Accessories for Upright Bass:  Wolf Tone Eliminators

Wolf Tone Eliminator for Double Bass

Manufactured by: Super-Sensitive

You've probably heard the term "wolf tone" from your bassist or other stringed instrument friends. It's a commonly misunderstood concept, but not a rarity on bowed stringed instruments (and is particularly common with carved instruments). There are various methods of "eliminating" or "moving" (changing the affected pitch) wolf tones. A simple eliminator like this one is a simple, inexpensive and common solution.

What is a "Wolf Tone?"

Put simply, it's an artificial overtone. It occurs because your bass has a frequency at which - due to its physical size - it naturally resonates. It's kind of like a drum having a particular tuning at which it sounds best (which is fine for drums, but we bassists have many different notes to play on the same instrument!) On a bass, when you play the note that is of that same resonating frequency (or very close to it), you get a sustained overtone along with the pitch of the string being played. This can cause a note that "jumps out" more than other notes, as well as cause that "beating" sound you hear when you play the same note on two strings that aren't quite in tune with each other.

It's probably called a "Wolf Tone" since that "beating" can be reminiscent of the howling of that animal. Since basses generally have fairly similar sizes, the wolf tone (when found) on a bass is often around "G."

How to I get rid of the Wolf Tone?"

To reduce or eliminate the wolf tone, you can add this wolf tone eliminator to the afterlength (the part of the string between the bridge and tailpiece) on the string upon which the wolf tone is present. By moving the weight up and down, you may "dial in" that wolf tone's frequency and reduce its effects - it's sort of a "mini-attenuator" which can often decrease the intensity of that frequency. It's a common solution to a common problem; wolf-tone eliminators have long been available for all members of the string family.

This one consists of a rubber sleeve, which is surrounded by a metal collar with a set screw. To install, you simply remove the rubber sleeve, place it on the string, put the metal collar around it, and tighten the thumbscrew. You don't need to remove or detune the strings to install it - it takes only moments to install, move, or remove. No tools necessary.

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