The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,

I was wondering if worn/graying record grooves will cause a reproducer to buzz, especially on the louder passages?

Buzzing can be attributed to several things besides the records, either individually or several at once: Cracked diaphragm, separated layers in the diaphragm if it is mica, hardened or loose diaphragm gaskets, debris inside and between the diaphragm and reproducer body, or debris anywhere along the interior of the sound channel, loose connection between armature and diaphragm, loose connection between armature pivot points and reproducer body, hardened or loose vibration isolator, loose, worn or improperly adjusted tone-arm parts, cracks or loose parts in the horn. I'm not sure if that covers all possibilities.

startgroove wrote:Buzzing can be attributed to several things besides the records, either individually or several at once: Cracked diaphragm, separated layers in the diaphragm if it is mica, hardened or loose diaphragm gaskets, debris inside and between the diaphragm and reproducer body, or debris anywhere along the interior of the sound channel, loose connection between armature and diaphragm, loose connection between armature pivot points and reproducer body, hardened or loose vibration isolator, loose, worn or improperly adjusted tone-arm parts, cracks or loose parts in the horn. I'm not sure if that covers all possibilities.

Thank you.
The reproducer is rebuilt. I have noted, too, that it is only certain records and the trouble occurring on different phonographs with the same records.

VictorVV-X wrote:

startgroove wrote:Buzzing can be attributed to several things besides the records, either individually or several at once: Cracked diaphragm, separated layers in the diaphragm if it is mica, hardened or loose diaphragm gaskets, debris inside and between the diaphragm and reproducer body, or debris anywhere along the interior of the sound channel, loose connection between armature and diaphragm, loose connection between armature pivot points and reproducer body, hardened or loose vibration isolator, loose, worn or improperly adjusted tone-arm parts, cracks or loose parts in the horn. I'm not sure if that covers all possibilities.

Thank you.
The reproducer is rebuilt. I have noted, too, that it is only certain records and the trouble occurring on different phonographs with the same records.

I think that answers your question, then. It sounds like the records are possibly worn enough that the "land" between the grooves on loud passages may be beginning to break down at the groove undulations. Examine with a magnifying glass.

Also depends upon the technological appropriateness/compatibility of the record and the equipment. If you’re playing a 1940’s-1950’s recording on a pre-1925 phonograph, you may hear a buzz as the record groove over-drives the diaphragm, for example.

JohnM wrote:Also depends upon the technological appropriateness/compatibility of the record and the equipment. If you’re playing a 1940’s-1950’s recording on a pre-1925 phonograph, you may hear a buzz as the record groove over-drives the diaphragm, for example.

Most, if not all, of the records I play on the earlier machines, are from the 1910s to mid 1920s. The later 1920s into 1930s records are played on the Orthophonic. Though, there are some records that don’t sound good on either type of phonograph. I am inclined to agree with gramophone-georg, that some records are just really worn out, because not all of the records cause buzzing.