SMALL-SIZED KOTO (SOU ZITHER)

• Main Author: MIZUHARA TADASHI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.01.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; ACOUSTICS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; PHYSICS; STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate housing of many Koto's by making the Koto's simpler in struc ture, lighter in weight, easier to carry and handle, lower in cost and stackable so as not to interfere with frets. SOLUTION: The small-sized Koto is constituted in the following manner. Both ends are formed as a ryutou (head) 21 and ryubi (tail 22) to which strings G are stretched; the Koto has a shell plate 20 on which frets is mounted and which is an arcuate shape in cross section; the ryutou 21 side of the shell plate 20 is projectingly provided with an arcuate ryukaku (saddle) 27 for supporting the strings G; the ryubi 22 side of the shell plate 20 is projectingly provided with an arcuate shape unkaku (saddle) 28 to support the strings G; the ryutou 21 of the shell plate 20 is provided with one-end detaining mechanisms 30 for detaining one end of the strings G; the ryubi 22 of the shell plate 20 is provided with a stretching force adjusting and detaining mechanism 40 with which the other end of the strings G is detained and the stretching force of the strings is adjustable and the ryutou 21 and ryubi 22 of the shell plate 20 are respectively provided with a pair of grounded leg bodies 25; a pair of the leg bodies 25 on the ryufuku (belly) side of the shell plate 20 are opened to each other and the centers at the under surfaces of the leg bodies 25 are provided with recesses 26.