My Theremin - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

peter.sables · 26th Jun 2008, 10:29 pm

hi.

This is my Theremin. It works really well. I still cannot get a tune out of it but it was a good project. The Theremin is a Wein bridge and the amp is just a two valve plus rectifier. Not much more to add really.

Pete G4MRU

Steve_P · 26th Jun 2008, 10:55 pm

Yes - listen to the Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'. There's one in there!

Cheers,

Steve P.

geofy · 26th Jun 2008, 10:59 pm

That's an interesting use of an oscillator, and a nice looking unit. Maybe a thread could be started on what films or music a Therermin has been used in!

regards

Geof

geofy · 26th Jun 2008, 11:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Yes - listen to the Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'. There's one in there!

Cheers,

Steve P.

This is what I had in mind

Good record as well.

paulsherwin · 27th Jun 2008, 12:01 am

Nice project. They are very difficult to play though, even if you have perfect pitch (I don't).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Yes - listen to the Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'. There's one in there!

The odd sound on Good Vibrations isn't actually a Theremin but an Electro-Theremin which is basically a pot controlling an oscillator, arguably an early synthesizer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-theremin

That could be your next project Peter

Paul

evingar · 27th Jun 2008, 6:37 am

I built a s*licon one a few years ago.

Yes immensely difficult to play. I found the easiest way to create something recognisable was to mute the thing with one hand, while using the other hand to set the pitch, then un-mute. Repeat for all notes in a song

. It's kind of against the "spirit" of the instrument, and it takes ages to learn how to "get" all the notes for a specific setting of the pitch control - but it was the best I could do, to avoid a tuneless wailing noise like the sound track of some bad horror movie

Steve Smith · 27th Jun 2008, 8:25 am

Excellent. Could you post the circuit diagram here?

I started to build one many years ago. I start lots of things!

Steve.

peter.sables · 27th Jun 2008, 11:56 am

hiThanks for the flowers...

Yes it was a good project. It works well too. The Theremin I built is here :-

http://home.att.net/~theremin1/200/wien.html

You will see mine on there in the photo bit. (Bragging hi) I did think that the Good vibration did use a True Theremin as it was said it was so hard to get it right they had to vocal some of it.. Anyway. Most if not all the films it was used in were "B" films :- THE BLOB...THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL.. THEY CAME FROM OUTER SPACE. Lots more.

Im off gold panning in Scotland now soo if I strike it rich I maybe some time getting back on here...

Pete

geofy · 27th Jun 2008, 1:21 pm

Might sound interesting if an audio imput was added, C18 would be one place to put a line out from a preamp.

Geof

slidertogrid · 29th Jun 2008, 10:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by geofy

a nice looking unit.

Geof

I would agree with that! Thats a very well made bit of kit!

Rich.

chipp1968 · 30th Jun 2008, 1:40 pm

Very nicely put together .I fancy one myself

Tractorfan · 1st Jul 2008, 9:56 pm

It looks very smart indeed! Good luck with the music lessons

I started a thread on just such an instrument in the "Homebrew" section as I have started building one myself. Well, I've got as far as fitting the mains transformer & the valveholders anyway. As I was never any good at "proper" woodwork, it's just going to be an aluminium chassis with the valves on view.
Cheers de Pete

26th Jun 2008, 10:29 pm	#1
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	My Theremin hi. This is my Theremin. It works really well. I still cannot get a tune out of it but it was a good project. The Theremin is a Wein bridge and the amp is just a two valve plus rectifier. Not much more to add really. Pete G4MRU Attached Thumbnails

26th Jun 2008, 10:55 pm	#2
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: My Therermin Yes - listen to the Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'. There's one in there! Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

26th Jun 2008, 10:59 pm	#3
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: My Therermin That's an interesting use of an oscillator, and a nice looking unit. Maybe a thread could be started on what films or music a Therermin has been used in! regards Geof

27th Jun 2008, 6:37 am	#6
evingar Octode Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 1,770	Re: My Therermin I built a slicon one a few years ago. Yes immensely difficult to play. I found the easiest way to create something recognisable was to mute the thing with one hand, while using the other hand to set the pitch, then un-mute. Repeat for all notes in a song . It's kind of against the "spirit" of the instrument, and it takes ages to learn how to "get" all the notes for a specific setting of the pitch control - but it was the best I could do, to avoid a tuneless wailing noise like the sound track of some bad horror movie __________________ Chris Last edited by evingar; 27th Jun 2008 at 6:47 am.*

27th Jun 2008, 8:25 am	#7
Steve Smith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 24	Re: My Theremin Excellent. Could you post the circuit diagram here? I started to build one many years ago. I start lots of things! Steve.

27th Jun 2008, 11:56 am	#8
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: My Theremin hiThanks for the flowers... Yes it was a good project. It works well too. The Theremin I built is here :- http://home.att.net/~theremin1/200/wien.html You will see mine on there in the photo bit. (Bragging hi) I did think that the Good vibration did use a True Theremin as it was said it was so hard to get it right they had to vocal some of it.. Anyway. Most if not all the films it was used in were "B" films :- THE BLOB...THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL.. THEY CAME FROM OUTER SPACE. Lots more. Im off gold panning in Scotland now soo if I strike it rich I maybe some time getting back on here... Pete

27th Jun 2008, 1:21 pm	#9
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: My Theremin Might sound interesting if an audio imput was added, C18 would be one place to put a line out from a preamp. Geof

30th Jun 2008, 1:40 pm	#11
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: My Theremin Very nicely put together .I fancy one myself

1st Jul 2008, 9:56 pm	#12
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,180	Re: My Theremin It looks very smart indeed! Good luck with the music lessons I started a thread on just such an instrument in the "Homebrew" section as I have started building one myself. Well, I've got as far as fitting the mains transformer & the valveholders anyway. As I was never any good at "proper" woodwork, it's just going to be an aluminium chassis with the valves on view. Cheers de Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."