NTD (warning - Stylophone content in post)

[TagoMago]

Has there been a thread on the Stylophone Theremin yet? I couldn't find one, so...

Yeah, my Stylophone Theremin was delivered today Before I go any further, yes, I know these are basically plastic theremin-y toys, but when the pre-order waiting list came up I placed my order and then forgot about it. Then a month later, I got a request for payment so I thought "Yes!". That seems like months ago, but mine arrived this afternoon and it looks like something out of a 1970's Dr Who episode, or something out of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Except in miniature. It's quite a bit on the mini side!

I haven't switched it on yet because it takes 6 AA batteries and I've only got two spare, so the wavy audio weirdness will have to wait until I can get to the nearest town, which is an hour away. And I can't for the life of me upload a fucking photo of it but if you look here: [url"https://stylophone.com/product/stylophone_theremin/"][/url] you should get the idea.

I doubt I'll be giving Via Mardot any sleepless nights in the Theremin stakes, but I'm looking forward to having a blast with it.

Has anyone else here got one? I'm probably the last person to have theirs delivered, so I'd bet there's folks on here with them. Any tips? Anything to know? Feel free to tell me to mind my own business but I'd defo be interested in other folks experiences with theirs.

[B.T.]

Oh that looks cool. I wish I had that when I was a kid to annoy the holy crap out of my parents!

[andy]

I have been on the waiting list for many months and have tried to get in the first round of orders. No dice. Is it sweet? I am jealous.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

I know these are basically plastic theremin-y toys

Based on the website pics I'd beg to differ. I recently saw/heard the Moog Theremin in action and, predictably, all the player could coax out of it was the typical squeaks and jarring noise that every Theremin player I've ever heard in the wild produces. The fact that this one has the slider (as seen in that Good Vibrations live clip on Youtube) suggests it can actually be used melodically, which is hugely interesting to me.

Thanks for making me realise I do want a Christmas prezzie after all.

[TagoMago]

I know these are basically plastic theremin-y toys

Thanks for making me realise I do want a Christmas prezzie after all.

You're welcome!

As far as the slider is concerned, that was the thing that sealed the deal for me. Probably back in 2007 or maybe even earlier, one of my mates got a 2 and a half octave theremin complete with the slider. It was custom built in the US and cost him around £450 back then, plus about £150 shipping, plus he had to pay import duty on it too. Amazing looking thing, but that was a ton of money back then.

So I just texted him a pic of my slider-equipped toy. He sent a drool emoji by way of return. Then I texted him the price (£99) and he hasn't got back to me yet

Hope you can get one!

[TagoMago]

I have been on the waiting list for many months and have tried to get in the first round of orders. No dice. Is it sweet? I am jealous.

They were massively oversubscribed on the first round of orders, so hopefully they'll announce another batch soon. They'll start showing up on Reverb after Christmas anyway, probably 50 or 60 notes. You'll get one, easy

[Telliot]

I've been on the waiting list but still no go.

This video was all I needed to sell me

Truthfully, what I really want is an ondes Martenot, or some type of clone, but they're seemingly so rare that I can't get my hands on anything similar. More than that actual antenna 'theramin' stuff, the slider is something I can see myself really using.

[JSett]

No amplitude antenna. Hard pass.

A simple, but throughly important, part of a theremin...so close, Stylophone, so close.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

I've been on the waiting list but still no go.

This video was all I needed to sell me

Truthfully, what I really want is an ondes Martenot, or some type of clone, but they're seemingly so rare that I can't get my hands on anything similar. More than that actual antenna 'theramin' stuff, the slider is something I can see myself really using.

I'm sold, even more than before!

Off topic, a while back I discovered the Erhu, and figured it was somewhat Theremin-adjascent. Given the price, probably worth a pop despite the 'children's toy' nature of the beast (an accusation also often levelled at the Stylophone). Not sure what Bill Bailey's playing in the video (maybe a phone app?), but these were the only ones I could find.

[JM Convert]

I got one of these delivered last Friday.

I only had about 15 minutes to mess around with it.

What sold me was the slider. It will take me sometime to calibrate my hand with the slider.

I also love the push to play button. No sound unless you are holding down the button.

It has two sound oscillators so one could play two different notes at the same time (antenna/slider). That will require even more coordination.

The one thing I think they missed out on, which I am sure will be in version 2, is the ability to use a power supply.

[B.T.]

No amplitude antenna. Hard pass.

A simple, but throughly important, part of a theremin...so close, Stylophone, so close.

It having a 1/4” output jack, couldn’t one just use a volume pedal?

[JSett]

No amplitude antenna. Hard pass.

A simple, but throughly important, part of a theremin...so close, Stylophone, so close.

It having a 1/4” output jack, couldn’t one just use a volume pedal?

Yes, but that's quite an important part of playing the theremin changed there... Like using a robotic arm to strum your guitar and you just fret the notes.

[B.T.]

No amplitude antenna. Hard pass.

A simple, but throughly important, part of a theremin...so close, Stylophone, so close.

It having a 1/4” output jack, couldn’t one just use a volume pedal?

Yes, but that's quite an important part of playing the theremin changed there... Like using a robotic arm to strum your guitar and you just fret the notes.

Interesting, I’ve never messed with one but they do look cool. I could anticipate some crowd reaction especially if you do a quick evil eye and thoroughly maniacal glance towards the audience whilst performing with it.

[fuzzjunkie]

No amplitude antenna. Hard pass.

A simple, but throughly important, part of a theremin...so close, Stylophone, so close.

It having a 1/4” output jack, couldn’t one just use a volume pedal?

Yes, but that's quite an important part of playing the theremin changed there... Like using a robotic arm to strum your guitar and you just fret the notes.

It does seem like easy access to those types of sounds, but I agree with Johnny on this one.

I played in a band years ago that used one for a song intro and exit. Jon Sanchez has perfect pitch and he was flawless with the Theremin. No squeaks or squawking.

The only other time I’ve seen one used regularly was by Asobi Seksu. James Hanna was decent enough playing it. He seemed a little more hesitant than Jon, sometimes reaching for notes, where Jon could slide into one effortlessly and then he had great vibrato technique too.

I never could get much out of Jon’s and was a little intimidated by how easy he made it look. I couldn’t keep both hands coordinated enough to make a consistent tone, but I do have a Lovetone RingStinger, which you can coax Theremin sounds out of. At least compatible to the Stylophone video.

You dial in a carrier frequency and then you can either use an expression pedal or it comes with a light sensor that controls the VCO input. The light sensor is more sensitive to small hand movements and sounds more like a real Theremin, but it can be finicky on a dark stage, so I usually keep to using an expression pedal.

[Pacafeliz]

Got myself one of these for Christmas ffs

It's fun and looks ace, feels a bit cheap n toyish but hey, it's a Stylophone of some sorts so...
Can't get the antenna to work properly (I've theremin'd before, don't worry) but I'll look into it.

Wifey was/is not amused, forced me to use headphones