Guide to Buying a Theremin

Here on ThereminWorld, a very common question asked by our members is, "I'd like to buy a theremin. Which one is best for me?" We've created this handy guide to help you make your decision.

First, there are several personal factors to consider when buying a theremin:

• What is your budget?
• Do you want to play music or just make noise with it?
• What level of electronics experience do you have?
• Are you looking for a beginner model or a professional model?
• Is the theremin for you or is it a gift?

Equally as important, there are several factors to consider about the theremin you are buying:

• Playability (a.k.a. linearity)
• 1 antenna or 2?
• Timbre control
• Audio outputs and control outputs
• Portability
• Aesthetics

Now, let's break each of these down and talk about some options in each category.

Budget

As with most musical instruments, the more you spend on a theremin, the (generally) higher quality the instrument will be. You can get a fun pitch-only novelty theremin on eBay starting around $25, though it probably won't be suitable for making music. You can get a decent starter theremin more suitable for playing melodies starting at around $76 if you're willing to build a kit. There are a few more durable and professional options in the $350-$1,500 range. Spend a lot more, and you can get a true professional model like the Moog Etherwave Pro Theremin, while it is still available. Break the bank, and you can even buy a rare vintage RCA vacuum tube Theremin circa 1929!

Music or Noise? Or Both?

Consider what you want to do with your theremin. Do you aspire to play classical music? Or are you just looking for something to make spooky sound effects? Or are you looking for a little of both?

Electronics Experience

If you're considering a kit theremin, it's important to have at least a basic understanding of electronics and a little previous experience with building electronics kits. If you can follow directions closely and you are comfortable with a soldering iron, you can build any kit out there. Kits are also a great way to save money. Even if you're not familiar with soldering, you might be able to find a friend or family member to help you build the kit. Some great kit options include the PAiA Theremax and the Moog Etherwave Theremin Kit.

Beginner or Professional?

A general rule of thumb with musical instruments is to start out with a decent enough model that doesn't have enough "rough edges" that it will hold back yoru progress yet has enough features to allow you to make forward progress. If you decide after a year or two that you want to stick with the instrument, consider moving up to a more professional model. I generally guide beginners who want to play music towards the Moog Etherwave Theremin as well as the Kees Enkelaar and the PAiA Theremax theremins. All of these models are suitable for beginner to intermediate range players.

For the thereminist ready to move up to the next level, the best current options are the Wavefront Classic and Moog Etherwave Pro Theremin while it is still available.

Giving a gift?

If you're giving the theremin as a gift, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer who is willing to take returns or exchanges in the event that the recipient prefers another model. Many theremins sold on online auction sites are home-built and sellers might not take returns. Be sure to read the fine print. Other professional online retailers will issue refunds or make exchanges in the event of a damaged product.

Playability

As difficult as the theremin is to play, some models are actually easier than others. The two key factors here are linearity and range.

Linearity refers to how uniformly the theremin responds as you move your hands around the antennas. Theremins with good linearity tend to be easier to play, as the distance in air between two consecutive notes is the same (or very similar) regardless of where you are along the musical scale. Theremins with poor linearity tend to be much more difficult to play because the distance between notes varies significantly whem moving from the low octaves to the upper octaves. For example, the highest octave (when playing closest to the pitch antenna) might be spread over only a few centimeters while lower octaves might cover 10-20 centimeters. Muscle-memory plays a big part in finding the right note when playing a theremin, so the more variation in space between the notes, the more variations your muscles have to remember!

No theremin has perfect linearity due to the nature of the electronics involved in the anteanna circuitry. That said, some models such as the Moog Etherwave Pro Theremin were designed specifically with linearity in mind and have a notably better linear response than other models. But unfortunately is being discontinued in 2007.

Number of Antennas

Many of the theremins for sale at online auction sites feature just 1 antenna for controlling pitch. They either feature a fixed volume level or offer a knob for changing volume. These are not going to be useful for playing melodies or really learning to play a theremin, but they can make great novelty gifts or fun noisemakers. I've used pitch-only theremins at Halloween to "haunt" my candy bowl, for example.

If you want to play music on the theremin, you're going to need 2 antennas: one for controlling pitch and the other for controlling volume. Most theremins over $200 feature two antennas.

Timbre Control

Timbre refers to the tone quality or sound a theremin produces. Some theremins have a simple fixed tone that cannot be modified without the use of external effects pedals. Others offer multiple knobs or switches allowing you to tweak the sound to your preference.

Outputs

Most theremins have some sort of audio jack that allows you to connect your theremin to an external amplifier. Some cheaper toy models may only include a single built-in speaker. In addition to audio output jacks, you might find these additional output options on your theremin:

• Control Voltage (CV) - Allow you to connect and operate older analog synthesizers with your theremin (PAiA Theremax, Moog Etherwave Pro)
• Headphone Jack - Useful for practicing without connecting to an amplifier or as a pitch-preview so you can hear the sound in your ear and find the right note before the audience hears it through your amplifier.
• Tuner outputs - Allow you to connect an electronic tuner to the output signal of your theremin as another way to find the right note and stay on key during a performance.
• MIDI output - Allow you to connect any electronic instrument or device that accepts MIDI signal, expands creative and musical options using the theremin to control other instruments.

Portability

If you plan to play your theremin in live gigs, portability is a concern. Fortunately, nearly every theremin on the market today is easily disassembled and many have optional padded gig bags available for purchase. Some models such as the Moog Ethervox MIDI Theremin (out-of-production) and the Wavefront Classic Theremin (currently being built again) are housed in large 4-legged wooden stands and are not as easy to mode. The Wavefront Travel Case Theremin is quite unique in terms of portability; it's built inside an attache case!

Aesthetics

The theremin is a highly visual instrument; it can be just as fascinating to watch someone play it as to listen to their performance! So the look of your theremin might be an important factor to consider. You can find models with a traditional wooden cabinets (Wavefront Classic Theremin, PAiA Theremax), boxy utilitarian theremins (Kees Enkelaar theremin, Moog Etherwave), sleek eye-catching cases (Moog Etherwave Pro), and of course, some built into suitcases (Wavefront Travel Case Theremin). See our theremin gallery for pictures of most commercially produced theremins.

Conclusion

I hope you've found this advice helpful! Of course, when buying a theremin, don't forget to consider the extras, such as an amplifier, gig bag, audio cables, stands, and effects pedals. You can find links to all of these items in our theremin store. Please post any comments, suggestions, or questions in this thread in our forums.