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Author Topic:  Wolf Tones On A Supro
Carl McLaughlin


From:
St.Stephen,New Brunswick,Can
Post  Posted 3 May 2021 3:45 pm    
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I have adjusted the pickup poles many different ways and still have a little wolfing,Any suggestions?I have even adjusted the poles below the top.
Magnets are real strong for a 1960 Jet Airline.Cleaned the guitar up, put on new strings,tuned to open G. My own guaging 56 /46/36/26/18w/16

Maybe the wound 3rd is not for everyone but i like it. The wolfing seems to be mostly on 1st & 2nd string. Confused
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Now have a SX 6 string lap in G,.A Tele plus telecaster, Larrivee acoustic.Also have a Fender resonator guitar with new Quarterman cone and spider,and an Allan tailpiece.Playing through a Fender Super Champ XD,using a little delay on the amp and a Harmonix Holy Grail Echo pedal,set on Hall turned to about 1pm.Just got a Fender Dual 6 Stringmaster style. Bought a Yamaha FGX5 Recently and love it.
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Larry Carlson


From:
My Computer
Post  Posted 3 May 2021 4:21 pm    
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Wound 3rd string is what I use and I imagine what most use.
An unwound 3rd string is like trying to tune a piece of rebar, it's
just to stiff for me and I like the tone of wound better.

Have no idea what to tell you about the wolf tones.
If it was mine I would check the fit of the nut and bridge and make sure they are solid.
Something in or on the body is resonating with the string.
Other than that I got nuthin'.
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Sometimes it doesn't.
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Dom Franco


From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
Post  Posted 3 May 2021 8:03 pm    
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what is a wolf tone?
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Peter Jacobs


From:
Northern Virginia
Post  Posted 4 May 2021 1:28 pm    
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That's a weird one, Carl -- I have a 1964 Jet Airliner, Dobro G tuning, and I've used the same string gauges (starting to lighten up the inside ones).

I've never experienced wolf tones like you'd get on a Strat, but one thing to look at is the screws that hold the plastic pickup cover on -- if they get a little loose, they may cause a little extra ringing sound. I'd look for any loose screws around the instrument and snug them up. As Larry said, something is resonating.
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Dom Franco


From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
Post  Posted 4 May 2021 2:17 pm    
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I'm an experienced musician 50+ years as a professional.
I do not understand the term "WOLF TONES" are you talking about distortion? String buzz from the bridge or nut, overtones at certain frets (Harmonics) Please explain or better yet post a video or sound clip featuring wolf tones... thanks Dom
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Larry Carlson


From:
My Computer
Post  Posted 4 May 2021 2:30 pm    
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Dom,

Wolf tone
A wolf tone, or simply a "wolf", is a sustaining sympathetic artificial overtone that amplifies
and expands the frequencies of a played musical note and is produced when the original
note matches the natural resonant frequency of the body of the musical instrument.
It is frequently accompanied by an oscillating beating (due to the uneven frequencies between
the natural note and artificial overtone), which may be likened to the howling of a wolf.

That's not my explanation.
If I tried to explain it we would both be confused.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2021 2:44 pm    
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Most likely a loose screw, bad nut slot, or burr on the bridge. Check all the mounting screws for the bridge plate and tuners first. If it's only happening on a single string, replace it, especially if it's a wound string. I once spent a half-day chasing down a wolf tone on an Asian Strat copy. It turned out to be a loose screw on the tuner for the third string. Good luck!
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Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 4 May 2021 4:37 pm    
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Dom Franco wrote:
what is a wolf tone?


I hadn’t heard the term either. This Wikipedia page has an audio sample.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_tone

In a nut shell, it’s a temporary “dead zone” caused by a resonance somewhere in the instrument itself canceling out the resonant frequency of the note being played.

The “fix” on a cello or bass is a small weight on the string behind the saddle. I guess changing the string gauge might accomplish the same thing on a lap steel.
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Carl McLaughlin


From:
St.Stephen,New Brunswick,Can
Post  Posted 5 May 2021 2:59 am     wolf tones
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Thanks to all,I cannot explain the term,but i heard it used referring to another string through pickup guitar. Thanks again forum. Smile
_________________
Now have a SX 6 string lap in G,.A Tele plus telecaster, Larrivee acoustic.Also have a Fender resonator guitar with new Quarterman cone and spider,and an Allan tailpiece.Playing through a Fender Super Champ XD,using a little delay on the amp and a Harmonix Holy Grail Echo pedal,set on Hall turned to about 1pm.Just got a Fender Dual 6 Stringmaster style. Bought a Yamaha FGX5 Recently and love it.
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