Ever Have The Overwhelming Urge To Buy A Theremin?

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I found a $25 gift card to GC last night that they apparently sent for free with an online order, and my first impulse was "gotta buy a theremin!" I didn't because they're like $300, but I still have an extremely strong urge to.

[MAJOR METAL]

I dont even know what a " Theremin" is .

[MonetBass]

Listen to "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys. That creepy, Sunday-afternoon-monster-movie sound is a Theremin.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

It's a musical instrument that you don't touch. You move your hands between two sets of electric fields- one adjusts pitch, the other volume. It's the instrument used to make all the spooky noises in old horror films, but it also can be hauntingly beautiful. It's also apparently very difficult to play. Here's a video about them on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX8vrt3j1xc

[Lazylion]

Joe Wooten, Vic's brother, is a fabulous funky theremin player. Check him out on Vic's "Live In America" album.
Or there's always good ole Jimmy Page on "Whole Lotta Love". Boy, it was a few years before I found out what that crazy sound was!

[MAJOR METAL]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

It's a musical instrument that you don't touch. You move your hands between two sets of electric fields- one adjusts pitch, the other volume. It's the instrument used to make all the spooky noises in old horror films, but it also can be hauntingly beautiful. It's also apparently very difficult to play. Here's a video about them on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX8vrt3j1xc

Thanks Bryan !

[spudmaster34]

nope, because I never heard of one before this

[Jazz Ad]

The Hiwatt is cheap and sounds great.

[Poop-Loops]

You can make one.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I hae a hard time making a turkey sandwich.

Jazz Ad, I'll check it out. Have you used the Hiwatt one before?

[tplyons]

I've been after an Etherwave for years since I saw Jason Newsted play one with the neck of his Sadowsky's in 2002.

[bassteban]

I really want one, but I wouldn't say it's an overwhelming urge, as I have been able to resist(so far)...
Being broke 'helps'...

[KeithBMI]

I'd like one, but it's not an urge.

[lemur821]

I had an overwhelming urge to build one once... it comes and goes.

[westland]

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

I dont even know what a " Theremin" is .

It's got an interesting history. Leon Theremin worked on proximity sensors for the Tzar's military, and became, after the revolution, Lenin's favorite scientist. Lenin sent him on a tour of the US to show off Soviet technology (the theremin) and he promptly defected; went to work in Hollywood promoting his musical instrument as an accompaniment for scary movies like Frankenstein and Dracula. Things were going great until he came home to his New York appartment one day, and a couple of Soviet goons were waiting for him, spirited him back to the Soviet Union where he was promptly placed in a gulag, working on military proximity sensors.

[keb]

My wife wants a Moog Etherwave. I think that's the only musical instrument GAS she has ever had!

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

I just read about that on the Theremin World web site. You can download plans and there's a ton of other interesting information on the site as well. I was just listening to Fantomas and thought man I really want a theremin..

[Christopher]

I think trying to learn it would creep me out.

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

And it would really piss any innocent bystanders off. Just like the banjo. I like the banjo but ever live with someone trying to learn the banjo.... sheeesh.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I think trying to learn it would creep me out.

Creeping someone out=accomplished theremin player
Just annoying=aspiring theremin player