Claravox Centennial- known issues, bugs and quirks

#198 also having issues with volume cutting in and out. I thought it was my setup but no matter what I changed I still have issues. 

After finding this thread and that YouTube video I realize it’s the volume antenna. Mine works but occasionally it just cuts out even while not on mute. Taking the antenna off and putting it back in helps. I am wondering if I should do the sanding or it sounds like it’s worth having it sent back in case the base needs work too?

I also have noticed the pitch antennae seems to slide sideways very easily and may be attached too loosely. It works but I’m wondering if it’ll act up over time?

"After finding this thread and that YouTube video I realize it’s the volume antenna. Mine works but occasionally it just cuts out even while not on mute. Taking the antenna off and putting it back in helps. I am wondering if I should do the sanding or it sounds like it’s worth having it sent back in case the base needs work too?"  - marshansounds

Take some acetone and remove the varnish from the end up to the nubs.  It may need retuning with the red tool afterward.

"I also have noticed the pitch antennae seems to slide sideways very easily and may be attached too loosely. It works but I’m wondering if it’ll act up over time?"

Have you tried tightening up those little screws that lock it in place?

"Take some acetone and remove the varnish from the end up to the nubs.  It may need retuning with the red tool afterward.”

Code:

thanks! Will do. 

"Have you tried tightening up those little screws that lock it in place?”

nope. Will give that a shot. Thanks!

Glad it turned out well for you cheesemaster!  Did Moog give you specific instructions, or did they just say to have at it with the tool?  He basically suggested I use trial and error, starting in quarter turns each way until I hear a difference and then fine-tune as it approaches the desired response. I'm satisfied with it now, but I can see wanting to tweak it in the future. There's a balance affecting the difference between Trad and Modern modes. As others have said, it seems the Modern is significantly louder, on the order of 20dB, but that's also sort of a product of the volume tuning, the different curves, the calibration routine, and where I like my hands to be. It's still such a new thing and I'm not done getting used to it yet.Maybe sending it back to Moog would be better, but I'd prefer to struggle with something that might be sub-optimal until I reach an understanding or detente, rather than hand it off to the experts to have it returned in perfect order. I want to understand it.I've also had a couple cases of no sound after moving it. I reinserted the volume antenna and fiddled a bit and it returned. So I'll probably be sanding the end of that too. While I'm at it... yesterday I was getting a bit of a warbly sound in Trad mode. Tried a bunch of things and, long story short, I finally noticed that the Pitch Response value in the app was flickering between two values. I gave the knob a tweak and the flickering and warbling went away. So there you go, a little sampling noise weirdness on that controller. Shouldn't happen but did.

I’m experiencing this same warbly sound intermittently on my Claravox. Were you able to resolve this? Does it still happen on yours from time to time? What has your experience been?

Yup mine has just developed the volume loop issues as well (No 228)

tried the sanding of the antanae but no improvement. 

The next step on advice from Moog Tech is to use a zip tie on the outside of the volume antenna recepticle. It does involve taking the back off the Claravox and interestingly they tell me all the later models come out with this modification done at the factory

Anyway this will be my project for today - I'll keep you posted on the results

So I've hada look and it turns out my CVox already has the mod done. Interestingly just rotating the zip tie on the volume antenna recepticle seems to help and its ok now. Its not a very reliable and long term solution tho and I'm waiting to hear what Moog tech. has to say

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?  Warning this post won't be popular! I am generally a positive easy going person but I have reached my limit and patience with the "VOX".

Why do we keep trying to figure out a work around for everything that is functionally defective about this theremin?  That is just not our job for the price we paid. I got my EW Pro out of mothballs yesterday and what a delightful contrast!   I was looking across the room at the "VOX" while playing and thought how it was a grand gesture yet an unintended insult to Clara Rockmore to place her name on it. Why did I fall for all the hype when I already had the best theremin Moog ever made?

No more rants about the pitfalls here because they have all been noted above but the "Vox" sits in the corner of my room collecting dust like an over sized ugly shoe box made of walnut and clad in plastic that is too quirky and undependable to ever use for a gig. To me it's just plain ugly and  unnecessary and I refuse to do any modding to fix their defects and oversights. Now Moog has the audacity to release an updated copy of the EW Plus which is all they should have done to start with.  I'm not falling for it and I wish them the best of luck with that one.  I am sure my EWS with the ESPE01 sounds just the same if not better.

I have reached out to Moog and to their credit they have offered to take it back and work on it. However, aside from attaching a seed tray to the bottom and turning it into a bird feeder for my back yard I just want to cut my loss and sell the Blair Witch "VOX" at a deep discount.  Any offers?

IMO - Moog should re-design a more robust socket for the volume antenna and supply it to owners - a zip tie as a fix doesn't really cut it on a top end instrument

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?  Warning this post won't be popular! I am generally a positive easy going person but I have reached my limit and patience with the "VOX".

Speaking for myself I don't like this but can't really disagree

Why do we keep trying to figure out a work around for everything that is functionally defective about this theremin? 

Basically, because Moog did a bad job, but it goes a bit deeper IMO: both the Etherwave Standard and Pro versions required third party mods to reach their full potential, so it's not unheard of. This is what I hung my hope on for some time. But it's looking like some of the problems may not be amenable to third-party correction, nor may the handful of individuals with the engineering knowledge feel inclined to applying their skills to what they see as an unworthy product.
So we're stuck with Moog - will the Claravox even be supportable in the long run?

That is just not our job for the price we paid.

Personally I'd have paid twice as much for a bug-free product that fulfilled all of the promises made and implied in October 2020

I got my EW Pro out of mothballs yesterday and what a delightful contrast! 

 I'm not lucky enough to have one (and my wife will kill me if I drop 6.8k for the one on Reverb). For me the Claravox is the best theremin I possess.

I was looking across the room at the "VOX" while playing and thought how it was a grand gesture yet an unintended insult to Clara Rockmore to place her name on it. Why did I fall for all the hype when I already had the best theremin Moog ever made?No more rants about the pitfalls here because they have all been noted above but the "Vox" sits in the corner of my room collecting dust like an over sized ugly shoe box made of walnut and clad in plastic that is too quirky and undependable to ever use for a gig. To me it's just plain ugly and  unnecessary and I refuse to do any modding to fix their defects and oversights. Now Moog has the audacity to release an updated copy of the EW Plus which is all they should have done to start with.  I'm not falling for it and I wish them the best of luck with that one.  I am sure my EWS with the ESPE01 sounds just the same if not better.

I'm personally glad to see the Etherwave for sale again just for the future viability of the product line, although I'm not inclined to buy one either.

I have reached out to Moog and to their credit they have offered to take it back and work on it. However, aside from attaching a seed tray to the bottom and turning it into a bird feeder for my back yard I just want to cut my loss and sell the Blair Witch "VOX" at a deep discount.  Any offers?

There are several on Reverb selling at near or a bit above retail price; you can probably unload it without taking a big loss if that's really what you want.

Thanks for mentioning the mods because I understand the volume was not very dynamic without it on the EW Pro. Luckily the one I was fortunate enough to purchase about 8 years ago already had it.  It will be very interesting over the following weeks to watch the new Etherwave thread. I will say that considering it's features along with inflation the price is probably fair. The Etherwave was never perfect for sure but it was dependable and could take a beating which is what happens when you travel with it a lot.  I've never had any issues with the EWS or EW Pro over the years. The same goes for my Subscope and Hobbs.  The VOX is the only one I have buyes remorse over which is why it will be on Ebay soon. 

Maybe I was hard on Moog out of my frustration.  The company is probably only continuing the theremin line out of homage to Bob Moog since his love of the instrument changed the music industry forever.   One thing about the VOX is that it appears to have created a renewed interest in the theremin and I have noticed a number of young artists showing up on YouTube playing it who show lots of promise.   That's exciting to me. 

.Personally I'd have paid twice as much for a bug-free product that fulfilled all of the promises made and implied in October 2020I 

I did pay double - Its a South Pacific thing. They blame exchange rates