James M. Guthrie and Jonathan C. Stupka, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,110,729 for “Pyrolytic Carbon Components For Stringed Instruments.”
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Texas Business Patent Of The Day: Two Austin men devised better materials for a better violin sound.
James M. Guthrie and Jonathan C. Stupka, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,110,729 for “Pyrolytic Carbon Components For Stringed Instruments.”
The two men filed for the patent on February 2, 2010.
The patent assignee is Obbligato Inc. of Lakeway, Texas.
Choices of materials used in stringed musical instruments that come in contact with the strings have not significantly deviated from those traditionally used during the history of stringed instruments, according to the patent document.
Some newer materials have been used, but the tendency seems to be to find more commonly available materials at lower cost as substitutes for materials that are becoming increasingly rare and/or expensive. An example is TUSQ.RTM, a synthetic material developed to replace bone or ivory particularly for acoustic guitar saddles and nuts.
Generally such alternative materials that have been tried in an effort to improve the sonic characteristics of stringed instruments have had some limited success, but overall have produced less than desired results.
However, Stupka and Guthrie found that certain forms of pyrolytic carbon, when used for bridges/saddles and nuts of stringed instruments, surprisingly produces a marked difference in the sound of these instruments compared with currently used materials.
In particular, there is a significant increase in sound volume for a given intensity of string movement along with richer harmonics and a clearer, less muddy sound. It appears that the particular crystalline structure of pyrolytic carbon minimizes the damping of string vibration as it is transferred to the sound-amplifying portion of acoustic instruments producing a rich, pleasing and higher volume sound.
Another desirable characteristic of pyrolytic carbon when used for components contacting strings in stringed instruments is an increase in the useful life of the strings. Strings can be used for a longer period of time before going "dead" (losing the level of volume and desirable harmonics).
Also, strings that are in contact with pyrocarbon surfaces, versus other material surfaces, last longer before breaking for a given intensity and duration of use.
Pyrolytic carbon components also will last longer than other bone, synthetic bone and plastic type components, which tend to yellow and crack and chip as well as to lose intonation as they age. The two mend found that pyrocarbon companients create richer, clearer sound when employed as bridges, saddles, nuts, frets, tuning heads, pegs and other parts which contact the strings in guitars, violins, and other stringed instruments.
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