The dead spot commonly found on the G string on many electric basses is caused by a resonance in the neck in the B2-D#3 range. This resonance absorbs the vibration in the string and causes the string vibration to decay rapidly. The Dead Spot Terminator, when tuned to the dead spot frequency, nullifies the neck resonance and restores the sustain of the string.
1. Installation
Install the DST over the E string machine plate. Unscrew the mounting screw on the lower left side of the E machine. Unscrew the red thumb screw on the DST base and install the lower base on top of the machine head plate, using the supplied wood screw.
To keep the base from accidentally moving, adjust the orientation of the lower base so that one of the recesses on the lower base fits over the location screw head of the adjacent machine head.
Be sure that the lower base lies flat between the two adjacent machine head plates. Screw the lower base firmly into place.
2. Assemble the resonator assembly and upper base onto the lower base
The upper base has two slots on the lower surface which hold the resonator rods. Align the resonator rods with the two grooves in the base and reassemble onto the lower base.
For consistent tuning results, assemble the resonator rods so that the longer of the two rods is always on the right (the side toward the bass’ body and the DST label faces the resonator weights).
3. Tuning the DST
For the initial tuning, adjust the resonator rods so that the resonator weights are away from the base assembly. When the bass is held in playing position, the resonator rods should point straight down. Tighten the red thumbscrew firmly. The resonator weights should be aligned parallel to each other, and should be resting lightly against the black keeper balls.
Hold your bass in your normal playing position and test for the dead spot. The presence of the DST will probably change the original frequency of the dead spot slightly, so make a note of which frets are affected.
Now loosen the thumbscrew slightly and adjust the resonator weights toward the base a sixteenth of an inch. Retighten the thumbscrew firmly and retest for the dead spot. Repeat the process, a sixteenth inch at a time, until you notice the dead spot diminishing. As you slowly continue in the same direction you will notice the dead spot disappearing and gradually appearing again. Move the resonator rods back to the position where the dead spot disappeared and check for evenness of sustain on both sides of the original dead spot note. You may find that final adjustments of less than a sixteenth of an inch at a time will allow more precision. Remember, after each change in resonator rod length, tighten the thumb screw securely.
4. Alternate Configurations
The standard installation is with the base installed on the lower left corner of the E string machine and the resonators hanging straight down. For most basses, this keeps the DST out of sight (when viewed from the front) while producing the best sustain on the dead spot. However, some basses respond well to the resonators positioned at an angle. If you would like to try this configuration, loosen the thumbscrew slightly, turn the resonator rods to the desired angle, and tighten the thumbscrew securely. Positioning the resonator rods at an angle may require small adjustments in the resonator rod length to optimize the tuning.
Remember: The dead spot is very sensitive to playing position, as well as anything you may have attached to the peghead, such as a tuner. If you customarily play standing up and with a clip-on tuner on the peghead, do your setup standing and with your tuner in its customary position. Likewise, if you customarily play in a sitting position, do your setup while sitting. Every part of your bass vibrates when you play – bass body, neck, and player – and the dead spot is very sensitive to the playing environment. If you play both standing and sitting, you have several options to consider. Option 1: Find a compromise adjustment that works both standing and sitting. Option 2: Adjust for the best sustain in the position you use most often.
The DST has not been tested on the many basses made in the Fender bass style (34” scale, bolt-on neck, inline machines on peghead, etc.) but if the dead spot on the bass is in the B to D# range, there is an excellent chance that the Dead Spot Terminator will be effective. Additional details concerning installation on Fender and non-Fender basses can be found on our website.
The DST has been tested successfully on Music Man basses. A universal adaptor plate is in the works for Music Man basses as well as for basses with newer style machines.
For further information and additional suggestions for installation and use, please visit us at: wolfterminator.com. We are confident that installation of the Wolf Terminator DST will enable you to eliminate your bass’ G string dead spot!
