VintageKustom.com: Comment Board

Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » Theremin

Show: Today's Messages :: Show Polls :: Message Navigator

Theremin [message #15508]

Mon, 11 April 2011 19:24

w0ttm
Messages: 12
Registered: April 2011
Location: Small town Mo. on RT66

Junior Member

I own a Kustom theremin from the 60's.
I'm told it's very rare.
It is in very good shape, but not like new.
The pitch antenna has been replaced, the stand mount is missing, and it has a rip in the covering on the bottom.
What is a beast like this worth.
Thanks.....Rob

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15509 is a reply to message #15508]

Tue, 12 April 2011 12:00

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

That is rare. Do you have any photos? How well does it work?

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15510 is a reply to message #15508]

Tue, 12 April 2011 18:21

w0ttm
Messages: 12
Registered: April 2011
Location: Small town Mo. on RT66

Junior Member

http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i368/w0ttm/
I have some photos and an incomplete schematic there.
I'm going to post some better pictures and maybe some audio soon.
Everything works and it plays surprisingly well for such a simple design.

[Updated on: Tue, 12 April 2011 18:22]

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15514 is a reply to message #15508]

Tue, 12 April 2011 22:00

rodak
Messages: 511
Registered: October 2001
Location: Georgia

Senior Member

Ok, this is blowin' my mind! So Kustom made amps, PAs, guitars, basses, organs, a piano, little stuffed "animals", a talk box, and now a Theremin? Whoa!

What next? Analog modular synths? Sitars?

Seriously, I'd love to know more about this thing - when was it sold? Was it ever in an ads or catalogs? Has anyone ever asked Bud about it?

www.combo-organ.com

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15515 is a reply to message #15508]

Wed, 13 April 2011 12:02

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

Very Kool!

Bud Ross told me about these a few years back at the Chanute gathering. I had never heard of them before this. I believe they were from 1969. Very few were made and even fewer were sold. I've never seen any printed material on them (catalogs or ads).

Looks really simple design wise. This thing uses 4 D-cell batteries? I'll bet that more than a few of these were killed by leaking batteries. Ah the '60's!

Maybe Pleat has some better information.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15516 is a reply to message #15515]

Wed, 13 April 2011 14:11

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

I remember that kustom made one, and I see it has the Kustom by Ross logo that would indicate sometime late 68 or early 69 the same time the Bag came out. I don't have any information or literature that shows it, explains what it does, or what the cost at that time. I doubt many were made. Very Kool piece of Kustom history.
pleat

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15517 is a reply to message #15516]

Wed, 13 April 2011 18:16

neil
Messages: 29
Registered: January 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Junior Member

I got mine from Bud back in 1960's. Used it only a few times in the band. Mainly just played around with it. I did have a lot of fun with it at a couple of Halloween parties. It was great for spooky sounds. For the life of me, I cannot remember what the heck I did with it. Either way, glad you posted that you own one. I have been asking for years if anybody remember that Kustom use to make these. If you are going to sell it, let us know how much you want for it before you put it on Ebay. Steve Small from Chanute helped design it. He was at our last convention.

[Updated on: Wed, 13 April 2011 18:19]

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15519 is a reply to message #15508]

Thu, 14 April 2011 00:06

w0ttm
Messages: 12
Registered: April 2011
Location: Small town Mo. on RT66

Junior Member

WOW!
Thanks, guys for such a response!
I really had not planed on selling it. I was just curious about it's value.
I have owned it since the early 90's. It was owned by a friends father, and on his passing, my friend gave it (along with almost 1000 vacuum tubes) to me knowing of my interest in electronics and music.
On Theremin world, http://www.thereminworld.com/ I found someone who has one that he said was made in 1966.
I live only a couple of hours from Chanute, so I'm going to try to bring it to the meet if possible.
This site and Theremin world are the only places I've found that have even heard of it.
Yes, chicagobill, the battery's have leaked in mine, but it cleaned up with no damage at all!
I am very fond of all things Kustom.
My first real band had a "200" PA with 2 4X12 columns.
The speakers were stolen, but the singer still has the head.
It's been through 2 fires and a flood.
I also own a Kasino 100 watt head and use it at church.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Theremin [message #15523 is a reply to message #15519]

Fri, 15 April 2011 20:45

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

Here is an email that Bud sent our group on the theremin.
"We only made 100 and they sold for $200.00 retail. In fact we could not give them away. True story ! One dealer in Texas bought one and we gave him one. Later we called him and offered the same deal and he said he still had both of the ones he had bought. SO MUCH FOR THAT BUSINESS"
pleat

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic:	Dallas Guitar Show
Next Topic:	k100-2

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

[ Syndicate this forum (XML) ] [

] [

]

Current Time: Mon Apr #d 02:55:09 EDT 2024

.:: Contact :: Home ::.