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Can particular bows cause or eliminate violin wolf notes?

Instruments: Using a different bow seemed to largely eliminate my wolf problem! Is there a scientific basis for this apparent cure?

From Oliver Bedford
Posted November 4, 2009 at 07:57 PM

I have a late (1948) Pedrazzini violin which has strong and easily produced tone but has consistently bothered me with an annoyingly loud C on the A string (when tuned to A 440).

I tried various purported "remedies" such as moving the soundpost slightly, changing the length of string between the bridge and the tailpiece, and even using a commercial "wolf eliminator" (fits on the lower end of the string), but  they made little difference.

Then I started using a different bow (slightly lighter but still with plenty of spring - also with newer hair) and almost miraculously the problem seems to have resolved itself.

Is there some known way in which the physical properties of particular bows/hair can improve or worsen the way a violin responds on particular frequencies? 

 It's not surprising--bows have the capacity to either amplify or subdue certain frequencies. Sounds like you got lucky.

Mine has a loud C on A string too. Fortunately, different bow seems to take down the louder C note.

Since you have a louder C note, try the same C note on the high position on G string. Mine feels a little fluctuating when play soft, not a big deal cause it's not obvious (I noticed only after playing it for 2 years).

Yes, I imagine you will have a wolf in the C, on the 7th position of the G string too. Is this new bow lighter or more flexible?

www.manfio.com

Interesting!

I have seen quite often some very fine players trying very fine violins where one would get wolves and another would not. I always put this down to slight variation in technique. Next time I will ask them to swap bows and will report back.

Yes, for a short answer. A wolf note occurs when two vibrating modes at slightly different frequencies begin to couple together (no snickering!! :-)) and reflect energy back through the bridge. Since the bow is enforcing the patterns of sound and overtones on the string, it is a principal tool in controlling the wolf. When the reflected energy is more that the bow can control, it begins to get knocked off the string and the wolf starts howling. A heavier bow can control the wolf up to a point.

Thanks for those comments everyone! Very enlightening.

As to the queries about playing the same note on the G string, I don't seem to get much of a wolf note there.

I think the new bow is slightly lighter, but still with plenty of spring.

The wolf note on my violin up on the G string, seems to only occur when bowing lightly though still not too pronounced. When I bow pass pp dynamic point, the wolf is gone. Guess no big deal because rarely composer will write something hanging up there and playing softly.

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