The Big Briar Etherwave Theremin is a classic, hand-controlled electronic musical instrument rooted in Leon Theremin’s original invention and refined by Bob Moog’s company, Big Briar (prior to reacquiring the Moog name). It is played without physical contact: hand movements near the upright antenna control pitch, while movements near the loop antenna shape volume, producing the instrument’s unmistakable, eerie, continuously variable tones long associated with early electronic music, experimental works, and classic sci-fi soundtracks.
I built this particular theremin from a kit purchased in 1996 and finished it in an antique stain with a gloss coat as a nod to the look and spirit of the earliest original theremins. It features nickel-plated brass antennas, a furniture-grade wooden cabinet designed to mount on a standard microphone stand, and an expressive range of roughly five octaves. Adjustable controls for pitch response, volume response, waveform, and tone brightness make it both highly expressive and approachable for serious players. Instruments from the Big Briar era are now especially prized for their build quality, historical significance, and authentic theremin sound.