Apparatus and method for self-tuning stringed musical instruments with an accompanying vibrato mechanism

Abstract

An automatic tuning system for a stringed instrument is provided having a string adjustment assembly comprising a motor and gear assembly, wherein the motor and gear assembly is pivotable on a housing for the tuning system. The system can also include a vibrato arm in contact with the motor and gear assembly, and a vibrato return spring in contact with both the motor and gear assembly and the instrument, which is capable of reversibly changing the position of a string contact surface in the string adjustment assembly with respect to the string, thereby lowering the pitch of the string and then raising it to its original pitch. The system can also include an option board for wireless communication with remote components such as a remote footswitch or other type of control panel. Other remote devices may also be wirelessly connected to the tuning system, including other instruments, audio devices for receiving sound, and the like. The system comprises a processor that can be preprogrammed with generic instructions for motor movement to achieve specific pitch changes and can also be programmed to store the motor instructions required to achieve specific pitch changes each time the system performs an automatic tuning correction, and to utilize these instructions the next time the system is tuned. The system is capable of performing fine tuning corrections as well as of prompting a user to perform coarse-tuning corrections. It also allows a user to change tunings while playing.