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Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday present
(actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of you
guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never even
seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
interesting.
Any theremin users?
Patrick
www.thecavefish.com
Hello Patrick!
I've got a Moog Theremin.. Pretty insane sci-fi sounds but impossible to play
live! I have seen Lydia Kavina the grand grand children of Léon Termen (inventor
of the theremin) using it live. It was amazing because she masters the
instrument.. But for the humble musician I am I simply enjoy doing sounds from
outer space (remember "The Day the earth stood still")! I much prefer echo
sounds. Better suits for surf sci fi sounds a la man or astroman...
Bye!
Vincent
> Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday present
> (actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of you
> guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never even
> seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
> interesting.
>
> Any theremin users?
>
> Patrick
> www.thecavefish.com
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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------------------------------------------
Faites un voeu et puis Voila ! www.voila.fr
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hey Patrick!
That's very cool! I haven't messed around with one, but was interested
enough that a few years ago I started purchasing the parts to build one.
Somehow I got sidetracked, and now I have a bunch of parts but haven't done
anything with them . . . .you may have inspired me to get cracking and
finish that project! When I got the parts, I was into building old time
tube radio sets, and the thermin has some similarities, as it plays around
with the oscillations from two harmonic radio signals.
Check out the Theremin site - they
have some sound clips (check out the current "Star Spangled Banner" contest
winners - ooooooh! Creepy!)
They are cool - the bass player from Destination:Earth! uses one, and it's
pretty neat. Got any details on the model you ordered? You gotta let us
know how that turns out!
-Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 9:55 AM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Hiwatt Echo Theremin
> Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday present
> (actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of you
> guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never even
> seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
> interesting.
>
> Any theremin users?
>
> Patrick
> www.thecavefish.com
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Patrick,
I have the Hiwatt one as well. It has a the built-in echo which sounds
great! You can almost do the runaway echo thing.
The only down side to it is it's limited range. You have about 6-8" of
sensitivity. This takes alot of practice if you're trying to play some
sort of melody. I basically gave up on that. We ended up using it for
space sounds on the intro to "Roswell Surf Report" and it's perfect for
that. When we played that song live, It was a challenge to figure out
how to make the crazy sounds as well as play bass (with it's limited
range and all) but then I tried putting it on the floor and took off my
shoe. Like playing an imaginary wha-wha pedal. Worked perfect! I put a
volume pedal after it so I wouldn't trigger it accidently. It's great
fun!
Since you mentioned it, I had to get mine out and play with it.
Here's some things you can try. Try putting the delay on the fastest it
will go. Instant Violin. Roll it back a bit and it sounds like a
plastic pipe. Put it thru your favorite distortion or fuzz (VerbaFuzz
is my choice) for some REAL noise.
Have fun with yours.
Phil Tiki
The Cocktail Preachers
On Jul 22, 2005, at 8:55 AM, Patrick wrote:
> Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday present
> (actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of you
> guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never even
> seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
> interesting.
>
> Any theremin users?
>
> Patrick
> www.thecavefish.com
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
Had a post-practice theremin jam last night...this thing is killer.
The first thing I figured out, prior to reading these posts) is that
melodies are NOT what this particular thing is for. The sci-fi,
feedback swells and whatnot, however, rule. We hooked it up to a
Fender Acoustasonic, and woo-hoo. I found that leaving the controls
set to the "sweet-spot," and then just leaving the plug halfway int
the jack worked out better for switching between the guitar and
theremin...
Playing live might be tricky. I like the idea of playing with feet,
but hand-waving seems to give a bit more control (if there is such a
thing) plus I liked being able to fiddle with the FREQ knob with one
hand and the dome with the other.
Oh yeah, this is going to be fun.
--- In , Ran Mosessco <burnman@n...>
wrote:
>
>
> I have seen Phil Tiki from the Cocktail Preachers use one with his
foot while playing bass. It was pretty cool,to listen and watch. The
Theremin itself is pretty basic. Only has pitch control. Good for
sci-fi effects.
> The delay features do add to the fun factor.
>
> When I saw Lydia Kavina she was playing a Russian made Theremin
called t-vox (she said it costs about 1000 Euro). She also said that
the Theremin is no harder to master than classical piano or voilin
(Yikes!), which, of course, she playes both. I havn't seen a lot of
people that can match her playing.
>
> Moog Etherwave - not bad, Paia Theremax - decent sound, but
constantly drifiting oscilators.
>
> I'm planning to try to get an Electro-Theremin (a slide Theremin,
not really a proper Theremin), so I can actually play some melodies
on it.
>
> Ran
>
>
>
> ----- äåãòä î÷åøéú -----
> îàú: Patrick <reverb_10000@y...>
> úàøéê: éåí å', éåìé 22, 2005 15:55
> ðåùà: [SurfGuitar101] Hiwatt Echo Theremin
>
> > Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday
> > present
> > (actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of
> > you
> > guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never
even
> > seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
> > interesting.
> >
> > Any theremin users?
> >
> > Patrick
> > www.thecavefish.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > .
> > Visit for archived
> > messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
once when DMC were recording, our engineer/producer Toby put on a
tape of a Theremin quartet which he had composed and recorded during
some downtime. It was all played beautifully in tune, with glorious
harmonies. One of the most amazing things I've ever heard. It may
have ended up being released on some strange Japanese label.
On 24-Jul-05, at 6:36 PM, Patrick wrote:
> Had a post-practice theremin jam last night...this thing is killer.
> The first thing I figured out, prior to reading these posts) is that
> melodies are NOT what this particular thing is for. The sci-fi,
> feedback swells and whatnot, however, rule. We hooked it up to a
> Fender Acoustasonic, and woo-hoo. I found that leaving the controls
> set to the "sweet-spot," and then just leaving the plug halfway int
> the jack worked out better for switching between the guitar and
> theremin...
>
> Playing live might be tricky. I like the idea of playing with feet,
> but hand-waving seems to give a bit more control (if there is such a
> thing) plus I liked being able to fiddle with the FREQ knob with one
> hand and the dome with the other.
>
> Oh yeah, this is going to be fun.
>
>
>
>
> --- In , Ran Mosessco <burnman@n...>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I have seen Phil Tiki from the Cocktail Preachers use one with his
>>
> foot while playing bass. It was pretty cool,to listen and watch. The
> Theremin itself is pretty basic. Only has pitch control. Good for
> sci-fi effects.
>
>> The delay features do add to the fun factor.
>>
>> When I saw Lydia Kavina she was playing a Russian made Theremin
>>
> called t-vox (she said it costs about 1000 Euro). She also said that
> the Theremin is no harder to master than classical piano or voilin
> (Yikes!), which, of course, she playes both. I havn't seen a lot of
> people that can match her playing.
>
>>
>> Moog Etherwave - not bad, Paia Theremax - decent sound, but
>>
> constantly drifiting oscilators.
>
>>
>> I'm planning to try to get an Electro-Theremin (a slide Theremin,
>>
> not really a proper Theremin), so I can actually play some melodies
> on it.
>
>>
>> Ran
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- äåãòä î÷åøéú -----
>> îàú: Patrick <reverb_10000@y...>
>> úàøéê: éåí å', éåìé 22, 2005 15:55
>> ðåùà: [SurfGuitar101] Hiwatt Echo Theremin
>>
>>
>>> Hey guys - I got a Hiwatt Echo Theremin for an early birthday
>>> present
>>> (actually, it hasn't come in yet), and I was wondering if any of
>>> you
>>> guys have messed around with one before? Honestly, I've never
>>>
> even
>
>>> seen one of these things, much less used one, so this should be
>>> interesting.
>>>
>>> Any theremin users?
>>>
>>> Patrick
>>> www.thecavefish.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> .
>>> Visit for archived
>>> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>>
>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
