How Do I Treat a Wolf Tone on My Double Bass?
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2017
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In episode #47 of 'Ask Geoff and Lauren', we answer a question from Jennifer about treating a wolf tone. Anyone who has experienced one will know that a wolf tone can sound terrible! We discuss how we have stopped them on our double basses.
We would love to hear how you have treated wolf tones on your double bass. Please let us know in the comments section below this video.
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I recently fitted a simple brass eliminator on my A string which helps. Still exploring best position.
I have a wolf tone on the C octave on my A string (which seems a little higher compared to where most people experience them). I sometimes try to mitigate its effect by varying the vibrato speeds.
I would liken this method to, say, running faster than the wolf tone, and when it catches up with you, suddenly slowing down - so that it races past you.
The result can sound a bit weird to the listener - but at least it sounds deliberate.
(said that, I can imagine a listeners reaction as being something like "wow, that person has complex emotions". Yeah - right ;-)
Thanks
Hi. I love your videos and they've helped me tons with getting my new bass. Since getting my bass I've had tons of issues, one being a wolf tone but more recently the tailpiece, bridge and soundpost falling off. How would you be able to tell if a Luther has done a 'Good' job since there isn't a well known bass specialist in Scotland
Hey Callum, it's so tricky without seeing the bass. I think the only way would be to show it to a teacher or more experienced bassist as there are so many variables. I know it's tough finding a good local luthier and I hope your bass is back together.
BTW if you make it south there's a guy with a great reputation in Manchester called Sam Wells.. I know it's not on your door step but it would be worth it if you are ever visiting.
Great quite understandable treatment of wolf tones. I have heard that the better the instrument the more likely it is to have a strong wolf tone. I tune in 5ths, so where your "G" string is, I have an A, and it's got an A wolf. Not nice.
My bassist/luthier saw a magazine article about the Krentz wolf eliminator. Then he went to the hardware store and bought a couple niobium magnets. He glued cork on one side of one, and glued stained finished wood on the other side, then dropped the plain magnet inside the bass, and put the one with cork and wood outside. We had a pretty effective wolf eliminator for my bass. Perhaps not as good as the Krentz but it only cost me $15. And it works fairly well.
That sounds like a great solution! I've seen the magnets, but not used them before. I spotted Upton bass were using them at the ISB conference this year and I meant to ask how they were getting on with them. Good to hear it's effective.
Kinda wish there was a mention of what sizes for what string. Scouring the internet for what sizes I must get. Lost my wolf stopper a while ago for my A harmonic on A string in 6th/thumb position. Hardly info at all on what size we should get anywhere. Heres to hoping 20g works for A string...
That's a great point. I'm not sure if it's a bit of trial and error, but I know it does make a difference.
Hi! I'm a Brazilian player and I love your videos! Can you guys give some 'trill' tips? This is one of the things that I have so much trouble with. Thank you so much!
Great question and we will try to get to it in a future episode :-)
YES! Please do treat trills.
I've been getting things that based on the information sounds/feels like wolf-tones lately on my bass. However, it's not just at one given spot. Anywhere on my instrument could be playing fine on note, then the next note could be "wolf"-like. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the rosin, because it greatly increased this recent time when I re-rasined my bow, but I feel like it's some technique also.
I've found that using too much rosin can make the bow stick to the string and it does have a wolf like quality. Could be worth checking out if it's not in one spot.
Thank you for the video. I'm just curious - will eliminator help also for wolf on open A string? When I bow open A, it doesn't have the wobble effect, but still, it often produces a thin scratchy tone rather than deep nice A as expected. It seems like the bass is struggling against open A. No such issue on other strings. And the wobble thing I get on A octave, A string.
It's really hard to say for sure, but the open A and the octave harmonic are very common spots for wolf tones so I think it's worth considering. However, it's impossible to say without trying it as to how much it will help. In the past it has helped on instruments I've owned.
Please Geoff, let me know if you have some video where you and Lauren explain de the height of the strings. Once I saw one video, but I cant remember the name of that video!! Thanks a lot. Greetings from Costa Rica.
discoverdoublebass.com/lesson/double-bass-string-height-string-adjusters-ask-geoff-lauren-24
Enjoy :-)
@@DiscoverDoubleBass thank you so much!!