includes six strings; and said group of saddle segments includes three saddle segments each of which supports two of said strings.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

The stringed instrument of claim 28, wherein: said saddle has an arcuate top profile transverse to said strings and said three saddle segments include two outside segments having identical top profiles and one inside segment.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 12 words

The stringed instrument of claim 27, wherein said instrument is a guitar.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 15 words

The stringed instrument of claim 30, wherein said guitar is a flat top acoustic guitar.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 12 words

The stringed instrument of claim 31, wherein said strings are steel strings.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 41 words

The stringed instrument of claim 27, wherein said plurality of possible distinctly spaced intonation point locations includes five equally spaced locations the outermost two locations of which are a forward edge of said saddle and a rearward edge of said saddle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-02-11	2000-08-12	2001-02-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-02-11	2004-08-12	2005-02-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-02-11	2008-08-12	2009-02-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bridge saddle with adjustable intonation system

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