you must be reffering to a torroid, torroids are prone to buzz since they are operated at higher flux densities over 1T and have no air gap unlike an EI....
EI's are easy to fix in terms of vibration, there are things you can do like dipping in varnish, shimming the bobbin with the center leg, and tightening bolts...
Yes you are right it was a toroid, and a cheap nasty one at that. It was recycled...