They appeared to use Titebond when gluing the fingerboard. At the very least, it was a Titebond bottle, but they could have had hot hide glue in it (just to throw us off...
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Double Bass Wolf Tone Elim.: Effect on Bowed A?
- Thread starter BassiklyAC
- Start date
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Wha?? Isn't the FullCircle mounted in the bridge foot? Wouldn't it be either on the E string side or the G string side in the foot of the bridge?
Sorry for the confusion. The clip holding the 1/4" jack is between the A and D and the other bits in the bridge feet.
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This has worked somewhat for me as well. This was suggested by a luthier I took my bass to (Keiran O'Hara). I had brought the bass with both the FC clip-on on A/D string + an inexpensive barrel type WTE on the A string. He pointed out that I didn't need both of them and also they might even be cancelling each other out
Ahhhhh...I get it. I do the same thing. I don't "think" it's had much of an effect on feedback, but every bass is a little different.
So, with the new set of Pirastro Perpetuals on, I did a bit of bowing today and found that the issues with the A string were essentially the same. Not a wolf tone per se, but the same difficulty getting a good start/strong fundamental right from the first bow stroke. Sometimes it would hit and it was glorious, but it’s just not consistent.
I also have some further thoughts on the strings themselves which I’ll post in the Perp thread.
I also have some further thoughts on the strings themselves which I’ll post in the Perp thread.
I've had the best results "Wolf-chasing" with soundpost movement and afterlength/tailpiece wire movement. Wolftones seem to be a function of the instrument setup, not the String, IME.
Good Luck, Adam.
Thanks Don. Always appreciate your input. Will likely be visiting Lisa at Bass Works when things return to normal. Stay well.
I have been looking at basses online recently and came across a few very fine bass that had a raised round black cylinder down low on the face of the instrument. Now I think I know what the cylinder is. Thanks.
Modulator - Krentz String Works
Installation - Krentz String Works
I listened to your videos playing the Perpetual strings, nice playing!
The bowed open A String indeed doesn´t sound like a typical wolf tone to mee, I´d say it doesn´t speak right. I´d also suggest the soundpost vodoo. The position might be fine, but it might have a tad too much tension. I have an adjustable soundpost installed, and that´s exactly what happens with too much tension on my bass, the A string starts to speak badly under the bow, while the pizzed sound of the A string starts to get almost thicker than the E string. Might be worth a try. I´m not a luthier!
The bowed open A String indeed doesn´t sound like a typical wolf tone to mee, I´d say it doesn´t speak right. I´d also suggest the soundpost vodoo. The position might be fine, but it might have a tad too much tension. I have an adjustable soundpost installed, and that´s exactly what happens with too much tension on my bass, the A string starts to speak badly under the bow, while the pizzed sound of the A string starts to get almost thicker than the E string. Might be worth a try. I´m not a luthier!
Wolf tones also depend on the strings because the mass and mass distribution in the afterlength vary and therefor also the pitch. Also the tension and tension distribution can have an influence on wolf tones. The amount of influence might vary, but they all have some influence.
Setup of course, specially sound post position and pressure has a big influence as well.
Thank you for the thumbs up. Your observations about the nature of the problem are extremely helpful as are your possible solutions. You and Don have weighed in with similar suggestions and I’m definitely going to look into some sound post adjusting when the time comes.
It’s been an informative hang. Gotta love TB!
So we have a wolf just waiting to jump out and bite us.
Wolf tones go hand in hand with a good sounding bass. Mine is at Ab in thumb position. Top luthiers say you can’t completely get rid of them, and every great sounding bass will have a wolf.
Some partial solutions:
sound post adjustment, best left to a bass specialist imho
loose or tight sound post
bow and hair
tailpiece wire (solid is bad)
bridge location
tailpiece mass
endpin material
tune the string afterlength to a perfect 4th
leave extra wood on top inside below the f holes during construction
bow the wolf every day for months, called playing it out
weights on the string afterlength
magnet on the top (krentz works for some)
seasonal weather
add a C extension
when I went to 5ths tuning the wolf got quieter
I just live with my wolf. We get along.
Wolf tones go hand in hand with a good sounding bass. Mine is at Ab in thumb position. Top luthiers say you can’t completely get rid of them, and every great sounding bass will have a wolf.
Some partial solutions:
sound post adjustment, best left to a bass specialist imho
loose or tight sound post
bow and hair
tailpiece wire (solid is bad)
bridge location
tailpiece mass
endpin material
tune the string afterlength to a perfect 4th
leave extra wood on top inside below the f holes during construction
bow the wolf every day for months, called playing it out
weights on the string afterlength
magnet on the top (krentz works for some)
seasonal weather
add a C extension
when I went to 5ths tuning the wolf got quieter
I just live with my wolf. We get along.
Last edited:
Thanks for mentioning it! Got it today and the hideous bleating A is gone. Very clever device, easy to set up and really works.
I have this problem off and on with my bass-- adjusting the E afterlength up to an "A" helped considerably, as did ensuring the bridge feet were well fitted and some slight soundpost adjustments (initially too loose and shimmed up a touch).
I also use Kamimoto's Wolf Terminator.
I also use Kamimoto's Wolf Terminator.
