Buzzing location

Indiebass1993 · by **Indiebass1993** » 2022-05-24 3:55 p.m.

Hey all!

I was wondering if anybody had a good strategy to identify where buzzing on an instrument is happening. For context, whenever I play anything in 3rd position, I can hear a metallic buzzing. Everything has been lubricated, although I will say right after fresh lubrication it goes away, but reappears after 5-10 minutes.

Thanks!

TheBoneRanger · by **TheBoneRanger** » 2022-05-24 4:31 p.m.

I usually have a friend stand close by who can move around and lightly touch all of the usual places.

TromboneTallie · by **TromboneTallie** » 2022-05-24 4:49 p.m.

Use a thicker grease on your tuning slides AND slide lock.

If that doesn't fix it, it's probably a loose brace joint.

ithinknot · by **ithinknot** » 2022-05-24 5:31 p.m.

[quote="Indiebass1993"]right after fresh lubrication it goes away, but reappears after 5-10 minutes[/quote]

Right, so it's one of the places you lubricate, or it's the bell lock nut working slightly loose a short while after post-lube-reassembly. Deaden/hold each spot in order until you find it...

TromboneTallie · by **TromboneTallie** » 2022-05-24 5:53 p.m.

That's true, you may be overtightening the locking nut on a regular basis, so it doesn't work properly anymore.

I wonder if an O ring would help?

brassmedic · by **brassmedic** » 2022-05-24 10:27 p.m.

Then lubricate one thing at a time and then play the instrument. When it stops buzzing, the last thing you lubricated is the thing that was buzzing.<EMOJI seq="1f596" tseq="1f596">🖖</EMOJI>

Indiebass1993 · by **Indiebass1993** » 2022-05-25 12:16 p.m.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll end up taking it in to have it checked out. I forgot to include in my post that the instrument had some work done on it (manufacturers warranty work) that included replacing the valves and valve casings. Did the lubrication test (lube then play) and lubricated each joint with the proper oil (4-5 drops) and the buzz was still there. Played while having my hand around the main brace and the buzz went away, so I'm suspecting a loose joint.

Blabberbucket · by **Blabberbucket** » 2022-11-19 4:11 p.m.

Typical cause of buzzing is a loose/broken solder joint. If it is a modular instrument, double check that all screw joints are tightened completely. If it didn't buzz before the manufacturer work, and now does, send it back.

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2022-11-20 8:08 p.m.

The sneakiest one is the slide lock. No one usually thinks to grease it

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2022-11-20 9:30 p.m.

[quote="harrisonreed"]The sneakiest one is the slide lock. No one usually thinks to grease it[/quote]

:clever:

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