The Wavefront Classic, A Professional Theremin

Continuation of the exciting discussion of Professional Concert Theremin: Wavefront Classic (http://www.thereminworld.com/forum.asp?cmd=p&T=3908&F=715)...

Well ... there is something a little better than an old sock. You can buy braided cable sleeve (I think it's called) from a computer store. It's usually black or grey, although it can come in other colours too, and is generally sold by the metre. You can slip it over any theremin's loop like a long glove-finger.
However, on a really smart theremin I think anything that detacts from the pristine appearance of those nice shiny antennas is best avoided. I prefer to simply adjust volume sensitivity so that there's a good inch or two of silence above the loop. That way my hand never gets anywhere near it!

I've got the sleeving on my E-Standard (thanks to Mr. Grillo for the idea). It looks really cool on the Etherwave, like black fishnets for your theremin, and works great. You can rest your hand on the loop while you lean over and adjust your EQ or reverb.

I wouldn't want to put that on something as pretty as the Classic, though.

No, neither would I ... although it's certainly better than on old sock!
Actually, just a little internal tweaking should minimise any minor "pop" or "hiccup". The WFC is easy to adjust; its circuit board, although clearly visible, is protected by a perspex sheet. The fine tuning screws/pots for both volume and pitch are accessible through tiny holes in the perspex, and can be tuned with the little plastic thingummy that comes as standard.
I managed to minimise the "hiccup" to almost nothing (it seems to be absent most of the time now); however, adjusting the volume loop response so that there's a good inch or two of silence above the loop ensures you never really come close enough to touch it accidentally.

Seems when I put the ear clip on the pitch field changes dramatically. Am working through it. Was hoping I could just use the ear clip for spot tuning checks during loud parts, but it may be all or nothing. By the way, you guys are making *big* assumptions about the age and quality of my socks, HA!, the one on the WFClass right now is a still new starched, unworn, white linen hand stitched piece.

I noticed that the auto parts stores seem to have a better range of stock on that slit sleeving than electronics stores. So you might want to check out your local Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragen or whatever you have in your home town.

Don

Maybe I misread this ... I haven't seen woven tubing around here at electronics stores.

The slit tubing is ribbed and looks very Robby-the-Robot-ish.

I noticed that medical offices are bundling the cables from their computers in this stuff to minimize the mess.

Don

djpb_designs>> I think the slit sleeving/tubing is something different ... wider, ribbed, hard plastic, designed to take several cables. The braided cable sleeve is a narrower soft nylon. Some at this site (http://cableorganizer.com/wire-management/) - look at nylon sleeving or similar.
Omhoge>> Apologies about your socks; I'm sure they're perfectly charming! Curious to hear more details about ear clip / pitch field change.

This is the sleeving I used:

3/8" cable sleeve (http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=588&CFID=4003319&CFTOKEN=75377799)

At first it doesn't seem like it will fit over the nuts of an E-Standard but if you cinch it up you can slide it over.

Make sure you cut it with a hot knife. I didn't
have one so I just heated up a utility knife with a blow-torch and quickly pressed down. I used black and got an acceptable, if a little punk rock, look finishing it off with electrical tape.

Here's another annoying question.

Obviously, the Classic is a step (or three) up from the Etherwave standard, but aside from the much nicer cabinet, is it $2000 worth of stepping up as far as playing and sound?

I guess if you subtract the cabinet, is it $1000 worth of stepping up?

(if one is shooting for a classic, traditional sort of playing style/sound)