Hello all. Am looking for an analog theremin for musical performance (not just sound effects). Ideally, it would have some timbre options (sine, square, etc.) and possibly CV output to control external synthesizers.
I found the Guide to Buying a Theremin article immensely helpful, but somewhat less-helpful was the Models page, with broken links to defunct companies or products, and a mix of novelty toys to real options. So am hoping we can sum up and maintain the options currently available.
Moog - currently, their only commercially-available model is the Theremini, which, as someone described it, is really a "gesture-controlled digital synthesizer". And all other models listed on their site (Etherwave, Etherwave Plus and the Claravox Centennial) are out of production. So, short of finding a used model on a third-party site, Moog is not an option for a true analog theremin.
Burns - a number of models on their site include the original B3, B3 Deluxe (larger with 5-octave range) and B3 Pro (adds removable antennae and a mute touch plate), plus some pitch-only options. No timbre or CV options, but reasonably-priced and it seems respected.
PAiA - offers the Theremax in various kit forms - theremin, front panel/antennae, case and various combinations thereof. Offers a square wave option and CV outputs, as well as other controller options. If you don't mind a kit, this seems to offer a lot, although the FAQ lists "2 to 3 octaves" as a practical range.
Harrison Instruments - has two pitch/volume models: the 302 and the high-end 151. However, the 302 is currently out-of-stock, with a email link for pricing and "minimum order requirements"... how many are you going to need? Both feature two horizontal antennae versus a traditional pole, with a louder-closer operation, which may be off-putting for the traditionalists. Both are battery-powered and advertise a 5-octave useful range.
Wavefront - offers two models: the "Classic" recreating the original RCA theremin look; and the "Portable", housed in a briefcase! Each have a 5+octave range and feature some tonal control. A theremin-to-MIDI/CV controller is also available to control other synths and devices.
Open.Theremin - an open source project, based on an Arduino Uno, with a couple of versions available. Can piece your own kit together, or purchase kits, as well as ready-made units, on various third-party sites. Auto-calibration is a big feature of this project. But again, appears to be digital soundwaves and not analog.
Schematics - for the real hard-core DIYers, various diagrams and parts lists such as the Maestro and Pierre Genet are floating around.
Behringer - in 2020, Behringer announced plans for a low-cost "Behremin". But so far, seems to just be vapourware - nothing on the Behringer site as of this writing.
Other - lots of pitch-only items are out there, but aren't of much use for playing/performance.
So... feel free to comment, correct or add to this list. But am leaning towards a Burns or the PAiA right now. Again, am looking for true analog with full pitch and volume control for musical performance.
Thanks.