My theremin arrived today

COOL AND DEADLY · #1 05-30-2008, 02:35 PM

I learned about theremins on Talkbass. Then i heard one on a dub reggae track, my G.A.S. went crazy, I ordered one. It came to my work today, can't wait to try it out! I plan on using delay and other effects. Any tips, tricks, advice I should know?

vene-nemesis · #2 05-30-2008, 02:37 PM

Prozack

hbarcat · #3 05-30-2008, 02:39 PM

I think there is some sort of rule that you can only play the theremin while under the influence of LSD.

MakiSupaStar · #4 05-30-2008, 02:45 PM

I have a theramin, and I play dub reggae.

Sweet. I run it through a cheap DD3 delay, and it can get crazy. It's fun. I think I'm going to upgrade to the moog theramin in the near future though. What kind did you get?

Mon Rominee · #5 05-30-2008, 03:21 PM

Maki, you like DubTrio? Those guys are awesome... I love Theremins...I was dinkin around with my guitarist's earlier this week.

You don't need to be on LSD, but you DO need skill to play it well. Don't be fooled into thinking it's easy.

to which I resubmit this thread
Proof positive Theremin is one of the coolest instruments, ever. for your enjoyment.

BassChuck · #6 05-30-2008, 03:36 PM

I have a Theremin. Personally I think its the hardest instrument to play a melody on. Crazy difficult. I do bring it to school and let my 7th graders have a go at it. They love it!

Welcome to the Wild West of Pitch.

Ely · #7 05-30-2008, 03:46 PM

My favorite effects on Theremin are delay and tremolo. Another fun thing to do is use a Moog FreqBox with the Sync switch off and lots of Frequency Modulation. Turns it into an invisible percussive instrument.

smitcat · #8 05-30-2008, 03:47 PM

The singer/multi intstrumentalist frontman of our band uses one. Here is a clip of a recent show, with the theremin freakout ending. In other songs he uses it more melodically, but people always love it.

The band is The Sutras

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fusea...deoid=33578615

jady · #9 05-30-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

Maki, you like DubTrio? Those guys are awesome...

Yes he does......

He turned me on to them a while ago and I love them!!!!!

Brad Barker · #10 05-30-2008, 04:53 PM

my electronics lab project was building a theremin-like device that converted a dc signal from a photodiode into an ac signal via a voltage controlled oscillator. easy to build, but it wasn't very musical, so i haven't made much of an effort to provide TB with the schematic. (basically, if you understand photodiode-to-voltage controlled oscillator, you're about halfway there already.)

hippiesandwich · #11 05-30-2008, 05:51 PM

I've got one. If you think fretless bass intonation is a challenge just wait...

TONS OF FUN TO PLAY THOUGH!

By the way, if you have cats they will LOVE it!

COOL AND DEADLY · #12 06-02-2008, 11:40 AM

thanks for all the great input. Maki, I got the cheap kit one and had someone else assemble it for me. I got it on Ebay from Theramaniacs. It works great and came promptly. Oh and HippieSand you are right about trying to pin down any accurate tones much less play a melody! I ran mine through a Danelectro Reel Echo and a EH Flanger Hoax so far. Whoa! It's absolutely crazy. I'm considering using it at shows. I'll take it to practice tonight and see how it works out! I'm definetly doing some dub recordings at home , though.

MakiSupaStar · #13 06-02-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

thanks for all the great input. Maki, I got the cheap kit one and had someone else assemble it for me. I got it on Ebay from Theramaniacs. It works great and came promptly. Oh and HippieSand you are right about trying to pin down any accurate tones much less play a melody! I ran mine through a Danelectro Reel Echo and a EH Flanger Hoax so far. Whoa! It's absolutely crazy. I'm considering using it at shows. I'll take it to practice tonight and see how it works out! I'm definetly doing some dub recordings at home , though.

That's exactly the same model I have. My only complaints with playing with it live is that there really is no on and off switch. You literally have to pull the chord out of it to stop it from working. I was looking to use it in during really spaced out sections where I drop the bass and start playing it, but without an easy way to turn it on and off it kind of fails me live. I suppose I could get a stomp switch of some kind, but I'm more or less leaning towards getting a better theramin like the Moog. I run mine through a BOSS DD3 delay. The flange is a great idea. Have fun with it.

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 06-02-2008, 12:07 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW0B1sipLBI

Do it!

Hoover · #15 06-02-2008, 12:27 PM

If you want to hear some of the most jaw-droppingly amazing schidt ever done on a theremin, you must check out Pamelia Kursten.

She plays theremin...but she's the bass player in the band! It's like watching someone play air bass: her left hand controls pitch, her right hand controls articulation...it looks like she's playing an invisible upright! Weirder still, it sounds like she's playing an upright! She swings, she grooves, she kicks yer azz and shakes yer booty just like a bassist oughtta. I'd go so far as to say her technique, lines, and musicality are quite a bit better than a lot of actual bassists I've heard.

'twill blow yer mind.

troll · #16 06-02-2008, 02:01 PM

I've got a Moog Theremin and it's quite nice. The one thing I hate about it, is it is constantly giving a tone if something is near enough to it. The volume off (touching the volume ant.) still has some noticable signal coming through, which is kind of annoying. Especially if you're trying to use some compression and such to keep the big volume swings between high and low in check.

It's fun no doubt, but it's rather difficult to play profficiently for sure. Just got to figure out what works for you.

I don't use mine often enough

von buck · #17 06-02-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

That's exactly the same model I have. My only complaints with playing with it live is that there really is no on and off switch. You literally have to pull the chord out of it to stop it from working. I was looking to use it in during really spaced out sections where I drop the bass and start playing it, but without an easy way to turn it on and off it kind of fails me live. I suppose I could get a stomp switch of some kind, but I'm more or less leaning towards getting a better theramin like the Moog. I run mine through a BOSS DD3 delay. The flange is a great idea. Have fun with it.

A quick, cheap way to silence a theremin is drape the output cord over the volume antenna.

Andy

COOL AND DEADLY · #18 06-03-2008, 07:15 AM

Okay Maki, I hear you about the on off switch, I responded to that thread too. I figured it had an AC cord, I learn now it works off a 9-volt. I plan to use it the exact same way as you and have the same problem. I think I might use a loop to the theremin so it will be off until i switch it, then it should run through my bass rig. Only thing is I won't be able to play any bass notes while the theremin is on. Also I'm not sure I should run a theremin through my rig. My rack tuner should help me if i want to play it "in tune." Let me know if you come up with any ideas on how to make it work! Oh yeah If anyone thinks it's a bad idea to run the theremin through my bass rig let me know before I mess my stuff up!
Respect, Michael (Cool And Deadly)

COOL AND DEADLY · #19 06-03-2008, 07:18 AM

Von Buck, I'll try that, it's a bit sketchy for live shows, though. I could just see the front man's face if the cord got knocked off (re-activating the insanity) in the middle of a song. I'd like to have a pedal that would activate or kill it.

COOL AND DEADLY · #20 06-03-2008, 07:21 AM

Oh yeah those who brought up the Moog, I saw it too. It looks REALLY nice. Please don't mention it anymore I'm trying to control my G.A.S.!