- Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 4,453,443
- Filed: 13 April 1982
- In the name of: Paul Reed Smith (inventor)
- Title: Pitch Stabilized String Suspension System For Musical Instruments
- What’s claimed: “A string suspension system for a stringed instrument having at least one string with first and second ends and a string suspension system support structure including: first and second attachment means defining two attachment points on said structure for respectively attaching said first and second ends of said string to said structure, first and second string breaking points between and adjacent to respective attachment points, and a bridge, the improvement comprising the length of the string between the various elements of said string suspension system being defined by the following dimensional criterion: that the length represented by one and one-half percent of the length of the string from the first attachment point to the second attachment point exceeds the sum of a first product and a second product; wherein said first product is the product of the length of string from said first string attachment point to said second string break point, the coefficient of friction of said string against said first break point, and the sine of one half of the string deflection angle at said first break point; and wherein said second product is the product of the length of string from said second string attachment point to said second string break point, the coefficient of friction of the string against said second string break point, and the sine of one half of the string deflection angle at said second string break point; wherein said coefficient of friction for said break points is the ratio of the force required to move the string past the break point to the force applied to the break point by the tension in said string; and said bridge includes saddles having said first string breaking point and said first string attachment means thereon.”
- Why this patent rocks: This patent appears to relate to an early version of the tremolo system that would become standard on non-hardtail PRS guitars. system. The design elements are similar and resemble the traditional fulcrum tremolo, but Guitar.com explains that the “countersunk mounting screw holes provide a knife-edge set-up, which ensures the bridge will return to pitch after use. The saddles also sit in a snug pocket, meaning no sideways movement to shift the strings out of tune.” For a more detailed take, see here.
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