Reader Re-Creates Clara Rockmore's Theremin

Front cabinet view

Years ago, Bob Moog donated to the theremin community a hand-drawn schematic he had created by closely examining Clara Rockmore's theremin. Since then, it's been the dream of many theremin enthusiasts that someone would be able to faithfully recreate her one-of-a-kind instrument. Well today we're one step closer!

Adrian Bontenbal has been busy for the past several years in The Netherlands working on his own version of Clara Rockmore's theremin. He has shared with us a write-up including photos, schematics, and parts values for the components he had to substitute with modern parts.

Unfortunately, we don't yet have audio samples of how it sounds, but if enough people show interest, perhaps we can sway him to provide a few. Here's to hoping it sounds as nice as it looks!

Read Mr. Bontenbal's write-up for more details on this ambitious project.

Update - March 4, 2012 - Mr. Bontenbal has provided an updated write-up that includes some information omitted from his previous article.

Update - June 24, 2012 - Another update with an additional timbre control circuit added, allowing the player to choose between normal theremin, brass, or flute-like tones. Also includes a new circuit that lights an LED when a reference tone of 440Hz (A) is played.

5 comments

coalport - 4807 days ago

Reminds me a bit of those beautiful color photos that you see in cook books. As tempting as they may be, they're meaningless until you've sampled the dish. If Mr. Bontenbal has re-created a truly faithful replica of Clara Rockmore's custom theremin (and I sincerely hope he has) it may not be any more recognizable than Clara's instrument when it is played by someone other than Clara herself. The secret of Clara's theremin was not the theremin. It was Clara.

Chobbs - 4807 days ago

Playing aside, Clara's theremin is pretty special- hand built by lev for his muse; probably the most refined, best sounding, and best playing theremin circuit he built (in the West, at least.) Very stoked that someone has invested the time and effort to tie up the "loose ends" and present a complete circuit with coil and tx info.- heh, just need to convert those metric wire sizes to AWG.(I need to take a closer look at the doc, but) I only see 2 knobs. Vol

..and pitch tuning, I assume. No color/tone selector?I want more info and (I think I can speak for everyone...) DEMAND to hear some audio clips!Good work

coalport - 4805 days ago

Even if we do hear samples, it has been my experience that unless those samples are played by a skilled thereminist, the instrument (through no fault of its own) may prove to be disappointing.Most people would agree that this would be the case with a Stradivarius violin but, with theremins, builders often think it doesn't matter what is played, who plays it, or how it is recorded.

SamuWild - 4800 days ago

There's also an Italian thereminist, his name's Giorgio Necordi who did something like this. He made a theremin that looks like an RCA theremin but with some features of the Clara Rockmore's one. He called the "semi-replica RCA". I've tried it! It was like a dream come truth... http://www.giorgione...