Patent US3769871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3769871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stone guitar with tuned neck
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-25
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a new and improved electric guitar having a stone body in which is housed conventional electronic pickup means, controls and the like, and a uniquely reinforced, ''''tuned'''' neck construction providing a new and improved musical instrument with outstanding sustain and high frequency resonanting effects. Specifically, the body is formed from a comparatively heavy stone slab, typically 1 to 1 1/8 inches thick, while the neck is reinforced and its geometry stabilized by a steel truss rod and by a precisely tuned, steel reinforcing or tuning bar laminated therein. The tuning bar advantageously is a 21 inch (nominal) bar of 5/16 inch square tool steel hardened to Rockwell C 60 which is ground down to a precise length which produces a ''''high E'''' note when the bar is struck like a tuning fork and permitted to vibrate. rmitted to vibrate.
Inventors
- 👤 J Cawthorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:43
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D1/00; G10D1/04; G10D1/05; G10D1/08; G10D1/085; G10H; G10H3/00; G10H3/12; G10H3/14; G10H3/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A stringed musical instrument comprising a. a stone body of single piece construction having at its face a hollowed out cavity therein; b. an elongated, reinforced neck secured to said body; c. a bridge mounted on said stone body; d. tuning pegs and a nut carried by said reinforced neck; e. a plurality of strings extending between said tuning pegs and said bridge; and f. a pick guard closing said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stringed musical instrument comprising a. a stone body of single piece construction having at its face a hollowed out cavity therein; b. an elongated, reinforced neck secured to said body; c. a bridge mounted on said stone body; d. tuning pegs and a nut carried by said reinforced neck; e. a plurality of strings extending between said tuning pegs and said bridge; and f. a pick guard closing said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 1, in which a. said single piece stone body is selected from the group comprising granite, marble, onyx, rose quartz, petrified wood and agate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 1, in which a. said neck is tuned and reinforced by the inclusion therein of a metallic tuning bar tuned to a high E note.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The instrument of claim 1, in which a. the side edges of said stone body include at least one straight edge portion upon which thE instrument may be substantially, vertically free standing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument of claim 4, in which a. said straight edge is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said neck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
The instrument of claim 1, in which a. said neck is of hardwood construction having a full length stepped groove formed therein; b. a truss rod is disposed in the bottom of said groove for reinforcing and for adjustably tensioning said neck prior to the attachment thereof to said stone body; c. said tuning bar is disposed in said groove above said truss rod; d. said tuning bar comprises a 21 inch (nominal) bar of 5/16 inch square tool steel hardened to Rockwell C 60; e. said groove is covered by a hardwood fret board extending substantially for the full length of said neck; f. said finger board and the head of said truss rod are permanently secured to the hardwood portions of said neck by epoxy cement; g. a lubricant is disposed at the interface of said truss rod and said tuning bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guitar neck construction of claim 6, in which a. said tuning bar comprises a 21 inch (nominal) bar of 5/16 inch square tool steel hardened to Rockwell C 60.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guitar neck construction of claim 6, in which a. said tuning bar is an elongated metallic element which, when struck as a tuning fork, produces a high E note.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |