static guarding a theremin

Hi there.

I recently purchased a Kees Theremin and fried one particular transistor in it twice without playing it for more than probably 20 minutes collectively.

I have a bit of a static electricity issue around my house. Usually it doesn't pose a big problem (besides making life generally more electric) but for this particular sensitive unit it does.

The biggest problem seems to be when I might come in contact (or very close) to the volume antennae. This fries the transistor closest to it.

I'm wondering if there is maybe a component that I could install between the volume antennae and the circuit board to maybe keep this from happening.

I found this on wikipedia but i wonder if it would get in the way of the antennaes functionality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_voltage_suppression_diode

ideas?

also I am wondering if a Moog is also sensitive to static charges and if not why?

oh.. the part that gets fried I guess perhaps is not so much a transistor but a:

2N5485 N-CHANNEL RF AMPLIFIER

same thing?

thanks.