Q's about the String Dampener

[dpmasunder]

Hi, I've got a couple of questions about that fantasitic string dampener.

I'm probably going to order one for my main 7-string soon but that's not the reason for posting ;D

Basically, I'm a guitar repairer/maker (yep, that's my day job) and shortly I'm planning on starting on a guitar for myself. My plan is for an 8-string tuned F# B E A D G C F using fanned frets and I'd really like to incorporate 2 string dampeners on it, one for the bass 4 strings, one for the treble 4.

Firstly, and most importantly, is the string dampener patented or protected IP in any way?
I don't want to rip you off

Apart from that can you share any tips that might minimise the trial and error process?

I'm hoping to have the guitar ready by the end of the year, squeezing it in between other work as usual lol

[Blondie]

I'm quite sure they are patented.

[BossMorley]

You should make the guitar have alot of frets like in Speed Kills. I hope I can do something like that in my life. I dont think you would need two string dampeners on it and are you talking about making a string dampener? Is that what you mean by incorporate?
adam

[dpmasunder]

By incorporate I do indeed mean making them. They have to be angled to suit the fanned frets btw.
I want 2 dampeners because I want to be able to dampen the treble strings independently to the bass strings.
I'm switching a lot between heavy riffing on the low end, grind/death metal style, and quick sweep licks on the treble strings. At the moment on the 7 I can just get away with it cleanly but on the 8, with my small hands, I think I'll get problems trying to mute all those strings.
If I were to put a dampener across all the strings I wouldn't be able to use the open and 1st fret notes which I need for those chunky riffs.

I've looked on the US Patent website and can't find any reference to Michael Angelo Batio. I doubt my design would infringe on anything anyway because it will represent a fairly significant change. I don't intend to sell it, just personal use.

[Blondie]

I'm sure Mike will answer thsi when his tim allows him back to the board