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vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:10 am
by tubaman1019
Hello Tubenet, just got myself a Miraphone 1292 and I noticed theres a little buzz every time a play C on second space and D right above that. I've checked all the braces to make sure they're all soldered properly and I've checked the fifth valve. I know its very hard to try to find the vibration without seeing the horn but would anyone have any idea as to whats causing this buzz?
Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:23 am
by Virtuoso
I had this problem not that long ago, albeit on a different horn. Turns out one of the screws had come just a tiny bit loose, not a lot. I tightened it and the vibrating went away.
Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:51 am
by TUBAD83
bloke wrote:check:
- valve caps (top/bottom)
- any braces that involve screws
- for defective solder joints
I would also add check the valve springs, water keys, and check the wreath on the bell.
Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:57 am
by bort
Blindly, I'd guess it's the springs. I forget how to fix it though!

Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:55 am
by Dan Schultz
My 1291 had a sympathetic 'buzz' that drove me nuts for a while. I was almost to the point of thinking it was the bell wire. Turns out it was metal-to-metal contact when the ball joint on the 5th rotor linkage attaches to the stop arm. A very thin plastic shim between the stop arm and the link stopped the buzz.
Check your lyre screw, too!
Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:02 pm
by mammoth2ba
TubaTinker wrote:Check your lyre screw, too!

When I visited TubaTinker recently, one horn I played had an annoying buzz......and it _was_ the lyre screw! Was much more audible to the player than "out front".
Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:30 pm
by BlueGrassBrass
Make sure to that your mouthpiece shank isn't dented, which can cause it to seat properly in the reciever, which will have you chasing a buzz that is really right under your nose (literally)

Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:19 pm
by tubaman1019
Thank you guys for your responses. I found that the buzz on D was actually one of the springs and the other was the linkage of the fifth valve. I was able to fix the spring buzz but theres still the smaller buzz from the fifth valve. I'm just trying to find something to but in between the screws. Thank you once again

Re: vibrating noise on tuba
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:56 pm
by Dan Schultz
tubaman1019 wrote:Thank you guys for your responses. I found that the buzz on D was actually one of the springs and the other was the linkage of the fifth valve. I was able to fix the spring buzz but theres still the smaller buzz from the fifth valve. I'm just trying to find something to but in between the screws. Thank you once again

The nature of the spherical couplings is that they will 'tilt' a few degrees either way on the screw. The outer part of the coupling housing can come in contact with the stop arm. Even a thin paper shim will stop the buzz if that's where it's coming from.