Violin Forum/Message Board

[John Cadd]

I came back to edit this and impose some limits on the title.. The following experiment was to eliminate wolf notes apart from the usual one found on high G strings. I was looking at other wolf notes on higher strings. The overall good effect on tone may not happen to you but it will not detract from the sound like other methods . End of edit I tried an experiment this week to see how Air Resonance changes would affect the tone. This will probably annoy lots of luthiers but it`s an honest report of what I noticed. This not to annoy anybody.
I reduced the air volume inside the violin by adding pieces of foam rubber through the sound hole.5mms thick and marked in cm squares with a marker pen . My normal air resonance when blowing across the sound hole is just over C# As I added the pieces the point came (just when the air resonance was slightly over open D ) when I got a Wolf Note exactly on open A. When I removed just 3ccs of foam the A wolf went away. That left a weaker Wolf on open E. So 3 ccs were taken out again ( the weak E Wolf went away ) and by then the tone with bowing was a lot richer.As a precaution I took out 3ccs more. It seems to me that getting close to a Wolf but not too close is not such a bad idea.The foam is not attached to anything and does not rattle around. Anybody can try this to test the effect. Normally I have a C Wolf up high on the G string. That is still there. But the tone is much better.

[John Cadd]

After the first try at this adjustment I tried to refine it a bit more. The second violin seems to be stuck on a weak wolf on open E.Coming down in resonance frequency is harder so I may move it back up a quarter tone.The small physical change is having more effect on tone quality than you would expect.

[Mat Roop]

Different strokes for different folks! Here is how one maker does it for violins & mandolins...http://www.mandovoodoo.com/feedback.html

Here is what I do... http://www.rezx.biz/ I also use it to help trouble shoot
tonal problems.
Your idea is interesting!

Cheers, Mat

[John Cadd]

Mat When I got into this it was only to learn about Wolf notes . The change in sound quality surprised me and also that only a 3ccs change in volume made a difference. I think you should all try the effect as it costs nothing.Treat it like a survey. A good oscilloscope would be more useful.

[Jack H.]

what is wrong with a wolf eliminator... why reinvent the wheel?

[John Cadd]

A Wolf eliminator damps down vibrations and has an overall negative affect on the instrument. This is not doing the same thing. It`s not re-inventing the wheel.When ( If ) you try it you will find out what I mean. It will cost you nothing. I will be very dissapointed in you if you just sit on your hands and refuse. The process only involves an alteration of frequency over about one semitone. The "best spot" ( which you have to look for ) can give much more resonance overall. You don`t have to believe me if you don`t want to. I won`t mind. Notice I only claim that it improves the sound within that instruments capacity. It won`t work a miracle. It takes a very short time to try.
You need to test for Wolf notes apart from the one high up on the G string. Each stage check from open G up onto the E string for minor signs of Wolf notes.
Pretend you never heard of famous Italian makers. --As if it was just vaguely interesting. Don`t treat it like I`m denying a religious belief.Just see what happens.

[John Cadd]

I am trying to understand why such a small change can affect the tone. If you look at those graphs of vibrations and overtones you can imagine two curves which are close together suddenly combining and increasing in volume. I doubt if a violinmaker could control the inner volume so accurately that no further changes would be possible.The voicing process after a violin is built is altering the belly modes. Those graph vibrations will move relative to the Back and Air resonances. So I think we should all explore the possibilities.

[Lemuel]

I've been pondering over this thread for a few days. I'd like to know if I am on the same page.

First of all what do you mean by "improvement in tone", "improves the sound" or "tone with bowing was a lot richer"? More specifically what criteria are you using to judge? Is it resonance?

When I think of rich sounds coming from a violin, I think of a violinist who is able to convey or communicate a wide variety of emotions and sentiments with his instrument. For example, we’re all familiar with the adjectives: warmth, mellowness, roundness, softness and sweetness. A violinist would want to communicate these attributes say in playing a lullaby. On the other hand, the adjectives: brilliance or brightness could be used to communicate a joyful celebration, a more focused edgy sound would indicate suspense, and so forth.

I say the violin is rich if it can respond properly and readily to a wide variety of sounds corresponding to these sentiments. The larger the variety, the richer it is.

[John Cadd]

Have you seen players telling about a string change? How it sounds better , richer , more complex. Do you ask those questions when they write about new strings?

[Lemuel]

[John Cadd]

You know what resonance means. I know what tone means.You don`t need to be a Music Professor to notice an improvement in either one.

[John Cadd]

OK first things first. This started as a way to Move a Wolf Note. That is the main point. Just go with that for now. We can deal with the rest later.