Is this a good theremin?

Hi there.

I'm looking to get my dad a theremin for Christmas, is this modely on Jaycar a good choice?

Jaycar Theremin (http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AM4025&CATID=&keywords=theremin&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=)

I have no ideas about what to get, but this is a two antenna model (which I belive is preferable) and is cheap enough for me to afford (Although kit's are cheaper, I want something he can use right away).

All advice is appreciated. If you have any other suggestions for models, my spending range is about £50-60 (GBP) including postage to UK.

Hi,

Depends. If your Dad likes whacky electronic toys then why not?

Or if he would want to make a new box for it and do stuff with soldering irons it can be improved - out the box I have read it's not all that good. As the site says - the ones that music shops sell cost a lot more.

If you're looking for the sort that musicians use (other than those bands that use toy instruments on purpose) then a two stick isn't going to happen.

Is a two stick preferable to a one stick? All other things being equal, yes. The range of things you can do with it is far greater.

But is a rubbish two stick better than a decent one stick? That's the question.

I don't know much about what's a good one-stick, but Theremaniacs (http://theremaniacs.com/) might be worth looking at, and perhaps N01nderLand (http://www.no1derland.com/web05/home.htm) here in the UK.

Ok, that theremaniacs one is looking like a good option. Kit form is probably not the best choice as if it is a kit, he'll never get it done, but the prebuilt sounds good. Any recommendations?

It's not so much that he's into electronic gadgets, he's a muscician. And he is a Bill Bailey fan.

Bill Bailey uses an Etherwave Standard.

As for recommendations for the theremaniac job - well this guy recommends it...

http://www.interfold.com/rabit/Theremin.htm

Here's an interesting thought. It's a long jump from a one-stick to a two-stick theremin, but not so far to an etherphone - the device Lev Termen invented before the theremin. All it needs is two things - a volume pedal and a cut-off switch. See this page... (the paragraph beneath the third photograph.)

http://www.peterpringle.com/ondes2.html

Thanks very much. I think a simple 1 aerial theremin is enough for now, but if he becomes obsessed I'll mention the etherphone to him. Looks like I'll be ordering the Theremaniacs theremin then, I can't afford one of those that Bill Bailey uses, I'm only a student. Thankyou for your advice, very helpful to someone who hasn't a clue where to start with these things.

I hope your dad likes it!

If foureyedtroll is out there still I'd be interested to know how good the theremaniacs model was as I'm considering buying one.

Has anyone got any experience of the theremin kits w.h.service sells on ebay?

The theremaniacs one is good, arrives assembled (apart from fixing the aerial) and you can just plug and play, well, once you've figured it out. Dad loved it and is using it in his recordings where possible. I'm sure there are more professional models out there that have a lot more gubbins on them and produce a wider range of sounds/effects, but the Theremaniacs one is a great starter and lots of fun.

It was stood in the corner of the dining romm of Christmas day, everytime someone walked past it to sit at the table it sounded like someone was saying wooo-ooo. So even if it's never used as an instrument, it makes a good proximity alarm.

Wasn't this part of the principal of Theirmans burglar/prison break alarm?
Andy