Theremin / Theremin Kit

Hi,
Im new here so not exactly sure how everything works...
Hello everybody!

Im looking to buy my friend a Theremin (or Theremin Kit) for his birthday, but obviously Im not wanting to spend too much being a student and as its a birthday present...

Obviously I would like to get the best one possible I could in this price range... (seriously no higher than £100... Really more around the £50 mark at max... Which as Im sure you're all aware is hard to find!)

I guess Im just looking to see if Im lucky enough to find someone in the UK selling one ridiculously cheap that they dont want anymore...
Is there any chance of getting that here?
I dont really want to buy a toy one, as the sound is pretty naff...
Its because we're both Bill Bailey fans and love the theremin I thought it would be a really nice surprise to get him one...
Please let me know...
If any of you could help I would be really really grateful..
Thank you for your time...
Lucy

Hi Lucy, welcome to Theremin World.

I hope that your boyfriend's birthday isn't too soon, because to get a theremin inside your upper limit you'll need to wait for the pound to strengthen against the dollar a bit.

The Burns B3 Theremin currently works out at £108. I don't know of a theremin I could recommend in the £50 range.

http://www.soundslikeburns.com/New_Items/b3.html

As you will see from the videos on that page it is quite possible to wrangle a tune out of it, taking it out of the league of toys, but the playing field is rather small making it a particularly tricky instrument to play well.

Hi GordanC, thanks for the reply...
Unfortunately my friend's birthday is relatively soon, and it seems I've left it a bit last minute... As it's in less than a month!
I've checked out the Burns B3 Theremin...
I shall have a look to see if I can find it for cheaper elsewhere though, because I still feel £108 is still a little extravagant for a birthday present (though not for a theremin) so he would kill me!

Thanks very much for your time, and please let me know if you happen to hear of anything else...
Thanks again,
Muchly appreciated...
Lucy

Even if it may appear expensive, I must say that the B3 is the entry level instrument with the best quality/price relationship.

There is an audio clip, recorded under "repair shop conditions" by someone who never practiced on this instrument but did only a quick check after repairing it (the owner had grilled it up by plugging an improper power supply). So this mp3 has no musical value, it's terribly off pitch and makes rather a "Florence Forster Jenkins" effect but it demonstrates that one may make real music with the B3:
click me, but not too hard (http://theremin.tfrenkel.com/audio/faure_b3_florian.mp3)

Hi Lucy -
I have a few EPE Theremin circuit boards I bought for experimenting with, some are untouched.. I also have sets of the IF transformers spare..
If you are really stuck, email me - I could probably put a kit of components together for <= £50, and may even assemble and test it for a few £ more..
The EPE is a reasonablely good Theremin, and quite simple to build.. Your boyfriend will need a few basic tools (soldering iron, small pliers/cutters and multimeter minimum).. I could supply the magazine article with full instructions.

Thank you everyone for being so helpful!

Hi FredM!!
Thank you, you're very kind...
Im obviously a completely novice when it comes to this kinda thing, so I have no idea what is needed to make a theremin, so Im very grateful for your help!
That would be wonderful.
And I know he'd love to put it together, but yes, he will need instructions (and Im sure he has soldering iron/pliers and that lot)
How much will it be?
How can I email you?
Thanks for your help.
Lucy

Fred - I'm curious - is that the 2008 EPE theremin?

Lucy - Fred has cunningly concealed his email address in his avatar.

Teehee!
Thank you Gordon!
Have just emailed him! : )

Hi Gordon,

Yes - the 2008 version..
I have not actually put a complete unit together - have just used it as a breadboard to experiment with equalisation / 'lev' antennas etc..

Lucy.. I have the components except for the specified EQ coil, but I will wind a coil to the required specification and test that this works.

Total cost for kit will be under £50 .. The circuit board cost me £10 ish I think, and I bulk bought a load of IF transformers, so these are cheap.. I may not have exactly the transistors specified in the article, but certainly can supply equivalents..

>>EDIT
OOPS.. I have just seen a problem - one part (NSL-32SR3 Optocoupler) which I do not have, and seems to be difficult to get - I would need to order this, and it may take some time.. (it is a part which is being discontinued due to its toxicity) - there are no equivalents.

I will email you when I have made more enquiries.
<<
Sorry - I cannot offer kits to anyone else

"Sorry - I cannot offer kits to anyone else!"

And if my name was Geraldine and if I had long red hair and big (censored)?

:-)))