Claravox Centennial Theremin - Post Your Thoughts Here

It's easy to be critical

It's also fun!

but it's like they're running a kickstarter over there.

Yes, that sounds like a pretty accurate description. However if you remember the marketing last October/November, that's not at all the way it was presented. The marketing indicated a fully completed instrument that would ship before the end of the year "while supplies last" or something like that. I'm not a child so I'll allow for some marketing puffery, but reading between the lines it sounds like Moog is still evaluating design choices rather than simply waiting for some materials orders to be fulfilled. If this were, like you say, a kickstarter that would be fine. And for my part I'm only somewhat disappointed and can afford to wait. But others, who have had to make serious financial decisions, maybe traded in some of their gear to be able to afford to purchase what they were lead to believe was a finished product - such persons have a right to feel burned.

That said, if the final delivery (whenever it happens) matches the expectations set by Moog (and especially the fantastic demo videos by Grégoire Blanc), all this will be forgotten.

I need to copy / paste that text to my thread and keep any interested folks on indefinite hold in purgatory / limbo during this time as we work diligently to bring the D-Lev to life.

I'd say you have a much better excuse than Moog. You are just one person and you're not claiming to have finished that on which you are still working

Yeah I Hi all, I received Moog’s non-response response this morning but was just leaving to spend a couple of days playing chamber music (not on theremin) with a couple of friends.

At this time, I’m now livid. In addition to what bendra posted, Moog also told me,

“We also understand that you have paid for this instrument in its entirety, plus interest, and have yet to see more specific details regarding the delays. Below we have detailed all we can at the moment.”

How nice. . . (said with lots of sarcasm).

My response back to Moog was,

“I will NEVER purchase another Moog product again.”

To which Moog responded,

“That’s understandable at this point. I just wanted to forward this info along to you. Thank you for your feedback, let me know if you need anything else in the meantime.”

Sounds like they really understand great customer service . . .  (more sarcasm).

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion, CB Thereminist,

I tried to find something on the “Subscope Voicematic 120” but haven’t had much luck so far. Are they still being manufactured and sold?

I’ve been extremely impressed with dewster’s D-Lev. So far, he’s been extremely transparent and we know a lot more about the D-Lev than the Claravox. It’s well-described and it’s actually very exciting to watch the design process as well as the critical eye during that process to make a very high quality instrument. Again, it looks like it’s going to be an amazing instrument. It would be nice to see it give Moog a LOT of much-needed competition.

Getting back to Moog, it is now evident that as they have “just begun pilot production of Claravox Centennial” - five full months after delivery was initially promised - they had no idea what they’re doing last year - even if they didn’t have supply shortages. So far, no manual, no examples of the software (note, the Theremini Advanced Software Editor” hasn’t been updated in seven years), a couple of nice recordings have been produced of alleged Claravox prototypes but these don’t provide any demonstrations of specific features. Of course, Moog’s latest non-response response still doesn’t provide any substantive information as to what caused the delay or when delivery will occur.

ContraDude - Things to consider:

1) I think I have already recommended picking up a used Etherwave (get the "Plus" model if you want pitch preview) so I won't go into that again.  This could be the most immediate solution.

2) I can highly recommend the Subscope.  Dominik Bednarz is a wonderful person to deal with and the whole experience from my initial request to him through followup was very pleasant.  He checks in here from time to time and I don't want speak for him too much.  I had to initially contact him at http://subscope.de/kontakt.html.  You could also try a personal message here (username "Dominik").  At the time mine was entirely a build-to-customer-request type of thing and you could discuss the enclosure style and which features you want.  It's a clever combination of circuit designs and innovative enclosure styling, and the theremin has a completely different timbre gamut from that of the Etherwave.  Feel free to PM me if you would like more end-user thoughts, but before going too far you might contact him to see what he is doing these days.  I'll never part with my Subscope while I'm still kicking.

3)  And of course there is the D-Lev, and everyone following this saga will know how highly I regard it as a truly friendly instrument to play with advanced capabilities there if you need them.  But I don't want to be using this forum to promote it too much beyond describing my build projects and experiences, so I suggest that you contact either of us through PM to discuss options.  This is Eric's baby, and I am only a co-conspirator of sorts. But contacting either of us at this point will be essentially the same because we are in very close communication despite never having actually met in person!

I can imagine the frustration of being on the edge of your set waiting for the Clarovox (and having pre-paid for it).  Some of us that have a more casual wait-and-see attitude have other instruments that we're happy with, and/or have charge-upon-shipment credit card orders (although I have already had to update my CC information on file twice over the duration of this long wait). Other than finding an Etherwave or one of the other immediately available options out there (be careful) you would possibly find that the alternatives are going to have significant wait times as well. 

 

Thanks for the info, pitts8rth, I’ll send you a pm.

I’m going to seriously consider your suggestions. While I’m loath to consider another Moog product, I’ll take a look a used Etherwaves.

I’ll also take a better look at the Subscope - thanks for the link.

As I mentioned, I’m very impressed with your work with the D-Lev and that certainly looks like an extremely well-designed instrument.

I wish I had ordered the Claravox from a dealer where I didn’t have to pay for the instrument upfront. At the time I ordered mine, my dealer had the best price and all indications from Moog were that I receive the Claravox within a matter of just a few weeks (less than a month) and that I miss out the opportunity to purchase it if I didn’t order immediately.

Thanks!

Thanks for the info, pitts8rth, I’ll send you a pm.I’m going to seriously consider your suggestions. While I’m loath to consider another Moog product, I’ll take a look a used Etherwaves.I’ll also take a better look at the Subscope - thanks for the link.As I mentioned, I’m very impressed with your work with the D-Lev and that certainly looks like an extremely well-designed instrument.I wish I had ordered the Claravox from a dealer where I didn’t have to pay for the instrument upfront. At the time I ordered mine, my dealer had the best price and all indications from Moog were that I receive the Claravox within a matter of just a few weeks (less than a month) and that I miss out the opportunity to purchase it if I didn’t order immediately.Thanks!

Tada at Botique Pedal NYC might be able to source you a hobbs theremin: http://www.boutiquepedalnyc.us/hobbs-theremin-special-hand-built-by-charles-hobbs/
Mine took five months to build, so it's perhaps even money whether that would be quicker than waiting for the Claravox *eyeroll*

There seem to be some etherwave standard/plus models for sale on reverb but the prices are higher than I would have expected :-(

Thanks, Bendra. I’ve already contacted a couple of others via this board regarding suggestions for other instruments. I know of a place, here in NJ, where I could pick up an Etherwave or an Etherwave Pro today but I’m so disillusioned with Moog, between the Theremini software fiasco and the Claravox situation, that I frankly want nothing to do with them anymore. 

While I haven’t canceled my Claravox order just yet, if I can find a suitable replacement before Moog finally gets their act together (I’m not holding my breath), I’ll drop my order like a lead balloon. At this point, I find Moog’s response to the Claravox situation reprehensible and their decision makers should be ashamed for their lack of communication. 

Hopefully, I won’t need to wait another five months but I do live quite close to NYC, so the Hobbs theremin may be a possibility. FYI, I’ve written to find out more about both the Subscope (after watching a few videos on it, I’m very impressed) and am trying to find out more about the D-Lev.

Thanks, Bendra. I’ve already contacted a couple of others via this board regarding suggestions for other instruments. I know of a place, here in NJ, where I could pick up an Etherwave or an Etherwave Pro today but I’m so disillusioned with Moog, between the Theremini software fiasco and the Claravox situation, that I frankly want nothing to do with them anymore. While I haven’t canceled my Claravox order just yet, if I can find a suitable replacement before Moog finally gets their act together (I’m not holding my breath), I’ll drop my order like a lead balloon. At this point, I find Moog’s response to the Claravox situation reprehensible and their decision makers should be ashamed for their lack of communication. Hopefully, I won’t need to wait another five months but I do live quite close to NYC, so the Hobbs theremin may be a possibility. FYI, I’ve written to find out more about both the Subscope (after watching a few videos on it, I’m very impressed) and am trying to find out more about the D-Lev.

I've not played a subscope myself but I am impressed with Dominik and would be happy to support his work, were I in the market for such an instrument. The people I know who've played one seem to like it.

I've not played a subscope myself but I am impressed with Dominik and would be happy to support his work, were I in the market for such an instrument. The people I know who've played one seem to like it.

+1 for Subscope. This is the very high quality instrument and one of the best sounding theremins ever. Its playability at least not worse than etherwave. Moreover, it's extremely portable and Dominik can build the attachable battery box for it that allows to play outside regardless of electrical socket presence. I had Subscope V3 some time ago. Sometimes I really miss its voice and seriously think about ordering Subscope 120.

Folks! Roger, Colin, Ruslan (and more come to my mind): thanks for your nice and also critical words. Those kept me going and developing! Btw. it has been a pleasure to collaborate. It is my empirical knowledge that (nearly!) all Thereminpeople are nice.

Yeah, I'm out. Cancelled my order.

Picked up a used standard and will learn on it until I require a level up.

I hope this saga ends soon for those awaiting their instrument.

I wonder what the heck is going on with Moog.