Mad Robin Music and Dance

Buzzing sounds coming from xylophones and metallophones can have several causes ranging from the presence of debris inside the instrument, to a cracked bar, loose hardware, or disintegrating rubber pins or tubing. Once these potential causes have been eliminated, the most common source of buzzing, especially with bass instruments, is loose slats or loose bottom panels.

The slats are the vertical pieces of wood that divide the resonator box into separate chambers. When instruments are new these are tightly secured to the walls of the resonator box, but over time they can become loose and vibrate when the tone bars are played. Similarly, the bottom panels of a resonator box can become loose, especially if bars have been stored or dropped inside the instrument.

Start by purchasing a small container of wood glue. It will be easier to complete the repair if the bottle is not too large, so it will fit inside the smallest chamber. You may find it useful to have some cotton-tipped applicators on hand to aid in distributing the glue evenly.