On some double basses, I've seen the players with this on their strings:
I found out that it was an eliminator.
But what does a double bass eliminator do?
asked Sep 17, 2014 at 10:14
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2 Answers
Because the string is quite long between the bridge and the tailpiece, it has a life of its own. It can, and will, produce notes, often using sympathetic vibration, which are audible. Particularly when an instrument is amplified. These sounds are sometimes called 'wolf tones'. Anything which will dampen vibrations that are not wanted, as here, will be effective. The eliminator is used to stop unwanted vibrations being heard, especially when a pick up/mic is used to make the instrument heard better, as in stage work.Cheap and cheerful, less than $10 from Jazzazart. Anything would do, a sponge, etc., but it doesn't look pro.
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A sponge will probably dampen (sorry for the pun) frequencies you wanted to keep as well. Sep 17, 2014 at 18:36
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Ha ha.The frequencies produced from behind the bridge, I'd have thought would not be useful to a player anyway.– TimSep 17, 2014 at 19:31
It's called, at least in cello-land, a "wolf-eliminator." The intent is to dampen or stifle off-pitch frequencies.
answered Sep 17, 2014 at 11:50
