I have a Musser M32 (piece of crap) that's about a year old. When I strike certain notes, specifically middle C, but some of the higher octave notes as well, with any sort of power, I get this odd noise that sounds as if it's hitting a piece of wood or something underneath, probably the framw. At first I thought it might be because of me inadvertantly playing over the nodes, but even when I strike in the proper spot I get this noise.

Any ideas as to what's causeing this? Is it my technique or the instrument? What can I do to fix this?

I agree, the M-32 IS a piece a crap. I had a school that "ONLY" had 1500.00 and wanted a marimba so I arranged for them to buy that one. At 4 octaves is sounds tempting, but it is horrible. I would rather of had kelon....imagine what it takes for someone on here to write THAT comment. Any way as we all know the paudauk is actaully a lot cheaper then kelon, hence the purchase. Back to your question: (and the serious problem with THAT marimba...the bars are so light that Musser bent the string "guides"(posts) over so that it holds the string down but it just didnt FIX the problem. The natural bars are so light the "JUMP' up and hit the ones that are on top of them; And public school student like to hit harder then we might like. I ended up selling it to a student for his bed room practice instrument. I am not an engineer, so I cant suggest solutions, but my Adams and Yamaha padauks do not have this jumping problem. Maybe because those instruments are graduated and wider which gives them more weight. The M-32 is NON graduating, narrow bar, very light in weight-bars. Good luck, Scott Kitchen

Lindsay,
Well, it sounds to me like the bars are hitting the rails. This can happen if the cord is a bit loose (although it shouldn't happen then), or if 1 or 2 of the support posts are in too far, or if the holes in the bars are drilled to high. If it's the cord, try tightening the it a bit to take up slack. Of course you are hitting "a piece of wood OR something" :>) If it's something else...send a reply OR for a real barrel of laughs call Click and Clack.
Bill Youhass