Locking nut assembly for musical stringed instruments

Abstract

A manual string locking assembly for clamping the strings of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, adjacent to the fretboard nut of the instrument is disclosed. The string locking assembly is mounted on the headstock of the guitar between the fretboard nut and tuning pegs. The assembly includes a clamping block, having front and rear pillars for easy self-alignment of the strings, mounted directly to the headstock of the guitar to support an adjustable finger operated clamping device which can accommodate strings of varying diameters. A single spring loaded revolvable key operates three machine threaded cam-action flat head cap screws. The three screws are disposed either in an unlocked position to allow free tuning of the strings of the guitar or in a secured locked position to provide a grip between the clamping block and three threaded base-plate tabs to prevent slippage of the strings while the instrument is being played. The key supplies a hex-head insert for adjustment of the locking screws. Once a locking screw is properly adjusted, the key can be translated in a linear motion along the clamping block railing and dropped into the next hex-head cavity by a compression spring housed within the key assembly.