June 27, 1933.

B. F. MIESSNER

1,915,358

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MUSIC

'Original Filed April 9, 1951

3 Shets-Sheet l

ifINVENTOIQ,

June 27, 1933.

1,915,858

B. F. MIESSNER

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MUSIC

Original Filed April 9. 1931..

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June 27, 1933.

B. F. MIESSNER

1,915,853

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MUSIC

Original Filed April 9, 1931

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1,915,858

Patented June 27, 1933

UNITED STATES
3333mm 1. 111881833, 0!

PATENT OFFICE

MILLBUBN TOWNSHIP, ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,

ASBIGNOB TO KIESSKEB INVENTIONS, INC" A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PBODUCTIOK OI MUSIC

Application ?ed April 8, 1931, Serial No. 528,750. Renewed August 5', 1932.

improved means and methods, involving

This invention relates to musical. instru of
such
translating devices, for adjusting the
ments and systems in which tuned vibrating relative
volume of the different tones, and
bodies are used, their vibrations translated for varying
volume of all the tones, pro
into electric oscillations, and such osclllations duced in thethe
output of an instrument or sys

5 employed for the actuation of further ap tem of the class described. Other and allied
paratus and more speci?cally to mechamco objects will more fully appear from the fol

electric translating devices and their employ lowing description and the appended claims. '
ment in such instruments and systems for
In the detailed description of my invention
translating the vibrations of the tuned bodies

10

into electric oscillations. In my co- end

hereinafter set forth, reference is had to the

drawings, of which :-
ing application, ?led January 30, 1931, erial accompanying
Flgure l is a. perspective view of a single
disclosed certain '

Number 512,399, I have

string provided with translating

methods and apparatus of this nature, 1n vibratory
devices
designed
for the reduction of the rap
cluding several forms and uses of such trans
effect abovementioned; r
15 lating devices. This application is in part a
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a group

as

continuation of the above-mentioned, dealing of strings provided with translating devices

with improvements in the electromagnetic
for the same purpose and for the
translating devices and methods ofemploy designed
elimination of spurious harmonic genera
ment therein described, as well as Wlth alter

native forms of translating device.

tion;

70

Figure 3 is a side view and Figure 4: a

'Although the methods and apparatus here cross-sectionalyiew of a string provided with
any form of tuned vibrating body, they are translating devices designed for such spurious

inafter disclosed are suitable for use with

elimination and for the suppression an

especially adaptable to use with strings. harmonic
of
periodic
oscillation amplitude variation;
While the invention contemplates bodies ex
cited into vibration in any

manner, special '

Figure 5 is a side view of a pluralitv of

provided with translating'devicesuand

consideration has been given to bodies excited strings
means for manipulating the same for the con

by percussion, which excitation in instru trol of the individual amplitude and the
ments of the class described often entails cer
30

amplitude of the electric oscillations 8

tain peculiar problems. Prominent among general
generated
therein;
these problems is that of the reduction of an
Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of an
undesirable rap or thud superimposed upon electrical
musical instrument illustrating an
and occurring at the commencement of the

tones produced by the individual bodies, par

35 ticularly those tuned to higher vibration fre

alternative arrangement of translating de- 85

vices;

'

'

Figure 7 is a plan view and Figure 8 a

cross-sectional
view of a portion of'an elec
ci?c object the reduction or elimination of. trical musical instrument
employing a modi
this rap and of other undesirable effects par ?ed form of translating device; and
90
ticularly likely to be encountered in the case
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portione

quencies. Thus my invention has as a spe

40

of percussion excitation. A further specific of a musical instrument employing a further

object of my invention, equally important
with any form of excitation; is the elimina
tion of introduction of undesirable har
monies by the translating device in the oscil

modi?ed form of translating device.

'

I have above referred to the phenomenon

of rap frequently attendant upon the com- 95

mencement of the tone produced by percus

A general object of my invention is the sion excitation, particularly of strings, in an
musical instrument of the class de
provision of improved devices and manner electrical
scribed.
In Figure 1 I show an arrange
of employment thereof for translating the ment of translating
device with which this 1M
,0 vibrations of tuned bodies into electric oscil disturbance may be minimized.
In this ?g
" lations; and a further object is the provision

45

lations therein generated.

g2

1,916,858

ure, 1 is asection of a string of magnetic reduction in translating efficiency occurs

which may be caused to vibrate by hammer 2, tioning of the string in a less intense held;
striking it from beneath. The translating but
the simplicity of the arrangement, par
device 11 is seen to consist of a bar magnet 21
material, such as the usual steel music string, with translating device 10, due to the osi

ticularly in an instrument employing a lu

having afn'xed thereto pole piece 3 separated rality
of strings, has much to recomlnen it.

from string 1 by gap '6, and carrying near

In Figure 2 I show a plurality of strings
such pole piece coil 31. The output termi 1, which may if desired be parallel and in a
nals of coil 31, across which appears the out
10 put of the translating device, may be con single plane, and a plurality of the translat
ing devices 12, com rising bar magnets 22 '
nected to the in ut terminals of an electrical and coils 32 prefera ly connected in series.
ampli?er 4, in t e output circuit of which _I A single hammer 2 is shown, denoting a
show loudspeaker or other electro-acoustic vertical striking direction; it will of course
translating device 5. An explanationof the be understood that a hammer may be em
15
reductionof rap by a translating device of ployed for each string if desired. In this
this design is as follows :-
'
arrangement the vibrations of each string 1
The magnet 21, the pole piece 3, the gap 6, are translated by two of the devices 12, i. e.,
the portion of the string near the pole piece, those on either side of the'string. It is there
and the air path from such portion back to
20 the lower end of magnet 21 in general form fore important so to phase the coils and pole
the magnets that the voltages induced by the
a magnetic circuit threading coil 31; and vibration of each strin in the two adjacent
variations in the reluctance of this circuit, coils aid, and do not buc , each other; and the
produced by variations of the gap 6, cause a arrangement which I prefer for the accom
voltage to .be induced in coil 31, as. will be
25 understood. If the string be suddenly and plishment of this objective comprises similar
poling of the magnets 22-i. e., the mounting
appreciably moved directly toward or away of all with like poles upsim1lar placement
from pole piece 3, a large transient voltage of similarly wound coils 32 thereon, and con
is set up in coil 31 and, ampli?ed by 4 and nection of the bottom of the ?rst coil to the
translated into sound by 5, appears as the
30 rap of which mention has been made. In bottom of the second, of the top of the sec
ond to the top of the third etc. as shown.
Figure 1, however, it will be seen that the Reversal of the polarity of any magnet
sudden and relatively large motion of string however, if accompanied by the reversal of
lwhich is the result of impact of hammer 2 the phase of its coil, will still not cause '
35

40

is neither directly toward nor away from the bucking induced voltages.
pole piece, being parallel to its face. This The large vertical component of the mothe magnitude of the transient voltage is tion of any of the strings is in this case trans
greatly reduced.
Should the string be caused by such impact lated with even less e?icienoy than in that of

to vibrate purely in a vertical direction, it is

true that there would result poor efficiency of
translation of its vibration into electric oscil
lation, and that such translation as occurred
would be principally bicyclic. I have dis
covered, however, that in almost no case is it

the string shown in Figure 1, and is theoreti

cally not translated at all if the two translat

ing devices adjacent the string are symmetri- "
cal about it. This results from the arrange
ment of polarities and phases, which causes

voltages induced by vertical vibration com

ponents to buck or oppose each other. Hori

possible so to strike a string as to preclude zontal vibration components are present as

50

the excitation of an appreciable component before, however; and to these the arrange
of vibration in a plane at right angles to the ment
shown is particularly responsive, a mo
direction of striking-4. e., in a horizontal tion of
the string toward one translating
plane as shown in Figure 1and that as a device and
away from the other inducing
result the impairment of e?icie'ncy of action voltages in the
coils of the two devices which
of the translating device is by no means as
add. Modi?cations of translating devices in

great as the reduction of the rap.

"

this arrangement may be made, one being il

Various modifications of the design of this lustrated
by devices 13 in Figure 2, which i
translating device may be made wthout im differ from the
devices 12 in that they are
55 pairing its e?icacy in reducing rap. Thus,
provided with pole_pieces 7 which
with reference to Figure 1, the magnet 21, the plane of the strings as shown. may be in
carrying coil31, may be mounted horizon
Tie arrangement shown has the further
tally with its pole in the position in which the advantage
of eliminating the introduction of
pole piece 3 is shown, the latter being omitted.
60 Or, again, the ole piece may be omitted and even harmonics by the translating device
the magnet raised slightly with respect to Into the oscillations thereby generated.
the string, so that its pole lies alongslde and With certain translating devices motion of
string in one direction, corresponding
near to, but not pointed at, the string. This the
latter modi?cation is illustrated by the trans for example with a positive electric oscilla~
65 lating device 10 drawn in Figure 1. Some tion peak, may produce a different change
in reluctance and hence in oscillation peak

1,915,858

of this effect to curve or dish the

amplitude from the change and amplitude elimination
pole of the magnet (or ole piece if em
respectively produced by similar string mo ployed) generally, thong not necessarily

tion in the opposite direction, corresponding exactly, following a section of a cylinder hav
in the same example to a negative oscillation ing the string as its axis. Thus in Figure 4
peak. Thus the wave-form of the oscilla I show in cross-section string 1 and the trans
tions is rendered asymmetrical about the lating devices 14 of Figure 3, the section
axis; and such asymmetry denotes, of being along line 4-4 of Figure 3. The ends
10

70

course, the presence of even harmonics; of the magnets 24 of the translating devices
which, since similar string motions in the 14 adjacent string 1 are seen to be dished or
two directions were assumed in the example, curved as described. It will be appreciated
were not present in the string vibration. that the plane of vibration of the string may

In Figure 2 the only distinction between mo shift materially from the vertical without
tion of the string in the two horizontal direc appreciable changing the relationship of the
tions is a difference in phase or sign of the string at any given instant to the curved pole 80.
15 oscillation peak thereby produced, the wave
surfaces of the magnets 24. This curving of
form and amplitudes on each side of the the pole surface may equally advantageously
mean position being symmetrical, owing to be employed with a single translating device
the symmetrical placement about the string such as either the lower or upper translating
85
of the two devices active in translating its device 14.
33 vibration into electric oscillations.
Further details of my invention appear in
Such bene?ts of spurious even harmonic Figure'?. In this ?gure 1 and 1 are sections
elimination may be obtained in the case of of strings, excitable by hammers 2 and 2'.
strings and translating devices not specially Underneath strings 1 and 1 are shown re~
arranged for elimination or reduction of rap. spectively translating devices 16 and 16, 90
Thus in Figure 3 I show a string 1; hammer which may comprise magnets 26 and 26 and
2 arranged to excite it principally into verti coils 36 and 36, the latter being preferably
cal vibration, and devices 14 arranged for connected in series. \Vhile 1-2 and 1-2'
most e?icient translation of such vertical are shown respectively in different horizontal
string vibration. The devices 14 may consist planes, 26 and 26' different in length, and 95
of two bar magnets 24, one below and one 16 and 16' in different longitudinal positions,
above string 1, with similar poles of each it will be understood that those differences
adjacent the string._ Thepoles are uniform
not exist, being incorporated in the
l_v designated N by way of example. Coils need
?gure for the sake of clear depiction. The 100
34, shown schematically, may surround mag translating devices 16 and 16' may be
nets 24, a proper method of connection being. mounted in block 51, which is carried by
such that the coils tend mechanically to form
56.
_
one continuous, similarly directed winding. base
Base 56, although illustrated in its normal
Translating devices 15 are of an alternative position, will also be seen to be hinged to
form, wherein the phase of the upper coil 35 string support 57 by hing-e 58. This permits 105
and the polarity of the upper magnet 25 have its movement away from the strings, as to the
each been reversed. In the case of devices position shown in dotted lines; and handle 59
15, magnets 25 may be replaced with pole may be provided to facilitate such motion.
pieces, and a single horse shoe magnet em When base 56 is so moved, block 51 and the
ployed with one of its poles touching the translating devices are lowered in position 110
top of the upper pole piece and the other away from the strings, resulting in uniformly
the bottom of the lower pole piece.
decreased translation c?iciency. Thus a gen
It frequently happens that the vibration of eral control of oscillation amplitude, or of
strings, particularly of those notcontinu~ output volume from loudspeaker 5, is pro
ously excited, does not consist of,.0r may not vided by movement of the translating devices. 115

be resolved into, relatively steady components

55

In Figure 5 I also show means for adjust

at right angles to each other, such as horizon ing the amplitudes of the oscillations pro
tal and vertical components; but instead may duced by the individual translating devices
be resolved into continuously varying such with base 56 in any given position and with
components, of which the vector sum is any given amplitude of string vibration.
probably relatively steady. Thus the ap The magnets 26 and 26 of the translating de
parent plane of vibration may shift con vices 16 and 16' are seen to be inserted in
tinuously, either as a continuous rotation of holes 61 and 61"in block 51; and they may

120

such plane about the mean position ofnthe be raised or lowered in such holes to any de

60

string as an axis or as a pendular oscillation sired position and there secured by means of i

of such plane back and forth about such axis. set screws 62 and 62. Thus not only may
lVith most forms of translating device this inequalities in the amplitude of the oscilla
action causes a continuous change in the.

85

tions produed by a given amplitude of vibra

amplitude of the electric oscillations proI tion of the several strings be eliminated, but
duced, which may prove objectionable.
compensation may be effected for inequalities
have found it desirable for the reduction or

l...)

1,915,868

in actuation mechanisms for the several next, for example in a horizontal plane, over

strings and in the ampli?cation efficiency of

ampli?er 2 and translation e?iciency of loud
speaker 5 at different frequencies; further

individual pressure bars 84 and around pins

81, respectlvely on and in insulatin tops
more special and unusual frequency-loudness 83of a frame 70. In a lane underneat that
of the strings and in a line cutting across the
characteristics may be thus imparted to the strings
may be placed bar 87 of magnetic
complete instrument if desired.
In'Figure 6 I show a plan view of a stag- _. material such as soft iron. Vertical bar ma -

nets 86 mag, be fastened to bar 82, alternatefy

gered arrangement of translating devices. poled;
to the top poles of the magnets
Here the strings I may be strung in a plane, 86 may anbe fastened
pole pieces 85, lying in
as between the sides of a frame 70, and ham

mers 2 below the strings may be provided to the plane of the strings. A cross sectional
view of the assembly of Fi ure 7, taken along
excite the same.
the line 88, appears as igure 8. In this
To the frame 70, as to the bottom thereof, ?gure
the letters N and S, alternately ap
may be secured block 72, vcarrying a plu
pearing by the lower poles of the magnets 86,
rality of translating devices 17. These may denote
their alternate polarity. The several '
each consist of a vertical bar magnet 27 car

20

75

rying nearits upper pole coil 37; and each strings are caused - to form one continuous
magnet may be adjustably held in place in series circuit-by the connections 87 appear

a hole in block 72 by a set screw 63. The ing in Figure 7 ; and this circuit may be con
nected to the input terminals of an electrical
magnets are preferably of wide, thin stock, ampli?er
4, preferably including a step-up
and the coils are arranged in two rows, those
in each row being staggered with res eet to transformer 88. Loudspeaker 5, as in pre
vious ?gures, is shown connected to theout
those in the other. The coils are pre erably put
terminals of ampli?er 4.
electrically connected in series so that all

Each of the strings will be seen to ass

the translating devices produce similarly di through
a gap between two of the pole pieces
rected voltages in the common circuit for a
given direction of motion of the strings, 85. Each of_these gaps contains a high ?ux,
either upward or downward.
In Figure 6 I also show a preferred meth
> 0d of connection to an electrical ampli?er 4

each gap being part of a magnetic circuit

comprising the adjacent ole pieces, the

magnets touching these poles, and the sec

of a group of translating devices associated tion of bar 82 between these magnets. Each
string 1, being caused by its hammer 2 to
put terminals of such an ampli?er one is fre vibrate with a large vertical component, cuts

with different frequency strings. Of the in

quently effectively connected to ground either the magnetic lines in its gap and thus there
directly or through a low reactance or im

is induced in the string an a. c. voltage of 100

pedance, while the other is of relatively free frequency corresponding to that of the string

vibration. 'The a. c. voltage appearing in the

string
circuit as a result of the vibration .of
plifying tube input, which is illustrated for
many strings as may be simultaneously
example in dotted lines in the box of am
pli?er 4 in the ?gure, wherein one input vibrating 1s stepped up by transformer 88, 105
amplified by ampli?er 4 and- translated into
terminal connects almost directly to the cath sound
by loudspeaker 5.
,
ode system with its usual low or ground po
tential and the other to the grid of the tube, ' Various modi?cations of the arrangement
separated from any low potential by at least illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 may of course
a very high value of resistance. It is high be effected without departing from the spirit 110
ly desirable to connect to the free-potential of the invention, which is intended to em
input terminali. e., the grid of the tube in brace the translation of the vibration of a
tuned string into electric oscillations in the
ampli?er Al-that extremity of the group of stung
by suitable placement of the latter in
. translating devices which is associated with
magnetic ?eld.
115
the highest frequency strings; otherwise the a steady
It
will
be
seen
that
all
the
devices
herein
efficiency of the instrument at such fre
quencies and their natural harmonics may above disclosed-are without moving or vibrat
potential. A typical illustration is an am

mg parts, and operate without mechanical

be seriously impaired.
connection
the vibrating body: they may
While in describing the foregoing embodi therefore beto classed
as operatively station~

ments of my invention I have shown electro

120

ary. In Figure 9, however, I show a translat

magnetic translating devices, my invention mg
device intended to function at the end of
is not peculiar thereto and I do not wish so

60

to limit it, these embodiments being equally the active portion of a string or of each
applicable to and useful with other forms of string in a group, and having an operating
mechanical connection to the strings. As in
translating device, as will be understood.
In Figure 7 I show an alternative form of prior ?gures, the strings and the hammers

125

- translating device in which no coils need be herein are respectively designated as 1 and 2.
65

employed. With this form strings I may be The strings are each passed over an edge 89
of electrically conductive block 90 and may
used, strung from one tuning pin 80 to the be
secured to pins 91 in electrically conduc

130

and mechanico-electric translating

tive block 92. The latter are so positioned bration,
means relatively unres onsive to components
as to cause the strings by'virtue of their ten of said vibration in sai given plane and rela

sion to bear down upon the edge 89 of block tively responsive to components in other
70
90; and this downward pressure is trans planes.
.
'
mitted .to block 96, of piezo-electrio material v 4. In a musical- instrument, the combina
such as quartz- Block 96 is thus placed in tion of a tuned string and means for roduc
compression between block 90 and electri ing therefrom electric oscillations re atively
cally conductive plate v93, which may be free of initial transients, said means compris
mounted to and insulated 'from the base 95 mg a hammer adapted to strike said string 75
10. b insulating block 94. The strings 1 are and mechanico-electric translating means en
ellectrically connected together and to block argued by said string, said translating means
92; and this may be connected to one input being relatively insensitive to motions of said

terminal, preferably the ground or low string immediately attendant upon such

tential terminal, of electrical ampli?er 4,

to the other input terminal of which may be striking.
_ 5. In a musical instrument, the combina
connected the plate 93.
tion of a string; a hammer adapted to strike
This translating device makes use of the sa1d string; and a mechanico-electric trans

15

property of the generation of voltagejn, by lating device having a (portion in spaced re

varlation of pressure on, piezo-electnc ma

latlon to said string an operative in accord

terial, the latter being in general substituted ance with vibratory variation of the spacin
for the bridge of the usual purely mechan

between said string and the surface of sai

ical and acoustical musical instrument, as port1on, said portion being arranged without
will be understood. In an instrument con the plane in which said hammer moves when
taining a lar e number of strings a single

25.

30

said string.
piezo-electric lock for all strings, for each striking
6. In a musical instrument, the combina
group of strings, or for each string, may be tion of a string; a hammer adapted to strike
employed as desired.
said strin ; and a mechanico-electrio trans
It will be understood that while I have lating device having a ortion in spaced rela
shown and described the embodiments of my tion to said string and) operative in accord
invention in connection with strings, they ance with vibratory variation of the spacin
may readily be employed with other forms between said string and the surface of sai
of vibrators; and that various modi?cations portion, said portion being arranged without

95

may of course be made in the choice and dis

plane in which said hammer moves when

position of component parts without depart thestriking said string, and said surface being
as, ing from the spirit or scope of my invention, substantially parallel to said plane.
as hereinabove disclosed and in the append

100

7. - In a muslcal instrument, the combination

ed claims de?ned.
40

of a succession of tunedvibratory bodies ly

I claim :- '
'
1ng substantlally in a plane; amechanico
1. In a musical instrument, the combina electric translating system having portions
tion of a tuned vibrator and means for pro respectively positioned between each two
ducino' therefrom electric oscillations of succeedin bodies and being arranged to
smooth initial am litude rise, said means

translate into electric oscillations components

comprising means or roducinga de?ection of vibration of said bodies in said plane;
of said vibrator, where y the same is set into and a striker for each of said bodies movable

.45 vibration, and mechanico-electric translating in a plane substantially different from said
means sensitive to said vibration and rela ?rst mentioned plane.
tively insensitive to said initial de?ection.
_ 8. In a musical instrument, the combina
2. In a musical; instrument, the combina tion of a tuned string; means for vibrating
tion of a tuned vibrator and means for pro sa1d string; a mechanico-electric translating
ducing a sound of smooth inception there
from, said means comprising means for ex

110

116

device having a portion in spaced relation

to a section of said string and arranged to be

citing said vibrator to initiate vibration actuated by vibratory variation of such spac
thereof, mechanico-electric translating means mg; and a curved surface on said portion,
energized by said vibrator, said translating said surface tending to follow a section of a
means being relatively insensitive to motions cylinder about the mean position of said
of said vibrator immediately attendant upon strin as an axis.

60

105

said excitation, and electro-acoustic translat

9. n a musical instrument, the combina
ing apparatus connected to said mechanico tion
of a string; means for vibrating said
electric translating means.
string; and a mechanico-electric translating
3. In a musical instrument, the combina device havin a portion arranged adjacent
tion of a tuned vibrator and means for pro and symmetrically to said string and opera
ducing therefrom electric, oscillations of tive in accordance with vibratory variation
smooth initial amplitude rise, said means of such spacing, the mid part of said portion
comprising percussive means active in a giv
en plane for exciting said vibrator into vi- being recessed.

120

125

130

1,915,858

10. In a musical instrument, the combina

vibrational frequency of said vibra
tion of a plurality of tuned bodies; means for mental
tor respectively translated by said devices

vibrating. said bodies; mechanico-electric mutually aid.

translating apparatus having. a portion ad
15. In a musical instrument, the combina
jacent each of said bodies and being ar tion
of a tuned vibratory body; means for 70
ranged to be actuated by vlbratory changes maintaining
a magnetic ?eld transversely
in the distances between said bodies and said

10

portions; and a single means connected to all through a portion of said body between its
extremities; means for vibrating said body
of said portions for simultaneously and in
plane substantially normal to said ?eld;
similarly adjusting the distances between an aelectrical
work circuit having two input 75
said bodies and said portions.
_ .
terminals;
and
electrical connections between
11. A musical instrument comprislng a

said two extremities of said body and said

plurality of tuned bodies; means for vibrat- input
terminals.
I
ing each of said bodies at a plurality of its
16.
In
a
musical
instrument,
the
combina
partial frequencies; mechanicofelectric trans tion of a plurality of tuned strings electrical
lating apparatus for translating the vibra ly
connected in series to form a single cir
tions of said bodies into electric oscillations, cuit;
means for maintaining a magnetic ?eld

said apparatus having portions respectively transversely through each of said strings;
adjacent said bodies and being arranged to

20

25

means for vibrating each of said strings in a

be actuated by vibratory variation of the plane
substantially normal to said ?eld; an
spacings between said bodies and said por
electrical work circuit having two input ter
tions; electro-acoustic translating apparatus minals;
and electrical connections between
for translating said oscillations into sound;

and means individually connected to the sec the extremities of said string circuit and said
ond said portions of said mechanico-electric input terminals.

musical instrument, the combina

translating apparatus for adjustably secur tion17.ofIna ablock
of piezo-electric material; an
ing said portions, whereby the_several said electrically
conductive member in contact

spacings may be individually adjusted.

12. The method of varying the output vol

with one face of said block; at least one tuned

translated into electric oscillations by vibra

brating said strings, whereby their pressure

ume of a musical instrument of the type string exerting pressure upon a portion of
wherein the vibrations of tuned bodies are said block opposite said face; means for vi

tory variation of the distances between said upon said block is oscillatorily varied; and
means for translating into sound electric os
bodies and stationary translating apparatus, cillations
thereby generated in said block.
which consists in simultaneously and similar
18. In a musical instrument, the combina 00
ly varying the distances between said bodies
tion of a plurality of progressively tuned ;vi
and said apparatus.
13. The method of voicing a musical in bratory bodies; means for vibrating said
strument of the type wherein the various par bodies; an electrical series of translating de
40 tial frequency vibrations of each of a plu~ vices associated with said vibratory bodies,
rality tuned bodies are translated into sound a ?rst extremity of said series being associat 105
by a mechanico-electro-acoustic translation ed with at least one of said bodies tuned to
process including the vibratory variation of a low frequency and the second extremity
the distances between said bodies and station with at least one of said bodies tuned to a
' ary translating apparatus, which method high frequency; an electrical ampli?er hav
consists in selectively adjusting the distances ing an input terminal separated from ground 110
by not more than a relatively low impedance
betwen said bodies and said apparatus.
14. In a musical instrument, the combina and a second input terminal separated from
tion of a tuned vibrator, two substantially ground by at least a relatively high im

similar operatively stationary mechanico pedance; and a connection from said ?rst ex
electric translating devices in substantially tremity of said series to said ?rst ampli?er

similar spaced relation to respectively oppo input terminal and a connection from said
site sides of a portion of said vibrator, and second extremity to said second ampli?er ter
electrical connections between said translat minal.
BENJAMIN F. MIESSNER.
ing devices whereby oscillations of the funda

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