Wolf Tones

Dr_Atomic · #1 10-22-2008, 05:54 PM

Hey,

Just got a great bass, and the A string is being wolfy. It really starts around the A harmonic in thumb position. I've tried a wolf eliminator and it's not doing much. The G is also being a little wolfy. The D and E are in good shape though.

Should I change strings? If so, what should I try?

Right now I have Pirastro Flat Chrome Originals (the purple/white ones) for G, D, A, and a Bel Canto E.

Eli_Upright12 · #2 10-22-2008, 06:08 PM

Common spot for a wolf tone, you should get a eliminator. Theyre like 15-25 bucks.

dchan · #3 10-22-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eli_Upright12

Come spot for a wolf tone, you should get a eliminator. Theyre like 15-25 bucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Atomic

....... I've tried a wolf eliminator and it's not doing much. ......

.

toman · #4 10-23-2008, 05:21 AM

If the problem is covering more than just one note I don't think the weight-type eliminator will fix it. I'd start by playing with the string afterlengths just because and then monkey with the soundpost little by little or try nudging the bridge up or down just a tad. After that...

wiro · #5 10-23-2008, 05:51 AM

+1 for soundpost experiments. Not only it's position, but also the length and exact fit on both sides.
You got to take the time for this, but it's very likely that this will do the trick. Find a good luthier to fix it.

Eli_Upright12 · #6 10-23-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchan

.

whoops this illiteracy is starting to suck. Maybe try moving it. I know that on my bass it took a couple weeks to find the best spot.

Joe Ergle · #7 10-23-2008, 08:14 AM

One more for soundpost... My bass's A's are extremely wolfy, but I'm 99% sure that it's the soundpost. It's a bit crooked and not in a great place, but I haven't had the time or tools to move it.

Dr_Atomic · #8 10-23-2008, 12:44 PM

Hi, Thanks for the help.
Maybe I need a winter post. I will keep moving the eliminator around and see what is best, because I think that finding the right string is trial and error. I will have this bass for a long time, so I will find the right combination eventually.
When I am back in NY in December, I will take the bass to David G and see what he says about the post.
Thanks!

kontrabass · #9 10-23-2008, 01:39 PM

I've found that eliminators actually dampen the vibrations of the entire bass, making it sound less resonant. It's actually astounding how much a little wolf eliminator can affect the sound of a bass. Whether it should be used is entirely situational, but I've only seen a few instances where an eliminator helps greatly.

I'd give Scott Henrie a call. He's the best luthier in Chicago. PM me if you need his contact info. I've seen Mr. Kassinger's bass there a few times.

Minibass · #10 10-23-2008, 04:18 PM

You should check out www.marvinusa.com (read the stuff in the "about us" section). They sell wire tailpieces which could greatly reduce wolf tones. I'm not saying this will definetly get rid of the wolf tones, but I'd say it's worth checking out.

Eli_Upright12 · #11 10-23-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minibass

You should check out www.marvinusa.com (read the stuff in the "about us" section). They sell wire tailpieces which could greatly reduce wolf tones. I'm not saying this will definetly get rid of the wolf tones, but I'd say it's worth checking out.

I play one of these and they do a lot to stop wolftones, basically instead of your strings vibrating in crazy ways its the after length that vibrates.

toman · #12 10-23-2008, 06:19 PM

I personally think that swapping parts like strings and tailpieces trying to fix a problem doesn't make much sense; the issue is most likely to be with the bass, not the parts. I mean, sure, you could have one bad string or a cracked tailpiece I guess, but...

David Potts · #13 10-23-2008, 06:24 PM

My question is "why break the set of Pirastros with an alien E?" Can you first try completing the set with an old (borrowed") Pirastro E and seeing what happens?

DP

toman · #14 10-23-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Potts

My question is "why break the set of Pirastros with an alien E?" Can you first try completing the set with an old (borrowed") Pirastro E and seeing what happens?

DP

I don't think changing one string that isn't even part of the problem will change much. The fact that the problem occurs on two strings from the same set on the same bass seems to me to indicate pretty clearly the bass as the cause, not strings.

Dr_Atomic · #15 10-24-2008, 12:06 AM

Hey now don't insult my bass! During the Berlin Festival at Carnegie Hall this past year, one of the visiting orchestras borrowed this bass... it's a great one!! I think that the problem will be solved by a sound-post adjustment.

I broke up the set of Pirastros because I bought this bass this past summer when I was in NY and my former teacher, Tim Cobb, suggested this set-up when he was helping me pick out a bass. His suggestions are always pretty much right on the money and this string set-up is good; the problem is probably stemming from a sound-post issue, not a string issue.

toman · #16 10-24-2008, 05:33 AM

Nah man, I didn't mean there's anything wrong with the bass as a whole, just that the *correctable, surely* issue was with some part of the instrument (including the soundpost, bridge etc. in terms of adjustments) or repairs not just plain broken parts. Does that make sense?

I'm not sure... heheh...

Dr_Atomic · #17 10-24-2008, 12:10 PM

It's all good, no worries.

Probably it's quite fixable, and I'll see what Gage thinks about moving the sound-post this winter.

toman · #18 10-25-2008, 03:05 AM

Move it yourself; it isn't hard and worst case is you knock it over. Any string shop or another bassist can put it back up and show you how at the same time. If anything it'd just be good practice; then you won't have to rely on (or pay, not sure if most shops charge or not) someone else for a minor adjustment.

If you move it yourself, mark where it was first so you can always go back, and make sure it isn't too tight in there; you don't want a soundpost crack! Crooked is no good either...

Paul Warburton · #19 10-25-2008, 08:05 AM

Hi...How nice, a young lady!
IMO, I wouldn't try moving the post without some help of maybe, one of your teachers, or at least someone who's done it before.
My best to Rob Kassinger.

Dr_Atomic · #20 10-25-2008, 02:44 PM

Hi,

Sorry I don't think I should move my own sound-post! Bad things could happen seeing as I have no idea how to do it. The bass sounds great as it is, and I would rather just wait to see if new strings make a difference before messing with the sound-post.

The set-up I have I think is really great for basses that are already really open and free-sounding regardless of set-up, so I might want to try more forgiving strings (i.e. strings with less tension) like Flat Chrome-Steels. I would be interested in trying Flexocores, too...