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sbwaters
Registered User
Posts: 7
(7/26/01 9:40:23 am)
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Placing a wolf
eliminator
Hi,
Wolf eliminators come with no instructions. To try I
have 7, 9, 11, 13 gram eliminators. By trial and error, I have found
that the 7 gram placed about 3/4 inch from the bridge on the G
string tends to liven up the cello sound and mute the wolf
some.
I am interested in learning if there is are procedures
for finding the best placement and weight. Suggestions? (i.e. Start
in the middle between the bridge and the colored wrap of the G
string. Or once you find the spot try the heavier weights in the
same place. Or, try other strings as well. Or, only put an
eliminator on the G string.)
Also. I have the cello tuned
down from A to G# learning baroque Bach suites. What happens to the
wolf tone, and the eliminator when I tune back to
A440?
Thanks. Regards/sbw
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Bobbie
Registered User
Posts: 548
(7/26/01 10:17:00 am)
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Re: Placing a
wolf eliminator
I have two methods. If you have someone to help, play the note with
the wolf and have the other person touch the string (south of the
bridge) in various places until the wolf goes away. That's where the
wolf eliminator goes. Start with the smallest one and go bigger
until you get one that eliminates the wolf note. Check other notes
(usually E and F) to make sure it didn't just move.
If you
are alone and mathematically inclined, you can use intervals. An E
wolf on a G string is a sixth, which inverts to a third, so try the
wolf eliminator about 1/3 down the length of the string. Don't ask
me if I'm analyzing this correctly: I just know it often works. I
like the Bice eliminators because they are so easy to move and
adjust.
Even if the wolf is on the D string, putting the
device on the G string usually works, but sometimes I put it on the
D string.
|
 Steve
Drake
Registered
User
Posts: 397
(7/26/01 10:24:29
am)
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Community Supporter
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Re: Placing a
wolf eliminator
Some here will suggest putting the eliminator on the C string,
which is definitely worth trying. I've actually had the best luck
smoothing out the d-f area on the G string with the eliminator on
the C string. I don't actually use the thing on the C string though,
as it tends to rob quite a bit of sound from the C string, and
working as the bass instrument in a quartet, I like all the C string
I can get. Try it, though - you might like it.
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MCopeland
Registered User
Posts: 21
(7/26/01 3:09:41 pm)
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Placing a wolf
eliminator
For the three cellos I've tried, what seems to work best is to put
the heaviest one on the C and then put the 3rd heaviest on the G. On
my cello which doesn't have much of a wolf, I have the 11 gm. on the
C and the 7 gm. on the G. They aren't parallel to each other - one
is slightly lower. I put the one on the C string first, found the
wolf, and only moved the eliminator enough to get a good sound. Too
high or too low either makes the string less lively or too lively.
You can hear how you like it when you bow. Then I put on the lighter
one on the G. Again I move it up and down to get a balance between
the C and G. With this combo the D is also affected so bow all
strings and listen. You'll know. By having both I get rid of my
vestigial wolf and I greatly improve the volume and ring of my two
lower strings. A friend of my has a very nice cello made in the mid
19th century. It has a nasty wolf. For her, the 13 gm. on the C and
the 9 gm. on the G did it. We tried just the C and she preferred the
sound with both. This combination *increased* the volume on her C
string - every cello is different. So I sold what remained of my
trial set. She has gut strings BTW. The third cello is made by a
local luthier where I live. This cello is only a year old and still
breaking in. It has a wolf. For this cello the 13gm/9 gm. combo
worked out best. My teacher's cello will be next.
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TerryM
Registered
User
Posts: 483
(7/26/01 3:32:14
pm)
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Re: Placing a
wolf eliminator
If you find the note that is your wolf note (usually between E to
F#) and then place your wolf eliminator on the string and bow the
afterlength of the string and then move the wolf eliminator until
the afterlength is playing at the same note (will actually be 2
octaves higher) as the wolf note, you will be very close to the
point where the wolf note is minimized. I think eliminator is a
misnomer.
Terry
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sbwaters
Registered User
Posts: 8
(7/27/01 10:19:48 am)
Reply
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Re: Placing a
wolf eliminator
Thanks, all, for the useful responses.
BTW. What is the
"afterlength" of the string?
regards/sbw
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TerryM
Registered
User
Posts: 484
(7/27/01 3:48:59
pm)
Reply
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Re: Placing a
wolf eliminator
It is kind of a silly term, but it means the length of the string
between the bridge and the tailpiece, i.e. the length after the
bridge. Generally speaking, if the "afterlength" is set correctly,
the note that you get when you bow the afterlength should give you
the note of the next string, which is a fifth up, but it will sound
two octaves higher. The afterlength can be adjusted by shortening or
lengthening the tailgut, provided you have the adjustable type of
tailgue with the screw-on ends. Not all strings will be exactly on
the correct pitch, but they should be close. Adding a "wolf-reducer"
will of course alter this note.
Terry
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