Phantastron

Phantastron Orders are Temporarily Supended. Kit and instrument availablility will resume in the fall. Please email with any pressing questions or concerns.

Free Manual Sample -- Check out a preview of the assembly / instruction manual -- very informative!

New Aircraft Aluminum Top - Now all phantastrons have a custom water-jet cut aircraft aluminum (6061) top instead of a fiberglass and copper top.

One of my Phantastrons (Chrome Handles are not Included in the kit, but all other parts & knobs are included):

Xdugef added his own chrome handles, knobs (we supply solid aluminum knobs) and black paint to complete this look. Everything else is pure Phantastron.

Git Yer Kit!!

Orders Temporarily Suspended.

Kit - $195

We Accept both Google Checkout. You can choose either service when you view your cart and check out.

Kits for European, UK and Japan power are available by special order. Contact Electric Western to order. European and UK transformers usually add $15 to the cost. We will accurately quote shipping and total cost when you inquire about your international order.

"Don't expect the standard volt-per-octave functionality here; this beast of an oscillator can be steered via amplified audio or basic control-voltage signals."

- Collin Cunningham, MAKE Magazine Vol. 17, p. 170

Features:

Kits and all models include:

~ Genuine, tested, NOS (New Old Stock) Vacuum Tubes. 6SJ7 and PL21/2D21

~ Power Supply Board with 104v tube plate supply pre-assembled and isolated and current limited for safety and reliability.

~ Solid Wooden Case, Aircraft Aluminum Top and Panels (previous versions featured copper / phenolic top with steel panels).

~ High Quality Parts (neutrik jacks, All metal knobs, solid metal pots, good hardware, and big switches).

~ Compatibility with CV and Audio Signals. Plug in a synth - Plug in a guitar - Plug in a microphone - the unique resonant grids of the Phantastron will take almost any input.

Front View

~CV ON/OFF: No Longer Implemented (No longer needed in current revision CV is now automatically on if there is a CV present)

~ON / OFF: Turns on the device.

~ Pitch Range: Scales the CV input to three pitch ranges, HIGH, LOW and LOWEST.

~ Waveform Select: Selects one of 3 unique output waveforms from tech Phantastron pentode.

~ Pitch Fine Tune: Changes the pitch within the range selected.

~ Intensity: Controls the output volume, as well as the "drive" of the Phantastron.

back view

~Sync / Audio Input: Matches pitch / phase to AC synth signals and audio signals. Works well with other analog synth outputs. Audi might need to be amplified a bit to work best. (See the phantastron processing voice video below to see this input in action)

~CV input: Responds to DC signals from a CV controller like a keyboard, midi-cv converter, pitch ribbon, etc. This input also responds to AC signals like audio, but has a different tone than the Sync / Audio Input. The CV is not normalized to V/oct or V/Hz, rather it is "in-between" and can work with both types of input if the pitch adjust and other settings are tweaked. You can easily tune the Phantastron to V/oct equipment by syncing it to a V/oct oscillator - the output will be 99% phantastron and track many octaves.

The Turret Board, Hand Made by Electric Western from XX Garolite (aka Bakelite, Phenolic)

Comes with the 104V B+ portion pre-assembled (for your comfort and safety). The 6V heater supply and regulators and 9v supply are assembled by you. This board features redundant safety features that make it much safer than the tube supplies found in many radios, amps and vintage supplies:

So, if you've been hesitant to play with tubes because of the higher voltages needed and the multitude of high voltage / high current supplies out there, this supply is much more managable. It's rather hard to shock yourself if you follow the instructions and use common sense. Short circuits usually trip the PTC which shuts off currentautomatically before the fuse even blows in 99% of short circuits.

This supply is just dangerous as a +- 12V supply used in most synthesizers and audio equipment. However it is not significantly more dangerous.

Despite a safety-first approach, I must legally state: all electricity is potentially dangerous, and I'm not responsible if you shock yourself or do something stupid like take a bath with a live power supply.

We Accept both Google Checkout. You can choose either service when you view your cart and check out.

Completed & custom instruments are available as well. Please contact Parker@electricwestern.com to get a quote and an email invoice if you want a completed instrument.

The majority of the instrument is based on a classic pentode circuit, "The Phantastron" No kidding, that's what it's really called.

The phantastron takes a sharp timing pulse from a gas thyratron and integrates and differentiates it between its grids. The suppressor grid acts as input, creating a drop between suppressor and plate, then the screen grid grabs some of electrons from the pulse (creating a sort of rounded pulse). The control grid, meanwhile, which is held high, above the low-biased cathode charges more slowly, introducing a very steady voltage ramp between the plate and cathode. I'm kind of oversimplifying here, maybe badly, but you get the picture.

The 5 unique points within the pentode all react differently to an incoming pulse, and generate different waves for each pulse. A sort of square, a very linear saw, and some very interesting asymmetrical pulses. The pentode itself also acts as a bit of a tank and resonates the waveforms, creating some filtering, ringing and sync possibilities.

To alter the Phantastron to musical usage, I had to do some serious tweaking. Not many precedents apply to audio-rate signals (although Leon Theremin {Lev Termen} is rumored to have used the phantastron circuit as a basis in his "terpsitone".

Regardless, this module REALLY sings. There are soooo many tonal possibilities. Plus, the inputs and outputs interface very well with existing analog modulars, audio signals and CV driven equipment. It also functions alone as it's own instrument and could be hooked to far more sensors and controllers than just a knob Or you could simply play drums or guitar through it and process your music in this unique way.

This is a very special circuit and reminds me of the old days playing with HeathKits in the basement. I'm very glad that I can offer this experience to you. It's a great way to learn about tubes, synthesis and extra-super-old-school synth-brewing.

The kit requires only basic tools: Soldering Iron, Solder, Drill or Dremel Tool. All hardware, accessories and tubes are provided. The power supply is pre-assembled for your safety and ease. A hemostat or fine needle nose pliers are highly recommended.

Basically, it is our mission to give you the best hands on, exciting, synth and tube wrangling experience and product possible. Beyond that, we have some standard fine print just to be clear to the lawyers and accountants:

Kit returns are accepted only if unassembled. Parts mix-ups, missing parts or extra parts may be requested from Electric Western -- We will most likely replace parts at no additional cost. Free technical support via email, internet and phone is available. Hands on trouble shooting or kit repair / finishing will be available at a reasonable hourly rate from Lorin Parker. All replacements, refurbishment and extra supplies and support are provided gladly, but at the reasonable discretion of Electric Western. Electric Western, Lorin Parker, Sarah Seelig nor any other agents of this exchange are not responsible if an individual does anything dangerous with Kits, Parts, Tools or anything involved with this product and its assembly. Please, kids, don't poke your eye out or lick live electrical wires. Otherwise, dive in, learn, enjoy and make sounds! We appreciate your patronage!