No.3 -- The Internal Wolf Eliminator

About the Internal Wolf Eliminator:  When I first came across this model in the early 1990s, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.   In contrast to the other models on the market, it works not by slowing down the vibration of the string, but by placement on the most "active" part of the top. Made by Herdim in Germany, it consists of a sprung weight attached to a small piece of wood, and can be used either internally (glued to the inside of the top with a special clamp which works through the soundhole) or externally, by attaching it to the outside of the instrument with two little dabs of blu-tac.

trying out for position on the outisde

Fit & Finish:  This wolf eliminator doesn't sport looks to get excited about, as it was really designed for internal use; in other words, to be invisible.  Having said that, it isn't offensive-looking, either.  As far as ease of use, any player can experiment with the external placement; however, I would recommmend to have the glueing done by a professional.

  Some trial and error is involved in finding the optimal spot for the wolf eliminator.  I typically start by placing it about halfway between the soundhole and the bass bar, a little South of the lowest part of the "ff"s.  I then play the instrument, and move the wolf eliminator East and West to find the place where most of the wolf is gone, but the desirable sound qualities are preserved.  When I have settled on the optimal spot, I mark it with a China Marker.

  Before glueing, it is important to remove all traces of the blu-tac, as the gummy residue prevents the glue from adhering to the wood; and to use padding on the outside so as not to scratch the top with the clamp.

This wolf eliminator typically works well, but does have a couple of drawbacks.  One is that it isn't adjustable -- if your instrument is sensitive to changes in weather, your once-ideal placement might no longer work so well after the seasons change.  I had this experience when I moved from Hong Kong to Minnesota.  I moved, the cello moved, the wolf moved, and the wolf eliminator became ineffective.  Which brings us to the other problem -- once glued, it is a little tricky to remove.

the glueing process

Cost:  At $75.00, plus cost of installation, this puppy doesn't come cheap!

Conclusion:  For a player living in a stable climate, with a stable instrument, this is a good choice -- it is a little fussy to set up, but in my experience, it works really well.  Used externally, it could be a good choice for any player who doesn't object to a little black object sitting on the top of his or her instrument.  I also appreciate the fact that it treats the problem at its source, which means one particular string isn't singled out for damping.