Wolf note or not?

[Richard Prowse]

Just been reading on the web and my little 'thingy' is called a 'wolf note eliminator'. It's supposed to work best at about 6cm from the bridge. I think I tried that with little success. I think that my bridge may be a little out of alignment - I'll try to fix that soon. Also, a luthier told me that my soundpost is a little 'loose'.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Just been reading on the web and my little 'thingy' is called a 'wolf note eliminator'. It's supposed to work best at about 6cm from the bridge. I think I tried that with little success. I think that my bridge may be a little out of alignment - I'll try to fix that soon. Also, a luthier told me that my soundpost is a little 'loose'.

Richard, I think the problem is the note itself. I don't think I've ever played anything higher than the E-harmonic (12th fret) CLOSED on the E string.

Since the string is so thick and rubbery nothing is going to sound nice or fairly in-tune up there.

It also depends what kind of string you're using. You'd need an E string fairly stiff and super thin in gauge, something like Corelli. I don't think this would give the instrument proper fundamental though in the low range.

My advice? Play that same note on the A string (11th fret).

[Eric Hochberg]

Many basses have the "wolf" tone on the Ab, A or Bb up an octave on the A string. If your bass does too, try the eliminator on the A string.

[Calvin Marks]

Perhaps a luthier can chime in on this but I've noticed that my wolf's were the same pitch as my neck's "tap-tone". Ie. I used to have a really awful wolf-note on the F# on the E string and on the A string. Whenever I would tap the back of the neck I would also hear an F# ring on the tailpiece. When I got my new compensated tailpiece made out of Koa the wolf's were completely gone.

But really, if your only wolf is up that high on the E string I wouldn't even be concerned.