Hello drum friends. I could use your help.
The hardware that connects my rack tom to my bass drum console started creating this god-awful buzzing sound. I took the nut off and inspected the piece, but everything seems to be fine.
Does anyone know how to fix this issue?
Look for loose muffler
The drum doesn't rattle when it isn't mounted to the kick drum which is why I think it is the mount. I checked the muffler and it's tight.
I'm just guessing here, but it appears that there is some harmonic vibration that occurs when the tom is mounted to the bass drum. If it were mine,
1. I'd start with the tom. Are all the tension rods under tension? Do they all have washers installed? Take a head off the tom and ensure that all the interior lug bolts are tight.....Are the bolts that hold the tom mount tight?
2. Is the little nut that secures the muffler tight?....Inspect the muffler assembly for any looseness in the several washers that are used with the "baseball bat" muffler...If you have a "round" muffler, I take a piece of wound-wire (like you use to hang a picture on the wall) and I use two needle-nose pliers to wrap the rivet underneath the muffler. Wrap it tight (like a scarf) with a few turns of the wire, cut off the excess wire, then leave the wire on it. That will eliminate any play in the muffler and remove rattle.
3. If the buzz problem remains, I'd go to the bass drum. Are the tension rods and claws under some tension?...Remove a head and check all the interior lug bolts and the bolts that secure the tom mount...and the bolts that secure the spurs.
Harmonic vibrations can drive you crazy! Good luck with this, and let us know when you find the culprit. You will....
Regards, mb
+1 in agreement with Marty- it is probably #3- loose 'something' in bass drum. One loose tiny little washer can sound like a giant mosquito in a bass drum!
Thank you all so much for the incredible helpful suggestions. I will let you know what I find. You guys rock!
Thanks for the help guys! The culprit was an ever so slightly loose nut/washer on one of the lugs. Crazy that that small of an issue could create such an extreme sound.
Was the loose lug nut/washer on the tom or the bass drum? You mentioned that the tom only buzzed when it was mounted to the bass drum rail consolette.
Just curious. Congrats on finding it!
Regards, mb
Was the loose lug nut/washer on the tom or the bass drum? You mentioned that the tom only buzzed when it was mounted to the bass drum rail consolette.
Just curious. Congrats on finding it!
Regards, mb
mb,
The loose washer wass on the inside of the rack tom - and it was *barely* loose which is why it was so difficult for me to diagnose. I am not sure why it seemed like it was only buzzing while attached to the consolette and not while on a snare stand. It's truly baffling to me, but hey, I guess that's part of the charm of vintage instruments. :)
