Instrument Repair Hospital: Buzzing

Posted February 11, 2015byLissa Ray

In this episode of Instrument Repair Hospital, “Dr. Lissa” shows us how to heal a glockenspiel with a buzzing resonator box.

Take good care of your Studio 49 Orff Instruments for their long lasting health and great sound!

Materials:
– Wood glue
– Rag

Lissa Ray

Lissa taught general music in a suburb of Cincinnati. Lissa currently teaches Pre-K - 6 in at a Montessori school in Northern Kentucky. She is President of the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Children's Choir and has served on the American Orff-Schulwerk National Board of Trustees. Lissa presents Orff-Schulwerk workshops and classes for teachers and children.

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5 Comments

Jennifer on October 27, 2016 at 10:10 am

Hi! I love your videos, and they are so helpful! Do you have any advice about how to fix buzzing xylophone bars? The resonator boxes seem to be in good shape.

Reply
- Teaching With Orff on November 14, 2016 at 9:27 am
  
  Hello Jennifer! The bars should be tested on another resonator box to ensure it’s not the box that’s buzzing. A buzzing sound in a bar is extremely rare, and would indicate that the bar is cracked. If you find a crack try blowing wood glue into it with a straw. Clamp the bar from side to side with a furniture or C clamp. Wipe off the excess glue. Allow 24 hours to dry. If this is not successful I would recommend replacing the bar, which can be ordered through your favorite retail partner. – “Doctor” Lissa and your friends at Teaching With Orff
  
  Reply
Mark A. Greene on July 3, 2017 at 9:27 pm

What can I do to stop my F contra bass bar buzzing?

Reply
Lissa Ray on July 11, 2017 at 9:59 am

There are a couple of things that might be causing the buzzing. It’s either loose hardware or a crack or loose joint in the box. Try to determine the source but pressing the bix together from different sides while playing it if the pressure stops the buzzing sound then it’s a problem with the box. We’ll get back to that later. To find out if it’s loose hardware remove the bar. Then reach into the box and find the nuts on the inside. If one of them is loose you can probable hand tighten it.
Once I was called in to a friend’s school for this problem and one of the nuts had fallen inside the box and was causing a buzz. The sound disappeared after it was put back in place.
To fix a crack in the resonator box – or a loose seam- gently ply apart the wood with a screwdriver. Apply wood glue. Using a drinking straw blow it into the crack. Wipe off excess glue. Clamp with a bar or trigger clamp or wrap a strap around it and tighten. Allow 24 hours to dry.

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Melissa on February 8, 2023 at 10:47 am

I just replaced my hardware and I am pretty sure it is the nut. But when I tried to take off the rubber piece it started to rip! Is there any way to tighten the nut under the rubber piece. Or how do I replace the adhesive on the rubber (without buying another kit…)?
You are awesome and your video are amazing! Thanks for being you!

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