Canadian Looking to Get Started

Hello,

As the thread title denotes, I'm a Canadian fellow who wouldn't mind some advice on the purchasing of a Theremin. based on what I've seen, the only models that are shipped within Canada are Moog's; and as a beginner I'm not keen on dropping $829/$929 on an Etherwave Standard/Pro. The Theremini is $500, but I'm not sold on it being a viable option. I've tried the Burns B3 Deluxe, but there was heavy distortion present (probably faulty wiring).

Would any of you fine folks have any suggestions on where I could start? The LV-3P would set me back ~$200 CAD, which seems enticing, but I haven't found very many recent reviews for it.

Cheers, and thanks everyone!

Have you checked the used market?  That's where I'd probably go to get an Etherwave.  A friend of mine scored an older Big Briar EW with case and everything for just a few hundred USD.  Make sure it works, and take the cover off to see if it's been seriously monkeyed with / modded.

Not sure if they're still available, but you used to be able to buy the EW PCB new guts from Moog for not a lot, then just* make a cabinet and add the missing stuff**.

*may not be all that easy for a lot of folks, but it's just soldering HW stuff up.

*antennas & pots & jacks & power supply.

Ebay has some more reasonable Etherwaves for sale.  This one right in Canada looks pretty nice with a bag:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Etherwave-Standard-Theremin-Ash-with-Gig-Bag/363205551970?hash=item5490bce762:g:qHsAAOSwlIxfyFDx

If you want to give yourself a decent chance at learning the theremin an Etherwave is probably your best choice (standard or plus - the Pro is no longer made) and there are many for sale used. You'll find more help out there with the wide user base compared to some other models. Research the Theremini before you buy if that is the way you are leaning.

Ebay has some more reasonable Etherwaves for sale.  This one right in Canada looks pretty nice with a bag:https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Etherwave-Standard-Theremin-Ash-with-Gig-Bag/363205551970?hash=item5490bce762:g:qHsAAOSwlIxfyFDxIf you want to give yourself a decent chance at learning the theremin an Etherwave is probably your best choice (standard or plus - the Pro is no longer made) and there are many for sale used. You'll find more help out there with the wide user base compared to some other models. Research the Theremini before you buy if that is the way you are leaning.

I'm definitely not going to go for a Theremini, that's for sure. Nothing against it, but I think I want a more "classical" approach (if that makes sense).

I guess where I'm torn is the $400 price difference between a used Etherwave Standard and the LV-3P. Is there really that much of a difference between them?

I had never heard of the LV-3P so I looked it up, and it's apparently been around for a long time.

It actually has a nice sound, and depending on what you want to do it might do the job.

But a few observations that would make me wary of it:

1) The pitch field is really compressed - a lot of octaves in just a few inches of movement.  This would make it extremely touchy for hitting and holding notes.  An Etherwave will spread its useful range over your arm's length, making the octaves wider spaced.  Aerial fingering with such a compressed pitch field is almost out of the question.

2) The pitch and volume antennas are too close together, and they will likely interact with each other.

3) You have to consider how many video demonstrations you can find on YouTube for the LV-3P, and whether you like what you see.  Compare that with the number of Etherwave videos that you find.  If you want to see what the Etherwave can do (not necessarily any player though!) look up Katica Illenyi. 

4) If you just want to goof around with a theremin, just about anything will do.  If you think you want to actually stick with it to use it as an instrument, I would recommend at least an Etherwave.

Hey Outrageous,

I'm also based in Canada! Been playing classical theremin for a year and a half. Great to see a new Canadian face around here!

I'm actually selling one of my starting instruments, a Moog Etherwave Standard (the one you mentioned - this and the Plus are generally the recommended instruments for beginners) at $570 CAD. I'd actually be willing to go a little cheaper - I'm in a position where I need to move it quick, as money's a bit... you know how things can be right now. Comes with the gig bag too, and both are in exceptional condition with essentially no cosmetic wear. Would that be up your alley?

EDIT: Oh! As I was writing this, I realised someone actually recommended my instrument to you! Works out pretty well...

To answer the above question(s) with my seller's bias aside, I also have no experience with the LV-3P, but I've never heard of it from other thereminists. Generally, when professionals talk first instruments for classical players, they talk about the Etherwave Standard/Plus. As someone who 'grew up' in my theremin journey playing a Plus at the $900 CAD pricepoint, I would absolutely recommend a Standard/Plus. (The difference between them is the Plus has MIDI capability and a headphone jac, which in my opinion... doesn't sound all too great, but is there if you want it and have a pre-amp to make it work. In all other aspects, they are the same.)

They're very sound instruments, with pretty good linearity of the pitch field (uncommon on lower-priced instruments), a responsive volume antenna, easy tuning, and timbral versatility that you come to appreciate almost immediately. Plus, the sound on them is quite nice. In short, they're well suited to precise melodic playing and expression, useful for stuff like classical, pop, folk, etc. Some professionals even play these instruments into their careers - sometimes with some small, commercially available modifications (like the ESPE01 module by Thierry Frenkel - had that added to my Etherwave Plus 8 months after I got it, and I love it).

Either way, really cool to see another Canadian theremin player, and I wish you the best of luck making a selection here. Hopefully some of that insight on the Standard/Plus was helpful! (And as you know, I'm selling one of these (listing's up ^ there) right now, and I'm flexible on it, so feel free to shoot me a message if you like!)

- Colin

Thanks for the replies everybody! Colin, I'll toss you a PM about yours! I've sent you a message about yours!

There ya go! It's a small (theremin) world.  Looks like a good deal to me.