Happy New Year! And a rant at Moog Music...

First off, Happy New Year to everyone!

Well, let's hope that the New Year starts off on a perfect note for me too, as I see this year off with a gripe at Moog Music.

I must say, if Bob were still around I don't think we'd see things like indiscriminate pricing for bits and pieces. re: http://www.thereminworld.com/
forum.asp?cmd=p&T=3652&F=1&p=3

I'd have not been so bothered but what happened to me was that I received a brand new Etherwave standard which had a defective part, the compression nut for the pitch antenna was misshapen. As a result the antenna couldn't be secured properly.

Anyhows, I asked for a replacement and was told sure no problem but I'd have to pay for shipping since I'm overseas. Sent them my credit card info with the charge amount left blank (I had great trust with Moog). So here comes the kicker... they wanted $26 to ship the nut.

$26 to ship a small compression nut weighing a couple of ounces when USPS quotes $11.95 to ship flat rate priority up to 4 lbs.

Nuts!

Which brings me to this,

Would anyone happen to have a spare compression nut and be kind enough to mail it to me? I'd gladly pay shipping of course.

I'm trying to see what options I have before I bite the bullet and give in to Moog's extortionate shipping cost.

I already wasted $10 on 4 different compression nuts I bought locally, unfortunately none of them fit the threads on the cabinet-side pipe fitting.

This is driving me nuts!

The problem for us "overseas" clients is that the mechanical parts from the US have physical dimensions in inches. Our metric parts never fill fit.

Out of that... You may try an easier solution: Take an elastic rubber compression ring. This will secure the antenna in the same way. And you may adapt it slightly with a knife.

I can think of some other alternatives.

You could phone Moog and ask for an exact specification for the nut, so you can successfully source a replacement. If they are unwilling you could explain that as the theremin they have supplied is faulty you will have to return it, pointing out that their subsequent loss of profit will be greater than the cost of putting a replacement nut in the post.

(Under UK law you should not have to pay for fixing a product which does not work properly straight out of the box. Key phrases here would be "sale of goods act" and "not fit for the purpose." Hinting at potential litigation can be a great motivator for an employee. ;-) I expect something similar applies in the US.)

Someone on this forum might have the necessary equipment to provide exact measurements. Do we have any theremin playing plumbers?

You could replace the entire compression elbow rather than just the nut.

You could remove one of the compression nuts from the volume loop by heating and slipping off the brass ring holding it in place. The compression nut on the player side of the loop (i.e. on the same side as the control panel) is, strictly speaking, unnecessary, and is identical to the nut on the pitch rod.

Click me (http://www.tfrenkel.com/picserv/2009.jpg)