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Sam's first attempts
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February 27, 2012 - 9:16 am
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I think your problem was buzzing (?) and you are correct ..... not "the problem".

Low strings might have been an issue.

coffee2

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 9:23 am
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Buzzing is indeed the 'the problem' I guess low strings is not the root of 'the problem' wink

 

Which is kind of good as I don't have to replace the bride (few) but not so good as the cause still eludes me frown

 

Thanks for you input though Oliver. 

 

I should add, my E string is 4mm it was my D that was 7 so I guess they are all a little high but not terribly so.

 

I just watched my last video and that horrid buzz makes me flinch every time. 

 

Could it be something I am doing wrong?

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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February 27, 2012 - 9:29 am
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Where is your last video?  Last in this thread?

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 9:31 am
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Yup, not had time to practice or make another since then. I really want to get back to it this week though so less buzzing would be great!

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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February 27, 2012 - 9:49 am
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In last video, (Twinkle,twinkle .... Ode to Joy), tell me a specific region(time) that you hear a buzz?

Most of what I heard buzzin was the bow "waltzing" around.  WATCH your video!

coffee2

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 9:59 am
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So I re-watched it and again and noted down the first few instances. 

 

0:09, 0:16, 0:23, 0:28, 0:31, 0:38

 

Unfortunately due to the somewhat rushed nature of the recording I have the angle set so you can't really see how the bow is on the strings. 

 

Practising today I have watched my bow on the strings rather than my fingers and it is making the buzzing while I bow straight, dead middle between the bridge and the end of the finger board. 

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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February 27, 2012 - 10:21 am
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I think I have the wrong video (UNTITLED 39.avi) because I can see the bow and I do not hear any particular buzzing at your given clock times (or any other times).

What is your ID number for the video you are talking about?

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 10:26 am
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Ah sorry I see the confusion (I have caused) the video I am referring to is the first video in the same post titled "Surprise!" the other two I just put up for a laugh so didn't count in my 'last video' calculations. 

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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February 27, 2012 - 10:34 am
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Sam, first we have to know exactly where the buzzing occurs.  Play the D strings and starting at the nut hold the string down and slide down the sting while bowing. Note where the buzzing starts and where it ends.  I have an idea that your fingerboard may not have the proper belly in it.  Fingerboards are supposed to be concave slightly and the reason is to stop buzzing.  Many fingerboards are flat or in the worst case convex.  you can check the fingerboard with a steal ruller.  It should only be concave about 1 to 1.5mm but this is enough to stop the string from vibrating into the fingerboard when the notes are played in first position. as you move down the fingerboard with the strings being further away the problem is gone.  If the buzzing is there on an open string it would be the nut but as soon as you played an E on the D string the buzzing would stop if it were the nut.  Let us know what you find.

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February 27, 2012 - 10:49 am
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OK with correct video now. 

Unfortunately, I did not hear the buzzing even at the designated time spots.

But I am not surprised.  It is often hard to pass along sound quirks using common computer technology.

There is something I often do to assist with "impossible" noise diagnosis.  Cut a thin piece of cardboard to cover the left lobe of the violin body and see how that sounds. (i.e. the left half of the violin) 

coffee2

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Gail
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February 27, 2012 - 11:04 am
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I had buzzing on my old acoustic fiddle.  It was caused by a loose fine tuner.  I tightened it up and the buzzing stopped.

Just a thought...

I've learned so much from my mistakes that I've decided to make some more.

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 11:30 am
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Thanks Kevin I have checked it out and the fingerboard is nicely convex (higher in the middle)

 

I attempted to slide and find the point the buzzing started and there was no buzzing at any point... So I tried to play and to start with there was none, then as I got going it started. 

 

I think what is happening is I am getting carried away and applying to much pressure causing the bow to bend over the string I am playing and catch the A string. Now the A sting has my big clumsy fingers touching it as they are planted on the D string hence it makes a horrid noise. 

 

Unfortunately my boss chose that moment to come into the comms room and catch me not exactly working lol! So I will have to leave further investigation for lunch tomorrow. Whether I am putting too much pressure on or my bow is not tight enough I am not entirely sure. But when I start out playing gently there is no buzzing.  

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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February 27, 2012 - 11:42 am

I think you found your problem.  If your fingerboard is convex the as you play harder the amplitude of the vibrations increase causing the string to hit the fingerboard. To repair this it is best done by someone who has done it before but you could try to sand it some.  We usually take the nut off and plane the fingerboard but I think you could fix it with a little sanding.

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 27, 2012 - 11:46 am
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Out of interest for standard volume, how much pressure should I need. I realise this is hard to quantify but should it be just enough to keep the bow stable or more than that? As I am trying to play faster I find my self putting on more pressure for some reason. Possibly to try and stop the dreaded bouncy bouncy!

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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DragonLady
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February 27, 2012 - 12:07 pm
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I had buzzing when I got my violin back a week ago. Found out the chin rest was lose.  

16 years of experience and relearning.

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Fiddlerman
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February 27, 2012 - 7:56 pm
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I played on your violin for a while and played it pretty hard to test. No buzzing at that time and that is why I suspect something much simpler. I doubt that the fingerboard has changed shape. You didn't have a buzz on the first video with this fiddle, did you?
Also, the feel of the strings above the fingerboard felt just right to me. Not at all too high. Does it feel different from the other violin you were using?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 28, 2012 - 3:10 am
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No buzzing for the first couple of weeks no. It has felt fine to play with, much easier than the acoustic I have been lent. But I have checked all the simple things and nothing is touching anywhere.

I think it must be user error. I hate user error rofl

 

I will find out with some more practice at lunch today.

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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Fiddlerman
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February 28, 2012 - 9:26 am
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I doubt that it is a user error :-)
I could only hear it on one string. Bring it by your luthier and see if he can locate it. Lord knows you paid enough to him with the other violin. Just say that you want to get it fixed but would like to get an estimate. He must find the problem before he can give you an estimate. Then you tell him you'll think about it. We'll try to help guide you. I think it is something extremely simple. I've had similar problems with my violins and it can be super hard to find the culprit.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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February 28, 2012 - 9:30 am
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Sam, I didn't realize that this is the violin that FM played and sent you. It wouldn't be the fingerboard then since I doubt it would change so drastically fast.  I suspect then that you are correct and might be touching the A string slightly while playing the D string.

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Samuel L Boogie
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February 28, 2012 - 10:05 am
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Bowing a little less ham fisted today has produced much better results. 

It does seem to me that the string is oscillating more than it should though. How much 'width' should there be in the vibration while playing normally? The further up the string I play the tighter/better it sounds. Which is very much the opposite of previous experience lol! 

It is almost as if the string is too lose, but my computer tuner whats'it says it is in tune so I cant really tighten it any more. Is it possible for strings to just be a bit crap after 10 hours or so of use?

I am tempted to take it to the luthier but I can't really justify spending any more money at the moment and I don't feel right using up his time without paying him.

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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