[daigle65]

I'm occasionally getting some strange sympathetic vibrations on Eb, E and F in the second octave.
It's a very metallic sounding buzz. It's not always there and it doesn't seem to be related to the volume I'm playing. Sometimes I'll hear it and try to reproduce it, but it disappears.
At one point it was very annoying but then it went away for a while.
I spoke to my tech about it but obviously it wasn't buzzing in the shop when I brought it in.
I'm thinking it's coming from one of the resonators or from one of the rings in the open hole pad cups that holds the pad.

My flute is Gemeinhardt KG Special. Open hole, low B, solid silver.

I'm certain it's coming from the flute and not from something in the room.
I'm certain it's not the crown that's loose, I've had that problem in the past but all the notes were buzzing, not just those three.

Any ideas?

 

[dshook]

Pinky rollers? Try putting some oil there and see if it helps.

 

[daigle65]

I'll give it a try, I never thought about oiling the rollers.

 

[shootingstar]

If that doesn't solve the problem, it might be a loose head cork retaining plate. I've seen those cause similar problems before.

 

[cliveyx]

Wow.. I used to live in an attic bedsit about 30 years ago and the dormer window was sympathetic to one of my bell notes.
I can clearly remember the wood vibrating quite violently when I played the particular note.:bass:

 

[daigle65]

If that doesn't solve the problem, it might be a loose head cork retaining plate. I've seen those cause similar problems before.

I think you're right about the retaining plate.
I oiled the rollers and it didn't change much.
I loosened the crown just a bit and F2 was buzzing like crazy but not the notes above it. When I tightened it back, there was considerably less, but still there a bit.

Is there anything I can do to tighten the retaining plate?

 

[cliveyx]

You could try wrapping the whole dis-mantled assembly in PTFE tape a couple of turns only. then reassemling it.

Is this effect happening in various locations? The weirdest stuff will resonate in sympathy

 

[Stephen Howard]

I think you're right about the retaining plate.
I oiled the rollers and it didn't change much.
I loosened the crown just a bit and F2 was buzzing like crazy but not the notes above it. When I tightened it back, there was considerably less, but still there a bit.

Is there anything I can do to tighten the retaining plate?

If you shake the head, does it rattle? If so it's probably the retaining/compression plate.

You have to remove the crown then push the head cork out - from the crown end through to the tenon.

You'll see the compression plate atop the cork, and it will usually have a hex head fitted to it. Check to see if it's loose.
If it is it often means your cork has shrunk and may need replacing...or it might just have come loose.
Tighten it up finger tight, then use a small spanner to give it another turn or two to tighten it. It doesn't need to be too tight, the force of the cork against it will keep it secure.
If you don't have a suitable spanner you'll have to use a pair of pliers...but try to avoid letting the jaws slip off the nut as they will damage it.

Replace the head cork and crown and adjust to tune.

Regards,

 

[daigle65]

You could try wrapping the whole dis-mantled assembly in PTFE tape a couple of turns only. then reassemling it.

Is this effect happening in various locations? The weirdest stuff will resonate in sympathy

I had already wrapped the cork in plumber's tape some time ago because it was too loose. I played around with it yesterday and the vibration shifted, it was around G2.

If you shake the head, does it rattle?

No it doesn't.

You'll see the compression plate atop the cork, and it will usually have a hex head fitted to it. Check to see if it's loose.
If it is it often means your cork has shrunk and may need replacing...or it might just have come loose.

The plate seemed tight enough.

Last night I removed all the tape from the cork and I soaked it in water over night. This morning I checked if it had swelled a bit so it would fit better, it didn't. So wrapped it in tape again, put it back together and now the vibrations seem to be gone :scratch:

I'll ask my tech to replace the cork next time.
Thanks for the replies, up until now I had thought that the problem was located elsewhere.

 

[daigle65]

Spoke too soon.....it's back.

 

[dzve]

I find its the skins vibrating on each other, you just need to find out which one by getting someone to press on each key as you play.When you find out which pad it is you need to replace it.If thats what it is......

 

[Chris Peryagh]

I find its the skins vibrating on each other, you just need to find out which one by getting someone to press on each key as you play.When you find out which pad it is you need to replace it.If thats what it is......

I've seen flutes with a similar thing which was caused by pads with loose skin or loose washers. Check the trill key and LH1 pads as they do have the tendency to bulge and the skin can act like a kazoo.

 

[dzve]

I just saw a brand new pearl flute like that, I'm starting to wonder about the new pearl 505 flutes.Where are they coming from? They seem to have changed.......

 

[daigle65]

Most of the pads are new.
I know what you mean by the kazoo buzz, but it's not like that, it's a very metallic resonance.

 

[averageschmoe]

Is there any material in the trill key cradle? It could be just a matter of the trill key rod vibrating, I typically notice this buzz in the range of middle F#. A little bit of thin sheet teflon in this cradle can kill the buzz while leaving the trill keys free to move.

 

[daigle65]

Is there any material in the trill key cradle? ....

I'm not sure what you mean by trill key cradle?

 

[Chris Peryagh]

The cradle or guide is like a pillar but with the top cut out to form a U-shaped channel for the trill key barrel to sit in. They're usually lined with something (cloth, cork or teflon sheet) to prevent metal on metal contact which could be the cause of the metallic buzz.

Sometimes the guide pillar is permanently fitted onto the key barrel (put in place when the key was being made) and it locates in a projecting stud soldered to the rib on the body. A drop of oil is all you can do to prevent metal against metal contact with this type of guide pillar as the clearance is too small between it and the trill key barrel to get anything else in there.

 

[griff136]

I'm not sure what you mean by trill key cradle?

if you look along the trill key tubing there is a little post that keeps the trill key from bending the U shaped piece on the top is the cradle - slip a piece of paper inbetween the trill key and the cradle - play your flute and see if the sound disappears.

 

[daigle65]

OK now I understand, I'll have a look.
Thanks.

 

[daigle65]

So I removed the trill key rod and there wasn't any cork in the cradle. I added some teflon tape but it didn't do anything, the buzz is still there...